Welcome Note
Dr Ahmed Vachiat
Dear Colleagues,
On behalf of the Organizing Committee of the SA Heart®, Congress, it is with great pleasure that we extend our warm invitation to all esteemed members of the Cardiovascular community to join us for the 24th Annual SA Heart® Congress at the Sandton Convention Centre in Johannesburg from November 8th to 10th, 2024.
This year’s Congress theme, ‘Cardiology Connections,’ reflects our commitment to fostering collaboration among Cardiologists, Cardiothoracic Surgeons, General Practitioners, Subspecialists, Nurses, Technicians, Radiographers, Basic Scientists, and students across Africa and on a global scale. We aim to forge connections among various special interest groups, including the Society of Cardiovascular Interventions (SASCI), Cardiovascular Imaging Society of South Africa (CISSA), Cardiovascular Arrhythmia Society of South Africa (CASSA), Heart Failure Association of South Africa (HEFFSA), Intervention Society of Cardiovascular Allied Professionals (ISCAP), South African Society of Cardiovascular Research (SASCAR), and the Paediatric Society of Cardiology (PCSSA). Through joint sessions and interdisciplinary programmes, we aspire to enhance healthcare delivery for all patients in need of cardiac intervention and/ or treatment.
We are thrilled to announce the participation of a distinguished Local and International Faculty, including esteemed professionals from the Mayo Clinic such as Prof Vuyi Nkomo (Imaging Cardiologist), Prof Sorin Pislaru (Chair, Structural Heart Disease), and Dr Juan Crestanello (Chair, Cardiothoracic Surgery). They will conduct an Echocardiography workshop and contribute to various specialist workshops on Friday morning, November 8th. Our workshops and scientific sessions will feature innovative learning approaches aimed at facilitating knowledge exchange and professional growth
Dr Thomas Alexander from India will share insights on establishing STEMI networks in South Africa, while Dr Raman Krishna Kumar, also from India, will enrich our Paediatric programmes with his diverse clinical and research expertise. We are also grateful for the invaluable support of our local experts, whose contributions consistently uphold international standards of excellence.
We eagerly anticipate the opportunity to welcome colleagues from near and far to Johannesburg. Connecting stakeholders from diverse backgrounds – be it private-public, industry, government, research, mentors, or students – is at the heart of our congress, aligning with the vision of SA Heart® to enhance Cardiovascular Care for all in South Africa.