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…

Roxana Mehran is an internationally recognised interventional cardiologist and clinical researcher based in New York, United States. She has spent much of her professional career at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai and Mount Sinai Hospital, where she has become a leading figure in cardiovascular clinical trials, interventional cardiology, and outcomes research. Her work is widely noted for its focus on improving patient outcomes, advancing evidence-based care, and promoting sex-specific research in cardiovascular medicine.

Academic History

Professor Mehran pursued her medical education and postgraduate training in internal medicine and cardiology, followed by subspecialty training in interventional cardiology. Her academic career has been closely aligned with Mount Sinai, where she has advanced through senior academic ranks.

She currently holds appointments as Professor of Medicine (Cardiology) and Professor of Population Health Science…

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…

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 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.