On behalf of King Abdullah Medical City in Makkah, it is my great honour to welcome you to the 4th National Heart Forum – Makkah the Heart Safe City.
In alignment with the aspirations of Saudi Vision 2030 and the national transformation of our health sector, this forum brings together the entire cardiovascular care team—consultants, trainees, nurses, pharmacists, physiotherapists, technicians, and allied health professionals—to reimagine how we prevent, detect, and treat heart disease in our region. In close collaboration with the Saudi Health Council (National Heart Center) and the Saudi Heart Association, our goal is to translate national strategies and guidelines into tangible improvements at the bedside and in our communities.
The scientific program spans the full continuum of cardiovascular care: from cardiac surgery, structural and interventional cardiology, electrophysiology, advanced heart failure, ECMO and transplant cardiology, to congenital and cardio-metabolic disease. Alongside these, we offer dedicated allied health tracks, hands-on workshops, live cases, and vibrant case and research competitions, as well as focused sessions on digital health and artificial intelligence—all designed to strengthen national pathways, registries, and outcomes in cardiovascular disease.
This year, we are especially proud to host colleagues and partners from regional and international cardiology societies, with a special outreach to Islamic countries, as we work together to confront the growing burden of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD). A key milestone of this forum will be the launch of the “Makkah Declaration for ASCVD Prevention”, setting out a shared vision and practical commitments to protect the hearts of our communities for generations to come.
I warmly invite you to engage, contribute, and help us shape a future where Makkah stands as a global model of a true “Heart Safe City”—a place where innovation, compassion, and collaboration come together in service of better cardiovascular health for all.
Sincerely,
Provide a comprehensive, evidence-based update on the prevention, diagnosis, and management of cardiovascular diseases across the full spectrum of care.
Align national cardiovascular practice with strategic priorities of the Saudi Health Council, National Heart Center, and Saudi Heart Council/Saudi Heart Association by translating national policies and guidelines into practical tools for daily clinical work.
Support unified national standards, pathways, and registries for cardiovascular and heart failure care, aiming to reduce variation in care and improve measurable outcomes across the Kingdom.
Strengthen multidisciplinary collaboration between cardiac surgery, interventional and structural heart disease, heart failure, electrophysiology, imaging, ECMO services, transplant cardiology, and congenital heart disease teams.
Highlight advanced heart failure therapies, ECMO, and transplant cardiology by reviewing indications, patient selection, peri-operative care, and long-term outcomes in high-risk cardiac patients.
Integrate cardio-metabolic care by emphasizing the intersection of diabetes, obesity, kidney disease, and cardiovascular risk, with a focus on practical, guideline-driven management.
Advance training and education for all healthcare professionals through structured sessions tailored to consultants, trainees, and residents, focusing on core cardiology competencies, board-relevant topics, and real-world clinical problem solving.
Empower allied health professionals—including nursing, pharmacy, physiotherapy, cardiac rehabilitation, and other disciplines—through a dedicated track addressing their crucial role in cardiovascular and heart failure care pathways.
Enhance clinical skills through hands-on workshops in acute cardiac care, heart failure management, ECMO basics, cardiac rehabilitation, medication optimization, and advanced cardiovascular technologies.
Use live cases and interactive heart-team sessions to demonstrate real-world decision-making in complex coronary, structural, electrophysiology, and heart failure interventions.
Promote research, case discussions, and scholarly activity via case presentations and research competitions that encourage critical appraisal, innovation, and mentorship among healthcare professionals and trainees.
Showcase innovation, digital health, and artificial intelligence applications in cardiovascular medicine, quality improvement, and patient safety, positioning Makkah as a leading model for a “Heart Safe City.”
Foster national and regional networking and collaboration among hospitals, academic centers, and professional societies to support continuous improvement in cardiovascular outcomes.
Strengthen outreach to international cardiology societies—especially in Islamic countries to promote collaborative initiatives in cardiovascular health, prevention of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD), shared registries, education, and capacity building.
Create a sustainable platform for joint initiatives—including education, training programs, research, quality improvement, and data-driven innovation—between King Abdullah Medical City, the National Heart Center, the Saudi Heart Council/Saudi Heart Association, and international partners to advance the vision of “Makkah, the Heart Safe City.”