WORLD HEART FEDERATION APPOINTS SIDNEY C. SMITH JR AS PRESIDENT ELECT AND SUSANNE VOLQVARTZ AS VICE PRESIDENT ELECT FROM JANUARY 2010

Sidney C. Smith Jr, M.D. Professor of Medicine and Director of the Center for Cardiovascular Science and Medicine at the University of North Carolina, and Susanne Volqvartz, CEO of the Danish Heart Foundation have been appointed President Elect and Vice President Elect respectively of the World Heart Federation, to take up their roles from January 2010. These appointments were announced on 21 May 2008, during the World Congress of Cardiology.

Profiling Dr Sidney C. Smith Jr

Dr Smith became a member of the Board of the World Heart Federation in 2003 after being appointed Chairman of the World Heart and Stroke Forum in 2002. In 2005, he became Chairman of the World Heart Federation Scientific Advisory Board. Dr Smith received his MD from Yale University and completed a residency in internal medicine and fellowship in cardiology at Harvard Medical School/Peter Bent Brigham Hospital in Boston, Massachusetts.  
Dr Smith has been involved with the American Heart Association for the past two decades, serving as president from 1995–1996 and Chief Science Officer from 2001–2003. In addition to his academic role in Cardiology at the University of North Carolina, Dr Smith serves as Chair of the American College of Cardiology/ American Heart Association Task Force on Practice Guidelines and for the past 15 years has provided leadership in the development of national and international guidelines especially in the area of prevention strategies for cardiovascular disease.
He has recently been selected to serve as Chair of the Executive Committee for the new National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute of the National Institutes of Health’s Integrated Guidelines for the prevention of cardiovascular disease. He is the author of more than 300 publications and serves on the editorial boards of many journals including Circulation and the Journal of the American College of Cardiology. Among his many honours include the Distinguished National Leadership Award and Gold Heart Award, both from the American Heart Association, and the Award of Special Recognition from the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute of the National Institutes of Health.

A few words from the future President

“I am honoured by this appointment and will do my best to see that the mission and goals of the World Heart Federation and its member societies and foundations are advanced,” said Dr Smith.  “Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death worldwide and frequently leaves patients who survive with major limitations and disability. By working together using treatment strategies already available and emphasising the importance of healthy lifestyles I am confident that we can make a difference.”

Profiling Susanne Volqvartz

Susanne Volqvartz was appointed Vice President Elect of the World Heart Federation, also taking office in January 2010.  Susanne has managed the Danish Heart Foundation for the past 7 years, now the second largest disease-combating and patient representing organisation in the country.  She was also President of the European Heart Network between 2002–2006, and previously CEO of the Danish Working Environment Fund where she advocated public health through improvements in working environments.