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BISMICS

Monday 20th November 2017

Recently Wil Woan attended the annual British and Irish Society for Minimally Invasive Cardiac Surgery (BISMICS) meeting in London on the 2nd and 3rd November. The meeting brings together health professionals with an interest in minimally invasive cardiothoracic surgery from across the UK, Ireland and overseas to discuss recent advancements and achievements in the field.

BISMICS is a charitable organisation that aims to promote and protect the good health of patients requiring cardiac surgery, it is working with industry to increase numbers of minimally invasive procedures performed which has an impact on patients quality of life and social care.

As part of the meeting, Wil delivered a presentation about Heart Valve Voice and our plans over the next few months. Wil also shared Heart Valve Voice’s previous work and provided the delegates with an update on the European Heart Valve Disease Awareness Day, our second annual EuroPCR Cycle Ride and the regional best practice events that we will be holding across the UK. Most importantly, he talked about how patients are becoming increasingly empowered to find out and ask about the different treatments available for them and how the thirst for a better understanding of minimally invasive technology is growing. This was an excellent opportunity to spread the word about the charity and the important work that we do while also encouraging the specialists to get involved where they can.

Max Baghai, Consultant Cardiothoracic Surgeon, King’s College Hospital, London said, “It’s great to see patient societies like Heart Valve Voice at events such as this as it helps to connect our understanding of the diagnosis and treatment of the disease with our patient community”

Wil was able to network with a number of leading clinicians and reconnect with surgeons like Ishtiaq Ahmed, Consultant Cardiothoracic Surgeon, Brighton and Sussex University Hospitals, Joe Zacharias, Consultant Cardiothoracic Surgeon at Blackpool Victoria Hospital, Professor Olaf Wendler, Consultant Cardiothoracic Surgeon, King’s College Hospital, Stuart Grant, Specialist Trainee in Cardiac Surgery, Manchester Royal Infirmary and our Chairman Chris Young, Consultant Cardiothoracic Surgeon, Guy’s and St Thomas’ Hospital.

It was also a great opportunity to meet new surgeons such as Kulvinder Lall, Consultant Cardiothoracic Surgeon, Barts Hospital and Massimiliano Codispoti, Consultant Cardiothoracic Surgeon, Barts Hospital.

“It was great to meet Wil at BISMICS and I’m looking forward to working with Heart Valve Voice to help increase awareness of valve disease and to promote the many treatment options available to patients,” Massimiliano said. “I’m thrilled to learn about the European Awareness Day and will be supporting Heart Valve Voice and of course the team from my home country at Cuore Italia.”