About the conference
We are delighted to welcome you to the 73rd Annual Conference of the Israel Heart Society, in collaboration with the Israel Society of Cardiothoracic Surgery — marking 73 years of activity. The conference will take place at the David InterContinental Tel Aviv on June 8–9, 2026.
This year’s program will feature the latest clinical innovations and technology updates, leading keynote speakers from Israel and abroad, and a rich mix of plenary, parallel and satellite sessions showcasing cutting-edge research across our field.
We look forward to seeing you in Tel Aviv.
2026 Faculty
More speakers to be announced soon.
Gil Bolotin
Rambam Medical Center
Gil Bolotin
Dr. Gil Bolotin is a graduate of the Faculty of Medicine at the Hebrew University in Jerusalem. He completed his clinical training at the Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery at Carmel Medical Center in Haifa. In addition, Dr. Bolotin was awarded a Doctorate degree from the University of Maastricht, Netherlands. Dr. Bolotin trained in mitral and robotic surgery (fellowship in North Carolina, 2002-2003), and in heart transplant, assist devices, and atrial fibrillation (Visiting Professor, The University of Chicago, 2003-2004). He also served as a Visiting Professor in the Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Academic Hospital Maastricht, Maastricht, Netherlands (2006-2007).
Dr. Bolotin’s main research and clinical interests are in the fields of heart valve repair and replacement, surgery of the aorta, surgical treatments for heart failure, robotic and minimal invasive cardiac surgery, and surgical treatments for atrial fibrillation.
Filippo Crea
Gemelli Hospital
Filippo Crea
Since 2008 Prof. Crea is Professor of Cardiology, Director of the Department of Cardiovascular Sciences, Director of the Postgraduate School in Cardiology and Coordinator of the PhD program in Cellular and Molecular Cardiology at the Catholic University in Rome. Research activity has been mainly focused on the study of the multiple mechanisms of myocardial ischemia in chronic and acute coronary syndromes. Prof. Crea has been awarded numerous research awards including the Arrigo Recordati International Prize for the “Lifetime achievement in researching the pivotal role of microcirculation in systemic and organ diseases”. He has given prestigious lectureship worldwide including the 7th annual Robert L. Krakoff International Lecture in Cardiovascular Medicine at the Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard University Medical School. Since September 2020 he is Editor-in-Chief of the European Heart Journal.
Lior Gepstein
Rambam Medical Center
Lior Gepstein
Professor Lior Gepstein is the director of the Department of Cardiology and the Division of Research at Rambam Health Care Campus. He is also a Professor of Physiology and Medicine (Cardiology) at the Technion’s Faculty of Medicine and holds the Edna and Jonathan Sohnis Chair in Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine.
Professor Gepstein received his MD from the Ruth and Bruce Rappaport Faculty of Medicine, Technion-Israel Institute of Technology (1996), in Haifa, Israel and a subsequent PhD from the Technion’s Faculty of Biomedical Engineering (1999). Around the same time he became involved in developing a 3D electroanatomical mapping techniques (CARTO™ System), which has since become the gold standard for treating complex cardiac arrhythmias. After completing his residency in internal medicine at Rambam Health Care Campus, he completed two fellowships, one in cardiology at Rambam and one in electrophysiology at the University of California San Francisco (UCSF).
Professor Gepstein’s research group has been at the forefront of developing innovative cardiomyocyte differentiation strategies from human embryonic and human induced pluripotent stem cells. Their work has significantly advanced cardiac disease modeling, drug discovery, and applications in regenerative and precision medicine . Additionally, his group is among the pioneers involved in designing and utilizing novel molecular and optogenetics/chemogenetic strategies for the study and treatment of cardiac arrhythmias.
Professor Gepstein has received a number of prestigious awards for his achievements in cardiology including the American College of Cardiology Douglas P. Zipes distinguished award, the European Society of Cardiology outstanding research achievement award, the Mirowski award from the Israel Cardiology Society, and the Kadar-Sheba Prize for an outstanding physician-scientist. He has also been elected to the Israeli Young Academy of Science and to the Israeli National Academy of Medical Science.
Ashraf Hamdan
Rabin Medical Center
Ashraf Hamdan
Dr. Ashraf Hamdan is a director of the cardiovascular imaging unit at Rabin Medical Center in Israel. His main clinical and research interest is cardiac computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging. He graduated in medicine at the Georg-August-University of Göttingen in Germany and performed between 2006 and 2009 a fellowship in the field of cardiac computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging at the German Heart Institute Berlin and at the Charite´ University Berlin. Dr. Hamdan is currently chairman of working group of nuclear cardiology and cardiac computed tomography of Israel society of cardiology. His clinical service covers all aspects of cardiovascular computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, and nuclear cardiology most notably ischemic heart disease, cardiomyopathies, and structural heart disease.
Eran Leshem
Hillel Yaffe Medical Center
Eran Leshem
Dr. Eran Leshem graduated medical school (Cum Laude) at Ben Gurion University of the Negev. He then specialized in internal medicine and cardiology at the Tel Aviv Medical Center. After completing his residency and fellowship, Dr. Leshem completed a four-year research and clinical fellowship training in the field of cardiac arrhythmias at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (Boston, USA), one of the leading medical centers in the world, affiliated to Harvard University medical school.
During his work in the USA, Dr. Leshem was extensively involved in the research of ablation technologies and cardiac mapping and assisted in the development of cutting-edge technologies and techniques in the field, and published close to 20 works on these topics.
Upon his return to Israel, Dr. Leshem joined the cardiac unit at Sheba Hospital, as a senior physician at the Davidai Institute for Arrhythmias.
In July 2022, he joined Hillel Yaffe Medical Center as the director of the electrophysiology and pacemaker unit at the hospital.
Elad Maor
Sheba Medical Center
Elad Maor
Prof. Dr. Elad Maor is an experienced doctor with 17 years of experience in internal medicine and cardiology. He has an impressive CV, including a Ph. D. in biophysics from the University of California and specialized training in cardiology. Dr. Maor has worked at renowned medical centers such as the Mayo Clinic in Rochester and the SHEBA Medical Center in Ramat Gan.
His extensive list of 324 scientific publications further demonstrates Dr. Maor’s expertise. His research focuses on various aspects of cardiac care, including catheter-based cardiac ablation, transcatheter aortic valve replacement, and AI-powered diagnosis in healthcare. These publications highlight his dedication to advancing medical knowledge and improving patient outcomes.
In addition to his academic achievements, Dr. Maor is actively involved in medical education and training. He coordinates continuing education courses for cardiology at the Israel Heart Society and holds the Associate Professor of Cardiology position at Tel-Aviv University.
With his vast knowledge and experience, Dr. Elad Maor is a trusted expert in cardiology. His commitment to research, education, and patient care makes him highly regarded in the medical community.
Giuseppe Rosano
St George’s University Medical School of London
Giuseppe Rosano
After obtaining his MD in Medicine and Surgery at the La Sapienza University of Rome with full honors in 1988, Giuseppe Rosano obtained his specialization in Cardiology in 1992, before attaining his MSc and his PhD in Medical Sciences from the Imperial College in London.
Professor Rosano’s areas of scientific interest include experimental and clinical pharmacology, heart failure, cardiac metabolism, diabetes and the cardiovascular effect of sex hormones. He has authored over 500 peer-reviewed articles, 5 books and 28 book chapters.
He is currently Consultant Cardiologist and Professor of Cardiology at the St George’s University Medical School in London he is also Professor of Pharmacology at San Raffaele University in Rome.
He has served as an expert in the area of Cardiovascular Medicine for the European Assessment Office of the Italian Drug Agency (AIFA), he has been core member of the Cardiovascular Working Party of the European Medicines Agency.
He is board member of the Heart Failure Association (HFA), Chairman of the Education committee of the HFA and President-elect of the HFA.
Nir Uriel
New York Presbyterian Hospital/CUIMC
Nir Uriel
Nir Uriel, MD, MSc, an internationally recognized leader in heart failure, mechanical circulatory support, and heart transplantation, is the Director of Advanced Heart Failure and Cardiac Transplantation at NewYork-Presbyterian. Dr. Uriel oversees heart failure programs at NewYork-Presbyterian’s campuses in Manhattan, Queens, Brooklyn, and Westchester, with a goal to increase accessibility of care for those with advanced heart failure throughout the New York area. Dr. Uriel was born and raised in Israel, where he attended medical school. After serving for four years as a physician in the Israeli Defense Forces, he then completed his cardiology residency and fellowship. In 2008, he moved to New York to pursue fellowships at NewYork- Presbyterian/Columbia in cardiology, heart failure, transplant, and mechanical circulatory support and remained there as a faculty member until 2014. He then served as the Louis Block Professor of Medicine and Director of Heart Failure, Transplant and Mechanical Circulatory Support at the University of Chicago Medicine, where, in 2018, he and his Chicago team made history performing two triple organ transplants within 27 hours.
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