Dr. Ruth Amstein is Director of the Zurich Heart House since 2009. She joined the Foundation for Cardiovascular Research as Director Education in 1998. She graduated in Pharmacy from the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH) Zurich and achieved her Ph.D. degree at the University of Basel on pathophysiological processes in the cardiovascular system. Ten years working experience in the pharmaceutical industry with responsibilities in regulatory affairs, clinical research and marketing. In 1991 she was a co-founder of the European Course of Pharmaceutical Medicine at the University Hospital Basel where she acted as Programme Director until 1997.