As I reflect on my first year as ICS President, I am very proud of the resilience that the society and its members have shown during what has been a very challenging 18 months. The pandemic has affected us all professionally and personally and it has been my pleasure and an honour to help lead and navigate the society for the past year.
Whilst it is very disappointing that we have not been able to come together as a group, the society has certainly risen to the challenge and expanded its on-line activities. Our key objective of providing educational opportunities for members has continued to be achieved, albeit within the virtual space.
Our Spring Series earlier this year showcased an array of keynote presentations and allowed us to continue our links with the Mayo Clinic, while we wait for the very successful Cardiology on the Green meeting to be revived as an in person event. In addition, the Irish Cardiologists of Tomorrow Education Series has proven to be a great success, resulting in the development of a resource library that will be of benefit to current and future trainees. My thanks to all involved in both events.
We are very fortunate that our friendships with colleagues overseas remain strong and we continued to nurture these relationships from afar participating in activities with the BCS, ACC and ESC this year. Our website, launched in January has proven to be a tremendous member resource and another mechanism to preserve and strengthen links with colleagues at home and abroad.
Disappointingly, for the second time in our long history we will not be coming together as a group for our annual meeting. However, we have again embraced the opportunities that virtual meetings present and have devised an excellent scientific programme with live keynote presentations and on demand viewing of selected abstracts. I am also delighted that the Stokes Lecture will return this year delivered by Professor Ken McDonald. This year will also see the intervention case competition being renamed in honour of Prof. David Foley who passed away early this year. David was a friend and colleague to many of us and made an outstanding contribution to Irish cardiology. His loss is huge.
My thanks to our speakers, everyone who submitted an abstract and to our industry partners who continue to generously support our activities. I also want to extend my sincere gratitude to the ICS council for their time and commitment throughout the year. In particular I wish to thank outgoing council members, Dr. Christine Hughes, Dr. Peter McKavanagh and Mr. Alastair Graham – the society is greatly appreciative of their contributions.
I hope you will enjoy this years event and look forward to meeting you all in person as soon as is permissible.
Kind regards,
Prof. Vincent MG Maher
MD, FRCPI, FESC, FACC
President, Irish Cardiac Society
Irish Cardiac Society Members can now view the meeting content on demand within the members area.