Carlo de Asmundis MD, PhD is a full professor in cardiology at Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Chair of the Heart Rhythm Management Center at Universitair Ziekenhuis Brussel, and Director of the Postgraduate Program in Cardiac Electrophysiology and Pacing at Vrije Universiteit Brussel. Born and raised in Milan Italy, he graduated from medical school at University Vita-Salute San Raffaele Hospital, Milan. His cardiology residency was at Universitaʻ degli Studi di Milano. He undertook an Electrophysiology and Pacing training fellowship at UZ Brussel, under the mentorship of Professor Pedro Brugada, also completing his PhD in Cardiovascular Physiopathology at the Universitaʻ degli Studi di Milano. His academic career consists of clinical research, with a special focus on cardiac electrophysiology and hybrid and surgical treatment of cardiac arrhythmias. He developed a new strategy for the treatment of IST/POTS using hybrid ablation. Along with his colleagues, he has developed a unique cardiac arrhythmia hybrid program. Mark La Meir, MD, PhD is a professor of cardiac surgery, and Chair of the Cardiac Surgery Department at Universitair Ziekenhuis Brussel. He is also a consultant at Maastricht University Medical Center in the Netherlands. He earned his medical degree in 1992, and completed his PhD on Hybrid Treatment of Atrial Fibrillation in 2012. He has a special interest in the concomitant hybrid and stand-alone surgical treatment of cardiac arrhythmias. Since 2005, he has developed hybrid approaches for the treatment of atrial fibrillation, ventricular tachycardia, inappropriate sinus node tachycardia, premature ventricular contractions and Brugada syndrome. He is a board member of the Arrhythmia Task Force of the European Association for Cardiothoracic Surgery. He has authored or co-authored more than 100 peer-reviewed publications. Gian Battista Chierchia, MD, PhD, is a Full professor in cardiology at Vrije Universiteit Brussel, co-director of the Postgraduate Program in Cardiac Electrophysiology and Pacing at Vrije Universiteit Brussel, and director of the Atrial Fibrillation Program at the Heart Rhythm Management Center. Born and raised in Milan Italy, he received his medical degree from University Vita-Salute San Raffaele Hospital, Milan, completing his residency in cardiology at University Vita-Salute San Raffaele Hospital. He undertook a Fellowship in Electrophysiology and Pacing at the at Universitair Ziekenhuis Brussel, under the direction of Professor Pedro Brugada. He has authored or co-authored more than 300 peer-reviewed publications. He pioneered the use of cryoablation for pulmonary vein isolation in atrial fibrillation in Europe. His main research topic is physiopathology and treatment of atrial fibrillation, with a special focus on new technologies and approaches, including hybrid ablation. Luigi Pannone, MD, is a cardiologist and electrophysiologist at the Heart Rhythm Management Center of at Universitair Ziekenhuis Brussel- Vrije Universiteit Brussel. Born in Naples Italy, he graduated summa cum laude in medicine from Università degli studi di Napoli Federico II. He completed his cardiology residency at University Vita-Salute San Raffaele Hospital, Milan and a Fellowship in Electrophysiology and Pacing at at Universitair Ziekenhuis Brussel, under the direction of Professor Carlo de Asmundis. He has authored or co-authored more than 50 peer-reviewed publications. His main research topic is physiopathology and treatment of channelopathies, Brugada syndrome, and inappropriate sinus node tachycardia, managed through hybrid and surgical approaches.
