The 19th Horizons in Interventional Cardiology conference at Rambam furthered the anticipation for completion of the new Eyal Ofer Heart Hospital. Live cardiac catheterization procedures were broadcast and discussed.

Against the background of large investments by pharmaceutical companies in medical research, construction of the new Eyal Ofer Heart Hospital at Rambam Health Care Campus, and with a clear agenda of medical and therapeutic innovation, the 19th Horizons in Interventional Cardiology conference took at Rambam last week (June 5). In addition to broadcasting live surgical procedures and discussions between interventional cardiologists and other experts, numerous innovations were presented relating to a medical field that speaks to everyone’s heart.

The conference brought together senior physicians and cardiologists from all over Israel. During the event, live cardiac intervention treatments were broadcast directly to the conference hall. The audience, mostly composed of professionals, actively participated in the procedures by asking questions and engaging in discussions with physicians in the operating room.

Professor Rafi Beyar, Rambam’s director, greeted participants together with Professor Ran Kornowski, President of the Israel Cardiology Association, Professor Lior Gepstein, Director of Cardiology at Rambam, and Professor Ariel Roguin, Director or Rambam’s Interventional Cardiology Unit. Dr. Shmuel Rispler, Director of the Heart Failure Services at Rambam, coordinated the live broadcasts.

The conference officially opened with an award ceremony honoring Professor Beyar, who is also an interventional cardiologist at Rambam and responsible for the establishment of the conference. Professor Beyar was deeply moved and surprised, and thanked the team with whom he has worked for so many years.

“On the 80th anniversary of Rambam’s activity, our hospital’s investment in medical research and development is tremendous,” explains Professor Beyar. “A report was recently published by the Ministry of Health stating that in 2017, Rambam was the leading hospital attracting pharmaceutical company investments in clinical studies at government public hospitals and medical centers. We are currently working hard to begin construction of the new Eyal Ofer Heart Hospital on Rambam’s west campus, adjacent to the Helmsley Health Discovery Tower—where we expect to see the next generation of medical technologies and devices developed for the benefit of our cardiology patients. This conference is part of our understanding that through investment and the sharing of knowledge and experience, we can provide our patients the best medical care.”

Conference participants were exposed to a number of innovations in interventional cardiology related to technology, pharmaceuticals, and therapeutic approaches. During the event, cardiac procedures were broadcast in real time, while in the conference hall, panel discussions with experts from all over the country discussed issues related to patient care. Among the topics discussed were aortic valve implants in the catheterization room; different approaches for treating patients with heart disease, particularly emphasizing use of the ECMO device (a heart-lung-bypass machine); imaging for coronary disease diagnoses; considerations when treating drug addicts; and treatment of complex coronary disease.

In accordance with an annual tradition at the conference, the Young Researcher Award honoring the late Lieutenant Elad Grenadier was presented to two physicians for their exemplary research. The first awardee was Dr. Erez Marcusohn, a physician in Rambam’s Department of Internal Medicine, for his research on radiation protection. The second was Dr. Fernando Chernomordik, of the Olga & Lev Leviev Heart Center at Sheba Medical Center, for his research on platelet inhibition during cardiac infarction. The prizes were presented by Professor Amos Etzioni, former Deputy Director of Rambam and a member of the hospital’s Helsinki Committee, and by Bruria Grenadier, mother of Lieutenant Grenadier.