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Postgraduate in Cardiac Electrophysiology and Pacing

the Postgraduate CourseThis Postgraduate in Cardiac Electrophysiology and Pacing - is offered within the Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy - after a specialization in Cardiology, and is supported by the Institute for Postgraduate Training of the Vrije universiteit brussel (iPAVub).

Members

The Training Committee is composed of the following members of the UZ Brussel and the Vrije Universiteit Brussel

Prof. Pedro brugada, Chairman Postgraduate in Cardiac electrophysiology and Pacing, uZ brussel,Dr. Gian battista Chierchia, Director Atrial Fibrillation and Pacing Program, uZ brussel,Prof. Jan Cornelis, Vice-rector research Vrije universiteit brussel,Prof. Yvette Michotte, Dean Medical and Pharmacy Faculties Vrije universiteit brussel,Prof. Marc Noppen, CeO uZ brussel,Dr. Andrea sarkozy, Director Clinical electrophysiology laboratory, uZ brussel,Prof. Danny schoors, Head of the Department of Cardiology, uZ brussel,Prof. rosette s’Jegers, Vice-rector education Vrije universiteit brussel,Prof. ben Van Camp, rector Vrije universiteit brussel,Prof. Guy Van Camp, Head of the Non-Invasive Cardiology unit, uZ brussel.

Teachers

Prof. Dr. Pedro brugada, Dr. Gian battista Chierchia, Prof. Danny schoors, Dr. Andrea sarkozy, Prof. Guy Van Camp, uZ brussel.

A broad spectrum of international speakers visits the Cardiology Department at the uZ brussel for the purpose of this postgraduate training. The Fellows are actively engaged in the “Meet the Masters” international program for electro-physiology Fellows directed by Professor Pedro brugada.

Fellows

Potential Fellows can come from any country and must comply with the following rules:• Certification as specialist in Cardiology in the country of origin with recognition of that certificate by the belgian

Health Authorities before the start of the training.• letter of recommendation from the Chief of Cardiology and the Chief of Medicine of the Institution where the

certification in Cardiology-Internal Medicine was obtained in the country of origin.• Proof of financial support from the Institutions in the country of origin.• Fluency in the english language.

CARDIAC ELECTROPHYSIOLOGY AND PACING

During the past few decades, major advances have been made in the diagnosis and treatment of cardiac diseases. New technologies and medications have been developed with great success. Unfortunately, and in spite of all this progress, heart disease remains the number one killer in developed countries. One out of three individuals still dies from a heart problem, far more than from cancer, traumatic deaths and AIDS.

There are three major categories of heart disease: • Diseases that affect the coronary arteries and thereby diminish the blood flow and the oxygen

supply to the heart (coronary artery disease with angina pectoris and myocardial infarction), • Diseases affecting the mechanical function of the heart (heart failure), • Diseases affecting the electrical system of the heart (cardiac arrhythmias).

These three different categories interact with each other and frequently coexist. For instance, an acute myocardial infarction caused by an acute obstruction of a coronary artery can cause acute heart failure and acute arrhythmias that may lead to cardiogenic shock or sudden cardiac death. Cardiac arrhythmias can also cause heart failure and heart failure can cause arrhythmias. The interactions between the three are very complex. Ultimately the causes of cardiac death are equally divided between death from heart failure and arrhythmic death. While death from heart failure is usually predictable and protracted by treatment, arrhythmic death is unpredictable, sudden and unexpected, thereby very difficult to reverse.

Clinical Cardiac Electrophysiology and Pacing have become subspecialties within the Cardiology area because of their complexity and the very special skills required for the early recognition and appropriate treatment of cardiac arrhythmias and other electrical problems of the heart that can cause sudden arrhythmic death. The European Heart Rhythm Association (EHRA) gives a certification in Clinical Electro-physiology and in Cardiac Pacing after passing a voluntary examination, but there is no formal practical or long-lasting theoretical training for this certification.

The Postgraduate Training in Clinical Cardiac Electrophysiology and Pacing is offered at the UZ Brussel and Vrije Universiteit Brussel under the direction of Prof. Dr. Pedro Brugada, Head of the Heart Rhythm Management Centre at Brussels, Course Director of the Heart Rhythm Management Fellows Development Program in Europe and Asian-Pacific and Vice-Chairman of the Certification Committee on Electrophysiology of the EHRA.

This practical and theoretical postgraduate training fills the gap in education that is required for the good practice of Clinical Electrophysiology and Pacing and prepares the Fellows for a successful certification. Prof. Brugada has trained Fellows in Cardiac Electrophysiology and Pacing for almost 30 years, helping them to obtain very important cardiology positions in centres all over the world.

Program

Fellows are expected to be involved 100 % in the activities of the Heart rhythm Management Centre. This is a full-time engagement in Clinical and basic Cardiac electrophysiology and Pacing according to a program that will be designed individually. The minimum training period is one academic year (200 effective training days, congress participation, publications and seminars).

ECTS-CR* HOURSHands-on training and clinical practice 20 CR 600 hrsResearch 20 CR 600 hrsSelf-study 10 CR 300 hrsCongress participation and publications 4 CR 120 hrsInterdisciplinary seminars Physiology and Electrophysiology 3 CR 90 hrsWeekly seminars Heart Rhythm Management Centre 3 CR 90 hrs

60 CR 1800 hrs

Certificate

At the end of the postgraduate course a certificate for a ‘Postgraduate in Cardiac Electrophysiology and Pacing’, signed by the rector of the Vrije universiteit brussel, will be handed out by the institute for Postgraduate Training of the Vrije universiteit brussel (iPAVub).

Grants

Candidates are encouraged to apply for the Fellowship grants of the eHrA with specific mention of our training site (uZ brussel - Vrije universiteit brussel, Heart rhythm Management Centre, Prof. Dr. Pedro brugada) at http://www.escardio.org/bodies/associations/eHrA/eHrA-Training-Fellowships/

*eCTs-Cr: european Credit Transfer system-Credits

Contact

HEART RHyTHM MANAgEMENT CENTREProf. Dr. Pedro BRUgADA Mrs. Kristien VAN CAELENBERgUZ Brussel, Dpt. CardiologyAve. Laarbeeklaan 1011090 Brussels, Belgium Kristien.VanCaelenberg@uzbrussel.beTel: 00 32 2 476 35 09www.vub.ac.be/iPAVUB

“Nihil sine nixu”(Nothing without effort)

Added value

The Heart rhythm Management Centre started its activities at the university Hospital uZ brussel during spring 2007. In less than six months, clinical activity has rocketed to the #1 position in belgium, and has been paralleled by important scientific production.emerging fields of activity are multidisciplinary (clinical) and translational (research) programs in collaboration with the departments of Genetics, Pediatrics, Neonatology, Geriatrics, Neurology, as well as a fundamental research program in Physiology.

The large scope of clinical activities, fueled by increasing patient demand in belgium and elsewhere, together with the presence of a state-of-the-art infrastructure and a research-stimulating multidisciplinary academic environment unique in europe, as well as the intrinsic qualities of Professor Dr. Pedro brugada and his team, are a unique opportunity for the Vrije universiteit brussel to implement this academic training program.

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