Sociedad Colombiana de Cardiología y Cirugía Cardiovascular

WELCOME LETTER No. 1

Dear colleagues and friends:
On behalf of the Colombian Society of Cardiology and Cardiovascular Surgery we have the honor to address these welcome words. This year, our Society is very proud for carrying out this joint meeting of a World, Continental and National event. It is in magic city of this Cartagena de Indias, exceptional witness of the past and present of the new world that we fraternally embrace you and wish you a pleasant stay.

There are very few opportunities where one can have the privilege of simultaneously carrying out three highly important events, the XXII National Colombian Congress of Cardiology, the V Inter-American Symposium of Echocardiography and the XII World Congress of Echocardiography.

It was about 8 years ago when the Colombian Society of Cardiology and Cardiovascular Surgery asked for the privilege of hosting the world Congress of Echocardiography and at that time we thought that we had a long way to go before it became a reality, and it is precisely today, when after many years of hard work that we are holding this event together with the V Symposium of Echocardiography of the Inter-American Society of Cardiology and our XXII National Congress of Cardiology.

Today, we are very pleased to say that it went far beyond our expectations, in this magic Cartagena de Indias, the Heart of the Caribbean.

More than 180 professionals, international experts from all over the world added to the many outstanding specialists of our own country, will give birth to this scientific agenda. The agenda will cover all the pathologies of our specialty in its different branches, thus trying to meet the personal expectations of each one of the attendants. Within this framework there are programs of echocardiography and all the areas of the cardiology science, cardiovascular surgery, pediatrics cardiology and cardiovascular nursing. I think no further comments are needed with regards to the level of excellence that we are aiming at achieving.

The presence of so many colleagues, as well as the scientific works (more than 297) in free themes, the works for contest, clearly show the high scientific interest of those attending to these three important scientific events in three different academic agendas.

This huge task was only possible thanks to the joint work of the Colombian Society of Cardiology, the International Society of Cardiovascular Ultrasound and the Echocardiography Committee of the Inter-American Society of Cardiology as well as to the most valuable contribution of the Echocardiography Committee of the European Society of Cardiology. For having trusted us, we sincerely thank you all.

I do not want to forget all those people and institutions that have contributed so much to enhance the academic level of this meeting, as well as the sub-specialties Committees and the SCC and CC, as well as to Dr. Navin Nanda, President of the ISCU, Dr Jorge Lowestein, President of ECOSIAC and the members of Organizing and Scientific Committees of our Society under the leadership of Drs. Gabriel Salazar, Nestor Sandoval and Gustavo Restrepo, to the management team of the SCC and CC, without them it would have been impossible to even make the first steps of this hard journey. I do not find the right words to describe how valuable their work has been.

And last but not least, we would like to thank all the guest professionals who with their presence and knowledge have made out of this academic agenda an exhaustive revision of Cardiology of today and of the future.

The permanent support of the pharmaceutics’ industry, the medical equipment, the food industry and the non traditional companies deserves special mention. Together we have been able to enhance an ethical relationship of mutual respect and academic freedom.

Dear colleagues of our country and dear guests from the whole world,

Lets remember all together that the etymology of the word «congress» means walking together to hold a meeting. We urge you once again to go along the way, with new scientific and professional interest during our three Congresses. It is the most appropriate space to think about our work, exchange ideas and forge common strategies and personal friendship relationships. These Congresses belong to each one of us, but even better, it is a common good that belongs to all of us all together.

I wish you three very fruitful days and extend my most warm welcome to the colleagues that have come a long way, many kilometers to come from different regions of our country and abroad, and very specially the more than 120 outstanding persons of the world’s cardiology that will share with us their knowledge and expertise.

Welcome all of you,

Thank you very much!

Fernando Manzur Jattin, MD., FACC President, Colombian Society of Cardiology and Cardiovascular Surgery		Néstor Sandoval Reyes, MD. President, XXII Colombian Congress of Cardiology and Cardiovascular Surgery

Carlos García del Río, MD President, XII World Congress of Echocardiography		Gabriel Salazar Castro, MD. Coordinator, Academic Program

WELCOME LETTER No. 2

Dear Colleague,
On behalf of the International Society of Cardiovascular Ultrasound, I cordially invite you to attend and participate in the XII World Congress of Echocardiography and Allied Techniques to be held at the Hilton Hotel in Cartagena, Colombia, February 13-15, 2008. This Congress is sponsored by the International Society of Cardiovascular Ultrasound (ISCU)and organized by the Columbian Society of Cardiology and Cardiovascular Surgery. ISCU considers this an honor to have the World Congress run parallel to the XXII Colombia Congress of Cardiology and Cardiovascular Surgery. An excellent scientific program encompassing various aspects of interest to practicing physicians and surgeons has been planned under the leadership of Dr. Carlos Garcia del Rio, President of the XII World Congress of Echocardiography and Allied Techniques and Dr. Gustavo Restrepo, Secretary of the Congress. It will include invited lectures by world famous echocardiographers as well as presentations of oral abstracts and scientific posters from several ultrasound laboratories throughout the world. The emphasis will be on the latest advances in echocardiography, vascular ultrasound and allied techniques.

The previous Congresses held in 1996 (Beijing, China), 1998 (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil), 2000 (Cairo, Egypt), 2001 (Seoul, South Korea), 2002 (New Delhi, India), 2003 (Buenos Aires, Argentina), 2004 (Antalya, Turkey), 2005 (Marrakech, Morocco), and 2006 (Italy) were a tremendous success. Over 15,000 combined participants attended these Congresses representing over 70 countries throughout the world.

Over the past two decades, echocardiography has taken significant strides including the improvement of ultrasound image resolution and development of myocardial contrast echocardiography and live/real time three- and four- dimensional transthoracic and transesophageal echocardiography. Faculty from all over the world will be invited to share their experiences in echocardiography, vascular ultrasound and allied techniques (magnetic resonance imaging, CT scanning and nuclear cardiology) and this will contribute to the exchange of scientific information among all attendees.

The major aim of the International Society of Cardiovascular Ultrasound is to promote an exchange of ideas and information amongst members of various countries, advance the science and art of cardiovascular ultrasound, and encourage and further the knowledge of this subject. The Society serves to disseminate in a rapid manner recent advances and developments in the field by sponsoring or cosponsoring educational and scientific meetings including World Congresses in various parts of the world. The Society publishes in the Echocardiography Journal news and other items of interest to its members and promotes its aims and objectives as well as through their website, http://www.iscu.org.

We look forward to the pleasure of meeting you in Cartagena.

Navin C. Nanda, MD.
International President, XII World Congress of Echocardiography and
Vascular Ultrasound.
President, International Society of
Cardiovascular Ultrasound (ISCU).

WELCOME LETTER nO. 3

Dear Colleagues,
It is for us a great pleasure and a privilege to invite you to the XII World Congress of Echocardiography (ISCU), and the V Symposium of the Echocardiography Committee of the Interamerican Society of Cardiology (ECOSIAC) which, along with the XXII Colombian Congress of Cardiology will take place from 13th to 15th February 2008 in Cartagena de Indias, Colombia.

The synergy of the three organizations will render the Congress a notable vitality, hoping to meet all the expectations of the people present.

Having only a few years of existence, ECOSIAC is organizing its 5th annual Symposium, which will enable the attendants to share experiences with cardiologists and echocardiographists from all the regions of the American continent and the world.

Our Echocardiography Committee has a sustained and harmonic growth, but your very special presence is going to confer on this meeting the category and splendor that it deserves.

We are eager to meet you all, hoping that you will enjoy this scientific event, surrounded by a wonderful environment and in our characteristic fraternal atmosphere.

Jorge Lowenstein, MD.
President, Echocardiography Committee of the Interamerican Society of Cardiology (ECOSIAC)

WELCOME LETTER nO. 4

Dear colleagues and friends,
It is from this magic city of Cartagena de Indias, exceptional witness of the new world’s past and present, that on behalf of the Organizing Committee of the XII World Congress of Cardiology, we cordially welcome and fraternally embrace you wishing you a happy stay in our country.

In very few opportunities one has the privilege of carrying out three such important events simultaneously: the XXII Colombian Congress of Cardiology, the V Inter-American Symposium of Echocardiography and the XII World Congress of Echocardiography.

This enormous task, was possible thanks to the joint efforts of the Colombian Society of Cardiology, the International Society of Cardiovascular Ultrasound (ISCU), and the Echocardiography Committee of the Inter-American Society of Cardiology (ECOSIAC). Likewise it is worthwhile mentioning the most valuable contribution of the European Association of Echocardiography (EAE) represented by Dr. Petros Nihoyannopoulos, the present president, and that of Dr. Jose Luis Zamorano, elected president. We have also a special guest, Dr. William Zoghbi, elected president of the American Association of Echocardiography (ASE). We would like to express our most sincere thanks to all of you for your trust.

The Organizing Committee wishes to express its gratitude to Dr. Navin Nanda, President of the ISCU, Dr. Jorge Lowenstein, president of ECOSIAC and the Board of Directors of the Colombian Society of Cardiology. Without their commitment, support and most valuable advice, this meeting would have not been successfully possible.

There are not enough words to highlight the highly commendable work carried out by Dr. Gabriel Salazar, the President of the Scientific Committee.

And last, but not least, we would like to thank all the guest Professors, who with their presence and knowledge have made out of the Academic Program an exhaustive revision of the Echocardiography of today and the future.

We would also like to express our most sincere thanks to the Technological and Pharmaceutical Industry for their economic support.

We invite you to enjoy the Academic Agenda designed by the Scientific Committee as well as the excellent social events that we have prepared for you.

We hope that when you walk around the narrow streets of Cartagena de Indias, full of pirates’ legends and tales, the friendly and joyful spirit of the Colombian Caribbean remains in your hearts forever.

Fernando Manzur Jattin, MD., FACC President, Colombian Society of Cardiology and Cardiovascular Surgery		Carlos García del Río, MD President, XII World Congress of Echocardiography

Gustavo Restrepo Molina, MD. Secretary, XII World Congress of Echocardiography