Wael Almahmeed

Dear Colleagues,

My name is Wael Almahmeed, and I am a consultant cardiologist at Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates. I am honored to seek your support for election as a Member-at-Large of the World Heart Federation (WHF).

For more than 25 years, I have been actively involved in cardiovascular professional societies, with a particular focus on building strong regional and international partnerships, advancing cardiovascular education, supporting young professionals, and advocating for better cardiovascular health.

I was among the senior colleagues who established the Emirates Cardiac Society, and I subsequently served as its third President. I was also a founding member of the Gulf Heart Association, serving as its second President. These experiences taught me the importance of building sustainable cardiovascular organizations that bring together clinicians, scientists, healthcare leaders, and other stakeholders around a common mission.

My commitment to international cardiovascular collaboration has continued through the Asia Pacific Society of Cardiology (APSC), where I served as President and remain actively involved. Through the APSC, I currently support the participation of approximately 100 fellows each year in the European Society of Cardiology European Examination in Core Cardiology. I see education and the development of the next generation of cardiovascular professionals as fundamental to reducing the global burden of cardiovascular disease.

I have also had the privilege of serving the American College of Cardiology as ACC Chapter Governor for the Gulf States and currently serve on the Assembly of International Governors Steering Committee. These roles have strengthened my experience in international governance and reinforced my belief that collaboration across regions and professional societies is essential to achieving meaningful global cardiovascular impact.

Prevention and advocacy have been equally important throughout my career. I have been actively involved in tobacco-control advocacy and had the privilege of organizing the World Conference on Tobacco or Health in Abu Dhabi in 2015. My engagement with WHF began even earlier. In 2000, together with the Emirates Cardiac Society, I was involved in organizing the first World Heart Day celebration in the UAE.

Since then, my relationship with WHF has continued to grow. Together with colleagues from the Emirates Cardiac Society, I was involved in successful bids to host WHF World Congresses in Dubai in 2012 and 2018. I was also pleased to support travel grants for participants at these meetings. More recently, I have supported travel grants for the Emerging Leaders programme and contributed to WHF activities through my current role as a member of the WHF Science Committee.

These experiences have shaped my vision for my contribution to WHF: to strengthen collaboration between cardiovascular societies across regions, expand opportunities for education and leadership development, support emerging cardiovascular leaders, and advocate for effective prevention and cardiovascular health policies—particularly in regions where the burden of cardiovascular disease remains high and resources may be limited.

I believe my experience across regional and international cardiovascular organizations, combined with my longstanding relationship with WHF, would allow me to contribute constructively to the Board and to serve as a bridge between cardiovascular communities across different regions of the world.

It would be a great honor and privilege to work with the WHF leadership and Board, and I would be deeply grateful for your support. If elected, I will bring my experience, commitment, and energy to advancing the mission and vision of the World Heart Federation and, most importantly, to improving cardiovascular health globally.

Thank you for your support and consideration.

Wael Almahmeed, MD
Consultant Cardiologist, Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates