The Swiss Society of Cardiology (SSC) was founded in 1948, just one year before the ESC. The SSC, one of the ESC founding nations, will thus be celebrating their 60th anniversary next year.
The Swiss Society of Cardiology is dedicated to reduce the burden of cardio-vascular disease of the population, to contribute to high standards in cardiological practise and to cultivate an optimal relationship between the members and other societies and organisations active in the health care field.
Our official Journal "Kardiovaskuläre Medizin/Médecine Cardio-vasculaire" has been published since 1996 in the national languages and in English, and features scientific and educational material addressing an international audience.
Collaborating in order to achieve goals
Today, the SSC accounts for more than 700 members, including junior, honorary and honourable members. Virtually all practising cardiologists in Switzerland are active members of the SSC.
The Society counts regional sub-divisions and nine specialty working groups. In the areas of prevention and patient education, the SSC is collaborating with specially dedicated organisations, namely the Swiss Heart Foundation and CardioVascSuisse, the latter representing all the societies and groups, also patient organisation, being active in cardiovascular medicine.
Education
A major achievement has been the creation in 1998 of an independent title of "Specialist FMH (Swiss Federation of Physicians) in Cardiology". The formal postgraduate training assumed by the five University Clinics in Cardiology and a number of large community hospitals is crowned by the Swiss Examination Board in Cardiology, a written and clinical examination conducted annually since 1999 by the SSC and approved by the Swiss Federation of Physicians.
The continuing education, compulsory in Switzerland, is realised in dedicated meetings organised by the SSC itself - twice a year - and by its working groups. Eighty credits a year are considered a minimum statutory.
Cardiology the Swiss way
The SSC is not exclusively a scientific society but has political missions as well. Currently, we are involved in the elaboration of a Federal Law for Prevention. In this field we aim to include the European Heart Health Charter into our discussions.
Another specificity of our country is that about half of our cardiologists are practising in independent private practices. They assume the responsibility in the fields of the ambulatory diagnostic work-up - in collaboration with the primary care physicians, who are GPs or specialists in Internal Medicine - the treatment and follow-up of cardiac patients.
At the heart of European matters
Despite the fact that Switzerland is not a member of the European Union, the SSC is actively involved in many European programmes in different areas of cardiology. Over the years, many Swiss cardiologists have been involved internationally via the ESC, e.g. as board members: Hans-Peter Krayenbuehl, (President ESC 1988-1990) Thomas Luescher, FESC, and Frank Ruschitzka, FESC.
The collaboration with the ESC is highly encouraged in our country, especially in terms of the ESC Guidelines and active participation in the Annual Congress, and we promote the ESC Fellowship amongst our members.
Visit the Swiss Society of Cardiology on the ESC Web Site