GIS: Where the World of Interventional Cardiology Meets
This unique forum will feature the sharing of ideas and new perspectives with the goal of advancing the specialty of interventional cardiology and improving patient care worldwide.
SCAI is underscoring its international commitment by sponsoring the first SCAI Global Interventional Summit in collaboration with the Turkish Society of Cardiology. SCAI Immediate Past President Ziyad M. Hijazi M.D., MPH, FSCAI, and Past President Ted Feldman, M.D., FSCAI, will direct the program with participation of the President-Elect of the Turkish Society of Cardiology, Professor Oktay Ergene, M.D., FSCAI, FESC.
Noting that a growing number of SCAI's members are based outside of the United States, Dr. Hijazi explains why the Society has embraced the idea of a new educational event with an international focus: "SCAI represents all interventional cardiologists around the globe, so we thought, 'Why don't we take what we know and share it with others while at the same time providing a forum for our overseas members and colleagues to teach us, too?' It's a great opportunity for all of us to learn and improve how we practice our specialty."
Enhancing Collaboration, Sharing Knowledge
Many medical societies are expected to participate in the first Global Interventional Summit. Their assembly will help to achieve one of the event's goals, namely to promote equal partnership and collaboration among interventional cardiology societies worldwide.
"But the ultimate goal is to improve diagnosis and treatment," emphasizes Dr. Hijazi. "With this collaboration, we can all work together to enhance our field and achieve our mission of providing our patients with the best possible care.
"What an opportunity-to share the knowledge of specialists worldwide in one educational program," he adds.
Bridging East and West
The Turkish Society of Cardiology will do much more than help with the event's logistics, says Dr. Hijazi. Drawing from its 1,500-plus membership of academicians and practitioners, they'll also share their extensive scientific and medical expertise. Representatives from the Turkish Society of Cardiology will serve as members of the event planning committee and as speakers. The live cases will be performed together with leading interventionalists from 12 countries and Turkish interventionalists at the major Turkish interventional centers.
Turkey is also a great location for a meeting like this, Dr. Hijazi adds. "We were looking for a country strategically located in the middle of the world," he explains. "Turkey is ideal, because it bridges Europe and Asia, East and West." And the historic city of Istanbul has much to offer sightseers, he adds.