The history of EuroPCR - 30 years of innovation in education
Discover the origins of what has become the World Leading Course in interventional cardiovascular medicine!
In 2019 the Course celebrates its 30th anniversary: read a brief insight of its history and join your peers in Paris to check out the full story and some great old snapshots!
From a few dozen participants in Toulouse to 11,000+ in Paris!
1989 - 1996 Seeds are sown
Interventional cardiologist Professor Jean Marco creates in 1989 the first international Course in the English language, at a time when the very existence of the field is still causing some debate.
The ‘Complex Coronary Angioplasty and New Techniques in Interventional Cardiology’ congress takes place in Toulouse, France and is the fruit of his conviction that improved patient care lies in the effective sharing of knowledge, skills and experience between peers.
Over the following years the Course continues to develop in Toulouse, where the number of participants constantly grows.
1997 - 2010 Paris becomes home
In order to accommodate the increasing number of participants, the newly named Endovascular Therapy Course (ETC) transfers to Paris and in the year 2000 becomes known as the Paris Course of Revascularisation (whose abbreviation gives rise to "PCR").
Soon after, it mergers with the Rotterdam-based EuroCVS congress.
As since the beginning, the Programme continues to involve innovative teaching methods, putting participants at the centre of their highly interactive learning experience.
The Course is renamed EuroPCR, sets up its website PCRonline in 2002, launches its official journal EuroIntervention in 2005 and goes on to become the official Course of the EAPCI in 2007.
2010 - 2018 Global expansion
The Course’s unique postgraduate educational approach expands worldwide.
Six new PCR Courses are initiated within the space of seven years:
- AsiaPCR-SingLIVE (now AICT-AsiaPCR)
- PCR London Valves
- GulfPCR-GIM
- AfricaPCR
- PCR-CIT China Chengdu Valves
- PCR Tokyo Valves
All are built in collaboration with local practitioners to ensure they meet the specific needs of the community in the region concerned and, most importantly, the needs of their patients.
During the same decade, other PCR educational initiatives come into being:
- 2011: tailor-made 2-day interactive PCR Seminars for small groups
- 2012: first publication of the ‘living’ PCR-EAPCI Textbook
- 2018: creation of the free online PCR Webinars
Today PCRonline enjoys the largest online community in interventional cardiovascular medicine, and offers free access to exclusive scientific content such as Course presentation slides, videos, LIVE demonstrations, educational cases and more.
Sample the strong educational approach
Over the past 30 years PCR has created many new and unique learning experiences for its Course participants. Learn more for example about the dynamic and immersive PCR ViTAL® sessions
View a retrospective on angioplasty and TAVI
The exposition was set up by PCR in 2017 and travelled across the globe to be displayed at many events, in celebration of the 40 years of angioplasty and 15 years of TAVI
Discover the philosophy of PCR Companions
Since 1989, PCR Courses have been bringing together the community, promoting peer-to-peer exchange throughout the entire career. Find out PCR’s definition of the term companion