Launching The Gulf Intervention Society Conference 2023

The Gulf Intervention Society (GIS) launches its fifth edition of the leading GGC conference, which brings together senior interventional cardiology specialists and a number of cardiology and interventional surgery specialists from the region and globe, to investigate the future treatments and discuss the latest findings of science and research in this field, in order to enhance cooperation between regional and international bodies, in addition to adopting best practices in the field of interventional cardiac and vascular surgeries. The conference will be held from the 16th to 18th of November 2023 at Intercontinental Festival City Hotel, Dubai.

Dr. Fawaz Almutairi, the President of the Gulf Intervention Society and Cardiologist at King Abdulaziz Cardiac Center National Guard Hospital in Riyadh, stated that “The vision of GIS aligns with Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030. This vision includes plans for economic, social, medical, and developmental programs that aim to diversify the economy, prepare the country for the post-oil era, and promote comprehensive development in various areas of life. As doctors and health specialists, it is our responsibility to ensure the growth of this sector and the development of medical staff through the various programs offered by the association and conferences. These events bring together a group of cardiac catheterization experts to share their knowledge and expertise in the field and highlight the latest technologies available.”

The 5th Annual GIS will provide a platform for medical professionals to share knowledge with each other while learning new global techniques that can help them better treat patients suffering from heart conditions or defects. This year, topics such as live streaming of operations and addressing challenges faced in congenital defect areas will be discussed as well as key challenges of clinical trials presented at global and regional conferences will also be addressed by a large group of cardiologists and intervention catheterizes from all countries worldwide. 

The Board members of the Gulf Intervention Society (GIS), which is also a part of the Gulf Heart Association consists of regional cardiac catheterization and intervention led by President Dr. Fawaz Almutairi, Consultant Interventional cardiology, Cardiologist at the National Guard Hospital in Riyadh, Vice President Dr. Abdullah Shehab Professor of Cardiology, UAE,  General Secretary Mousa Akbar Consultant Interventional Cardiologist and Head of Cardiology Unit at Al Sabah Hospital in Kuwait and Treasurer Khalid Bin Thani, Cardiovascular Medicine and Interventional Cardiology, Salmaniya Medical Complex, Bahrain, in addition of twenty cardiovascular specialists from GCC area (Bahrain, Kuwait, UAE, Oman, Qatar and Saudi Arabia).  The Council also welcomes national and regional participation by cardiovascular specialists to work together and bear our responsibility towards patients, the medical fellowship, and the healthcare sector in general.

Dr. Fawaz Added, “The Gulf Intervention Society is keen to keep pace with digital development, which has become a major role in the field of health care and its development, and to harness modern and advanced artificial intelligence technologies to serve the medical sector, develop talent, and create platforms to train medical staff in the various sectors related to heart treatments. The Kingdom’s Vision 2030 inaugurates an important historical stage towards the Kingdom’s transformation into a vibrant and ambitious economy for the post-oil era, as Vision 2030 focuses on employing its human and material energies and capabilities in addition to its geographical location to enhance all development paths in various sectors.  The Kingdom’s Vision 2030 aims to transform health services to facilitate access to health services and functioning to raise the quality through improving and developing hospitals and healthcare centers and health digital transformation. Vision 2030 is based on four priorities at the forefront of its goals for health sector transformation, which are prevention, public health, innovation and sustainability. Therefore, through the assembly, various aspects will be discussed and covered. Topics of digital transformation and its role, especially in the field of healthcare development and how to use and apply artificial intelligence and the latest technology to enhance the study and science of cardiac catheterisation, and its role in quickly discovering diseases and raising the quality and accuracy of diagnosis through virtual reality applications, which contributes to improving the patient experience as well as the doctors in interventional procedures. Participants will gain insights into the application of AI in CT imaging, its role in enhancing valve diagnosis, and the potential of automation, robotics, and remote control in interventional cardiology. Hands-on training sessions will provide attendees with practical experience in applying AI to coronary, interventional, and CT vascular imaging, as well as the utilization of augmented reality and virtual reality for organ function assessment using robots. 

Participants will be presented with a Certificate of Attendance jointly approved by the Gulf Interventional Society (GIS) and the Society for Cardiovascular Angiography and Interventions (SCAI), recognizing their dedication and commitment to this enriching educational journey. And this concluding session marks the culmination of the AI program that commenced in June 2023.”. 

Vice President Dr. Abdullah Shehab Commented:”This year's conference stands out with the groundbreaking addition of dedicated discussion sessions exploring the pivotal role of artificial intelligence (AI) in identifying key challenges and showcasing the innovative experiences shared by the Society for Cardiovascular Angiography and Interventions (SCAI). We will delve into diverse treatment approaches, fostering knowledge and awareness in several critical cases. A particular focus will be on the case of a pregnant woman facing severe mitral stenosis, addressing the complexities of atrial septal defect (ASD) and the challenges associated with ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) in pregnant patients".

The scientific committee of the GIS also includes a number of prominent doctors from the Arab world who contributed to developing distinguished content that discusses the latest technologies in the fields of cardiac catheterization, including Dr. Ahmed Al Shatti (Kuwait), Dr. Eisa Aldhaheri (UAE), Dr. Fawaz bardooli (Bahrain), Muthanna Alquraishi (Iraq), Dr. Omar Altamimi (Qatar), Dr. Rash Bawardy and Dr Sondos Samargandy (KSA).

The GIS aims to lead the cardiovascular surgery community by providing guidance, and education, and sharing the latest research. Thus, GIS responsibility is to promote the highest possible levels of education, research tools and community interactions, in addition to sharing social responsibility towards patients by healthcare professionals. 

General Secretary Mousa Akbar said: “Over the past few years, the GIS conference has always constituted a platform of credibility regionally and globally.  We are always keen to enhance our social responsibility and continue to spread awareness in the healthcare sector, as these series of events constituted a turning point for advancing this sector through the exchange of knowledge and experiences between doctors from around the world.  Over the past years, we have witnessed a significant increase in the participation rate in our conferences from Arab and international countries, and the participation of many institutions and associations, especially the Indonesian Heart Association, Pakistan Cardiac Society, Japanese Circulation Society.”

This year, the event will also witness more than 23 complex cases that will be discussed live, and 30 cases recorded over the 3 scientific days, in addition to 4 operations that will be broadcast live from: the National Heart Center in Royal Hospital, Muscat, Oman, Al Qassimi Hospital, Sharjah, UAE, King Abdulaziz Cardiac Center, National Guard Hospital, Riyadh, KSA, and Chest Diseases Hospital, Kuwait.

Treasurer Khalid Bin Thani said: “The GIS 2023 conference, held under the patronage of the Dubai Health Authorities (DHA) and Emirates Health Services (EHS), welcomes the support of esteemed organizations including the Emirates Cardiac Society (ECS), Society for Cardiovascular Angiography and Interventions (SCAI), and Saudi Arabia Cardiac Intervention Society (SACIS).  The GIS Society and conference are managed by ICOM, a leading medical conference organizer in Africa & the Middle East”. 

He added “The GIS 2022 hosted more than 900 attendees from healthcare providers and specialists, in addition to the participation of more than 450 virtually and this year we are targeting more Physical attendance from all the region and since the inauguration of such an Iconic event in 2018, the GIS Conference has seen an increase in attendance and participation by over 70% annually.

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