The educational sector (ES) Cardiology provides cardiology education for both Bulgarian and foreign 4th-year medical students and participates in the internal medicine education of pharmacy students. The sector conducts state internships in internal medicine for medical interns, as well as residencies in cardiology and interventional cardiology. It also provides training in highly specialized activities and supervision of PhD dissertation defenses.
Discussions within the medical association are held, including 6th-year interns, during which current topics, recent advances in the diagnosis and treatment of cardiovascular diseases, and clinical case studies are discussed.
The habilitated faculty members of ES Cardiology are involved in the leadership and working groups of the Bulgarian Society of Cardiology and the Bulgarian Society of Interventional Cardiology.
Faculty members of the ES are affiliated with national and international scientific societies and associations, including the following: Union of Scientists in Bulgaria, Bulgarian Society of Cardiology, Bulgarian Society of Interventional Cardiology, “Heart-Lung" Association, Bulgarian Association of Ultrasound in Medicine, Bulgarian Hypertension League, European Society of Cardiology, the European Association of Percutaneous Cardiovascular Interventions, Heart Friends Around the World, the International Society of Electrocardiology, the Mediterranean Society of Cardiology and Heart Surgery, the World Heart Federation, and the ESC Working Group on Electrocardiography.
The primary textbook used for teaching cardiology disciplines is Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine.
Research activities within the ES of Cardiology encompass nearly the entire diagnostic and therapeutic spectrum of the discipline and are predominantly oriented towards general and specialized clinical practice.
During the period 2017-2023, 22 PhD students were admitted and 8 PhD students defended their dissertation. Of these, 7 have continued their academic career.
Members of the academic staff annually publish scientific articles in a number of international and national journals and participate in scientific forums, participate in national and international projects.
Research studies are focused on prevention and diagnosis of ischemic heart disease and valvular heart diseases, atrial fibrillation, and prognosis of patients with cardiovascular diseases and heart failure.
Since 2001, the tradition of organizing the “Varna-Echo" Symposium with international participation every two years continues. Associates of the ES of Cardiology are also involved in organizing and conducting the annual meetings of the Heart-Lung Association. Since 2015, the forum “Varna Cardiology Days" has also been held.
