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 Thierry Mesana is a Professor of Cardiac Surgery at the University of Ottawa Heart Institute (UOHI), Canada, former Chairman of Cardiac Surgery at the University of Ottawa, Canada. He was recently nominated as President and CEO of the UOHI, commencing in 2014. He received his MD degree at University of Méditerranée, Marseille, France in 1985 where he completed his training in thoracic and cardio-vascular surgery. He also received, in 1991, a PhD degree in biophysics at the same university after extensive experimental work on artificial heart and ventricular assist devices. In 1991, He was promoted to full Professor of Cardiac Surgery, and further nominated as the Chairman of Adult Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery in Marseille, France. In October 2001, he was appointed at the University of Ottawa Heart Institute as Chairman of Cardiac Surgery, until January 2013. Dr Mesana has been particularly active in the field of valve surgery with specific emphasis in mitral valve repair. His leadership has led to significant changes in the Division of Cardiac Surgery at the UOHI, particularly with the development of complex mitral valve repair in degenerative or ischemic disease, aortic valve-sparing program and the expansion of a world-class minimally invasive coronary revascularization program as well as AF surgical ablation. He is also 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 minimally invasive CABG, innovative mitral valve repair techniques and long-term results in mitral valve prolapse, 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. 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 training in cardiology at University of Alberta, Canada in 1997. In July of that year, Dr Haddad joined the Division of Cardiology, Queen Elizabeth II Health Sciences Centre at Dalhousie University in Halifax, Nova Scotia, as 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 where he is a Full Professor of Medicine, Division of Cardiology, Director of the Heart Failure Program, Medical Director of Heart Transplant Program and the Director of Pulmonary Hypertension Clinic. He is also an Adjunct Professor in the Department of Systems and Computer Engineering at Carleton University in Ottawa, Canada. Dr Haddad is an active member of the Canadian Cardiovascular Society, The American College of Cardiology, The International Society of Heart and Lung Transplantation, The Canadian Heart Failure Network and the Heart Failure Society of America. He is on the Primary Panel of Canadian Cardiovascular Consensus on management of Heart Failure and Heart Transplantation and Adult and Pediatric. He is the Chair of Canadian Cardiovascular Society Consensus on Heart Transplant 2008–2009 and Reviewer of the Heart and Stroke foundation, NIH and Ontario Ministry of Health. He has published over 150 manuscripts and abstracts, and also lectures in USA, Canada, Argentina, Jamaica, Syria, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia and Egypt. His clinical and research interests include heart failure, transplantation and prevention of cardiovascular diseases.