Editorial introductions

Abstract

Current Opinion in Cardiology was launched in 1985. It is part of a successful series of review journals whose unique format is designed to provide a systematic and critical assessment of the literature as presented in the many primary journals. The field of cardiology is divided into 14 sections that are reviewed once a year. Each section is assigned a Section Editor, a leading authority in the area, who identifies the most important topics at that time. Here we are pleased to introduce the Section Editors for this issue. SECTION EDITORS Thierry MesanaThierry MesanaDr Mesana is the President and Chief Executive Officer of the University of Ottawa Heart Institute. He received his medical degree in 1985 at the Université de la Méditerranée, Marseille, France, where he trained in thoracic and cardiovascular surgery. In 1990, he received his PhD in biophysics and biomechanics from the Université de la Méditerranée after extensive experimental work and design development on artificial hearts and ventricular assist devices. In 1991, Dr Mesana was, at the time, the youngest cardiac surgeon in France to receive a full Professorship. He then became the Chair of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery at La Timone University Hospital, France, the largest hospital in Marseilles, where he introduced a number of advanced techniques in valve surgery, thoracic aorta surgery and ventricular assist devices and greatly expanded their cardiac surgery program, doubling its size in a 10-year period. Dr Mesana was appointed Chief of Cardiac Surgery at the University of Ottawa Heart Institute in 2001. Under his leadership, the Institute's surgical program became a leading Canadian and International program and his valve repair program has become recognized as one of the best in the world. His emphasis on repairing failing heart valves helped to establish this approach as a gold standard for treatment. He is a strong advocate of basic science research in the field of myocardial regeneration. In the last few years, his group in Ottawa has published papers extensively on studies in basic research related to stem cells and angiogenesis, clinical research papers on long-term follow-up of patients with heart valve prosthesis, as well as studies on aortic prosthesis mismatch and predictors of long-term outcome such as stroke, heart failure and reoperation. In addition, he has encouraged the development of minimally invasive surgical procedures for coronary bypass grafting and complex cardiac arrhythmias, and utilization of miniaturized rotary blood pumps as bridge to transplantation. During his tenure at the Institute, he marked the milestone of its 500th heart transplant. Haissam HaddadHaissam HaddadDr Haddad received his BSc from Tichreen University in Syria in 1980 and graduated from Medical School at Tichreen University in 1983. Following a family medicine practice in Syria, Dr Haddad immigrated to Canada and trained in internal medicine at Dalhousie University, Canada, and successfully completed his Cardiology training at the University of Alberta, Canada. In July 1997, Dr Haddad joined the Division of Cardiology, Queen Elizabeth II Health Sciences Centre, Dalhousie University in Halifax, Nova Scotia and was Medical Director of the Heart Transplant Program and Director of the Cardiac Rehabilitation Program. In September 2001, Dr Haddad joined the University of Ottawa Heart Institute, Canada; he is Professor of Medicine, Division of Cardiology, Director of the Heart Failure Program, and Medical Director of Heart Transplant Program (2001–2013). He is also the Vice President of Medical Staff, The Ottawa Hospital and member of The Board of Directors. Dr Haddad was a member of the Primary Panel of the Canadian Cardiovascular Society's consensus conferences on the management of heart failure (2001–2010), on heart transplantation in adults (2003) and on heart transplantation in pediatrics (2005). He also chaired the Society's consensus conference for heart transplant in 2008–2009. Dr Haddad was the chair of The Canadian Cardiac Transplant Group, 2006–2008. He is the vice president, Canadian Heart Failure Association. He is the founder of the annual educational meeting for The Canadian Cardiac Transplant programs (Ottawa 2008, Calgary 2009, Quebec City 2010). Dr Haddad has earned numerous prestigious awards, namely the Anemia Institute for Research and Education Award in 2005, and the 1st Award Prize in the International Competition of the American College of Physicians in 2000.