It's a Small World, After All!

Abstract

The title of this Editor’s Page is not only a song by Richard M. Sherman and Robert B. Sherman, and a major attraction at several Disney theme parks that my kids used to love when they were young. It also applies increasingly to the world in general, and to the field of Echocardiography in particular. I was reminded just how small the world really is on a recent trip to participate in the 12 Annual Scientific Sessions of the European Association of Echocardiography (EAE), also known as EuroEcho 2008, which was held in Lyon, France. Lyon is the third largest city in France, and dates to the period of the Roman Empire. At that time, Lyon was the capital of the three Gauls, and known as Lugdunum (“the hill of light”). Today, one can still visit the Roman Amphitheatre des Trois Gaules at the confluence of the Rhone and Saone rivers. Readers interested in both history and bacterial endocarditis will know that the aggressive coagulase negative Staphylococcal species S. lugdunensis was first described in 1988 and named after Lyon, where it was isolated. The invitation to speak at EuroEcho 2008 was a special opportunity for me, since I lived in Lyon in 1975-6 while doing research at the Hopital Cardiologique de Lyon. During my service in the Cardiology Branch of what is now the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute (NHLBI) between 1972-5, I learned to interpret echocardiograms, but I actually learned to perform them (using an M-mode echocardiograph) in Lyon. While there, I was able to write several papers (in French) that were published in the French cardiology literature. I still have some good friends in Lyon and many fond memories of living in France, learning the language, and enjoying the culture and the cuisine. Returning to Lyon for a few days was a real treat! For those who have never attended a EuroEcho meeting, American echocardiographers might think of it as the “European equivalent” of the American Society of Echocardiography (ASE) Annual Scientific Sessions. Much like the ASE’s Scientific Sessions, EuroEcho is a high caliber scientific meeting and well attended by professionals from around the world. The 12 Annual Meeting of the EAE was held under the leadership of EAE President Professor Petros Nihoyannopoulos of London, and organized by a Programme Committee chaired by Professor Jose Luis Zamorano of Madrid. In my opinion, the quality of the scientific program, the expertise of the presenters, and the enthusiasm of the large audience was superb, and certainly on par with the ASE’s Annual Scientific Sessions. In addition, as has been my experience at other international echocardiography meetings in Europe, Asia, and South America, the social events provided a superb opportunity for colleagues from around the world to mingle in a relaxed atmosphere, and to cement old acquaintances and make new ones. Participating in high quality scientific sessions, seeing the excellent work being done by others, advancing my own knowledge,