I am pleased to extend an invitation to all healthcare professionals to attend the annual Saudi Heart association scientific sessions in its 29th edition (SHA29). The three day conference scheduled on March 1st 2018, will be held at the Crown Plaza Riyadh Hotel, a brand new venue that combines both elegance and spaciousness to accommodate over five thousand cardiovascular health professionals.

As with every year, we promise to provide a rich and exciting scientific program that combines the newest updates in cardiovascular care, and highlights cutting edge technology employed in the diagnosis and management of cardiovascular diseases, along with highlights from local and regional scientific research. We have increased the number of joint scientific sessions between various SHA affiliated societies and working groups and international societies and entities such as the ESC, ACC, the Houston Methodist, the Cleveland clinic, the Gulf heart association, ASNC, and EACVI. Overall, SHA29 will organize more than 55 scientific sessions in 17 tracks, and will host more than 200 top experts in cardiovascular medicine from six cotenants. In addition to the exchange of knowledge, the SHA conference provide a great forum for networking between cardiovascular healthcare professionals.

I have had the pleasure of working with Dr. Fayez Bokari , the head of the scientific committee for SHA29 and his outstanding team members in the committee , who are preparing an exciting scientific program. Dr. Mohammad Balgaith the vice president of the SHA, and the supervisor of international collaborations has played an important role in coordinating and facilitating the joint SHA and international societies sessions, and Dr. Mouaz AlMallah with his exceptional research background is handling research abstracts, and is working with his team to continue the SHA legacy and vision of being the sought after conference for local and regional researchers. The efforts dedicated towards building an exceptional scientific program is shouldered by an equally exceptional team in the SHA, led by Eng. Ahmad Emam, the SHA operational manager, and head of the organizing committee of SHA29.

The SHA29 conference this year is different in two major aspects, the concurrent hosting of the Saudi Arabian Cardiac Interventional Society (SACIS) forum in its 4th edition, and the conference theme of value-based Cardiovascular healthcare.

Holding the 4th SACIS forum along side the SHA29 conference enhances the scientific content of the SHA29 and provides synergy to this scientific event. Given the rich and extensive content of the SACIS forum, a dedicated scientific committee has been formed under the leadership of Dr. Fawaz AlMutairi.

The kingdom of Saudi Arabia is undergoing major changes in the way health care is practiced. It is imperative to change the current health care system in order to accommodate our current and future health needs, especially in chronic non-communicable disease. The national transformation program in its second version -NTP 2.0- and vision 2030 has drawn a road map towards this new healthcare system.

Among the core strategic objectives of the NTP 2.0 in health, is building a health care system that is value-based, and in the spirit of transformation and in recognizing our vital role as a professional society to support the transformation efforts in Saudi Arabia, SHA has chosen value-based cardiovascular care as its theme for SHA29. This theme will be reflected in the scientific program, as well as in the plenary sessions, and top experts in value-based health care will speak about its application in cardiovascular care.

On behalf of the Scientific and organizing committees of the SHA29 and the 4th SACIS forum, I hope that you will join us in this exceptional national event.