Tomorrow, Professor Cecilia Linde (Karolinska Institute - Stockholm, Sweden) will become President of the ESC. But what was her motivation to take on this responsibility and what are her leadership priorities?
Prof. Linde started her journey with the ESC almost 30 years ago. She was initially involved with the Working Group of Cardiac Pacing. Following its merger with the Working Group of Arrhythmias in 2003, Prof. Linde became a member of the board of the newly created European Heart Rhythm Association (EHRA), the first ESC Association. After further involvement in EHRA, including as Congress Programme Chair and Treasurer, she took up the role of ESC Councillor. “Since then, I’ve served in all ESC board positions, so I couldn’t be better prepared!” she says. “I find it enormously invigorating to work with such a fantastic community and it’s a huge privilege to be able to serve the society.”
Prof. Linde is clear about what inspired her to make the final leap. “As a councillor during Professor Barbara Casadei’s presidency, a key focus was increasing the representation of women within the ESC, particularly in senior positions. Our work, and her inspirational example, reinforced my belief that I too could lead the society. During my presidency, we will continue our efforts to ensure that the board reflects the society as a whole for women and men, and irrespective of geography.” Prof. Linde believes that members should be able to recognise themselves in the senior leadership positions and notes that the new ESC Committee on Gender, Diversity and Inclusion will work hard to make this happen. Indeed, inclusivity is a common theme that runs throughout the new mandate. “Every one of our 58 National Cardiac Societies from across Europe and the Mediterranean basin are essential for our mission,” explains Prof. Linde, “Task forces will look at ways to ensure that countries on the geographical periphery, such as those in Eastern Europe, Eurasia, the Middle East and North Africa, play a more central role.”
For Prof. Linde, these are very exciting times in cardiology. “The EU Safe Hearts Plan continues to gain momentum, thanks to the incredible efforts of many, particularly Professor Thomas Lüscher, the ESC Advocacy Committee, the ESC Brussels Office and our National Cardiac Societies. We now have a huge opportunity to make a long-lasting impact and fulfil our mission to reduce the burden of CVD. I am looking forward to being part of the next step: making the plan become reality in all member countries.” Identifying actions to accelerate implementation of the Safe Hearts Plan is the focus of the next ESC Cardiovascular Round Table (CRT) event in November. “For the last 25 years, the CRT has provided a forum for valuable dialogue between the ESC leadership, representatives from industry and regulatory bodies, and patients. It is fitting that we celebrate CRT’s 25th anniversary with discussions on such an important issue – how to bridge vision and execution to develop a roadmap for the Safe Hearts Plan’s implementation,” she says.
Safely harnessing the transformative power of AI and digital technologies is another priority of the 2026–2028 mandate. “As we are seeing at ESC Congress 2026, AI is moving rapidly in cardiology, but this fast pace must be matched with clinical trust, ethical standards, evidence and education. We are launching the ESC AI Gateway, a new far-reaching initiative that aims to pave the way for responsible innovation and practical adoption,” notes Prof. Linde.
The impact of environmental stressors on cardiovascular health remains a pressing concern and through research and education, the new board will continue to advocate for widespread changes in policy at international and national levels. “Improving the sustainability of ESC activities is also a top priority,” explains Prof. Linde. In addition, she highlights how everyone can consider the environment in their everyday lives, when traveling, and when working in their clinics and labs. “We plan to engage with industry to discuss where changes can be made, for example, in reducing packaging,” she notes. “Furthermore, we are looking at the feasibility of including information about the environmental footprint of different therapies in future ESC Guidelines.”
Central to her presidency is Prof. Linde’s belief in unity and working together to achieve common goals. “ESC's role as a trusted unifier has never been more important. And with the collective strength of more than 100,000 members – all with unique skills and perspectives – we can achieve so much in our aim to improve patient care,” she concludes.
