In 2004, Prof. Perk, was one of the founders of the European Association of Cardiovascular Prevention and Rehabilitation (EACPR) which went on to become the current-day European Association of Preventive Cardiology (EAPC).
He co-chaired the EACPR Interim Board from 2004 to 2006 and worked tirelessly to develop the association through numerous initiatives and activities.
“My personal memories of collaborative work with Joep date back to the merger of the ESC Working Groups on epidemiology and prevention and on cardiac rehabilitation and exercise physiology, to form the association that we co-chaired at the time. It was a pleasure to work with him on this important milestone for CVD prevention. He was very proud of the achievements of the Prevention Implementation Committee over the years, the creation of a network for the implementation of the prevention guidelines at the national level, and the ‘Prevention in Your Country’ reports”.
Guy De Backer, Co-Chairperson, EACPR Interim Board 2004-2006
Prof. Perk contributed to the EACPR Prevention Implementation Committee as a chairperson for two terms. Thereafter, from 2014 to 2016, he served on the ESC Press Committee, and later the ESC Media Committee, acting as ESC spokesperson for CVD Prevention. He also greatly contributed to ESC Advocacy activities as a member of the Advocacy and Public Policy Committee and contributor to the European Heart Health Charter.
From 2018 to 2020, he was Chair of the ESC EU Presidencies Task Force and thereafter committed himself deeply to the EAPC Prevention Implementation Committee; first as Deputy-Chair and thereafter as a senior advisor in charge of the National CVD Prevention Coordinators Network.
“I got to know Joep through his contribution to the Prevention Implementation Committee, and particularly from his immense effort organising a digital roundtable on the implementation of the 2021 ESC Guidelines on CVD Prevention in the European countries with the highest incidence of CVD deaths. Joep was a fantastic collaborator and so enthusiastic about our mission. I will deeply miss his knowledge, work capacity, humour, and kindness.”
Trine Moholdt, Chairperson, EAPC Prevention Implementation Committee 2020–2022
For 25 years, Prof. Perk was a member and a Fellow of the ESC. Under his leadership, preventive cardiology became an integrative field in cardiology, spanning primary prevention, rehabilitation and sports cardiology. His achievements as a leader and his warm personality were exceptional. He will remain in our hearts as a true legend in preventive cardiology.
Prof. Martin Halle
EAPC President, 2020–2022
On behalf of the EAPC Board, Committees and Sections
Our mission: To reduce the burden of cardiovascular disease.