Harvard Medical School Dubai Center and Novartis launch Pan Arab Cardiology Program

The program - "Advances in Cardiology" - will tackle a range of issues related to heart health, including coronary artery disease, high blood pressure, obesity, diabetes and heart failure.

Physicians from Harvard Medical School in the United States and specialists from within the region will lead sessions at the event, bringing together some of the most prominent talents to tackle a critical health issue, which afflicts millions of people across the region.

Over 150 doctors have registered to attend the program, including specialists from Bahrain, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, Palestine, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria and the United Arab Emirates.

"Cardiovascular health is a critical issue within the Middle East and the incidence of heart disease looks set to increase in the coming years. It is therefore critically important that physicians stay abreast of new developments in treatment and diagnosis, which this series of CME sessions is designed to address," said Dr. Robert Thurer, Chief Academic Officer, Harvard Medical School Dubai Center, and Associate Professor of Surgery, Harvard Medical School, who will be part of the faculty for the event.

The event will gather together a distinguished faculty to lead the event, including physicians from the United States of America, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Lebanon.

In addition to educational sessions, the meeting will also involve interactive workshops, where delegates will discuss clinical cases with the faculty.

"This event will bring together a diverse range of specialists working in a range of fields and enable us to examine some of the important research and medical advances being developed both within the region and outside," said Dr. Fadi Shammas, Medical Director, Novartis.

The CME course runs from April 27-April 28 in Dubai and is planned as part of an ongoing series of specialist educational events. Participants in these CME programs will be eligible to receive CME credits.

Harvard Medical School Dubai Center was founded in 2004 in a joint effort between the Government of Dubai and Harvard Medical International, a subsidiary of Harvard University.

Novartis' support for the event is part of the company's wider support for development, research and knowledge-sharing in the Middle East's healthcare field.

The company, which is a world leader in offering medicines to protect health and treat disease, has played a major role in the treatment of high blood pressure, heart disease and heart attacks. It produces Diovan and Lescol, two of the leading treatments in the field of cardiovascular health.