NEWS
■ All ESC Associations have aligned their constitutions with the ESC Statutes to facilitate internal governance. EAPCI Members are invited to vote on the new EAPCI Constitution during the General Assembly taking place during ESC Congress 2016 in Rome on Tuesday 30 August 2016 from 11:30 to 12:30, Passarella, Level 1, ESC Meeting Room 5. Mark your calendar!
■ An upgraded version of the CathGo database was being released at EuroPCR 2016. What’s new? An online multicriteria search engine where institutions have direct access to update, create and modify their information. Find out more on EAPCI website!
■ Join Professor Irene Lang, Professor David Jimenez, Doctor Philippe Meyer and Professor Hervé Mal on Thursday 30 June 2016 from 18:00 to 19:00 CEST for an interactive general cardiology webinar on “The multidisciplinary heart team discussion: how to manage a patient with dyspnoea”. Free for all!
■ Join Prof. Stephan Gielen, Prof. Massimo F. Piepoli and Prof. Jean-Paul Schmid online on 4 July 2016 from 18:00 to 19:00 CEST for an EAPCI interactive webinar including case-based presentations, online assessment and live discussions with the key opinion leaders. Register for free!
EAPCI “Focus on a Fellow”, the EAPCI Fellowship Experience
An interview with John Jose, 2014 EAPCI Fellowship awardee
Why did you choose this fellowship topic?
My fellowship took place in Germany, under the supervision of Professor Abdel-Wahab, who has had a vast experience in transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI). TAVI was a topic which I had very little knowledge of or exposure to during my training period in India, and it was my desired “point of improvement”. Without this fellowship, it would have been impossible for me to get involved in TAVI. Not only that, my experience in Germany helped me to introduce TAVI from Germany…all the way back to India where I set up the TAVI programme for my country.
How does the TAVI field look in India?
In India, TAVI is a completely new procedure. Today it is growing, but we are still facing some difficulties. In fact, I would have to say that every year we perform fewer than 15 TAVIs and currently TAVI cannot be financed by the state. We are thus collaborating with some institutions and organisations for financial support. Alternatively, the patients who undergo TAVI procedures have to fund them themselves.
What difficulties did you face during your fellowship?
Being away from India was very challenging. There were many difficulties both from a professional and from a personal point of view. Most of my experience in Germany was very new to me and, of course, it was hard not being able to speak the local language. However, this fellowship was of great benefit to me and I learned a lot. The best part was being in contact with the patients and sharing this experience with so many of my other fellows from around the world. In addition, my supervisor, Professor Abdel-Wahab was extremely helpful. He was the best teacher I have ever had, very polite and always impressing me with his knowledge.
Do you have any advice for future applicants?
The most vital and important thing to do is to find your area of interest and concentrate on it. It is only then that you can plan ahead. That is the most solid piece of advice that I could offer future candidates.
What are your own future career plans?
TAVI is definitely my main focus; however, the state of affairs in India is very difficult at the moment. That is, it is extremely hard for a specialist to focus exclusively on one area or domain. If I were to focus exclusively on TAVI, I would sure need to have my scholars here with me!
Current institute: SH Heart Institute Kottayam, Kerala , India
Fellowship Institute: Heart Center, Segeberger Kliniken GmbH (Academic Teaching Hospital of the Universities of Kiel and Hamburg), Bad Segeberg (Germany).
Fellowship topic: Assessment of valve haemodynamics, regurgitation, ventricular remodelling and myocardial fibrosis following transcatheter aortic valve implantation with second-generation devices compared to surgical aortic valve replacement using cardiovascular magnetic resonance study.
Fellowship period: 2014-2015
Fellowship supervisor: Mohamed Abdel-Wahab
Fellowship grant support: Medtronic
