Dear Colleagues,
When we are preparing the journal internally we all know that this current issue of EuroIntervention will be published around the time of the European Society of Cardiology’s annual congress. What does that evoke for us? A dynamic meeting that has grown as fast as our specialty has evolved. For those of us who can remember its early years, and the comparisons made at the time even twenty years ago to the North American meetings, we can look back with pride at the vitality of our European cardiovascular healthcare community today. Active at home, respected abroad, and attracting thousands from around the globe, that is what European cardiology represents for us, but how does this international dynamism play out in our own journal? An interesting question, and one which we find frankly perplexing, and which we approach with mixed emotions.
We are deeply cognizant of the international respect that EuroIntervention has garnered. You only need to look at the articles in this edition to see the range of our subjects, and the geographic diversity of their origins. Three papers from Asia and the Pacific rim, one paper from South America, three from the United States – who could ask for a greater compliment than that these authors saw fit to submit to us. But along side of this we see that there are only four European articles... the same amount that we received from the Americas. Where are our European submissions? Where are you, our European scientists and clinicians, submitting your articles? And why not here, with us?
In this issue, and in previous ones, we have discussed the European wide initiative called Stent-for-Life, a discussion of which appears in this edition of EuroIntervention1. Here we see a fine example of both a European contribution to the improvement of healthcare and healthcare delivery, and an example of where we stand as a continent, not only in the nature of our work in terms of research, but more importantly, in its practical dissemination – a profound desire to offer what is best to all. We are proud to be part of this European endeavour, proud that this journal can contribute to the debate and content of cardiovascular care, proud of our international contributors, authors and friends, and desirous of hearing more from our European counterparts. Europeans! Submit to EuroIntervention today!
An European association
We cannot speak about our speciality in Europe without speaking about the EAPCI, and we cannot evoke this association without thanking our long term collaborator William Wijns who signs his last editorial as President of this association in our current issue. His wit and sometimes challenging take on events in our specialty was greatly appreciated. He has a singular and respected voice, and we are sure to hear from him again in the pages of our journal, for other articles, and perhaps other, more personal letters to the editor. His two years as president of the EAPCI have helped firmly establish that association after its transformation from a Working Group of the ESC, and he has led the EAPCI at a time when our often “insular” speciality (as he so aptly describes us) was opening up to other specialities as well as forging its relations to the parent organisation, the European Society of Cardiology. We look forward, with great anticipation, to our collaboration with the new EAPCI president who we all know well, Carlo Di Mario, and we are excited to be participating in this adventure together.
Creating the future, today
During these summer months, we do not remain idle. Preparations are being carefully laid for future editions, supplements and sections, and great effort is being expended on insuring the continuity of journal, by insuring the past through the retrospective indexing of previous editions and enlarging the future, by encouraging your submissions.
We look forward to hearing from you, and invite you to enjoy our current edition.
Reference
