SUDBURY, ON – Dr. Andreas Kumar, a cardiologist with Health Sciences North and assistant professor at the Northern Ontario School of Medicine, is one of 10 physicians selected as part of the Canadian Cardiovascular Society’s (CCS) prestigious Future Leader Program (CAN FUEL).

The CAN FUEL Program is focused on leadership development, ensuring generational development across numerous programs in the field of cardiovascular medicine. Those selected for this program will be developed into future leaders of the CCS through mentorships with some of the top cardiologists in Canada.

“This is an incredible opportunity. In my job as a cardiologist, with my current training, I treat heart disease in the individual. But the CCS looks at treating the entire country and how to improve quality standards so we can improve the overall care for Canadians,” says Dr. Kumar. “At the end of the day, I can deliver the best I can for one patient, but if I can help develop new standards, it raises the bar for everyone else and I can make an impact beyond the individual and make one on a societal level.”

Dr. Kumar is already an established cardiologist and nationally recognized for his work in the field. He was recruited from Berlin to work in Canada as a cardiac imaging specialist 14 years ago. He began practicing at HSN in 2014. Since arriving he has established a cardiac MRI service at HSN, which gives a detailed non-invasive analysis of the heart tissue, helping to provide more accurate and faster treatment. Considered the gold standard for assessing heart function, he also helped establish the service in Calgary before coming to Northern Ontario.

Dr. Mark Henderson, HSN’s Chief of Cardiology, is not surprised to see Dr. Kumar selected for the CAN FUEL Program with his exceptional talent and notes that this opportunity has major benefits for Sudbury, Health Sciences North and Northern Ontario School of Medicine (NOSM). “This really puts us on the map as a leading centre for cardiac care in Canada. With our recruitment in the last five years, HSN is doing very well in cardiology with a structural heart disease program, advanced cardiac imaging, and we are also building our academic program in partnership with NOSM.”

Dr. Kumar says his experience working as a cardiologist in Northern Ontario gives him a unique perspective that he is excited to bring to a national level. “The patient populations we treat in Northern Ontario are very different than what is seen in big cities. The cardiology practiced here is unique and our experiences here can go a long way to improving care to patients in rural parts of this country.”

The 2019 year CAN FUEL Leadership Program officially launches on October 23.