NEW YORK – The Society for Cardiovascular Angiography & Interventions (SCAI) has appointed Dr. George Dangas, Professor of Medicine (Cardiology) and Surgery at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, as its new President. The appointment took place on May 20 during the closing ceremonies at the SCAI 2023 Scientific Sessions in Phoenix, AZ. Dr. Dangas is the first cardiologist from Mount Sinai and the first Greek individual to hold this esteemed position, serving as the 46th President of SCAI.

Dr. Dangas, who also serves as the Director of Cardiovascular Innovation at the Zena and Michael A. Wiener Cardiovascular Institute at Icahn Mount Sinai and Chief of Cardiology at Mount Sinai Queens, is a recognized authority in nonsurgical cardiovascular and valve interventions. His expertise encompasses both established and novel techniques, as well as the prevention and treatment of endovascular thrombosis. Within SCAI, he has played pivotal roles as a key faculty member and program committee member for various meetings and events, and he previously served as an SCAI Trustee.

Expressing his gratitude for the appointment, Dr. Dangas said, “I am deeply honored to serve as SCAI President this year. Our society is at the forefront of advancing interventional cardiology in ways that profoundly impact patient care. The innovative approaches required to meet the evolving needs of our profession are truly inspiring. I am eager to collaborate with our physician and associate members to address these needs and make a lasting impact on global health.”

As President of SCAI, Dr. Dangas will undertake important responsibilities such as serving as the organization’s spokesperson, supporting its development initiatives, and contributing to operational management.

Dr. George Dangas was named President of the Society for Cardiovascular Angiography & Interventions. (Photo: TNH/ Christodoulos Athanasatos)Dr. Dangas completed medical and postgraduate studies at the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Greece, followed by his internship and residency in internal medicine at The Miriam Hospital and Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island. He completed his cardiovascular disease and interventional cardiology fellowships at The Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City and has been certified by the American Board of Internal Medicine in Cardiovascular Disease and Interventional Cardiologe. He was also elected Master of the American College of Cardiology.

Dr. Dangas began his one-year term on May 20.

“It is a huge honor for me, because it is the only scientific society in the field of specialization in interventional cardiology worldwide,” Dr. Dangas told The National Herald. “It was founded in 1978, when these techniques began. It is the first time that a Greek serves on the Executive Committee as well as president. More generally, it is rare for someone who was not born in the United States to take the reins as president.”

The program of the conference in Phoenix included, among other things, issues of individual cardiovascular diseases, live cases, scientific and clinical research, and discussions on women in innovation and the international exchange of medical knowledge.

“I have set the goal of the greatest possible global participation of young colleagues, alongside highly targeted programs for the inclusion of women and minorities. In addition, we will also have a separate program for the younger generation, for which we will use a particularly popular Greek term: Mentor. The Mentor program will be one of the pillars of my presidency,” Dr. Dangas emphasized.

SCAI currently has in its ranks 4,500 registered members from 100 different countries dedicated to medical advancement and lifesaving care for adults and children with cardiovascular disease.

More information is available online: https://scai.org/.