Abstract
Indian Journal of Clinical Cardiology wishes all the members of the Telangana State branch of Cardiological Society of India (TSCSI) and all readers a very happy, healthy, and prosperous new year! The year that passed by, ended with a great satisfaction for TSCSI. Active participation by TSCSI members at CSI annual conferences is nothing new; but this year the Telangana stars have reached the zenith. Dr PC Rath (Figure 1) being the president-elect was the chairman of the scientific committee who set up new standards in organizing a national conference of this dimension. He really made the event a memorable one with excellent academic content. “Heart failure: An emerging epidemic—A global perspective” was the main theme of this conference. The CSI-update-2023 was compiled under his editorship, with 217 chapters written by eminent cardiologists from India and abroad (with 30 contributors from TSCSI), which stands out as a great resource material for young cardiologists and students to update themselves on current issues like artificial intelligence in cardiology. The scientific content was a great academic feast with varied subjects and catered well to the students, budding cardiologists, academicians, and researchers, noninvasive and invasive cardiologists alike. To add another feather to his hat, he had been offered the co-editorship of the prestigious European Heart Journal. Another moment of pride for the association.
Dr PC Rath Delivering the Inaugural Speech at the Opening of Heart Failure Conclave.
The father of modern cardiology of Andhra-Telangana states, Padmashree award recipient, Dr Soma Raju (Figure 2) was awarded the most prestigious lifetime achievement award in this conference and the association members are very proud of this legendary personality for his vision and commitment for the development of modern cardiac practice. Most of the TSCSI members were his students and are immensely inspired by his life, teachings, commitment to profession, leadership, and endless professional achievements. He had been the torchbearer and set standards of excellence in every-aspect of cardiac practice.
Dr B Soma Raju Receiving the Lifetime Achievement Award.
Our TSCSI members actively participated as judges, panelists, chairpersons, speakers, and oral and poster presenters on many stages. There was one live case demonstration from KIMS, Hyderabad by team lead by Dr RK Jain and Dr Ajoy Swamy. Most of the PG forum and PG track events were moderated by Prof. Dayasagar Rao and other teachers from TSCSI. The brightest moment for us was the prestigious VV Shah Oration Lecture-Post-infarction Myocardial Scar-Assessment and management in prevention of VT and SCD—awarded to Dr B Hygriv Rao (Figure 3). His scientific temperament and passion for academics and research, despite working in corporate sector is exemplary to the juniors. Annual CSI meet at Kolkata stands out as a memorable moment for all members of TSCSI as so many stars were really shining bright in an event attended by 5,000 delegates from all corners of India and abroad.
Dr B Hygriv Rao on Being Conferred the VV Shah Oration Award.
In the same breath, I wish to put up a few achievements and happenings in the Indian Journal of Clinical Cardiology over the last 1 year. On a happier note, we received nearly 220 manuscripts in 2023, which is a big jump from the earlier years. The content is chosen under categories—editorials, case reports, original articles, review articles, perspectives, journal scans, intervention, imaging, ECG-EP, Heart failure corners, and letters to the editor. Recently a quiz on cardiology under fellows’ forum has been added. The online version continues to be on the journal website in reasonable time. The associate editors and peer reviewers are contributing their talents and time, despite busy schedule. I thank them all for their cooperation. I also welcome Dr Praveen Nagula (Osmania Hospitals) and Dr Kartik Jadhav (Apollo Hospitals) who joined the editorial board as associate editors. My sincere appeal to the world class interventional cardiologists among us to stimulate the junior members of their teams to write case reports based on such procedures and submit to our own journal. Receiving complementary print copies and timely distribution to all members remains a challenge. We are on the job to streamline it further. I appeal members to intimate me any change in address (
