ESH Administrative Newsletter No. 2:
THE HYPERTENSION SPECIALIST OF THE EUROPEAN SOCIETY OF HYPERTENSION

Serap Erdine and Giuseppe Mancia for the ESH Council

Purpose:
The goals of the hypertension specialist initiative of the ESH are:

• To identify hypertension specialists in European countries
• To contribute to the education of these specialists by teaching and training courses on hypertension
• To improve treatment of hypertension in Europe (currently effective in a low number of patients) and thus obtain a better prevention of cardiovascular disease.

Criteria for eligibility as Hypertension Specialist of ESH:

1. Clinical experience in hypertension with particular reference to the referral of patients with difficult hypertension.
2. Training in a medical speciality relevant to hypertension (Internal Medicine, Nephrology, Cardiology, Endocrinology, Primary care, etc.)
3. A certain degree of scientific activity (e.g. publications on clinical hypertension, participation in clinical trials, etc.)
4. Continuing interest and updating in hypertension as shown by participation in scientific meetings and membership in hypertension related scientific societies.
5. Recognition by their peers at national levels.

Process of certification as Hypertension Specialist of ESH:
The certification process involves a cooperation between the ESH and National Hypertension Societies. Accreditation from extra-European countries involves the same process.

1. Each applicant has to send his/her application form (available through his/her National Hypertension Society or via Internet) to the National Selection Committee nominated by the National hypertension Society, or in special circumstances, directly to the ESH.
2. Upon approval by the National Selection Committee the application form is sent to the Steering Committee for Hypertension Specialist of the ESH. This Committee makes the final decision about the nomination in consultation with an Advisory Accreditation Committee formed by representatives of each National Hypertension Society.
3. Each nominee is required to pay a fee of 50 Euro to the ESH (to be sent to the ESH treasurer. Nominations will be reported in the Journal of Hypertension, Blood Pressure, ISH Hypertension News and Internet. The Diploma will be sent, by express courier, upon request to Stefania Micari - stefania.micari@unimib.it

Re-accreditation Process:
For re-accreditation of the Hypertension Specialists, individuals must record activity on-line by using a password to access their personal file on the ESH Website. At least 5 of the following criteria must be fulfilled in a 5-year period for re-accreditation: 1) Membership of the ESH, 2) Participation in the ESH Meetings, 3) Participation in the teaching activities of the ESH, 4) Participation in local meetings endorsed by the ESH, 5) Participation in Distant Learning Activities, 6) Participation in clinical trials, and 7) Publication in journals.

Status November 17, 2006:
Over 800 Hypertension Specialists of the ESH are approved. 231 individuals are both ESH Members and Hypertension Specialists of the ESH. The Hypertension Specialists of the ESH will be encouraged to become members of the ESH, if not already, highlighting the advantages of ESH membership.