Prof. Béla MERKELY MD, PhD, MSc, DSc, FESC, FACC
Rector
Born:
28 June 1966, Budapest
Academic degree:
- 1999 PhD. degree. “Experimental and clinical investigation of the mechanism of ventricular arrhythmias”
- 2006 Doctorate of Science (DSc) “Pathomechanisms of tachyarrhythmias and new electrophysiological non-pharmacological treatment methods”
- 2006 Habilitation Semmelweis University (Cardiology)
Current position
- Chairman – Sports Medicine Department, Faculty of Medicine, Semmelweis University (since 2019)
- Rector – Semmelweis University (since 2018)
- Director and Chair – Semmelweis University Heart and Vascular Center (since 2012)
- Professor – Pázmány Péter Catholic University (since 2013)
- President – Cardiology Council of Professional College (since 2011)
- Head of the Departmental Group – Department of Cardiology and Vascular Neurology Departmental Group, Semmelweis University (since 2009)
- Professor of Medicine – Semmelweis University (since 2008)
- Director and Chair – Semmelweis University Heart Center (since 2007)
Schools
| 2013-2014 | Faculty of Health and Public Administration, Health Service Management Training Center, Semmelweis University – Master of Science in Health Care Management |
| 2006-2009 | Health Service Management Training Center, Semmelweis University – Health Care Manager |
| 1984-1991 | Faculty of Medicine, Semmelweis University (SOTE) – Doctor of Medicine (summa cum laude) |
| 1986-1991 | Member of the Students’ Scientific Association, then Demonstrator, Department of Pathophysiology holder of the Scholarship of the Hungarian Republic |
| 1980-1984 | Táncsics Mihály Highschool |
Postgraduate training
| 2018 | GCP training |
| 2017 | Licence in transesophageal echocardiography |
| 2017 | Licence in transthoracic echocardiography |
| 2017 | Specialization exam in sport medicine |
| 2015 | Specialization exam in clinical pharmacology |
| 2015 | GCP training |
| 2014 | MSc Diploma – Manager in Health Economics (Semmelweis University, Health Service Management Training Centre) |
| 2010 | GCP training |
| 2009 | Manager in Health Economics (Semmelweis University) |
| 2009 | Interventional Cardiologist license – expert level |
| 2007 | EHRA Cardiac Pacing and ICD Accreditation-Device Therapy |
| 2007 | Arrhythmology license – Invasive Electrophysiology |
| 2007 | Arrhythmology license – Device therapy (PM, ICD, CRT) |
| 2005 | Lipidology exam |
| 1998 | Specialization exam in cardiology |
| 1996 | Specialization exam in internal medicine |
| 1991 | Medical Doctor (summa cum laude), SOTE, Budapest |
Language skills
| English | Intermediate level, Type C |
| German | Intermediate level, Type C |
| German | Advanced level, Type A |
Grants
| 2020-2024 | Investigation of the cardiac aspects of athlete performance NKFIH K_20 “OTKA” Research grant call 135076 |
| 2020-2021 | Thematic Program of Excellence 2020 (2020-4.1.1.-TKP2020); Therapeutic Development |
| 2020-2021 | Thematic Program of Excellence 2020 (2020-4.1.1.-TKP2020); BIOImaging Theme |
| 2019-2020 | Thematic Program of Excellence 2019 (TIP2019); BIOImaging Theme |
| 2019-2020 | Program for Institutional Excellence in Higher Education 2019 (FIKP2019); Therapeutic Development |
| 2018-2019 | Program for Institutional Excellence in Higher Education 2018 (FIKP2018); Therapeutic Development |
| 2016-2019 | National Heart Program – Research and Innovation in the Diagnosis and Treatment of Ischemic Heart Disease and Heart Failure (NVKP_16-1-2016-0017) |
| 2016-2020 |
Experimental and clinical investigation of short- and long-term cardiovascular effects of professional sport (NKTH OTKA K 120277) |
| 2014-2017 | Budapest-CRT Upgrade Principial Investigator initiated trial (unrestricted grant of Boston Scientific; 1.060.000 Euro) |
| 2013-2017 | EU FP 7 Grant: „Diagnostic Imaging Strategies for Patients with Stable Chest Pain and Intermediate Risk of Coronary Artery Disease: Comparative Effectiveness Research of Existing Technologies” (DISCHARGE, FP7-Health-2012.2.4-2, project no: 603226) |
| 2013-2017 | EU FP 7 Grant: „Comparative Effectiveness Research to Access the Use of Primary ProphylacTic Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillators in Europe” (EU-CERT-ICD, project no: 602299) |
| 2012-2016 | Remodelling and reverse remodelling in heart failure – experimental models and human studies (project director) |
| 2008-2010 | Bridge of Semmelweis – scientific tender supported by the European Union (“Project of TÁMOP”), project director |
| 2007-2011 | Clinical and experimental study on heart failure associated with arrhythmias |
| 2007 | Studying the pathomechanism of heart failure; new prospects for an optimal resynchronisation therapy |
| 2006-2008 | Analysis of the pathomechanisms in heart failure; pharmacological and non-pharmacological treatment facilities |
| 2001-2005 | Clinical and experimental investigations on the prevention options and mechanisms of malignant ventricular arrhythmias, study director |
| 2001-2004 | The role of endothelin-1 in the pathogenesis of malignant ventricular arrhythmias. Clinical and experimental investigations, study director |
| 2000-2002 | Examining the role of endothelin in different pathophysiological conditions |
| 2000-2001 | In vivo studies on the influencing factors in the development of clinical and experimental tachyarrhythmias, study director |
| 1997-1999 | Examination of the pathomechanism of malignant ventricular arrhythmias, study director |
| 1997-1999 | Experimental electrophysiological analysis of major ventricular arrhythmias, study director |
| 1994-1996 | Electrophysiological examination of major ventricular arrhythmias, study director |
Awards
| 2022 | Honorary Doctor of University of Trnava |
| 2021 | Lions Fair Play Award, for his decade-long participation in goodwill services |
| 2021 | Széchenyi Prize, recognizing the outstanding contribution to the academic life in Hungary |
| 2020 | Man of the Year (Observer) – for his outstanding professional work in 2020 and for his activities protecting the Hungarian population |
| 2019 | Honorary Doctor of “Vasil Goldis” Western University of Arad |
| 2019 | Honorary Member of the Serbian Society of Cardiology |
| 2019 | Certificate of Recognition for the Heart Transplantation Working Group of the Heart and Vascular Clinic of Semmelweis University in recognition of outstanding professional activity |
| 2018 | ESC Silver Medal |
| 2018 | Honorary Member of the Romanian Society of Cardiology |
| 2018 | Honorary Member of the Croatian Society of Cardiology |
| 2018 | Award in recognition of decades of pioneering work in basic research and clinical landmark studies (1st Department of Cardiology and Angiology, University Heart Center Freiburg) |
| 2018 | Honorary Professor of the Republic of Kazahstan |
| 2017 | Kossuth Zsuzsanna Award |
| 2017 | Honorary President of the Hungarian Society of Cardiology |
| 2017 | Honorary President and Honorary Professor of Northern Jiangsu People’s Hospital |
| 2017 | Honorary Professor of the Peking Union Medical College Hospital |
| 2017 | Doctor Honoris Causa of the Peoples’ Friendship University of Russia |
| 2016 | Honorary Professor Voronezh N. N. Burdenko State Medical University |
| 2016 | Order of Merit of the Hungarian Republic, Commander Cross |
| 2015 | Dénes Gábor Award |
| 2014 | Városmajor Heart and Vascular Center – belonging to Semmelweis University and led by Béla Merkely – receives the “Cardiology Centre of Excellence” Prize (Medicina Top200) |
| 2014 | Astellas Certificate of Merit for the outstanding professional knowledge and magnificient human attitude (Astellas Award was running in the frame of the Physician of the Year Competition) |
| 2014 | Gold Medal of Hungarian Society of Cardiology |
| 2014 | Ministerial Certificate of Merit for the Cardiology Technicians of Városmajor Heart and Vascular Center’s Intensive Care Unit – belonging to Semmelweis University and led by Béla Merkely – as a care unit of high priority |
| 2013 | Career Achievement Award (Jagellonian University Krakow) |
| 2013 | Medal of Honour for the scientific activities, the support and promotion of scientific work (Peoples’ Friendship University of Russia, Moscow) |
| 2013 | Honorary Citizen of Budapest |
| 2013 | Pro Societate Award of the Hungarian Society of Cardiology for the outstanding work executed as Executive Board Member and Advisory Board Member from 2010 to 2013 |
| 2012 | Elite Reviewer in Europace |
| 2011 | Medallion of the 30th Anniversary National Scientific Student’s Conference |
| 2011 | Semmelweis University Heart Center – “FIFA Medical Centre of Excellence” |
| 2011 | Markusovszky Award, Orvosi Hetilap |
| 2011 | Order of Merit of the Hungarian Republic, Officer’s Cross |
| 2009 | Hungarian Academy of Sciences Award for Excellence |
| 2008 | Jendrassik Ernő Award |
| 2007 | Master Tutor Gold Medal – Award of the National Scientific Student’s Organization |
| 2007 | Semmelweis University Tutor Award of the Scientific Student’s Organization |
| 2006 | Founder of the Heart Center in Győr, Award |
| 2006 | Pro Civitate Sana Award |
| 2004 | Bolyai Award of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences (MTA) |
| 2004 | Rudolf-Thauer-Posterpreis 3rd prize: Deutsche Gesellschaft für Kardiologie |
| 2004 | Pro Societate Award of the Hungarian Society of Cardiology |
| 2003 | Cardiovascularis Centrum Award |
| 2002 | Semmelweis University, Tutor Award of the Scientific Student’s Organization |
| 2000 | Gábor György Award |
| 2000 – 2003 | Bolyai Research Scholarship of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences |
| 1999 | 10th World Congress of Electrophysiology, International Virchow Award 1st prize |
| 1997 | International Union of Angiology European Chapter´s Congress – Physiology Prize |
| 1996 | Adorján Ferenc Award |
| 1995 | 3rd Alpe-Adria Cardiology Meeting – 2nd prize |
| 1998 | Táncsics Mihály Award, Gold level |
Publications, presentations
5 edited books, 2 specialized books, 46 book chapters (6 in English), 7 university coursebook chapters, contribution to 18 university coursebook chapters, 2 university textbooks
• 721 international and 276 Hungarian articles
• Cumulative impact factor: 4087,885
• Independent citations: 47.307.
• Hirsch index: 58
• g-index: 124
• MTMT ID: 10002691
List of Dr. Béla Merkely’s publications in the Hungarian Database of Scientific Works
Membership, elected functions
Hungarian Society of Cardiology (MKT); Hungarian Society of Cardiac Surgery, Hungarian Atherosclerosis Society, European Society of Cardiology (ESC), International Society for Heart Research;
| 2020 – 2024 | Vice President of the Hungarian University-College Association |
| 2019 – | President of the Semmelweis University Sports Medicine Professional Committee |
| 2018 – 2023 | Member of the Board of the Swimming Sports Association, Győr |
| 2017 | Member of the FINA Sports Medicine Committee |
| 2017 | Honorary President of the Hungarian Society of Cardiology |
| 2016 – |
Member of the Editorial Board for the journal “Journal of Cardiovascular Emergencies” |
| 2016 – |
Deputy Editor for the journal “Heart Beat Journal” |
| 2016 – 2018 | Vice President for National Cardiac Societies of the European Society of Cardiology |
| 2016 – |
President of the China-CEEC Hospital Cooperation Alliance (CC-HC) |
| 2016 – |
President of the Scientific Board of the Hungarian Society of Cardiology |
| 2016 |
Member of the Editorial Board for the journal “Journal of Hungarian Interdisciplinary Medicine” |
| 2016 – | President of the Cardiology Section of Professional College |
| 2015 – 2018 | Vice-rector for Clinical Affairs, Semmelweis University |
| 2015 – 2017 | Co-Chair of EuROTA Club |
| 2015 – 2017 | Chair of the National Cardiac Societies Committee of the European Heart Rhythm Association |
| 2015 | Member of European Academy of Sciences and Arts |
| 2015- | Member of the Editorial Board for the journal “Frontiers in Cardiovascular Medicine” |
| 2015- | Member of the Editorial Board for the journal “Advances in Interventional Cardiology” |
| 2014-2016 | Councillor and member of the Board of the European Society of Cardiology |
| 2014- | Member of the Editorial Board for the journal “World Journal of Cardiology” |
| 2013 – 2016 | President of Workgroup of Interventional Cardiology, Hungarian Society of Cardiology |
| 2013 – 2015 | Executive Board Member, Treasurer of the European Heart Rhythm Association |
| 2013 – | Non-academician General Assembly Member of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences |
| 2013 – | Gremium President of the professional training “Medical rehabilitation in cardiology” of Semmelweis University |
| 2012 – | Member of the Editorial Board for the journal “Clinical Research in Cardiology”, the official scientific journal of the German Society for Cardiology – Heart and Circulation Research) |
| 2011 – 2016 | Member of the EuroPCR Relations Committee, EAPCI |
| 2011 – | Member of the Editorial Board for the journal ‘Cor et Vasa’ (Journal of the Czech Society of Cardiology and Czech Society for Cardiovascular Surgery) |
| 2011 – | Fellow of the American College of Cardiology (FACC) |
| 2011 – 2013 | EHRA National Societies – Eastern Initiative Coordinator: ICD for Life |
| 2010 – 2014 | Member of the Credential Committee, European Society of Cardiology |
| 2010 – 2013 | President of the Hungarian Society of Cardiology |
| 2011 – 2016 |
Member of the Cardiology Section of Professional College President of the Cardiology Section of Professional College |
| 2010 – | Deputy Chief in Editor of the journal: “Interventional Medicine and Applied Science” |
| 2009 – | President of Students’ Scientific Association of Semmelweis University |
| 2009 – 2011 | Co-chairman of the National Society Committee of the European Heart Rhythm Association |
| 2008 – | Gremium President of the professional training “Cardiology” of Semmelweis University |
| 2008 – | Editor-in-Chief of the national medical Journal “Medical Education” (founded in 1911) |
| 2007 – 2010 | President of the Working Group of Interventional Cardiology, Hungarian Society of Cardiology |
| 2007 – 2009 | Secretary of Students’ Scientific Association of Semmelweis University |
| 2006 – 2009 | National Delegate of the Hungarian Medical Council |
| 2006 – 2011 | Member of the Scientific and Research Ethical Board of the Health Scientific Committee |
| 2006 – 2014 | Member of the editorial board of Lege Artis Medicinae (LAM) |
| 2006 – | Member of the editorial board of the Hungarian issue of JACC |
| 2005 – | Member of Hungarian Society of Atherosclerosis |
| 2004 – | Member of the Scientific Board of the Hungarian Society of Cardiology |
| 2004 – | Member of Committee of the Working Group of Interventional Cardiology, Hungarian Society of Cardiology |
| 2004 – | Member of the Advisory Board, later member of the National Societies Board, European Heart Rhythm Association |
| 2004 – 2007 | President of the Working Group on Arrhythmia and Pacemaker, Hungarian Society of Cardiology |
| 2001 – | Fellow of the European Society of Cardiology (FESC) |
| 2001 – 2004 | Vice-President of the Working Group on Arrhythmia and Pacemaker, Hungarian Society of Cardiology |
| 2000- | Reviewer in the journal “Cardiovascular Research” and “Heart Rhythm” |
| 1999 – 2006 | Member of the editorial board of Progress Biomedical Research |
| 1998 – | Member of the North-American Society of Pacing and Electrophysiology (NASPE, Heart Rhythm) |
| 1996 – 2004 | National Delegate of the Working Group on Cardiac Pacing, European Society of Cardiology |
| 1995 – 2001 | Secretary of the Working Group on Arrhythmia and Pacemaker, Hungarian Society of Cardiology |
| 1990-1996 | Chairman of the Society of German and Hungarian Students and Scientists of Heidelberg, Germany |
| 1991- | Member of the European Society of Cardiology, and of the Hungarian Society of Cardiology |