Editorial

Abstract

As we do each year, the French Cardiology community, with our colleagues from Francophone countries, Europe, North America, and Africa, at our sides, meet at the Palais des Congrès for the annual event of our specialization, the 26th European Days of the French Society of Cardiology. We hope that this year, as for the precedent editions, diagnostic innovations and cardiovascular pathology therapeutics will be thoroughly represented throughout the meeting in the main sessions including more than thirty joint sessions with allied national societies, news flashes, updates of the leading clinical trials, practical workshops, original oral communications and commented poster presentations. This year, the timeline has been slightly modified, we will be starting at 8:30 a.m. on Thursday and Friday, leaving more free time at lunch (12 to 2 p.m.) and thus increasing the possibilities for the activities organized at this time. The program will be available online, in advance, on the dedicated smartphone application as of August and will be regularly updated. We will have the great fortune, at this edition, to attend presentations from numerous highly esteemed orators. Eugene Braunwald will be the honored speaker for one of the two American lectures dedicated to the future of cardiology. He has made significant contributions to our field through his scientific leadership and his exceptional pedagogy. Mariell Jessup will honor us by giving the second American lecture on her theme of excellence, heart failure. Patrick Serruys will be the European lecture orator and will address bioabsorbable stents. John Eikelboom, Patrizio Lancellotti, Roberto Lang and numerous other colleagues from neighboring countries, alongside the recognized French lecturers, will enlighten this year's European Days with their insight in their fields of expertise. The traditional Laënnec lecture provides the occasion for a leader Alain Carpentier, MD, PhD, this year to share, from his own perspective, his experience in the advancements of the practice of our art. The theme of the European Days of the French Society of Cardiology 2016, « E-Cardiology » responds, at least we hope it does, to the increasing foregrounded necessity to orient and tailor our daily clinical practice, through the integration of connection technology and devices, providing us with continuous and precious information on the vital signs of our patients. Alongside remote detection of cardiac arrhythmias and implantable device malfunctioning, there are numerous uses for these technologies today. Other domains of cardiovascular pathologies are equally concerned by this technology such as therapeutic education of patients. The village will be dedicated to this theme, with practical case sessions and meetings with experts, overseen by Jean Ferrières. Learning through simulation will also be addressed through the experiences of various French centers. The organizing and scientific committees of the European Days of the French Society of Cardiology have based the organization this year's program on the most recent clinical and therapeutic advances across the numerous domains of cardiovascular pathologies and on the constantly updated consensus guidelines emanating from the European Society of Cardiology. Beyond the programmed communications, we wish to draw your attention to the commented posters that have been selected and awarded prizes by a jury, which will be orally presented on Saturday, just before the session in which prizes and scholarships will be awarded by the French Society of Cardiology. A program dedicated to our youngest colleagues, Cardiologists in training, has been planned, addressing these various themes presented on a joint basis between our young colleagues, who have already gained experience, and their seniors. In partnership with the industry, and under the supervision of the Independent Validation Committee, the symposia and lunch-debates will address medication and intervention advances and perspectives. This program will be completed by the very practical information provided at the “training center” proposing a convivial environment enabling more candid exchanges about the most recent diagnostic material (cardiovascular imagery in particular) and therapeutics (both medications and devices), underlining their increasingly important place in the therapeutic arsenal. Among the events of 2016, the exceptional lecture will be given by Jean-Christophe Rufin, a man of letters, neurologist, “doctor of the world” French Ambassador, and academic, Goncourt Prize, who will honor us with his participation in our European Days by sharing his knowledge and cultivating our understanding. The 26th European Days of the French Society of Cardiology aim to refresh and to continue expanding upon the success of prior editions, which have united more than 8,000 participants, as the attendance and implication have since been proven. The organization of the 26th European Days of the French Society of Cardiology is each year both a challenge (going faster in order to stay at the pace of the news) and a gamble (always doing a little bit better), and may be attributed to the aid of our organization and scientific committees, to the team at the Maison du Cœur, and to the implication of the EUROPA Society Organization. All are to be thanked for this very special effort, which requires a full year of work in order to make these European Days, the success that each prior year has known. Enjoy the congress!