By Hannah Buckelew
Yajing Wang, Ph.D., a professor and director of basic and translational research in UAB’s Department of Biomedical Engineering, played a major role in the organization of the 33rd annual meeting of the Great Wall International Cardiology Conference (GW-ICC), held virtually and in-person in Beijing, October 26-28.
Wang has been a member of GW-ICC for five years, but she was nominated as chair of the International Cardiology Section in 2021. Her section duties include organizing featured professional panels to present at the meeting and inspire young researchers.
“Hand in hand, organizers of the GW-ICC are building a more robust scientific community,” Wang says. “Our hard work finally paid off after an incredible 33rd annual meeting. I’m so proud of how it all came together.”
Alongside Wang, UAB BME was represented at GW-ICC by BME chair Jianyi “Jay” Zhang, M.D., Ph.D.
“The 33rd GWICC meeting was a huge success,” Zhang says. “The conference would have been impossible without skilled organizers such as Dr. Yajing Wang. We are thrilled to have her with us at UAB.”
GW-ICC is the largest cardiology conference in Asia with more than 20,000 attendees from 30 countries. Scientists, clinicians, and researchers attend yearly to present their cardiology research and learn from the brightest in the field. GW-ICC, in conjunction with the American Heart Association (AHA) offers 2-day special sessions to AHA’s Council on Basic Cardiovascular Sciences (BCVS), the council in which Dr. Jianyi “Jay” Zhang is chair. GW-ICC, together with the Asia-Pacific Heart Conference, is committed to the prevention and rehabilitation of cardiovascular disease and the promotion of the development and training of healthcare professionals.
“It is an honor that my small investment contributed to the massive impact that GW-ICC is for the field of cardiology and for the world,” Wang says. “I’m already looking forward to next year’s meeting.”