Education and Self Improvement (ESI) association is a non-profit, non-governmental association that conducts educational scientific activities for health care providers (doctors, nurses, technicians etc.) in the Middle East and worldwide. Through ICSHD (Intervention in Congenital and Structural Heart Disease), the association imparts education and training in the field of transcatheter interventions in congenital and structural heart disease. There are excellent, informative annual workshops and symposia for interventions in congenital and structural heart disease. Through our ICSHD workshops we hope to add a different dimension to other symposia/workshops by focusing on the issues pertaining to the developing countries.
Even the poorest developing countries, have very skilled and advanced interventional cardiologists who often have to deal with limited resources prompting them to develop their own tailored approaches to some of the well-known interventions. Through this conference, it is our aim to address these issues with respect to standards of health care achieving excellence despite financial limitations. The workshops will focus on the needs of the beginners as well as the senior interventionalists from developed and developing countries with an aim to reduce the gap in terms of the outcomes of various interventions. We also aim through this meeting, to introduce the latest available devices and standards. Additionally, through live interactions we hope to learn from innovations in developing countries. The first day this year will focus on interventions in right heart lesions, while the second day will address interventions to left heart lesions. Another focus is to encourage developing countries to start databases, for better documentation and to publish their experiences for the benefit of the global audience.
On behalf of course directors