The 8th edition of the World Heart Summit took place in Geneva, Switzerland — the heart of global health diplomacy — on 19-21 May 2023, ahead of the 76th World Health Assembly.
Leaders and innovators from government, business, civil society and academia engaged in transformational conversations as we explored some of the most pressing challenges in global cardiovascular health.
Together, we can bring cardiovascular disease to the top of the global health agenda and build a world where everyone, everywhere, has access to a healthy living environment and the care, treatment and information they need to keep their hearts healthy.
Minister of Health and Population
Egypt
Khalid Abdel Ghaffar is a former Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research, and the current Minister of Health and Population in Egypt. He is also Acting Minister of Health and Population since October 2021. He headed the Department of Oral Medicine, Periodontology, Diagnosis and Radiology at the Faculty of Dentistry, Ain Shams University, from 2009 to November 2015. He was appointed Dean of Dentistry in Ain Shams in 2014, contributing to the introduction of state-of-the-art dental equipment. He was appointed Vice President for Graduate Studies and Research and was awarded the State Encouragement Prize in Medical Sciences and published 20 research papers in international journals and magazineMinister of Health
Philippines
Minister of Health
Ghana
Minister of Health
Argentina
Dr. Carla Vizzotti is a specialist in internal medicine (University of Buenos Aires) and obtained a fellowship in infectious diseases (Center for Infectious Diseases). She is also a specialist in Social Security and Systems (ISALUD University). She is a founding member and President of the Argentine Association of Vaccination and Epidemiology. Vizzotti was in charge of the National Directorate for Vaccine-Preventable Diseases Control at the Ministry of Health of Argentina. She was part of WHO Technical Advisory Group on Immunization Practices, WHO Technical Advisory Group on Maternal Immunization, and PAHO Technical Advisory Group on Maternal Immunization. She was a member of the Founding Council of the International Association of Immunization Managers (IAIM), and a member of the Board of Directors of the Argentine Association of Infectious Diseases. Dr. Vizzotti is the Minister of Health of Argentina since February 2021.Minister of Health
Fiji
Hon. Dr. Ratu Atonio Rabici Lalabalavu is Fiji’s Minister for Health and Medical Services He started his political career after he contested the General elections in 2018 and in the same year he was elected as a representative to the Parliament of the Republic of Fiji as a member of the Opposition, Spokesperson/Shadow Minister of Health and Medical Services and a substantive member of the standing Committee on Social Affairs. Apart from political career, Hon Dr Lalabalavu is a Medical Officer by profession since 2006 and is currently running his own clinic In Taveuni since 2013. Hon Dr Lalabalavu has previously worked as a Resort Doctor in Laucala Island Resort, CWMH, Lautoka Hospital and Nacula Health Centre. Dr. Lalabalavu attained his medical qualifications from the Fiji School of Medicine graduating with a Post Graduate Diploma in Anaesthesia as well as a Bachelor of Science and Surgery.Minister of Health and Wellness
Barbados
Minister of Health and Wellness
Jamaica
Assistant Director
Pan American Health Organization
Head of the Secretariat
WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control
Dr Adriana Blanco Marquizo is the Head of the Secretariat of the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control since March 2020. She is a medical doctor with a master’s degree in Policies to Prevent Addictions in Children and Adolescents from the Latin American Centre of Human Economy (CLAEH). Over the past two decades, Dr Blanco Marquizo has worked in the region of the Americas, supporting tobacco control activities in many countries of the Region, including her home country, Uruguay. Before joining the Convention Secretariat, Dr Blanco Marquizo worked at the Pan American Health Organization as Tobacco Control Regional Advisor and later as Chief of the Risk Factors and Nutrition Unit in the Department of Noncommunicable Diseases and Mental Health.Vice President Elect
American College of Cardiology
Dipti Itchhaporia is an interventional cardiologist and the Eric & Sheila Samson Endowed Chair in Cardiovascular Health, director of disease management for Hoag Heart and Vascular Institute, Clinical Professor at the University of California, Irvine and the past President of the American College of Cardiology (ACC). She was the 70th President of the ACC and the first South Asian American to hold this role. Dr. Itchhaporia’s professional interests include the utilization of technology and innovation to propel the prevention of cardiovascular disease. She has been a strong advocate for the digital transformation in healthcare and achieving the Quintuple Aim. Most recently, she joined the Board for the World Heart Federation, assumed the role of associate editor for the Journal of the American College of Cardiology (JACC) Advances and joined the innovation oversight Workgroup of the ACC.Vice-President, Health Policy & External Affairs
Roche
Joanna’s background spans diagnostic, pharmaceutical, and non-governmental organizations with a focus on public health, implementation science and policy to optimize medical value. She has a passion for improving people’s lives through access to healthcare innovations. Previously at Roche diagnostics Joanna was Senior Director, Medical Affairs where she was responsible for developing and executing the point-of-care molecular global medical strategy and leading clinical impact studies across the molecular infectious disease portfolio. Prior to joining Roche at Zyomyx, she led market access strategy, policy and the post-approval clinical study program to support the launch of the Company’s first product, a point-of-care CD4 test for use in limited resource settings. Previously, as part of the Access Programs leadership team at the Clinton Health Access Initiative (CHAI), she developed models and led advocacy for global procurement interventions to ensure the sustainability of the children’s HIV drug market.President
World Heart Federation
Full Professor of Medicine, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Argentina • President, World Heart Federation • Advisor for HEARTS, Pan American Health Organization • Former President, Inter American Society of Cardiology and Argentine Society of Cardiology • Former Board of Trustees, American College of Cardiology World Heart Federation, • Former Board Member, World Heart Federation • Former Roadmaps Liaison Officer, Science Committee, World Heart Federation Prof. Daniel José Piñeiro currently is a Full Professor of Medicine at the Universidad de Buenos Aires, Argentina (2005-). He is very active in different international organizations: Trustee at the Board of Trustees of the American College of Cardiology (2018-2021), Advisor for HEARTS at the Pan American Health Organization (2018-), and Roadmaps Liaison Officer at the Science Committee of the World Heart Federation (2019-2020). Prof. Piñeiro has served twice as Member at the Board of the World Heart Federation (2011-2013 and 2017-2018), Member at Membership Committee of the American College of Cardiology (2016-2017), Chair of the Assembly of International Governors of the American College of Cardiology (2015-2017), President of the Inter American Society of Cardiology (2011-2013) and President of the Argentine Society of Cardiology (2005) He is a fellow of the American College of Cardiology, the European Society of Cardiology, and the American Heart Association. Prof. Piñeiro graduated as a physician with honors at the Universidad de Buenos Aires. He is involved in academic and educational activities as well as clinical practice. He also has a great interest in Public and Global Health as WHF Roadmaps and roundtables. He regularly presents his work at international and national conferences. He has publications including books, book chapters, and articles in international and national journals. Some of these articles are guidelines, consensus, white papers, and roadmaps devoted to Global Health. He has earned deserved 8 national and international awards.Chief Consultant for Cardiology
Ministry of Health of Slovakia
President
World Stroke Organization
Sheila Martins is member of the WSO Board since 2008. She is neurologist, PhD in Stroke Neurology, Professor of Universidade Federal of Rio Grande do Sul / Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre and Chief of Neurology and Neurosurgery of Hospital Moinhos de Vento. She is founder and President of the Brazilian Stroke Network. As advisor of the Ministry of Health (MoH) of Brazil she started the organization and implementation of the National Stroke Policy. She works with research to modify public policies and led the Brazilian Clinical Trial sponsored by the MoH (RESILIENT Trial) that was the responsible for incorporating the thrombectomy treatment in the public health system in Brazil. Since 2021 has worked in Porto Alegre, south of Brazil, for implementation of the World Health Organization/ Pan American Organization Program – the HEARTS initiative, reorganizing the primary care units for detection and effective treatment of risk factors for stroke prevention. Also, started a WSO clinical trial with a polypill with anti-hypertensive and statin in middle risk patients associated with lifestyle modification – the PROMOTE trial. She has large experience as clinician in public health, and also as health manager working globally with different levels of governments (Ministries of Health, Health secretaries of States and Cities), helping to implement strategies to improve stroke care. Since 2015 she is working with other Latin American countries and in 2021 launched the WSO/SIECV Certification of Stroke Centers in Latin American and Caribbean countries (13 countries participating) to ensure the implementation of all evidence-based strategies in 2 levels of stroke services, qualifying stroke care and stimulating the monitoring and organization of the network in the region. Until now, 37 hospitals were certified in 8 countries. In November 2022 the Certification program was launched in India in a partnership with the NABH (National Accreditation Board for Hospitals & Healthcare Providers) and the first hospital already received the onsite visit. She assumed the WSO presidency in October, 28th 2022.Director, AI for Health
Microsoft
William B. Weeks, MD, PhD, MBA, is a Physician-Economist leading Microsoft’s AI for Health effort. There, he conducts research in concert with not-for-profit organizations and academic centers designed to improve health and health outcomes. He also serves as the Medical Director for Bing, Microsoft’s search engine. Dr. Weeks has published a book and over 200 peer-reviewed manuscripts examining economic and business aspects of health care services utilization and delivery, physicians’ return on educational investment, health care delivery science, social determinants of health, population health, and healthcare value. Dr. Weeks has received multiple national awards for his research efforts.Chair
Lancet Commission on Diagnostics
Dr. Kenneth Anthony Fleming has been a clinical academic pathologist with over 200 publications on liver pathology and on molecular patho-biology (H-index 54 Scopus). He has had several major leadership positions, including Dean of Medicine, University of Oxford, 2000 – 2008. Since 2008, he has been addressing the lack of diagnostics globally, including being Director of International Affairs, RCPath, 2011-14 and Pathology Adviser to the Centre for Global Health NCI, Washington DC, 2015-18. Most recently he has chaired the Lancet Commission on Diagnostics which was published in October 2021. He is currently on the scientific advisory group of the WHO Essential Diagnostics List and of the Exemplars for Global Health, GatesUniversal Health Coverage Lead
Amref Health Africa
Dr. Catherine Kanari holds a Bachelor of Medicine and Surgery (MBChB) (University of Nairobi) and a Masters of Public Health (Leeds University Uk). She has more than 18 years’ extensive experience in the health sector; including in the public, private and NGO sectors. Dr. Kanari is currently the Universal Health Coverage Lead at Amref Health Innovations, Amref Health Africa. Her portfolio includes innovative solutions for health service delivery that leverage on emerging technologies to deliver measurable impact within communities in Africa. She leads innovative NCD programs that implement through strategic partnerships to strengthen Health systems to integrate end to end health programs addressing patient journey gaps for Non-communicable diseases. She is also implementing an innovative mobile NCD screening unit for last mile access to good quality healthcare for screening diagnosing and treatment / referral for NCDs in Kenya.Executive Director
The Ashley Lashley Foundation
Ashley Lashley, is a Barbadian UNICEF Youth Advocate who has a wide focus on social development issues particularly as it relates to health, the environment, children and women’s rights. She is currently the Executive Director of The Ashley Lashley Foundation and leads youth projects on non-communicable diseases, climate change and its impact on people's physical and mental health. Her biggest project she founded is called The HEY Campaign which stands for Healthy and Environmentally Friendly Youth which has a global network of over 100 HEY Ambassadors.President
Chinese Cardiovascular Association
Junbo Ge is a member of Chinese Academy of Sciences and the Director of the Department of Cardiology of Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University. He is also the President of Chinese College of Cardiovascular Physicians, Past President of Chinese Society of Cardiology (2015-2018), President of Chinese Cardiovascular Association, the current Board Member of World Heart Federation. He has been served as an International Advisor to ACC’s International Committee and ACC China Chapter Governor. After about nearly 10 year’s study and work in Germany, he has built close friendship with international colleagues and became members of many international cardiovascular societies.President-Elect
NCD Alliance
Unit Head, NCD Management
World Health Organization
Past President
World Heart Federation
Head
Novartis Foundation
Ann Aerts is Head of the Novartis Foundation, an organization committed to transform the health of low-income populations, by leveraging the power of data, digital technology and artificial intelligence (AI) to reimagine health and care around the world.Past President
American Heart Association
Since 2013, Dr. Ivor Benjamin has been the Director of the Cardiovascular Center at the Medical College of Wisconsin, and a Professor of Medicine, Physiology, Pharmacology & Toxicology, Cell Biology, Neurobiology & Anatomy, and Surgery at MCW. Dr. Benjamin’s leadership of the Cardiovascular Center at the Medical College of Wisconsin is increasing the investigative workforce as he serves as the Co-Director of an NHLBI T32 training program within the CVC. Dr. Benjamin proudly served as American Heart Association President from 2018-2019, and then Immediate Past President from 2019-2020. He was an AHA Established Investigator, a founding member of the Journal of the American Heart Association and currently serves on the editorial boards of Circulation and Circulation Research. An Established Investigator of the American Heart Association, Dr. Benjamin’s longstanding and distinguished career as a physician scientist has taken him across the country, including 10 years at the University of Utah School of Medicine where he was named the Division Chief of Cardiology and the Christi T. Smith Endowed Chair of Cardiovascular Medicine. He is the recipient of countless honors including the Award of Merit from the American Heart Association, the Daniel Savage Memorial Service Award from the Association of Black Cardiologists, and the prestigious NIH Director's Pioneer Award from the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. He serves as Editor-in-Chief of Cecil Essential of Medicine 9th Edition and has authored over 130 books, book chapters and scientific papers. Dr. Benjamin is a founding member of the Journal of the American Heart Association, and he currently serves on the editorial boards of Circulation and Circulation Research.Director, Institute Of Public Health And Wellbeing
University of Essex
Cardiac Surgeon & Founder, CEO
The Heart Fund
Dr. David Luu is a longevity entrepreneur, pediatric heart surgeon, and humanitarian on a mission to extend human healthspan. He is the founder and CEO of Hearty the world's first AI platform for longevity medicine and The Heart Fund, a non-profit organization democratizing cardiac care in Africa. He is an international speaker and educator on longevity and the future of healthcare.Cardiologist & Health Advocate
American Society for Preventive Cardiology
Dr Belardo is a cardiologist with expertise in treating various forms of cardiovascular disease and hyperlipidemia. She is currently the Director of Cardiology and Co-Director of Research and Education at the Institute of Plant-Based Medicine (IOPBM). She treats a wide variety of cardiovascular diseases utilizing guideline-directed medical and procedural therapy where indicated, with a heavy emphasis on lifestyle modification and plant-based nutrition to prevent and reverse disease. Dr Belardo treats patients across the full spectrum of cardiovascular disease, including lipid disorders/high cholesterol, coronary artery disease, peripheral arterial disease, heart failure, high blood pressure, abnormal heart rhythms and valvular disorders. Dr Belardo is a member of the American College of Cardiology Nutrition and Lifestyle Sub Committee.Chief Executive Officer
FIND
Dr Bill Rodriguez joined FIND as Chief Executive Officer on 1 July 2021, following an earlier tenure as Chief Medical Officer between 2015 and 2017. He was previously Managing Director at the Draper Richards Kaplan Foundation, a global venture philanthropy firm supporting early-stage, high-impact social enterprises. A physician and entrepreneur, he has extensive experience across both private and public sectors, founding his own diagnostics company, Daktari Diagnostics. Bill is a highly respected figure in the global health community, serving as advisor to the World Health Organization, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, national governments on global HIV, tuberculosis, Ebola and COVID-19, as well as numerous established and start-up for-profit and not-for-profit social enterprises focused on global health.Chairman
Integrity Healthcare Co., Ltd.
Dr. Muto worked as a cardiologist at the University of Tokyo Hospital and serves as an imperial doctor at the Imperial Household Agency. After working at McKinsey & Company, established the Tetsuyu Institute Medical Corporation in 2010. In 2016, he became the Chairman of Integrity Healthcare in 2016, and the Chairman of Community Healthcare Coordination Platform in 2017. MD (Faculty of Medicine, the University of Tokyo), Ph.D. (Graduate School of Medicine, the University of Tokyo), MBA (Graduate School of Finance, Accounting and Law Waseda University), Global Executive MBA (INSEAD), MPH & MSc (Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health) Dr Muto advises the Japanese government on healthcare information technology and was awarded Innovator of the Year 2015 by a consortium recognising the most innovative healthcare professional in Japan. Prior to this, Dr Muto served as Court Physician, Imperial Household Agency of Japan. He was also a Consultant with McKinsey and Company in Japan.Youth Health Advocate
Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids
Agamroop Kaur started her tobacco control advocacy in middle school and made it her mission to work to create environments which uplift youth health. Agamroop has authored op-eds and produced an award-winning documentary “BIG Tobacco BIGGER Epidemic.” The film has advised policy-making, aired nationally in the US, and was featured in US policy centers. She was awarded the 2022 Barrie Fiske National Youth Advocate of the Year award by the Campaign For Tobacco-Free Kids and continues to serve as a youth member of the CTFK Board of Directors. Agamroop also works with the Stanford REACH Lab team as a Youth Action Board member and was prior a statewide representative on the Youth Board of Directors for the California Youth Advocacy Network. Additionally, Agamroop shares her ideas and experiences as a speaker at conferences across the globe. Currently, she is pursuing her undergraduate degree in Cognitive Science at UCLA.Head of Health
Clean Air Fund
Nina Renshaw has been an advocate for clean air throughout her career and joined Clean Air Fund as Head of Health in Spring 2022. She brings eighteen years of experience of international policy and advocacy in diverse fields, including health, environment, economy, transport and international development. Prior to joining Clean Air Fund, Nina was Director of Policy and Advocacy at the NCD Alliance – a global civil society network headquartered in Geneva – working towards noncommunicable disease prevention and equitable access to healthcare. Nina was previously based in Brussels, where she led the European Public Health Alliance (EPHA) as Secretary-General and was Deputy Director of the campaign group Transport & Environment.Country Director
PharmAccess Foundation
Njide Ndili is the Country Director for PharmAccess Foundation, an international NGO with an integrated approach addressing demand and supply side of healthcare systems, and uses mobile technology to leapfrog development in the health markets in sub-Saharan Africa. Her work promotes health insurance and innovative demand-side financing options; institutionalization of quality improvement methodologies; facilitating business loans, technical assistance to enable private health SMEs to improve operations. She was a Commissioner for the Lancet/FT Commission on Digital Health and AI set up to accelerate UHC using digital technology; also the Vice President of the Healthcare Federation of Nigeria, an advocacy platform seeking greater involvement of private sector in the Nigerian healthcare system. Njide’s qualifications include: MSc Health Economics, Policy and Management, London School of Economics; AMP INSEAD Business School France; MBA University of Houston; Post Graduate Diploma Finance and B. Sc. Computer Science, University of Nigeria.Founder
Planetary Health Eastern Africa Hub
Melvine Anyango Otieno is an Environmental Health Scientist and the Founder of Planetary Health Eastern Africa. As a climate change activist in Kenya, she has worked closely with KLUG- German Alliance for Climate Change and Health. She obtained a BSc in Environmental Biology and Health and MSc in Environmental Health at the University of Eldoret. She is serving as a Next Generation Fellow of the Planetary Health Alliance. Melvine has worked on several internationally funded projects as Research Assistant for Newton Utafiti fund on Aquaculture and BGS-UoE-MU research on dynamics of Environmental Geochemistry and Health in the Lake Victoria Basin and a Co-Investigator on the GCRF QR Time Urgency Grant, on wet markets and backyard livestock in supporting nutrition of preschool-aged children in Kenya: challenges from COVID-19. She is currently an Assistant Lecturer at the University of Eldoret, where she coordinates SOPHEA project-Strengthening One and Planetary Health in Eastern Africa.Chairman, CEO & Founder
Biotricity
Waqaas, the founder of Biotricity, is a serial entrepreneur, a former investment advisor and an expert in wireless communication technology. Academically, he was distinguished for his various innovative designs in digital, analog, embedded, and micro-electro-mechanical products. His work was published in various conferences such as IEEE and the National Communication Council. Waqaas has held several high-level design positions in IBM, AMD, and Intel. His achievements have been numerous in both the technical and academic world. Coupled with this, Waqaas has vast experience in leading various groups through his board experience and executive roles within start-ups, mid-sized companies, and non-profits. Waqaas has a dual Bachelor’s degree in Computer Engineering and Economics, a Master’s in Computer Engineering from Rochester Institute of Technology, and a Master’s in Business Administration from Henley Business School. He also holds a Doctorate in Business with a specialty in Transformative Innovations and Billion Dollar Markets.Chief Executive Officer
Digital Medicine Society
Jennifer C. Goldsack founded and serves as the CEO of the Digital Medicine Society (DiMe), a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to advancing digital medicine to optimize human health. Previously, Jennifer spent several years at the Clinical Trials Transformation Initiative (CTTI), a public-private partnership co-founded by Duke University and the FDA. Jennifer spent five years working in research at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, first in Outcomes Research in the Department of Surgery and later in the Department of Medicine. More recently, she helped launch the Value Institute, a pragmatic research and innovation center embedded in a large academic medical center in Delaware. Jennifer earned her master’s degree in chemistry from the University of Oxford, England, her masters in the history and sociology of medicine from the University of Pennsylvania, and her MBA from the George Washington University.Founder & CEO
Daktari Africa, Kenya
Dr. Kamotho is a Consultant Physician from Kenya. He is the Founder and CEO of Daktari Africa, a digital health company, and Director of The International Clinic, a medical consultancy. After graduating from the University of Navarre, Spain, and doing his internship at the Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH), Nairobi, he obtained a postgraduate diploma at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine in 2000. He then returned to KNH for his Residency in Internal Medicine. In 2007 he was selected to train in Cardiology in Osaka, Japan, on a JICA scholarship. Later he attended Strathmore Business School’s Managing Healthcare Businesses (MHB) Executive Program, where he was elected the 2017 Class President. From 2004 Dr. Kamotho worked at the Thika District Hospital as Consultant Physician and Head of the Department of Internal Medicine, and lectured at the Kenyatta University School of Medicine. Dr. Kamotho started the Daktari Africa telemedicine platform in 2008. It has won various awards including a Vision 2030 Award from the ICT Board of Kenya, a Spring Accelerator (US) award, a Demo Africa finalist award, and a National Innovation Award. He is married with three children, and enjoys outdoor sports and live jazz.Medical Officer, NCD Management Unit
World Health Organization
Professor of Global Health Systems and Director, Health Systems Innovation Lab
Harvard University
Dr. Atun is Professor of Global Health Systems and Director of the Health System Innovation Lab at Harvard University. In 2008-12 he was a member of the Executive Management Team of the Global Fund. In 2006-2013 he was a Professor of International Health Management at Imperial College London. Professor Atun’s research focuses on health systems and innovation. He has published more than 450 articles in leading journals. In 2020-2021-2022 he was recognised as one of the World’s Most Highly Cited Researchers. He has advised more than 30 governments on health system reforms, the World Bank, WHO, and G20 Presidency. He chairs boards of MovementHealth2030 and the Global Surgery Foundation. Professor Atun studied medicine at University of London as a Commonwealth Scholar and obtained an MBA at Imperial College London. He is a Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians, Faculty of Public Health, and the Royal College of General PractitionersProgram Director
The Mended Hearts, Inc.
Jodi Smith, Esq. is Director of Programs for The Mended Hearts, Inc. (MHI), the nation’s largest non-profit cardiovascular disease peer-support organization. In this role, Jodi serves MHI’s 102,000+ members and 250 chapters throughout the U.S. Jodi designs, develops and implements programs for patients with cardiovascular disease and their families with a goal of inspiring hope and improving quality of life. Jodi develops educational resources in a variety of formats to empower patients, caregivers and families, including discussion guides and other resource guides. Jodi also creates and implements training programs for those providing peer support in communities and online and for volunteer leaders. In addition, Jodi works on advocacy initiatives that improve access to care and reduce healthcare disparities for all patients and families. Jodi has been a co-author on several publications as well. Previously, Jodi worked as a litigation attorney, an adjunct professor, and as a corporate leadership training consultant.Chief Executive Officer
World Heart Federation
Jean-Luc Eiselé has worked in the field of medical association management for almost 20 years. He was trained as a biochemist working at the Biozentrum in Basel and the Pasteur Institute in Paris. In 1999, he joined the European Respiratory Society as Scientific Affairs Manager in charge of the Annual Congress and was offered to develop the educational activities, in particular the online portfolio. In 2001 he was nominated Deputy Executive Director and in 2007 ERS Executive Director. In 2011, he was appointed by FDI World Dental Federation as Executive Director, developing in particular its advocacy work and launching successfully the World Oral Health Day. He joined the World Heart Federation (WHF) as Chief Executive Officer in May 2017, strengthening the business model, the focus on communication and advocacy and membership engagement.Professor of Medicine
Preventive Cardiovascular Nurses Association
Eileen Handberg is a Professor of Medicine at the University of Florida Division of Cardiovascular Medicine and immediate past President of the Preventative Cardiovascular Nurses Association. She is an Adult Nurse Practitioner practicing in Cardiology for 30 years, and Director of the Clinical Trials PRogram at UFSenior Vice President and Head
Siemens Healthineers
Dr. Rangarajan Sampath is Senior Vice President and Head of Center for Innovation in Diagnostics at Siemens Healthineers, where he leads Innovation and new product development in the areas of oncology, neurology and infectious diseases. CID’s focus is to drive disruptive next generation innovation, development and commercialization of in-vitro diagnostics, automation and digital health solutions. Prior to this, Dr. Sampath was Chief Scientific Officer at Foundation for Innovative New Diagnostics (FIND), a Geneva-based non-profit organization (NGO) focused on bringing cutting edge diagnostics to low- and middle- income countries. From 1997-2017, Dr. Sampath served as a Volwiler Senior Research Fellow and Senior Director of R&D for the Ibis Division of Abbott.Associate Professor, Health Systems
National University of Singapore
Helena Legido-Quigley is a Spanish public health researcher who is an associate professor in Health Systems at Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health at the National University of Singapore. She serves as an associate fellow of Chatham House and is a member of the Council of the World Economic ForumCo-Founder and Board Member
International Foundation for Patient Blood Management
Axel Hofmann, Doctor of Medical Science with a Master’s Degree in Economics, is Adjunct Professor at the Faculty of Health and Medical Science, University of Western Australia and board member of the International Foundation for Patient Blood Management (IFPBM). He serves as Chair of the World Health Organization’s (WHO) External Steering Committee for the development and global implementation of Patient Blood Management (PBM). He consults governments, public and private institutions on PBM globally. He has published in Anaesthesia, Anesthesia & Analgesia, Anesthesiology, Annals of Oncology, Annals of Surgery, Blood Transfusion, British Journal of Anaesthesia, British Medical Journal Open, Current Opinion in Anesthesiology, European Journal of Anaesthesiology, Journal of Intensive Care, Journal of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Journal of Clinical Oncology, Lancet, Nephrology, Oncologist, South African Medical Journal, Transfusion, Transfusion and Apheresis Science, Transfusion Medicine Reviews, Vox Sanguinis and other peer-reviewed journals.Associate Professor of Global Health and Social Medicine
Harvard Medical School
Dr Gene Bukhman is a cardiologist and medical anthropologist who directs the Center for Integration Science at Brigham and Women’s Hospital and the Program on Global Noncommunicable Disease (NCDs) and Social Change at Harvard Medical School. He is an Associate Professor of Medicine and an Associate Professor of Global Health and Social Medicine. He is also the Senior Health and Policy Advisor on NCDs at Partners In Health (PIH) where he directs the NCD Synergies project. Between 2010 and 2015, he was the Senior Technical Advisor on NCDs to the Rwanda Ministry of Health. Over the past 15 years, Dr. Bukhman has argued that for those living in extreme poverty, NCDs are best understood as part of the “long tail” of global health equity that demands a new “science of integration.” He has translated this critique into practical delivery strategies that are now impacting patients' lives in more than a dozen countries. He is the author of more than 100 peer-reviewed publications and book chapters that apply a range of methodologies from ethnography and archival research to epidemiology and mathematical modelling to identify solutions to the problem of “NCDI Poverty.” Dr. Bukhman was the lead-author and co-chair of the 1996-2020 Lancet Commission on Reframing NCDs and Injuries for the Poorest Billion, and is currently co-chair of the 22-country NCDI Poverty Network launched in December of 2020 to support implementation of the Lancet Commission’s recommendations.Country Medical Director
Moderna
Daphne McCarthy-Pontier is Country Medical Director for Moderna in Switzerland. Originally from the Netherlands, Dr. McCarthy-Pontier studied Biomedical Sciences at Leiden University, and obtained a PhD in Medicine (cancer research) from Utrecht University. Dr. McCarthy-Pontier has more than 12 years experience in Medical Affairs roles with increasing areas of responsibility in Infectiology and Oncology across Benelux, Switzerland and Austria. Joining Moderna Switzerland in February 2022 as Country Medical Director, Dr. McCarthy-Pontier and her team have implemented several data generation projects around Moderna’s mRNA vaccines, and interact with key stakeholders in Moderna’s therapeutic areas to understand and help address medical needs in Switzerland.Chief Executive Officer
WifOr Institute
“If we can’t measure it, we can’t fix it!” – Denis Ostwald believes in the power of data as a basis for sustainable decision making. With his team at WifOR Institute, they conduct research on topics such as health, the value of impacts, and international social policy – constantly striving to make data measurable, standardizable and comparable. As Professor of Economic Research and International Management at the School of International Business and Entrepreneurship (SIBE), he wants to develop young talents into responsible managers who understand the interplay between social, environmental and economic sustainability. At the same time, he learns a lot from the mutual exchange with the younger generation and is very grateful for these opportunities of open dialogue. Progress lives from the regular exchange between science and practice – especially in a world of alternative facts. He is regularly sharing latest research results as keynote speaker at various events and at the same time receiving new impulses from outside.Director of Global Strategy & Access Policy
Novartis
Before joining Novartis in 2018, Karl spent 14 years at the Swedish pricing and reimbursement agency (TLV). Building on his genuine interest and deep knowledge of challenges in the healthcare systems, he is now bringing this perspective into Novartis. One of the main pillars of his work is to develop access models that meet the needs of the payers.Senior Vice-President, Customer Success and Projects
ORCHA
Alison Johnson is SVP of Customer Success and Projects of ORCHA, the world’s leading digital health quality management platform, used by national bodies and healthcare providers in twelve countries. Alison has considerable experience in transforming healthcare services, working in senior positions within the NHS, and more recently within the Digital Health sector to improve the adoption of safe, effective Digital Health.Science Journalist & Podcaster
Fierce Life Sciences
Teresa Carey is an award-winning filmmaker, podcast producer, journalist, and Nat Geo explorer. She is the senior podcast producer for Fierce Life Sciences' two weekly podcasts: 'Podnosis' and 'The Top Line.' Before joining Fierce, she covered emerging technologies, genetics, and the climate in print and on air. Her written and broadcast work appears on PBS NewsHour, NPR Weekend Edition, Scientific American, Buzzfeed, The Pulse, etc. Teresa earned a graduate degree in science communication from the University of California Santa Cruz. Before becoming a science journalist, Teresa was a U.S. Coast Guard licensed sea captain, working primarily in the North Atlantic.CEO and Founder
CardioSignal
Juuso Blomster (MD, PhD) is the CEO and co-founder of Precordior. Dr. Blomster holds a specialist degree in cardiology and is an Adjunct Professor of Cardiology at the University of Turku, Finland. His extensive career includes several international positions in medicine and the pharmaceutical industry. He was also Head Physician, Medical Assessments and Chief Innovation Officer at Turku University Hospital, Finland.Liaison Officer for Public Health Issues
International Federation of Medical Students' Association
Mohamed is a medical doctor from Egypt. He has been volunteering in the public health field for 6 years, allowing him to gain extensive experience in different public health issues such as NCDs including Mental Health, Infectious diseases, Climate Change and Environmental issues, Health systems and UHC, AMR, Health Equity and Determinants of Health etc.. He is currently the Liaison Officer for Public Health Issues at the IFMSA, Youth Leadership Board Member at the Global Youth Coalition for Road Safety, Climate Change and COVID-19 Youth Associate at WHO Egypt, member of the Youth Advisory Board of the Children, Cities and Climate Project at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, in addition to being a member of the steering committee of the Economist Impact's Health Inclusivity Index 2023.Head, NCD Research Division
National Health Institute, Mozambique
Scientist
KITE Research Institute, University Health Network
Dr. Gabriela Ghisi is a scientist with the KITE Research Institute, University Health Network with a focus on patient education in chronic disease management. In collaboration with cardiac rehab programs around the world, she has led the successful development, implementation, and evaluation of an evidence-based patient education curriculum in 10 countries. Gabriela is also a member of the executive committee of the International Council of Cardiovascular Prevention and Rehabilitation (ICCPR).Senior Vice-President, Cardiometabolic Disease Area Network
Roche Diagnostics
President
Lithuanian Heart Failure Association
Head of Department, Laboratory Medicine
Cliniques Universitaires Saint-Luc
Director & Treasurer
The Mended Hearts, Inc.
President-Elect
Bulgarian Society of Cardiology
Science, Health and Environmental Journalist
Nature
Myriam Vidal Valero is a bilingual science journalist from Mexico City. Her work has appeared in The New York Times, Science, El País, Inside Climate News, The Open Notebook, Medscape, Muy Interesante, Cancer World, Slate, among others. She is a member of the National Association of Science Writers in the United States, and of the Mexican Network of Science Journalists, where she coordinates the mentorship program for early career journalists. She completed an M.A. in Journalism at the Craig Newmark Graduate School of Journalism, CUNY, in New York, in 2022. Currently she's working at Nature.Head, Division of Cardiac and Vascular Surgery
Geneva University Hospitals
Director-General
World Health Organization
On the Thursday and Friday prior to the Summit, WHF will be hosting a series of events for our community, leadership and volunteers.
Rare Diseases Forum (Invitation only)
Rare Diseases Forum Dinner (Invitation only)
Rare Diseases Forum (Invitation only)
WHF Committee Meetings (WHF Committees)
WHF Spring Meeting (WHF Board and Committees)
Registration
Welcome & Introduction to the Summit
Opening Plenary: World Heart Vision 2030: From concept to reality
Panel: Policymaking for heart health: From global to national
Break
Ministerial panel: From global to local: Solutions for heart health
Lunch
Side event (12:55 – 13:35): Bridging the care gap for cardiovascular disease – Sponsored by Roche
Launch: World Heart Report
Panel: Time is money: Financing health systems now and better
Fireside chat with World Heart Award recipients
Break
Panel: In it together: Global threats to cardiovascular health
Registration
Fireside chat: Unlocking the power of data in cardiovascular population health
Panel: Pop science: The art of communicating science
Panel: Paving the way for better access to CVD diagnostics
Break
Panel: Capitalizing on the digital transformation for heart health
Lunch & Walk a Heart
Fireside chat: Mind the gap in the health workforce: A neglected crisis
Panel: Heart health advocacy: A view from the outside
Closing Remarks
Situated between Lake Geneva and the Swiss-French mountains, the city of Geneva is home to the world’s highest concentration of international organizations and diplomatic missions. It hosts the headquarters of many United Nations agencies, including the World Health Organization, and other international institutions, such as the World Trade Organization, the European Organization for Nuclear Research, the International Committee of the Red Cross and the World Economic Forum.
Every year, the World Heart Summit brings together an eclectic community of leaders and visionaries from different sectors, driven by their shared commitment to alleviate the impact of cardiovascular disease worldwide. This year, for the first time ever, members of the public are invited to join us in Geneva, Switzerland on 19-21 May. This is your opportunity to […]
We are thrilled to announce that the next edition of the World Heart Summit will take place in Geneva, Switzerland on 19-21 May 2023, ahead of the 76th World Health Assembly. The timing and location of this invitation-only event — which brings together leaders and innovators from around the world to explore the most pressing challenges in global […]
Health experts concluded a two-day World Heart Summit in Geneva on 21-22 May 2022, convened by the World Heart Federation (WHF), and urged greater efforts by all sectors to reduce cardiovascular disease, which, despite being largely preventable, claims the lives of more than 18 million people every year. “In all of your work, prioritise initiatives […]
Ahead of the 7th World Heart Summit, Professor Fausto Pinto, President of the World Heart Federation (WHF) shares his hopes and insights. He is also the Dean of the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Lisbon; and Professor of Cardiology and Head of the Cardiovascular Department, Santa Maria University Hospital/CHULN, Portugal. More than 450 […]
