(Circulation. 2000;102:e9018.)
© 2000 American Heart Association, Inc.
Cardiovascular News |
Cardiovascular News
Fifty Years for the European Society of Cardiology
The European Society of Cardiology celebrated its 50th year in the city of Amsterdam, where a fleet of "tall ships" revived memories of the local past. At the same time, officials of the society at its 22nd Congress paid homage to the scientists and physicians who had gone before while heralding a future in which molecular biology and prevention will play a major role.
"This society began in 1950 with 14 national societies of
cardiology in the realization that without it, the
Americans would take over," said Lars Ryden, MD, outgoing society
president, in a tongue-in-cheek manner (Figure 1
).
Today, he said, the society represents at least 47 countries
with 26 working groups. The 2000 meeting attracted 23 000
participants.
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In his opening address, Dr Ryden called for cardiologists to collaborate with other specialists to improve the quality of care, particularly in settings that are not commonly frequented by specialists.
A museum at the 22nd Congress demonstrated the progress of heart care through the past 5 decades, starting with the debut of open heart surgery. However, the best is yet to come, said Udo Sechtem, MD, of the Abteilung fur Kardiologie, Robert Bosch Krankenhaus in Stuttgart, Germany, pointing to studies involving new methods of visualization, new molecules involved in diseases processes, and new understanding of inflammation and heart attack. Dr Sechtem headed the committee that set up the scientific portion of the program.
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