The 64th edition of the Brazilian Congress of Cardiology confirms the internationalization of the event

THE PRESIDENT'S PAGE

The 64^th edition of the Brazilian Congress of Cardiology confirms the internationalization of the event

Antonio Carlos Palandri Chagas

President of SBC

^{Correspondence to}

The highlight of this Issue of Arquivos Brasileiros de Cardiologia (The Brazilian Archives of Cardiology) is naturally the 64^th Edition of the Brazilian Congress of Cardiology. The pre-registration is now closed, with a total of 5,240 participations, which represents an increase of around 10% in comparison to that of 2008.

Translating that into figures, this growth is a reflex not only of the also increased number of national lecturers, which will be 587 in Salvador, in comparison to the 500 we had at the Congress in Curitiba, but also of the international lecturers, 43 of them, 13 more than last year. Among the latter, we would like to draw attention to the presence of participants from Europe, Africa and North, Central and South Americas.

The increased number of renowned international guests is justified by the selected themes – "The Impact of Cardiovascular Diseases in the Globalized World" (central) and "The Centenary of the Description of Chagas Disease" (highlighted). The chosen topics continue the discussion proposed at the 63^rd Edition of the Brazilian Congress of Cardiology, focused on atherosclerosis and represent an evolution of the debate, in this edition, of global scope, about chronic-degenerative and acute affections. This contemporary and coherent discussion will unquestionably represent the ultimate proof of the internationalization of the event. By the way, we can call it the I International Congress of the Brazilian Society of Cardiology (SBC).

And it is important to say it: we did not reach this level of maturity incidentally. In addition to the quality of the pre-registered participants and guests, we also had a record number of submitted free themes: 1,242, representing an increase of 23% in relation to the past record of 1,007 free themes submitted in 2008. And the 306 programmed activities represent the maximum number supported by the physical structure of the Bahia Convention Center, the place where the Congress will be held.

The qualification of the main forum promoted by our SBC is the result of the indefatigable work of the President of the Congress, José Carlos R. Brito, and the Congress Executive and Scientific Committees, presided by the Scientific Director of this Society, Luiz Antonio de Almeida Campos, and the Local Scientific and Infra-Structure Committee, with the full support of SBC Bahia and the collaboration of the entire SBC staff, especially the Event Management Department.

I also would like to draw attention to the results of the "Discussion Forum on Cardiovascular Diseases and the Environment", recently held in Sao Paulo, in which SBC gathered a task-force to manifest its growing concern on and obtain support for the fight against what we consider "preventable deaths", i.e., those caused by cardiovascular events aggravated by air pollution.

The event had the participation not only of cardiologists, but also of professionals from other specialties; of class institutions; of government representatives from several areas; of authorities from the industry area and of researchers. It is important to mention the presence of one of the most important specialists in the pollution/death correlation, John J. Godleski, from Harvard University, of the former Minister of Health, Adib Jatene and of the Ambassador Rubens Ricupero.

At the end of the Forum, all present committed to joining their efforts in search of solutions that can drastically and rapidly decrease the level of pollution in Brazil. The event concluded with the writing of a letter addressed to the Minister of the Environment, Carlos Minc, requesting his support for the campaign. This document can be viewed at SBC portal at www.cardiol.br.

Finally, SBC is not only increasing its boundaries regarding its activities directed at high-quality continuing education, but also focusing on its socioenvironmental responsibility, in search of a better and, consequently, a healthier world.

Good health and "axé"^* to all! See you in Salvador!

*

The word "axé" comes from a greeting ritual used in the Candomble and Umbanda religions that means "good vibration". Axé music is a popular music genre originated in Salvador, Bahia.

Publication Dates

• Publication in this collection
  22 Oct 2009
• Date of issue
  Sept 2009