Leading Interventional Cardiologists Gather From Around the World at the SCAI Global Interventional Summit

ISTANBUL, Oct. 21 /PRNewswire/ -- Interventional cardiology professionals from around the globe will gather at the inaugural SCAI Global Interventional Summit (GIS) hosted by the Society for Cardiovascular Angiography and Interventions (SCAI) in collaboration with the Turkish Society of Cardiology (TSC). Held in conjunction with TSC's 26th National Congress, the GIS will bridge east and west, creating an unprecedented level of international collaboration and an unprecedented platform for interventional cardiologists from multiple regions to discuss and share the wealth of knowledge that exists globally in the interventional field.

The three-day summit, taking place October 22-24, will feature opportunities for cross-culture dialogue, including engaging roundtable and Q&A sessions, didactic lectures, case presentations and symposia hosted by regional interventional societies and working groups. To align with various professional interests, the summit offers two tracks, either adult interventions or pediatric/adult congenital interventions. Additionally, a series of exciting live cases performed by leading interventionalists from 12 countries will be broadcast from Istanbul.

"This is truly an amazing opportunity to gather some of the best interventional cardiology minds in the world under one roof," said SCAI Past President Ziyad M. Hijazi, M.D., MPH, FSCAI, GIS director and director of Congenital and Structural Heart Disease, Rush University Medical Center in Chicago. "Until now, there has never been an opportunity to collaborate face-to-face in this type of engaging and educational environment. The GIS will provide a remarkable learning exchange and further advance our field and enhance patient care."

The GIS is the result of a tremendous collaborative effort among more than 20 international societies, and will feature faculty chosen by these societies. The internationally renowned faculty will host educational sessions, present scientific challenges and opportunities within specific regions and introduce attendees to the latest advances in interventional therapies related to coronary, peripheral, congenital and structural heart disease.

"The GIS will allow professionals from different parts of the world and widely varied practices to share knowledge and techniques to bring back to their own practices, bridging the gap between cultures and the geography that separates us," said SCAI Past President Ted Feldman, M.D., FSCAI, GIS co-director, and director of cardiac catheterization at NorthShore University HealthSystem in Evanston, Ill. "This knowledge sharing will help practitioners gain a broader perspective about integrating available technologies and introducing new ones, allowing our patients to receive the greatest care experience possible."

The educational nature of the GIS will promote open discussion focused on the global challenges facing interventional cardiologists today. The summit's location in Turkey will also provide practitioners with a chance to experience Turkish culture with colleagues they may never have encountered otherwise.

"The networking opportunities provided at the GIS will surely spark conversation, new collaborations and friendships beyond this summit," said TSC President Professor Oktay Ergene, M.D., FSCAI, FESC, GIS co-director and chief of Cardiology Department at Izmir Ataturk Education and Research Hospital in Istanbul. "We are thrilled to host this event with SCAI, and look forward to the future discussions and enhancements in patient care that result from this meeting."

To view latest news and updates from the GIS visit www.scai.org.

About SCAI

Headquartered in Washington, D.C., the Society for Cardiovascular Angiography and Interventions is a 4,000-member professional organization representing invasive and interventional cardiologists in approximately 70 nations. SCAI's mission is to promote excellence in invasive and interventional cardiovascular medicine through physician education and representation, and advancement of quality standards to enhance patient care. SCAI's patient and physician education program, Seconds Count, offers comprehensive information about cardiovascular disease. For more information about SCAI and Seconds Count, visit www.scai.org or www.seconds-count.org.

About TSC

Headquartered  in Istanbul, Turkey, the Turkish Society of Cardiology is a 2,000-member organization representing cardiologists and cardiovascular nurses. TSC is a member of ESC and WHF since its foundation and one of the founding members of the Turkic World Cardiology Association. TSC's mission is to prevent the cardiovascular risk of the Turkish population by supporting the professional and public education and research through continuous medical education of cardiologists and other physicians; supporting scientific researches and publications and improving public awareness in cardiovascular health. More than 8,000 physicians attend the annual CME programs of TSC. TSC's autonomous Board organizes qualifying and certifying examinations for the cardiologists and recently started the certification system for institutions providing cardiovascular specialization training and education. For more information about TSC, visit www.tkd.org.tr.

SOURCE SCAI; TSC