Dr. Uri Elkayam to Deliver Sixth HJC Swan Memorial Lecture at Opening of International Academy of Cardiology, 17th World Congress on Heart Disease, Scientific Sessions 2012

July 24, 2012

CIRINA CATANIA
The Catania Group
(661) 347-1349
cardiology@catania.us

Beverly Hills, CA (PRWEB) (July 24, 2012) - Asher Kimchi, M.D., Founder and Chairman of the International Academy of Cardiology, today announced the selection of Uri Elkayam, M.D., Professor of Medicine and Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Southern California, Keck School of Medicine, Los Angeles, California, USA, to deliver the sixth H.J.C. Swan Memorial Lecture at the Opening Ceremony of the International Academy of Cardiology, 17th World Congress on Heart Disease Annual Scientific Sessions 2012 to be held in Toronto, ON, Canada, from Friday, July 27 through Monday, July 30, 2012.

Dr. Elkayam will present on the topic of “Peripartum Cardiomyopathy (PPCM): New Concepts in Pathophysiology and Management.” PPCM is a pregnancy-associated cardiomyopathy developed in young and healthy women presenting with heart failure symptoms secondary to decreased left ventricular systolic function. This condition can be associated with severe complications and is a leading cause of mortality related to pregnancy. The cause of PPCM is still unknown and various potential etiologies have been suggested but not proven. Recent research in both humans and animals has provided exciting information on possible mechanisms and new potential therapy. The findings of elevated pro-inflammatory and pro-apoptotic serum in patients with PPCM led to the use of the anti inflammatory, anti apoptotic agent pentoxifilline with impressive positive effect on outcome. A recent pilot study and other clinical observations in humans have demonstrated a significant improvement in outcome, including symptoms, recovery of LV function and survival in PPCM patients receiving bromocriptin compared to standard heart failure therapy alone.

Dr. Elkayam, received an MD degree from Tel Aviv University in Israel, trained in cardiology at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York and at Cedars Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles. He then joined the faculty of the University of California Irvine in 1979 and the faculty of the University of Southern California in 1981 where he became a professor of Medicine and Obstetrics and Gynecology. He served as Clinical Chief of Cardiology and Director of the Heart Failure Program at USC University Hospital. Dr. Elkayam has served on the editorial board of several journals including JACC, JACC Heart Failure, American Journal of Cardiology, Journal of Cardiac Failure and Cardiology. He has published over 400 papers, abstracts and book chapters, has been the editor of three classic textbooks on Cardiac problems in pregnancy and is a member of many prestigious academic societies. Dr. Elkayam’s research interests include congestive heart failure, vascular biology, renal vasoregulation, cardiovascular pharmacology, nitrate tolerance, valvular heart disease in heart failure and heart disease in pregnancy.

Dr. Asher Kimchi comments, ”We are most fortunate to have Dr. Elkayam with us at the 17th World Congress on Heart Disease. His teachings and research are unparalleled and we are looking forward to his presentation on Peripartum Cardiomyopathy: New Concepts in Pathophysiology and Management."

Asher Kimchi, M.D., is the Vice Clinical Chief of Cardiology and the Medical Director of the Preventive and Consultative Heart Center of Excellence at the Cedars-Sinai Heart Institute, Los Angeles, California. He is also a Clinical Professor of Medicine at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, California.

On Saturday, July 28, 2012, at 9:00 am, the Founder and Chairman of the International Academy of Cardiology, Dr. Asher Kimchi, will greet the Congress’ six hundred attendees from fifty-four countries throughout the world at the official Opening Ceremony of the 17th World Congress on Heart Disease. The Opening Ceremony and Awards Presentations will be chaired by Dr. Jeffrey S. Borer, New York, NY, USA; Professor of Medicine and Chairman, Department of Medicine; Chief, Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, SUNY, Downstate Medical Center, Brooklyn NY; Chairman, Scientific Executive Committee; Chairman, Section of Valvular Heart Disease, International Academy of Cardiology.

The following Members of the International Academy of Cardiology will also take part in the Opening Ceremony:

• Dr. John A. Elefteriades, New Haven, CT, Professor of Cardiothoracic Surgery and Chief of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Yale University School of Medicine; Chairman, Scientific Executive Committee; and Chairman, Section of Cardiovascular Surgery, International Academy of Cardiology
• Prof. Naranjan S. Dhalla, Canada, Distinguished Professor and Director of Cardiovascular Developments, SBRC, Institute of Cardiovascular Sciences, St. Boniface General Hospital Research Centre, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada; Member of the Scientific Executive Committee and Chairman of the Section of Molecular Cardiology, International Academy of Cardiology
• Dr. William Bommer, USA, Professor of Medicine, Director of Noninvasive Services, University of California-Davis, Sacramento, California, USA; Member, Scientific Executive Committee, International Academy of Cardiology
• Dr. Nathan D. Wong, USA, Professor and Director of the Heart Disease Prevention Program, Division of Cardiology, University of California Irvine, Irvine, California USA; Member, Scientific Executive Committee; Chairman, Section of Preventive Cardiology, International Academy of Cardiology
• Dr. Michael Farkouh, Canada, Associate Professor of Medicine; Director, Clinical Trials, Peter Munk Cardiac Centre and Director, Research, Division of Cardiology, University of Toronto; Member, Scientific Executive Committee, International Academy of Cardiology

Awards to Be Presented For Distinguished Contributions to Medicine and Cardiology:
The International Academy of Cardiology has established five awards to honor the memory of distinguished colleagues who made a major contribution to Medicine and Cardiology and who were members of the faculty for previous International Academy of Cardiology meetings. As in previous years, a very prestigious Awards Committee selected the recipients.

Dr. Jeffrey S. Borer and Dr. John A. Elefteriades, Co-Chairmen of the Awards Committee, will present the following awards for 2012 at the opening ceremony of the Congress:

• The WALTER BLEIFELD MEMORIAL AWARD for distinguished work in the field of Clinical Research
• The ALBRECHT FLECKENSTEIN MEMORIAL AWARD for distinguished work in the field of Basic Research
• The JAN J. KELLERMANN MEMORIAL AWARD for distinguished work in the field of Cardiovascular Disease Prevention
• The HANS-PETER KRAYENBUEHL MEMORIAL AWARD for distinguished work in the field of Research in Cardiac Function
• The MELVIN L. MARCUS MEMORIAL AWARD for distinguished contribution as a Gifted Teacher
• The DISTINGUISHED FELLOWSHIP AWARD for profound contribution to Cardiovascular Medicine and important service to the Academy

Dr. Kimchi notes that, “The Congress will provide the opportunity for a comprehensive overview of the latest research developments in cardiovascular medicine, primarily in the areas of Molecular and Cellular Cardiology, Genetics of Heart Disease, Cardiac Imaging, Coronary Artery Disease, Interventional Cardiology, Lipoprotein Disorders, Hypertension, Metabolic Syndrome, Heart Failure, Valvular Heart Disease, Diseases of the Aorta, Cardiac Arrhythmias and Electrophysiology, Implantable Cardiac Pacemakers and Cardioverter-Defibrillators, Sudden Cardiac Death, Pediatric Cardiology, Cardiac Surgery, Heart Transplantation and Mechanical Circulatory Support."

According to Dr. Kimchi, "Papers will be presented in the form of plenary sessions, symposia and posters and will include superb scientific material originating from numerous laboratories around the globe that was carefully selected by the Scientific Abstract Review committee from over seven hundred and fifty abstracts submitted for presentation at the meeting. The four hundred and eighty-six studies selected for presentation originate from laboratories in fifty-four countries. This assures that the meeting will be a major scientific event."

Dr. Kimchi proudly announced, “The World Congress on Heart Disease has been endorsed by most prestigious medical societies and associations. The scientific program of the Congress has been reviewed by the American Medical Association and approved for 23.75 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™. The Congress is affiliated with the American College of Cardiology, California Chapter and the American Society for Preventive Cardiology and has been endorsed by the Heart Valve Society of America.”

Among the highlights of the program are three joint scientific sessions: 1) “A Glimpse to the Future – Genetics of Heart Disease“ (Joint Session with the American College of Cardiology, California Chapter), 2) “Valvular and Congenital Heart Disease “ (Joint Session with the Heart Valve Society of America) and 3) “Obesity, Metabolic Syndrome and Diabetes” (Joint Session with the American Society for Preventive Cardiology).

The International Academy of Cardiology, founded twenty-three years ago by Dr. Asher Kimchi, is dedicated to the advancement of global research in cardiovascular medicine through the support of scientific meetings and publications.

Over the past two decades, the World Congress on Heart Disease has become one of the most prestigious meetings in cardiovascular medicine and is attended by physicians and scientists worldwide. The Congress provides a forum for innovative and comprehensive overview of the latest research developments in cardiovascular medicine, primarily in the areas of molecular and cellular cardiology, coronary artery disease, heart failure, cardiac arrhythmias, pediatric cardiology and cardiac surgery.

Registration for the 17th World Congress on Heart Disease, presented by the International Academy of Cardiology, in Toronto, ON, Canada from July 27-30, 2012 is available online at http://www.CardiologyOnline.com. The Congress takes place at the Fairmont Royal York, 100 Front Street West, Toronto, ON, Canada.

For further information or to book interviews, please visit Cardiology Online or contact Cirina Catania at The Catania Group, Inc., cardiology@catania.us.

CIRINA CATANIA
The Catania Group
(661) 347-1349
cardiology@catania.us