President
Toru Kita
Valery Kukharchuk, MD, Ph.D, D.Sc.
Email: vkukarch@mail.ru

Director for International Relations
Andrey Sussekov, M.D., Ph.D, D.Sc
Email: asus99@mail.ru

Secretary
Dr. Igor Sergienko, M.D., Ph.D.
RNAS, Secretary
Email: igor@cardioline.ru

The public organization "Society of Cardiology of the Russian Federation" is a voluntary scientific association, whose members are health care professionals engaged in research, pedagogical and practical work in the field of cardiology and related disciplines, as well as the specialists developing new medical equipment and pharmaceutical products, fundamental and applied bases of ecological (including radiological) cardiology.

The Society acts on the basis of the following principles: self-government, voluntary membership, equality of members, publicity and legitimacy, scientific independence, alternative principle in solving scientific problems, connection of science, education and practice.

The Society is guided according to the Constitution, current legislation of Russian Federation and its subjects, relevant international law standards, and the Charter of the Society.

VNOK has his history since 1962 and coordinates activity in the field of research and clinical cardiology of 55 local sections and societies in all Russian Federation. Before 1991 activity of VNOK was coordinated by Ministry of Health. First Congress of the Society was held in Voronez in 1968.

In 1985 VNOK was registered in the Ministry of Justice of Russian Federation; In 1993 was elected as a member in European Atherosclerosis Society and in 1994 was registered in the International society of Cardiology

The Society has the following aims:

• Assistance to the Russian cardiology development in research and practice
• Professional consolidation, development and strengthening of professional and personal contacts among cardiologists
• Creation of favorable conditions for efficient realization of Society's members' creative potential, while developing theory and practice of medicine
• Legal interests' representation and assistance in protection of professional, civil, social, intellectual property and other rights of the Society's members
• Professional and scientific communications with specialists and societies of other medical branches, development of international scientific communications

Section of Atherosclerosis VNOK (SA-VNOK) is instituted for the purpose to expand and advance knowledge of atherosclerosis among physicians and patients.

SA-VNOK perform its activity through educational lectures, schools, seminars, scientific and scientific-and-popular publications.

SA-VNOK has a wide range of scientific and educational activities.

For instance during 2004-2005 experts with support of pharmaceuticals companies KRKA, MSD, AstraZeneca, Savvy and many others have organized
> 50 basic and > 20 advanced atherosclerosis schools in many Russian regions with attendance of >8000 primary care physicians.

After each school, physicians were tested by an interactive exam system and have received official Certificates of Section of Atherosclerosis VNOK.

*Official VNOK Certificate "Practical aspects of clinical lipidology"

SA-VNOK perform its activity through two main scientific Congresses (national Congress of Cardiology, held in the beginning of October and Congress "Man and the Medicine" (held annually in April).

In addition there are many local conferences in atherosclerosis and cardiology held in different Russian cities (about 70-80 a year).

Since 2004 experts Section of Atherosclerosis VNOK discuss and publish 3 versions of national guidelines "Diagnosis and management of lipid disorders in patients with atherosclerosis".

For primary prevention Russian experts adopted SCORE system for countries with high risk CVD mortality. For high risk CHD patient national experts adopted LDL-C level < 2.0 mmol/l

• To complete formation of RNAS in 2008
• To register RNAS in the Ministry of Justice
• To transform SA-VNOK activity into RNAS in 2008-2009
• To organize All national conference in atherosclerosis 02/06/2008 with invitation of international experts
• To organize educational conference in atherosclerosis in October 2008 within Annual National Congress of Cardiology (6-7/10/2008)
• To discuss and endorse RNAS Constitution ( draft in Russian exist and may be sent on request)
• To establish links with IAS, EAS, ESC and other related Societies to exchange experience, ideas, educational activities , grants for young scientists and so on

Chairman
M. Lutay (Kiev)

Co-Chairman
V. Kovalenko (Kiev)

Secretary
Olena Mitchenko (Kiev)
Email: cardiom@i.com.ua

President
Prof. Dr. Wolfgang J. Schneider
E-mail: wolfgang.schneider@meduniwien.ac.at

President Elect
Prof. Dr. Wolfgang Patsch
E-mail: wolfgang.patsch@pmu.ac.at

Treasurer
Prof. Dr. Marcela Hermann
E-mail: marcela.hermann@meduniwien.ac.at

Scientific Secretary
Prof. Dr. Herbert Stangl
E-mail: herbert.stangl@meduniwien.ac.at

The Austrian Atherosclerosis Society (AAS) focuses on research in the fields of atherogenesis, obesity, and diabetes as related to disturbed lipid metabolism.

The central goals are the identification, understanding, and treatment of risk factors for cardiovascular diseases, still the major cause of premature death worldwide, to promote public awareness of novel developments, and to implement recommendations for practitioners.

The Austrian Atherosclerosis Society (AAS) was founded in 1989 with the major aim to promote the cooperation of Austrian clinicians and basic scientists interested in the study of atherosclerosis.

During the years, a large number of research groups have joined the Society. Past presidents of the AAS are G. Kostner, G. Utermann, F. Sandhofer and J.R. Patsch.

The AAS is currently conducted by a committee consisting of W. Schneider (President), W. Patsch (President-Elect), H. Stangl (Secretary) and M. Hermann (Treasurer).

The Society organizes annual scientific meetings for its members, with oral and poster presentations concerning clinical and basic research in the field of atherosclerosis, to which guests from other countries are invited.

The AAS is also actively engaged in primary and secondary prevention of atherosclerotic vascular disease in a broad range of activities throughout the country.