Professor Lars Søndergaard is a consultant cardiologist at Rigshospitalet – Copenhagen, Denmark. Professor of Cardiology at University of Copenhagen, he published over 300 peer reviewed articles, and more than 15 textbook chapters. His research interests are focused on adults with congenital heart diseases and catheter-based heart valve interventions, as well as congenital and structural heart diseases. He led the first-in-human transcatheter mitral valve implantation (CardiAQ) in 2012 and he actively participated to several trials, including NOTION (transcatheter vs. surgical aortic valve replacement in patients with aortic stenosis and low surgical risk), and the REDUCE randomised trial (PFO vs anti-platelet therapy after cryptogenic stroke).

Professor Ole De Backer is an internationally renowned interventional cardiologist based in Copenhagen, Denmark. He works at Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen University Hospital, where he is actively involved in the treatment of patients with complex structural heart disease. He has built an international reputation through his clinical expertise, research leadership, and commitment to innovation in minimally invasive cardiovascular interventions.

Academic History

Professor De Backer has developed an academic career centred on interventional cardiology and structural heart disease. His work integrates clinical practice with research and technological development, particularly in the application of advanced imaging and percutaneous techniques. He has been actively involved in training and mentoring clinicians in the evolving field of transcatheter heart interventions.

Career Overview

Professor Ole De Backer is a leading expert in…

Dr Holger Thiele, former director and full professor in the Department of Internal Medicine/Cardiology/Angiology of the University Heart Center Lübeck at the University of Lübeck has been nominated by the faculty of the University of Leipzig as full Professor and Director of the Department of Internal Medicine/Cardiology of the Heart Center Leipzig which is affiliated with the University of Leipzig. 

Prof Van Mieghem initially intended to train as a cardiac surgeon but decided to specialise in interventional cardiology instead, following advice from a mentor. This decision was cemented when he read the first-in-human case report of transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) in Circulation by Alain Cribier in 2002. Prof Van Mieghem believes that great cardiologist genuinely cares for their patients. He names Gary Roubin, Dr Manu Malbrain and Professor Patrick Serruys among his mentors. 

Academic History

Prof. Nicolas M. Van Mieghem completed his medical training at the Catholic University of Leuven (Belgium), where he earned both his medical degree and his specialist degree in cardiology. During his time in Leuven, he developed a strong interest in cardiovascular medicine, particularly in the emerging field of minimally invasive cardiac interventions. After finishing his core medical and cardiology training, he pursued multiple advanced…

Dr Mohamed Azeem Latib was born and raised in South Africa, where he also completed his early medical training. He later advanced his clinical and professional career internationally. He now resides in New York City, where he serves as the Section Head and Director of Interventional Cardiology and the Director of Structural Heart Interventions at the Montefiore-Einstein Center for Heart & Vascular Care. His career has spanned multiple countries and premier cardiovascular institutions.

Academic History

Dr Latib earned his Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery (MB BCh) from the University of the Witwatersrand in Johannesburg, South Africa, in 1995. He completed a fellowship with the College of Physicians of South Africa in 2002 and received his certificate in cardiology in 2005.

He pursued advanced subspecialty training in Europe, completing a Master’s degree in Interventional Cardiology at the San Raffaele Scientific Institute and University…

Dr Kendra Grubb is the surgical director of the Emory Structural Heart and Valve Center. She is also an associate professor of surgery at Emory University School of Medicine.

Kendra is a champion for women's heart disease and is dedicated to improving the lives of all patients through innovation, collaboration and a patient-centred approach to the treatment of cardiovascular disease.

Her clinical interests include valve repair or replacement, coronary artery bypass graft surgery (CABG), transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) and hybrid coronary revascularization.

Dr Grubb research interests are innovative cardiac surgery technologies. She has led and participated in multiple clinical trials of innovative cardiac surgery technologies, including studies of transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR), MitraClip percutaneous therapy and the GORE® conformable TAG® thoracic endoprosthesis for the primary treatment of…

Prof David Hildick-Smith is Professor of Interventional Cardiology and Consultant Cardiologist at the Sussex Cardiac Centre - the Regional Specialist Unit. He is Director of the Cardiac Research, ex-Treasurer of the British Cardiovascular Interventions Society, and, with more than 20 years experience of Interventional Cardiology, is considered one of the country's leading experts in management of Cardiovascular complaints.

A pioneer of Interventional Cardiology, David is recognised internationally as a leader in cardiovascular diagnosis and treatment. 

Prof Mohamed Abdel-Wahab is an internationally renowned interventional cardiologist specialised in TAVI and complex coronary interventions. Head of the department of Structural Heart Disease at Heart Center Leipzig, the largest European centre in terms of number of TAVI procedures. Professor Abdel-Wahab has contributed to over 200 papers in the field of interventional cardiology in high-profile peer-review journals.