SOLACI honored distinguished figures in cardiology during the SOLACI-CACI 2024 Congress

During the Inaugural Ceremony of the SOLACI-CACI 2024 Congress (held at 6 pm in the Main Arena Hall of the Hilton Hotel Convention Center in Buenos Aires), SOLACI authorities presented the “José Eduardo Sousa” and “SOLACI 30 Years” awards to figures with extensive careers in the field of cardiovascular interventionism.

This is the first time SOLACI has awarded these recognitions. The idea was to do something special at a special moment, as the Latin American Society of Interventional Cardiology is celebrating its 30th anniversary.

The session began with Drs. Diego Grinfeld (President of the SOLACI-CACI 2024 Congress) and Carla Agatiello (President of the Scientific Committee of the SOLACI-CACI 2024 Congress) welcoming the event and then introducing Dr. Juan Fernández (President of CACI) and Dr. Mario Araya, who praised the event’s success and large attendance.

Next, Dr. Marcelo Halac, Director of the SOL SOLACI Program, shared the results of the last 5 solidarity cases carried out in Argentina. SOL SOLACI is the Social Responsibility program of the Latin American Society of Interventional Cardiology, and to date, it has completed 87 solidarity cases across Latin America with the support of institutions, SOLACI members, and the medical industry.

Then came a very special moment: Drs. Ricardo Costa (Vice President of SOLACI), Omar Santaera (Treasurer), and Pedro Hidalgo (Venezuela) invited Amanda Sousa, wife of Prof. Dr. José Eduardo Sousa, to the stage to present the recognition to Dr. Hugo Londero, Former President and Founding Member of SOLACI, “for his permanent contribution to the training and development of the specialty in Latin America.” Previously, SOLACI also presented a gift to Andrea Abizaíd, daughter of Dr. José Eduardo Sousa.

In the words of Dr. Aníbal Damonte, Former President of SOLACI and one of the night’s speakers, “We believed it was time for SOLACI to start recognizing its members, to identify colleagues who helped the growth of interventional cardiology in the region and also the growth of the specialty worldwide.” He added, “The name that came up spontaneously was that of Dr. José Eduardo Sousa, founder of SOLACI, Former President of SOLACI, President of SBHCI, and promoter of the specialty’s development worldwide.” From now on, the José Eduardo Sousa award will be presented every year.

Dr. Londero thanked SOLACI for the honor and its significance and appreciated that the award is named after José Eduardo Sousa, “a visionary, analytical, serious cardiologist, and someone I always looked up to as an example and a friend.”

He also recalled the founding of GLACI, SOLACI, and the need that existed (despite difficulties) for a Society that would promote the development, expansion, and unification of interventional cardiology in Latin America.

To conclude, he added: “I don’t know if I deserve this award, but it touched my heart.”

The moment then arrived to present the “SOLACI 30 Years” award, which was given to Dr. Julio Palmaz, a pioneer of the specialty worldwide and inventor of the Palmaz-Schatz expandable stent, which has saved millions of lives around the globe.

Unfortunately, Dr. Palmaz could not be physically present at the ceremony, but he connected virtually and expressed his gratitude: “I would have loved to be there with so many dear people, to embrace them and share this award with so many friends. Thank you very much, and my heart is with you.”