Under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai, Minister of Finance, and President of the Dubai Health Authority, the 5th Annual Case Based Approach to Controversies in Cardiovascular Disease Conference was held in Dubai (8-10 October) at Mohammed Bin Rashid Academic Medical Center with the participation of around 300 delegates. 

 

The conference was supported by Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum Award for Medical Sciences and organized by Mayo Clinic and Cleveland Clinic from USA, in collaboration with Emirates Cardiac Society, and is accredited for 14 Continuous Medical Education hours from UAE University.

 

Mr. Abdullah Bin Souqat, the Executive Director of Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid AL Maktoum Award for Medical Sciences said, “The uniqueness of this conference is that speakers present all topics in a ‘real world’ case-based format, which encourages participation and debate among the faculty and attendees. We have realized that a number of delegates return every year to attend the conference, and a share of attendees came from different countries, an evident that Dubai is a hub for medical conferences that attract delegates from across the globe”.

“Hamdan Medical Award is committed to continuously support this conference, and other unique medical conferences in Dubai. Holding the conference under the patronage of H.H. Sheikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai, Minister of Finance, and the President of Dubai Health Authority, is out of our honour and a base for the award’s strategy towards improving the provided healthcare services in the region. I would like to thank Cleveland Clinic and Mayo Clinic from USA for their dedication and support in organizing this robust educational activity every year for our medical community.” 

H.E. Humaid Al Quitami, Chairman of the Board of Dubai Health Authority, paid a visit to the conference and met with the organizing committee and keynote speakers from Cleveland Clinic and Mayo Clinic. During the visit, in the 1st day of the conference, His Excellency assured attendees that UAE leadership is highly focused on healthcare services and on providing the UAE with healthcare facilities able to cover all medical specialties comparable to international standards. This aligns with the UAE strategy of focusing on people, the real fortune of the nation. 

 

“Hospitals and healthcare facilities in UAE have highly qualified healthcare professionals providing specialized care for cardiac patients – including emergency catheterization, open heart surgeries, and other highly specialized services and procedures – which help decrease the need to send patients abroad for treatment,” said His Excellency.

 

His Excellency Al Quitami emphasized the importance of prevention programs that are targeting chronic diseases, including cardiovascular diseases, through organized public health campaigns, medical conferences and efforts to promote healthy lifestyles that limit the chronic disease risk factors.

 

His Excellency praised the cooperation with international healthcare organizations that helps in managing and operating a number of healthcare facilities in the country and in the field of research. 

 

His Excellency Al Quitami commended the efforts of Cleveland Clinic and Mayo Clinic on their willingness to share their knowledge with the medical community through scientific meetings and the annual cardiovascular conference in Dubai. Such efforts encourage interaction and knowledge exchange between healthcare providers, while introducing the latest approaches in cardiovascular medicine. His Excellency listened to the organizers and faculty of the conference, who spoke about the conference, its topics and various presentations, in addition to real patient cases that will be discussed during the conference. 

 

 

Wael Jaber, M.D., course director and staff cardiologist at Cleveland Clinic’s Heart & Vascular Institute, said: “We are honored to receive the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum. The conference delivers up-to-date information on a health issue that affects so many people worldwide What makes this conference unique is that we are presenting all topics in a ‘real world’ case-based format, which encourages participation and debate among the faculty and attendees.”

 

It is worthy to mention that the conference discussed important topics such as coronary artery disease, heart disease interventions, and patient selection and outcomes. Speakers discussed patient case studies on heart failure, electrophysiology studies and pacemakers/ICD, vascular disease, and mitral and tricuspid valves. 

 

Also, the conference included case presentations about unexplained chest pain, pregnant women with heart problems, and aortic bioprosthetic thrombosis, and stroke prevention in atrial fibrillation.