European Heart Rhythm Association Young Electrophysiology Community: the future is just ahead

Talks and ideas on forming a dedicated Young Electrophysiology (EP) Community within the European Heart Rhythm Association (EHRA) have been floating around for several years. The asymmetric age distribution inherent to a young field such as cardiac EP has eventually led to the urgent desire to identify the next generation of EP physicians and shed light on their needs and interests. The European Heart Rhythm Association as an organization and personally Prof. Karl-Heinz Kuck (EHRA President, 2013–15) stepped forward in 2013, and committed to improving the diversity of communities within EHRA, initiating three new committees, one of which has been the Young EP Community. The Young EP Committee has been formed to facilitate, enhance, and accelerate the development of early career electrophysiologists. Our goals are to provide an efficient networking venue, as well as educational programs and research opportunities for young EP professionals, thus creating a global network within the scientific EP community. At its core, the Young EP Community wants to help a new generation overcome challenges and open myriads of educational and research opportunities through collaboration across Europe. And if it is Young EP, who else would be more dedicated to lead this group, than individuals from the young generation? Young EP for the Young EP! ![Graphic][1] In this short communication, we would like to introduce the members of the Young EP Committee, and highlight the most relevant work and milestones from the last 2 years, since the foundation of the EHRA Young EP Community. Dr Tom De Potter , Associate Director of the Cardiovascular Center at the Department of Cardiology, Arrhythmia Unit, in Aalst (e-mail: tom.de.potter@olvz-aalst.be), thinks the Young EP Community initiative is best summarized by paraphrasing Abraham Lincoln—‘by the young, for the young’. Tom was appointed as the Chair of the Young EP Community in 2013 when … [1]: /embed/inline-graphic-1.gif