Chapel Hill, NC - Dr Mauricio Cohen is set to become the new director of the cardiac catheterization laboratory at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, leaving behind his role as assistant professor of medicine and associate director of the catheterization laboratory at the University of North Carolina (UNC).

Cohen told heartwire he is excited about the move to Miami, especially since the city is a gateway to Central and South America. The University of Miami has attracted a number of high-profile cardiologists in recent years, including Drs William O'Neill, Alan Heldman, Gervasio Lamas, and Joshua Hare, among others, and this recruitment of talent, along with being just "one flight home to friends and family," made his decision to move to Miami that much easier.

"It's a great opportunity to work with people that have pioneered the field of interventional cardiology, such as Bill O'Neill, and it is a great opportunity to step into more administrative duties as cath lab director, as well as take a step up the academic ladder," said Cohen. "Putting all this together, with my background, it makes sense for me to be in a place like Miami."

At UNC, in addition to his speciality in interventional cardiology, Cohen had a special interest in the health of minorities, particularly Hispanic individuals, and was the director of the UNC Latino Health Initiative, a service that provided healthcare and outreach to the growing Latino community in North Carolina.

"UNC has been a very generous institution to me over the past five years," said Cohen. "It's very well-respected, and my colleagues are delightful to work with. I'm going to miss working with all of them. UNC provides excellent care to patients regardless of skin color or social status, and that's something I really like."

Cohen is a graduate of the Universidad Nacional de Tucumán in the northwest of Argentina and did his residency and fellowship at the Hospital Italiano, a major referral center in Buenos Aires. He continued his training in the US after being awarded the Latin American Society of Interventional Cardiology—Duke scholarship in 1997, an award which is given to the best young Latin American cardiologist each year.

Hare, the cardiovascular division chief at the University of Miami, said the hospital is "thrilled and delighted" Cohen is joining the cardiovascular program. "His expertise in interventional therapies and interest in the health of Hispanics is a clear benefit to our South Florida patients," commented Hare.

This past May, Cohen was named the associate editor of Cardiosource en Español, a Spanish version of the American College of Cardiology website for cardiology professionals. The website is aimed at physicians in Latin America and is intended to help keep them in the loop with new research as well as transmit their research findings to a wider audience.