Barts Heart Centre research director elected as president of prestigious cardiology association
Steffen Petersen, the clinical co-director for research for Barts Heart Centre at St Bartholomew’s Hospital, has been elected as President of the European Association of Cardiovascular Imaging (EACVI).
The EACVI is an association within the European Society of Cardiology which aims to promote excellence in clinical diagnosis, research, technical development and education in cardiovascular imaging.
The association has more than 8,000 members, including cardiologists, sonographers, nurses, basic scientists and allied professionals.
On his appointment, Professor Petersen said: “I am excited and grateful to have been given this chance by thousands of our association’s members, and I am committed to our mission of promoting excellence in cardiovascular imaging.
“The Covid-19 pandemic has affected us all, changing us and our environments.
“We need to reflect and be ready to change: firstly, how we practice cardiac imaging to best serve our patients; secondly, how we support and deliver the highest quality research that will impact patients positively; thirdly, how we have the broadest reach through innovative high-quality education; and last but not least how we better engage with our patients.”
Professor Petersen will act as president-elect for the first two years, followed by a further two years as president, ending with two years as past president.
Professor Peterson also leads Barts BioResource, a dynamic health data repository and linked biobank of consented patients managed by Barts Health NHS Trust to allow research into health and disease.
The Barts BioResource relies on the donation of human blood, saliva, swabs, urine, faeces and soft/solid tissue.