Word of the President

Dear colleagues, dear friends,

On behalf of the Belgian Society of Cardiology (BSC), I would like to welcome you to the 39th BSC annual congress, to be held for the first time in “Brussels Expo”, on 13th and 14th February 2020.

The congress has been designed to provide an innovative and extensive overview of the latest developments in cardiovascular medicine. It promises to be more interactive than ever, with lots of emphasis on clinical practice. Many distinguished cardiologists and scientists have joined the faculty and will take active part in the event.

For many, the BSC congress provides a great opportunity to reconnect with colleagues, make new acquaintances and network with cardiovascular experts during the 2 days of intensive exchanges and education.

Cardiovascular diseases are still the number one cause of death and disability in adult men and women in Belgium. As physicians and academics, we are in part responsible for the care of Belgian’s hearts. The overall theme of this edition will be dedicated to “Heart Health Matters in Perspective”.

The format of the 39th edition of the BSC Congress has been adapted to meet your expectations. There will be a specific track dedicated to Cardio-Oncology, a new and fast-growing discipline in Cardiology. After the President Key-note lecture, the topic on Optimizing Cardiac Health in Cancer Patients will be put into perspective. Participants will be able to attend several interactive case-based sessions. There will also be a full day dedicated to nurses, where the paramedic approach to heart problems will be discussed. For the first time, two accredited radiation protection training sessions will be available. Also, the work of the working groups will be put forward through several dedicated sessions, new insights from Belgian and European registries will be presented and there will be brand-new hands-on sessions. Industry-supported satellite symposia will also give the floor to high-level international speakers, presenting different cardiologic topics. Our research will be showcased through Abstract presentations, Laureate lectures and the awards ceremony (Best Poster, Young Investigator sessions and Belgian Heart Foundation research prizes. On Thursday, the “Clash of the Titans” session will provide a lively competition between Seniors in Cardiology and the Audience.

We designed this annual meeting to be a source of new scientific and educational discoveries, allowing for continuous investments in the care of patients with cardiovascular problems, still the number one killer in the Western world.

The success of the BSC meeting reflects the dedication and hard work of members of the Scientific Program Committee and the Working Groups. As your President, I express my gratitude to all of them.

On behalf of the BSC Scientific Programme Committee, I do hope you will enjoy the BSC congress more than ever!

Prof Dr Patrizio Lancellotti, MD, PhD

President of the Belgian Society of Cardiology