Béla Merkely
Professor Béla Merkely Dr. med. | |
|---|---|
| Rector of Semmelweis University | |
| Preceded by | Ágoston Szél, Dr. MD |
| Assumed office 2018 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 28 June 1966 Budapest, Hungary |
Béla Merkely (born 28 June 1966) is a Hungarian interventional cardiologist and sport cardiologist, a university professor, director of Semmelweis University’s Heart and Vascular Centre and the current rector of Semmelweis University since 1 July 2018.
Career
Béla Merkely obtained his medical degree with Summa Cum Laude honours in 1991 at Semmelweis University’s Faculty of Medicine in Budapest, Hungary. After graduation, he continued his studies at the 3rd Department of Internal Medicine at Ruprecht-Karls University of Heidelberg, Germany as a DAAD Fellow.
He became board certified in cardiology in 1998 and obtained his PhD in ventricular arrhythmias in 1999. He also holds a Transthoracic Echocardiography (TTE) Certification and was the first Hungarian clinical cardiac electrophysiologist to earn the Cardiac Pacing and Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillators Certification issued by the European Heart Rhythm Association (EHRA). In 2006, he became a Doctor of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences (DSc).[1]
Since 2007, he has been Chairman and Director of Semmelweis University’s Heart and Vascular Centre. The following year, he was promoted to Professor at Semmelweis University. In 2015, Merkely became President of Semmelweis University’s Hospital and Vice-Rector for Clinical Affairs. In 2018, he was appointed Rector of Semmelweis University.[2]
Professor Merkely is the Honorary President of the Hungarian Society of Cardiology, Honorary President and former President of the Hungarian Heart Rhythm Association, former President of the Hungarian Association of Percutaneous Cardiovascular Intervention, and President of the Cardiology Section of the Professional College.
Professor Merkely has held functions in the different bodies and associations of the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) for more than 20 years. Between 2014 and 2016 he was Councillor, between 2016 and 2018 he was Vice-President of the ESC. He is also a Fellow of the American College of Cardiology (ACC).[3]
Research and scientific work
His major research interests are the non-pharmacological treatment of heart failure; new techniques in interventional cardiology; invasive and non-invasive imaging in heart failure; arrhythmias and acute coronary syndromes; sport cardiology, cardiac remodelling of elite athletes. Since 1994, he has been principal investigator of 15 research projects funded by research grants. His papers are published in a range of Hungarian and international scientific journals. He is the Editor-in-Chief of the Hungarian journal Orvosképzés, Vice Editor-in-Chief of Interventional Medicine & Applied Science and is the member of the editorial boards of several Hungarian and international journals, including Cor et Vasa, the Journal of Cardiovascular Emergencies, Journal of Hungarian Interdisciplinary Medicine, Frontiers in Cardiovascular Medicine, Advances in Interventional Cardiology, World Journal of Cardiology and Clinical Research in Cardiology.[4]
He has authored and co-authored five books, 44 book chapters, has contributed to 14 university coursebook chapters and two university textbooks, and has signed over 650 articles in international and Hungarian medical journals. His cumulative impact factor is 2194,01, the number of his independent citations is 20.333. (As of 20 May 2019.)[5]
He is a regular speaker at Hungarian and international scientific conferences, such as the World Congress of Cardiology, EUROPACE-Cardiostim, EUROPCR and others organised by the American Heart Association, the World Heart Federation, and the American College of Cardiology. He actively participates in international research projects in collaboration with universities from all around the world.[6]
Awards
Honorary President of the Hungarian Society of Cardiology: 2017
Order of Merit of the Republic of Hungary, Commander Cross: 2016
Dénes Gábor Award (Novofer Foundation): 2015
Gold Medal of Hungarian Society of Cardiology: 2014
Honorary citizen of Budapest: 2013
Medal of Honor (People's Friendship University of Russia): 2013
Elite Reviewer of the Europace Journal: 2012
Semmelweis University Heart Center – “FIFA Medical Centre of Excellence”: 2011
Order of Merit of the Republic of Hungary, Officer’s Cross: 2011
Markusovszky Award, Hungarian Medical Journal: 2011
Nivou Prize of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences: 2009
Ernő Jendrassik Award: 2008
Master Tutor Gold Medal – Award of the National Scientific Student’s Organization: 2007
Pro Civitate Sana Award: 2006
Bolyai Award of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences: 2004
Semmelweis University, Tutor Award of the Scientific Student’s Organization: 2002
10th World Congress of Electrophysiology, International Virchow Award 1st prize: 1999[7]
References
- ^ "Köztestületi tagok". mta.hu (in Hungarian). Retrieved 2019-05-20.
- ^ "Merkely Béla: Gyors változásokat szeretnék a gyakorlati orvosképzésben". Medical Online. Retrieved 2019-05-20.
- ^ “Building Bridges” in ESC, Dr. Béla Merkely, ESC Spring Summit, 8 March 2018
- ^ "Béla Merkely - ODT Personal data sheet". doktori.hu. Retrieved 2019-05-20.
- ^ "Béla Merkely - ODT Personal data sheet". doktori.hu. Retrieved 2019-05-20.
- ^ Kft, proaction Hungaria. "Városmajori Szív- és Érgyógyászati Klinika". vszek.semmelweis.hu. Retrieved 2019-05-20.
- ^ "Rector". semmelweis.hu. Retrieved 2019-05-20.
