Amer Johri sees a patient
Credit
Matthew Manor

A Kingston General Hospital clinician scientist specializing in 3-D cardiac and vascular imaging has been selected for a unique, two-week science exchange program in China this August.

Dr. Amer Johri, director of the Cardiovascular Imaging Network at Queen’s (CINQ), will share his experience with clinician-scientists at the Sun Yat-Sen University in the Guangzhou Higher Education Mega Centre, one of China’s top institutions for higher learning. The science exchange is funded by The Ontario Ministry of Research, Innovation and Science, and the Chinese Ministry of Science and Technology. 

“This amazing opportunity allows us to learn first-hand some of their cutting-edge techniques in cardiovascular diagnosis and treatment to further enhance and energize our local research program here in Kingston,” says Dr. Johri, who was trained at Harvard University, and holds a Heart and Stroke Foundation of Ontario Clinician Scientist early career award.

“Sun Yat-Sen University is a very outward-looking and highly networked institution, pursuing exchanges with the world’s top medical schools including Johns Hopkins and the Mayo Clinic. I’m honored that our institution was considered to take advantage of this knowledge exchange alongside such esteemed schools,” he says.

The CINQ lab is a collaborative node for cardiovascular innovation, clinical practice and medical training in advanced imaging techniques. In China he will work with prominent biomedical engineers and clinicians to develop techniques allowing earlier and better detection of heart disease and stroke, and thereby expand the global reach of the CINQ collaborative.

In addition to seeking knowledge in China, Dr. Johri, who was recently elected to Chair of the American Society of Echocardiography Vascular Council, hopes to raise the profile of this organization in Guangzhou. Finally he is looking forward to events the Chinese Ministry has organized for next month’s exchange -- including ‘opening and closing ceremonies’ and an official tour of the Great Wall in Beijing.

Follow him on twitter at @amerjohri to see the adventure unfold.