Saudi Heart Association lays out its plans

The Saudi Heart Association (SHA) laid out its future plans as well as its accomplishments during its 26th annual conference on Saturday.
“The 1,000-member association aims to undertake new projects,” said SHA President Khaled Fayez Al-Habib. “A new branch will be opened in Madinah in the next few months.”
Fitting recognition and honor were accorded on the occasion to all those who will establish the new branch to be headed by Saleh Al-Ghamdi.
Participants include more than 200 consultants and speakers from the US, Canada (such as Robert C. Welsh of the University of Alberta), Europe, Asia, Australia, Africa, Arab and Gulf countries.
A pre-conference was held on Friday with various seminars and workshops although the well-attended event was officially opened on Saturday with Al-Habib addressing the occasion. The conference ends Monday.
Other association projects include the establishment of the Council of the Saudi Acute Myocardiac Infarction (STARS) Registry which was launched on the occasion and the 4th Mohammed Al-Faqih Research Award to demonstrate the association’s recognition to the importance of research.
“On behalf of the SHA, 26 scientific and organizing committees, we wish that everyone enjoys this symposium,” said Al-Habib.
For its achievements, the group has launched an SHA Cardiac Nurses Working Group which is considered a milestone. Moreover, the Journal of the Saudi Heart Association has also been officially indexed in the PubMed Central.
The association also organized in November 2014 the “Walk the Talk...Literally,” which was a huge success, in collaboration with the Health Promotion Center and the Saudi Group of Cardiovascular Prevention and Rehabilitation .
“Walk the Talk...Literally!” aimed to encourage all health practitioners to be role models for their patients. As a member of the World Heart Federation (WHF), the SHA led the initiative so that many others join in the near future to celebrate World Heart Day and achieve the WHF target of reducing premature deaths from cardiovascular diseases by 25 percent in 2025.


On the first day of the conference on Friday, a series of workshops in seven different tracks in addiction to abstract presentation and nomination for the Mohammed Al-Faqih Prize was held.
On the second day on Saturday, different sessions were highlighted and collaborated with international organizations. On Sunday, the SHA will continue with international joint sessions involving the American College of Cardiology, Canadian Cardiovascular Society and Turkish Society of Cardiology.
The association’s objectives include facilitation of exchange of scientific and clinical experience between the SHA and other interested organizations in the Kingdom and abroad, setting standards for the diagnosis and treatment of cardiovascular disease in Saudi Arabia and promoting research in cardiovascular medicine.
The event was also attended by Hani Najm, SHA vice president and chairman of the International Joint Collaboration, and Riyad Abu-Sulaiman, chairman of the SHA 26 Scientific Committee.