Karen Sliwa

Karen Sliwa is widely recognised as a world expert in cardiovascular diseases (CVDs), with a special interest in reducing mortality in women with cardiovascular disease (CVD) in maternity. She has contributed to better understanding on the pathophysiology, treatment options and awareness of peripartum cardiomyopathy (PPCM), a global disease particularly prevalent in African populations. She leads several inter-Africa research projects, which have had a major impact for creating knowledge about CVDs common in Africa, leading to changes in policy. Her considerable experience in setting up simple, cost-effective registries and web-based data entry platforms have had a major impact on planning several innovative research projects and has facilitated the training of physicians from several African countries, including Mozambique, Nigeria, Cameroon, Uganda and Tanzania. Her research from bed-to-bench-to-bedside population studies have led to a much better understanding of CVDs in pregnant women and to improved care. She holds numerous awards such as Honorary Doctorate University Diderot-Sorbonne, Paris, France (2017; this is the highest distinction of French Universities as a recognition towards Research and Global Engagement which is awarded by the French University Research Board and approved by the French Ministry of Foreign affairs). The German Cardiac Society Paul Morawitz Award for Exceptional Cardiovascular Research (2013) and the European Cardiac Society Geoffrey Rose Award for Population Sciences (2019). She has authored more than 300 publications, trained more then 30 post graduate students. Her papers are highly cited (58 270; h-index of 78, i10-index 208; accessed 18 Feb 2020). Professor Sliwa leads several high-profile special interest groups including a dedicated EORP Working Group on PPCM of the Heart Failure Association of European Society of Cardiology. Over her distinguished career she has served in many notable roles, including that of President of the South African Heart Association (2014-2016) and, currently, Vice-president Pan African Cardiac Society Southern Region (2016-2021) and as President of the World Heart Federation (2019-2020).