Professor Vardas had been the Head of the Cardiology Department at Heraklion University Hospital, Crete, Greece from 1990 until his retirement June 2017. Currently, Professor Vardas holds the position of Chairman of Heart Sector of the Hygeia Hospitals Group, Athens, Greece. In Greece, Prof. Vardas held major academic positions, such as Dean of the Medical Faculty of the University of Crete (2003-2007) and President of the Hellenic
Cardiological Society (1999-2001).

Furthermore, he has been founder and editor of the Hellenic Journal of Cardiology (English version) since 2002 and President of the Hellenic Cardiovascular Research Society since 2007. In Europe, Prof. Vardas was elected to significant scientific positions. He was President of the European Society of Cardiology (2012-2014) and President of the European Heart Rhythm Association (2009-2011). Professor Vardas is the founder of the ESC Office in Brussels (2013) where he serves currently as Chief Strategy Officer of the European Heart Agency / ESC. Prof. Vardas had been awarded the Gold Medal of the ESC in 2014 and also the Silver medal of the International League of Humanists in 2008.