World Heart Federation
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SCIENTIFIC ADVISORY BOARD HOLDS MEETING IN VIENNA

The World Heart Federation’s Scientific Advisory Board met on 2 September 2007 during the European Society of Cardiology Congress 2007 in Vienna, Austria.

The focus of the board meeting was threefold:

  • To improve collaboration between the World Heart Federation’s scientific councils and its member continental societies of cardiology.
  • To discuss and reach consensus on the process for nominating chairs and members to the scientific councils.
  • To discuss potential research opportunities and determine the specific role and involvement of the Scientific Advisory Board.

Improving collaboration of scientific councils, continental societies

The World Heart Federation’s Scientific Advisory Board has three scientific councils – the Clinical Cardiology Council, the Epidemiology and Prevention Council and the Rheumatic Fever/Rheumatic Heart Disease Council. The chair of each scientific council is a member of the Scientific Advisory Board; each was present at the meeting.

The Scientific Advisory Board also has three continental societies of cardiology as members: the Asian Pacific Society of Cardiology, the InterAmerican Society of Cardiology and the Pan African Society of Cardiology.

Led by Chairman Sidney Smith, the board discussed ways in which the scientific councils and the continental societies of cardiology could better collaborate.

Three ideas were discussed and agreed upon:

  • First, the Scientific Advisory Board could be represented in meetings of the continental societies.
  • Second, the continental societies could participate in sessions during world congresses of cardiology, the next of which is scheduled for May 2008 in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
  • Third, the board and the continental societies could work together to review opportunities to implement guidelines for the treatment and care of cardiovascular disease patients.

“Collaboration between our councils and the continental societies presents a major opportunity to strengthen the mission of the World Heart Federation,” Dr Smith said. “The growth in the World Heart Federation’s activities during the past five years has been remarkable and sets the stage for further worldwide progress in the prevention and treatment of cardiovascular disease in countries with low and middle incomes where the burden is greatest.”

Nominating chairs, members of scientific councils

The nomination process for chairs and members to the scientific councils was discussed. Specific recommendations were presented at the meeting of the World Heart Federation board, on 14 November 2007 in the United Kingdom. Any new board-approved nomination process will be published to the World Heart Federation’s members.

Greater involvement in promotion of research and scientific journals

The discussion about how the board might become more involved in research centred on the need to advocate for research in low- and middle-income countries. At the same time, it touched upon how the board might involve itself more in activities of the World Heart Federation’s two scientific journals, Nature Clinical Practice Cardiovascular Medicine and Prevention and Control.

“The Scientific Advisory Board can have a significant impact at the international level by contributing to the work of the scientific journals,” Dr Smith said.

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