Working groups
BeHRA - Belgian Heart Rhythm Association
BeHRA brings together Belgian cardiologists who specialise in treating cardiac rhythm disorders.
The mission of the BeHRA consists of promoting the study and development of cardiac stimulation, electrophysiology and cardiac rhythmology in the broader sense by organising scientific meetings, exchanging information and supporting fundamental and clinical research.
BIWAC - Belgian Interdisciplinary Working group on Acute Cardiology
BIWAC aims at improving study and knowledge of Acute Cardiology and its implementation in daily practice. This can be accomplished by organizing scientific meetings and courses, the exchange of information and the editing of Guidelines of Good Clinical practice, as well by scientific research.
BWGA - Belgian Working group on Angiology
BWGACHD - Belgian Working Group on Adult Congenital Heart Disease
The BWGACHD was created in 2009 by the initiative of Prof. Werner Budts, who aimed to gather cardiologists working in the field of adult congenital cardiology in Belgium, thus enabling close interactions.
Adult congenital heart disease is a relatively new but growing subspeciality within cardiology, with a steadily increasing number of patients. The treatment of these patients with complex and often rare congenital heart diseases is highly challenging: it requires close collaboration between cardiologists, surgeons, pediatricians, radiologists and geneticists working in this field. Access to the best clinical practice requires a close collaboration between general hospitals and reference centers.
The multidisciplinary nature of the working group leads to constructive discussions about the optimal management of these patients according to the international guidelines.
BWGACHD organizes an annual symposium focusing on the hottest topics in the field, and an annual case discussion meeting. Members are welcome to these events and are invited to present their own challenging cases to get insight from a panel of Belgian experts.
BWGBRC - Belgian Working Group on Basic Research in Cardiology
Technologies and approaches to determine the basic mechanisms that cause cardiovascular disease are increasingly powerful. Efforts that bring together physicians and basic researchers with complementary knowledge, tools and skills are required to make progress.
Since its creation in 2018, the BWGBRC aims to promote connection between physicians and basic researchers. One of its major objectives is to provide cardiologists with the current knowledge on the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying pathobiology of cardiovascular disease. This is done through participation of the BWGBRC in the BSC congress (BWG-BRC session, translational lectures) and organisation of specific annual meetings dedicated to Belgian basic research in cardiology. These BWGBRC annual meetings also allow to enhance the interaction between Belgian groups of basic research, and learn more about their field of interest in order to initiate potential close collaborations.
President : Llewelyn Roderick (KU Leuven)
Secretary : Cécile Oury (ULiège)
Past President: Sandrine Horman (UCLouvain)
Maaike Alaerts (UAntwerpen)
Jolanda Van Hengel (UGent)
Vincent Segers (UAntwerpen)
Nicolas Baeyens (ULB)
Virginie Bito (UHAsselt)
Didier Communi (ULB)
Kim Martinod (KU Leuven)
Luc Bertrand (UCLouvain)
How to join?
- Be a MD/PhD/MSc with a particular interest for basic research in cardiology
- Be a member of the BSC
- Send an application to a board member or to llewelyn.roderick@kuleuven.be
BWGPC - Belgian Working Group on Preventive Cardiology
Any request can be sent to bwgpc@bscardio.be
President: Dr. Guido Claessen
President-Elect: TBD
Treasurer: Dr. Erwin de Bliek
Secretary: Dr. Clara Douin
BWGCVN - Belgian Working Group on Cardio Vascular Nursing
The BWGCVN was founded in 2009 and aims to improve the quality of nursing care for patients diagnosed with cardiovascular conditions in Belgium. This working group aims to obtain this goal by organizing scientific conferences for nurses and allied profession, formally collaborating with national and international associations, and promoting and conducting research in the field of cardiovascular nursing.
The objectives of the Working Group are:
- To improve the quality of nursing care for patients diagnosed with cardiovascular conditions in Belgium.
- To undertake and support activities which promote cardiovascular health in the overall population.
- To develop, disseminate and monitor the standards of continuing education and clinical practice.
- To promote evidence based cardiovascular nursing practice in Belgium.
- To collaborate with the Belgian Society for Cardiology and its working groups to improve the quality of life of the Belgian population.
BWGHF - Belgian Working Group on Heart Failure
The BWGHF was established in 2004 with the main objectives of improving the quality of heart failure treatment in Belgium, promoting scientific exchange and encouraging clinical and basic research in the field of heart failure.
In addition, it's responsible for determining, spreading and monitoring the application of the scientific standard in education and clinical practice for the treatment of patients with heart failure.
The task force also wants to assess and standardize the quality of treatment for heart failure. In addition to optimizing the care of heart failure, multidisciplinary collaboration with general practitioners and other professionals is essential. All this in close collaboration with the BSC and its other working groups.
BWGIC - Belgian Working Group on Interventional Cardiology
The goal of the BWGIC is to stimulate and disseminate scientific knowledge related to interventional cardiology in Belgium.
BWGNICI - Belgian Working Group on Non Invasive Cardiac Imaging
The Belgian Working Group on Echocardiography was created more than 30 years ago. It was later merged with the Working Group on Cardiac Magnetic Resonance to form the Belgian Working Group on Non-Invasive Cardiac Imaging (BWGNICI).
The BWGNICI is a volunteer-based, volunteer-led, not-for-profit, medical society and an independent, non-governmental organisation and part of the of the BSC.
The members of the BWGNICI are healthcare professionals who give their expertise and time freely so that the field of cardiac imaging within Belgium develops and continues to grow. They provide courses and conferences with the aim to improve quality of health care in Belgium. The members of the working group meet regularly to discuss the needs of the community and strive to find solutions in a collaborative manner.
Council on Cardiogenomics
The council on Cardiogenomics was founded in 2022 under the umbrella of the BSC and the Belgian Society of human genetics (BeSHG). Its main aim is to bring together health care professionals interested in cardiogenetic diseases. The goals of the council are to improve awareness on cardiogenetic diseases among health care providers and policy makers, improve patient care and stimulate multicentres research collaborations.
Conditions for membership:
- Being a healthcare professional active in Belgium with special interest in cardiogenetic diseases: cardiologist, clinical geneticist, molecular geneticist, genetic counsellor, genetic pshychologist etc.
If you want to be informed of the Council latest activities, and become a member, please contact cardiogenomics@bscardio.be
President: Antoine Bondue
Secretary: Tomas Robyns
Treasurer: Saskia Bulk
Representative BEHRA: Lieve Van Casteren and Anaïs Gauthey
Representative BWGACHD: Julie de Backer and Liesbet Van Bulck
Representative BWGHF: Anne-Catherine Pouleur
Representative BeSHG: Bart Loeys, Yves Sznajer, Karin Dahan, Thomy De Ravel, Jeroen Breckpot
Representative Molecular biologists: Anniek Corveleyn and Lut Van Laer
Representative genetic counsellors: Liesbet Wildero – Van Wouwe
Council on Cardio-Oncology
The Council was created to stimulate research, teaching, knowledge exchange and educational activities nationwide, with a focus on both acute and long term cardiovascular complications of cancer treatments.
It also aims at harmonizing the care of the patients suffering from anticancer treatments cardiac toxicities through the transposition of international guidelines into local protocols.
Chairperson : Constantijn Franssen - UZA, Cardiologist
Treasurer : Berlinde Von Kemp - UZ Brussel, Cardiologist
YCC - Young Cardiologists' Club
The YCC gives the opportunity to network with colleagues and to cast the voice of young cardiologists on the landscape of cardiology and training in Belgium. YCC members benefit from advantages such as eligibility for free registration for the ESC congress or access training material on the EACVI website. Each year, YCC organises courses for young cardiologists, as well as the Annual YCC Symposium, open for all.
YCC Membership advantages:
- Young cardiologists can benefit from free ESC Congress registration as “cardiologist of tomorrow”
- Every year, a 1.000€ “YCC Training grant” is awarded to a young cardiologist on our annual symposium
- Become the national young representative for your hospital or your clinical specialty (EAPCI Young or HIT ambassador)
- Advantages for EACVI: 50% discount on Silver membership with online educational material, eligibility for free EuroEcho registration* (under specific conditions)
- Connect with peers and leaders in your specialty and enhance your expertise
- Get involved in the working group of the BSC
Conditions for membership:
- Being a cardiologist or cardiologist in training and a member of the BSC
- Working in Belgium
- Not older than 40 years of age
- Young cardiologists or trainees: first become a BSC member, then register here.
- If you are not a cardiologist: register to our mailing list for free to stay informed on our activities: click here.
The YCC was founded in 1991 by Prof. D. Clement.
Presidents : Amina Khaldi and Christophe Vandenbriele
President-Elect : Berlinde von Kemp
Treasurer : Frederik Helsen.
Board meetings are held every 3 months. Contact the YCC if you want to attend one!
Young Cardiologists’ Club
Dr. Stéphanie Seldrum
CHU Mont-Godinne, Cardiologie
Avenue Dr G. Thérasse,
15530 Yvoir