Dr Naresh Trehan elected ISMICS' president

The ISMICS has appointed Dr Trehan as its president for the ongoing meet in UK. He is the first Indian to be appointed to post.

The US-based International Society for Minimally Invasive Cardiac Surgery (ISMICS) has appointed Dr Naresh Trehan as its president for the ongoing conference in London. Dr. Trehan, executive director and chief cardiac surgeon at the Escorts Heart Institute and Research Centre is the first non-American and non-European to hold this post.

Speaking on the occasion, he said, "It is a privilege and a delight to be the first Indian to be chosen for this prestigious post. During the last few years, we have witnessed a great deal of revolutionary work in heart care around the world and I am extremely proud to see India's contribution get its due recognition in the international arena."

Dr Trehan has been awarded Padmashri and Padma Bhushan by the Government of India in recognition of his distinguished services in the field of surgery and medicine. He has over 300 scientific publications to his name and has edited the book "New Developments in Cardiology and Cardiac Surgery".

The International Society for Minimally Invasive Cardiac Surgery was formed in 1997 to organize and centralize the various surgical centres around the world. The founding membership of ISMICS includes representatives from all continents. The first president chosen by the meeting participants at the World Congress was Robert W. Emery, M.D. of the Minneapolis Heart Institute.

At the completion of the Paris meeting, the advisory panel had recommended that future meetings of the World Congress of Minimally Invasive Cardiac Surgery alternate between Paris and Minneapolis, with additional venues on every 3rd or 4th year.

In December 2002, Escorts Heart Institute & Research Centre, New Delhi organised the ISMICS winter workshop in which latest techniques in cardio-thoracic surgery were demonstrated to over 400 delegates from all over the world.