The Gulf Intervention Society (GIS) recently concluded its fifth annual conference in Dubai, successfully bringing together over 1,450 participants from around the globe. Held from November 16th to 18th, 2023, at the Intercontinental Festival City Hotel, Dubai, the conference focused on cutting-edge international technologies and advancements in cardiac catheterization and interventional surgeries.
The event garnered widespread international participation, with researchers, specialists, prominent scientists, and physicians from 22 countries convening to share expertise and insights. Leading medical institutions from around the world showcased their real-world experiences, enriching the conference with invaluable practical knowledge.
A highlight of the conference was the presentation of over 23 complex cases, 30 recorded cases, and 4 live transmissions from renowned healthcare facilities across the region (National Heart Center Iin Royal Hospital, Muscat, Oman, Al Qassimi Hospital, Sharjah, UAE, King Abdulaziz Cardiac Center, National Guard Hospital, Riyadh, KSA, and Chest Diseases Hospital, Kuwait). These presentations provided participants with a comprehensive understanding of real-world clinical scenarios and the latest interventional techniques.
Addressing the conference, GIS President Dr. Fawaz Almutairi, Consultant Interventional Cardiologist at the National Guard Hospital in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, emphasized the society's commitment to promoting artificial intelligence (AI) in cardiac care. "The GIS Scientific Committee has been actively studying and applying AI techniques in the field of cardiac treatments and interventional catheter surgeries," he stated. "During this conference, we shared a number of clinical trials and studies with our international audience, including cardiologists and catheter specialists from the GCC countries."
The conference focused on the transformative potential of AI in catheterization and interventional surgery, emphasizing the need for its continued development and integration into clinical practice. AI's role in early intervention and more accurate diagnosis of heart attacks was highlighted, with a focus on its potential to identify life-threatening cardiac conditions.
"The conference participants actively engaged in presenting innovative ideas and solutions to advance the healthcare sector and serve society," added Dr. Al-Mutairi. "Several workshops were conducted covering a wide range of topics, including health awareness, cardiac treatments, interventional catheterization, and the latest developments and visions in the evolving field of cardiac healthcare."
A significant milestone at the conference was the signing of multiple Memorandum of Understanding (MOUs) between GIS and several international associations such as “The Cardiovascular Research, Education & Prevention Foundation (CVREP), The Iraqi-Cardio Thoracic Society, The Indonesian Heart Association, The Cardiological Society of India (CSI), and the Interventional Cardiovascular Innovation Group of Jordanian Society, and the Joint Interventional Meeting among other regional and international associations. These partnerships aim to foster collaboration and knowledge exchange in the field of interventional cardiology, promoting regional and global advancements.
The conference played a pivotal role in facilitating discussions and identifying key challenges in the healthcare, medical sciences, AI, catheterization, and interventional surgery sectors. It also highlighted the importance of scientific and technical research in these areas.
The event featured 130 presenters, including 30 international speakers. The sessions encompassed 25 scientific presentations, 5 workshops, and panel discussions. The conference received accreditation from The European Council for Accreditation in Cardiology (EBAC), granting participants 22 hours of continuous medical education credit.
