Previously a Stent-Save a Life! Ambassador – with a very active role in different regions of the world – Prof Jan Piek accepted to take over the role of Stent-Save a Life co-Chairman in 2019 and Chairman in 2021. He was the former Director of the Heart Centre of the Academic Medical Centre in Amsterdam (The Netherlands) between 2008 and 2019, that included heading the Acute Cardiac Care department before moving his activities towards the Stent Save a Life initiative, that developed over the years into a global structure. His well-acknowledged experience in coronary syndromes, in particular his interest in coronary physiology, led him to be a writer and reviewer of the ESC guidelines and protocols on myocardial revascularisation and he is also much sought out in the national public affairs like in the medical industry. He is past president of the Dutch Working Group of Interventional Cardiology and a fellow of the ESC, ACC and AHA. Prof Jan Piek was also the editor-in-chief of the Netherlands Heart Journal (2017-2024) boasting a personal extensive record of publications in peer-review journals. Prof Piek is also working on the development of a travel digital application – a collaboration between the University of Amsterdam, Cardiology Centers Netherlands and Stent-Save a Life! – aiming at assisting cardiac patients during their stay abroad.

 

Dr. Thomas Alexander M.D., D.M., F.A.C.C., F.R.C.P, is a senior Consultant and Interventional Cardiologist and Head of Division of Cardiology at Kovai Medical Center and Hospital, Coimbatore. Kovai Medical Center and Hospital is a 1900 bed tertiary care centre in Coimbatore, South India. The cardiology unit is one of the leading interventional centers in South India and one of the leading STEMI centres in the country. The department performs approximately 4500 procedures a year which includes over 2500 cardiac interventions including approximately 700 primary PCI procedures each year. He has published over 70 papers in various National and International journals and is a faculty at many National and International workshops and meetings including leading international meetings of the American College of Cardiology, American Heart Association, TCT and Euro PCR. Dr. Thomas Alexander along with Dr. Ajit Mullasari. established STEMI INDIA, a ‘not-for-profit organisation' that validated the STEMI India Model which today has been globally recognised as the model for Low- and Middle-income Countries. He is the Course Director of the STEMI INDIA meeting, which is an international meeting focused on STEMI care. He is also the director of STEMI Care, an organisation that is implementing STEMI programs in India and other LMIC. He is a member of the Governing Council of the Technology Innovation Foundation of IIT Palakkad (TECHIN) which aims to innovate and incubate ideas in the Medical Technology space. Dr. Alexander has been recognised as a pioneer in research in developing STEMI systems of care. His initial work in the Tamilnadu STEMI program resulted in this program being adopted by the National Health Mission with similar programs being initiated in other Indian states. Dr. Alexander is a fellow of the American College of Cardiology, Royal College of Physicians, Indian College of Cardiology, and the Cardiological Society of India.

Driven by a strong passion for improving healthcare systems, Noha Ghanem is excited to take on the role of Global Project Manager for the Stent – Save a Life! Global Initiative. A PhD holder with 19 years of diverse experience in the healthcare sector—spanning public health, pharmaceuticals, and project coordination—Noha has held key roles in both scientific and strategic domains, including medical affairs and cross-functional project leadership. Her deep understanding of healthcare operations and her ability to bridge technical and managerial functions will support the SSL organization in maintaining momentum across its global efforts and enhancing coordination across country initiatives. Noha is motivated by a genuine commitment to advancing patient care and is eager to contribute to SSL’s mission of improving access to timely and effective STEMI treatment worldwide. She looks forward to working closely with all partners to strengthen the initiative’s global impact.

 

Prof. Sameh Shaheen is Professor of Cardiology at Ain Shams University in Cairo, Egypt, and an Immediate Past President of the Egyptian Society of Cardiology (EgSC). He is a Fellow of the European Society of Cardiology (FESC), the American College of Cardiology (FACC), the Society for Cardiovascular Angiography and Interventions (FSCAI), and the Royal College of Physicians (FRCP). As the Champion for Africa in the Stent – Save a Life! initiative, Prof. Shaheen leads efforts to expand equitable access to timely treatment for ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) across the continent. His work centers on strengthening STEMI referral networks, increasing the availability of primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), and minimizing treatment delays in diverse healthcare environments. Prof. Shaheen is also actively involved in health policy advocacy, regional collaboration, and medical education. His goals include raising awareness among healthcare professionals and decision-makers, identifying and addressing systemic barriers, and promoting the exchange of best practices to improve outcomes and reduce cardiovascular mortality throughout Africa.

Dr. Wei-Chun Huang is currently Deputy Superintendent of Pingtung Christian Hospital in Taiwan and Professor at both National Yang Ming University and National Sun Yat-sen University. He holds an MD and PhD, and is a Fellow of the American College of Cardiology (FACC), the European Society of Cardiology (FESC), and the Healthcare Quality Society (FHQS). Dr. Huang is the Honorary President of the Taiwan Myocardial Infarction Society (TAMIS), President of the International Society of Hemodynamic (ISH), and serves as Course Director of the Global AMI Congress (GAMI). As Country Champion for Taiwan in the Stent – Save a Life! initiative, Dr. Huang is dedicated to improving outcomes for patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) by advocating for timely and equitable access to primary percutaneous coronary intervention (p-PCI). He plays a pivotal role in strengthening Taiwan’s national STEMI network and aligning clinical care with international best practices. In addition to his clinical and academic leadership, Dr. Huang serves on the Judging Panel for the National Medical Quality Award and the National United Circle Quality Award. He is a Director of both the Taiwan Society of Cardiology and the Taiwan Society of Critical Care Medicine, and an expert with the International Society for Quality in Healthcare (ISQua). He is also a committee member of the Heart Failure Educational Council at the American College of Cardiology. Dr. Huang's interests include systems of care for acute myocardial infarction, hemodynamic monitoring, healthcare quality improvement, and international collaboration in cardiovascular medicine.

Dr. Hélder Pereira is currently Director of the Cardiology Department and Interventional Cardiology Unit at Hospital Garcia de Orta in Almada, and also serves in the Cardiology Department at CUF Almada. He is Professor of Cardiology at the Cardiovascular Centre of the University of Lisbon (CCUL), Faculty of Medicine, University of Lisbon (FMUL). He holds an MD and PhD and is a Fellow of the European Society of Cardiology (FESC), the American College of Cardiology (FACC), and the Society for Cardiovascular Angiography and Interventions (FSCAI). Dr. Pereira is a past president of both the Portuguese Association of Cardiovascular Interventions (APIC) and the Portuguese Society of Cardiology. As the Champion for Europe in the Stent – Save a Life! initiative, Dr. Pereira leads efforts to promote equity in access to timely treatment for ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). His work focuses on strengthening referral networks, ensuring widespread implementation of primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), and reducing delays to treatment across diverse European healthcare systems. Dr. Pereira is also actively involved in policy advocacy, cross-border collaboration, and education. His goals include raising awareness among healthcare professionals and policymakers, identifying systemic barriers, and sharing best practices to improve outcomes and reduce cardiovascular mortality across the continent.

Dr. Dejan Orlić is currently a Consultant Cardiologist at the University Clinical Center of Serbia and Professor of Internal Medicine at the Faculty of Medicine, University of Belgrade. He graduated in medicine and later earned his PhD from the University of Belgrade, where he also completed his specialist training in cardiology. Throughout his career, Dr. Orlić has combined clinical excellence with academic leadership in the field of cardiovascular medicine. Dr. Orlić is actively involved in the Stent – Save a Life! (SSL) global initiative, where he serves as a member of the SSL Steering Committee. He is also the SSL National Champion for Serbia and the SSL Regional Champion for Europe, playing a key role in coordinating efforts across European countries to improve access to timely reperfusion therapy. His primary mission through the SSL initiative is to ensure that every STEMI patient across participating European nations receives prompt primary PCI, aligning clinical practice with international standards for acute coronary syndrome management. His areas of special interest include reperfusion strategies for STEMI, systems of care optimization, and cross-border collaboration to reduce treatment delays and improve outcomes.

Dr. Alfonsina Candiello is an interventional cardiologist and educator currently leading national efforts to expand STEMI care networks across Argentina. She is also the founder and director of MedEcs, a digital cardiology education platform serving healthcare professionals throughout Latin America. Dr. Candiello graduated with honors from the University of Buenos Aires in 2000. She completed her residency in Clinical Cardiology at Hospital Argerich and pursued a fellowship in Interventional Cardiology at the Instituto Cardiovascular de Buenos Aires, where she practiced until 2023. A full member of the Argentine Society of Cardiology, she is currently spearheading a national program—set to launch in August 2025—to develop and implement structured STEMI networks across the country. As Regional Champion for Latin America within the Stent – Save a Life! initiative, Dr. Candiello works to reduce the significant disparities in STEMI care across the region. Her focus lies in promoting efficient diagnosis and timely reperfusion through the creation of coordinated STEMI networks, strengthening emergency systems, and fostering cross-country collaboration to improve outcomes for patients with acute myocardial infarction. Her dual commitment to clinical excellence and medical education positions her as a key voice in advancing both STEMI systems of care and cardiovascular knowledge across Latin America.

Dr. Mohammed Balghith is currently Professor of Internal Medicine and Cardiology at King Saud bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences (KSAUHS), Consultant Interventional Cardiologist at King Abdulaziz Cardiac Center, and Head of International Collaboration at the Saudi Heart Association. He also serves as the American College of Cardiology (ACC) Governor for Saudi Arabia and is Chairman of the Riyadh Society of Hypertension (RSH). Based in Riyadh, Dr. Balghith is a leading figure in cardiovascular medicine and interventional cardiology in the Gulf region. As Regional Leader for the Arabian Gulf in the Stent – Save a Life! initiative, Dr. Balghith plays a pivotal role in expanding access to 24/7 primary PCI services across the region. While cities in Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Bahrain have successfully implemented well-established PPCI programs, his focus remains on working with Ministries of Health in other Gulf countries to build stronger collaboration between healthcare systems and local cardiologists. He is also committed to engaging the cardiology community in the SSL initiative through scientific publications and active participation in regional and international conferences. His professional interests include systems of care for STEMI, interventional cardiology, and regional cardiovascular health policy development