PCR Global Interventional Academy

Worldwide expert training pathways tailored to local practice

Medical advancement happens fast, and for over 35 years, PCR has been dedicated to accelerating the sharing of knowledge, skills and experience among the interventional cardiovascular community worldwide. In addition to the annual PCR Courses held around the globe - such as EuroPCR - many other educational PCR initiatives contribute to the lifelong learning of practitioners, such as: PCR Seminars, PCR Fellows Courses, Certifications, PCR Webinars, The PCR Textbook, EuroIntervention…  In line with the founding vision of Honorary Chairman Jean Marco, PCR consistently tailors educational content and format to the daily practice and identified needs of each world region, with the active participation of local practitioners as faculty.

High-level training programmes

Launched in 2025, the PCR Global Interventional Academy (PCR GIA) is a prime demonstration of how PCR is committed to continuing education and the ongoing improvement of patient care across all continents. Selected applicants benefit from high-value independent training programmes. In an interview with Andreas Baumbach, Director of the current PCR GIA programme, he sums up the PCR GIA as being: “A forum for interventional cardiologists who have completed their training but want three things: to keep learning new skills to expert level; to advance their own standing and presentation in meetings; and to network in a global group.” This unique concept is therefore different to a full-time fellowship programme in a host centre, and participants have generally been in practice for approximately 3 to 5 years, with some up to 10 years.

Sharing insights that go beyond textbooks

In parallel to their usual practice, the PCR GIA pathways offer participants the rare opportunity to learn how to master high-level techniques and technology from leading international facilitators - during regular in-person workshops, interactive online modules and expert-led case discussions. Throughout, in the true spirit of PCR’s ethos of education built ‘By and For’ practitioners, everyone contributes their know-how. “Rather than learning the ropes, it’s about experienced interventional cardiologists exchanging with best-in-class operators about good practice for the management of patients and cases: complications, techniques, technology... We drive it all to expert level, and it makes a huge difference in the type of discussions. When it comes to innovative techniques, we have top-class operators who come along to share what’s done, what works, what doesn’t… sharing cutting-edge practice that will take five years to get in the textbooks” says Andreas Baumbach.

A strong focus on personal development

When asked about the ‘soft skills’ aspect of the programme, Andreas Baumbach remarks that “…soft skills should be called hard skills, as it’s something that nobody teaches us doctors. It’s just not out there!” The training therefore includes a whole section dedicated to personal development, such as professional coaching on how to put together slides, deliver a presentation and improve panel work. “It’s all packed into a case competition where participants have to present one of their own cases. They learn how to get better at it, what to look out for. They also get to score their peers’ presentations and learn a lot that is relevant if you are faculty somewhere: how to behave on a panel, how to ask questions, how to answer questions… These are really relevant things despite the fact that nobody talks about them. There’s always the assumption that everyone up there on stage is a natural, but in fact most have had coaching!”.

Networking on a global scale

These one-of-a-kind PCR GIA training programmes gather participants from across the world and enable them to become part of a global network of peers and mentors. Over the years alumni will be given the means to reach out and connect. “We call it a global academy, and we mean it!” says Andreas Baumbach. Indeed, the first edition of the TAVI track counts, for example, 109 participants from 39 countries across 4 continents. “One of the objectives I like to point out at the very beginning of a programme is that I want everyone to go away with at least one new friend from another continent.  It opens their eyes to different practices, exchanges can be initiated, and for example, one of the first groups has already started an international research network”.

Closing session of the first coronary track 

Yesterday, PCR GIA took advantage of EuroPCR to hold the closing session of its first training programme’s coronary track, led by the Coronary Track Co-Director Gabor G. Toth. There was a review of the year; an inspirational talk about the history of angioplasty by PCR Honorary Chairman Jean Fajadet; and an award ceremony for the 3 winners of the case competition – whose prizes include joining EuroPCR as Faculty in 2027.
When asked for feedback about their experience, participants underlined not only the outstanding and precious interventional training, but also praised the professional tips and tricks for presentations and panel work – which they say will serve throughout their career. This coronary track is one of the two launched in 2025, the other focusing on TAVI and led by the TAVI Track Co-Director Ole De Backer. Both are part of a recurrent training programme taking place over a period of 5 years. With 150 participants per track per academic year, this dual training programme alone will therefore give rise to a total of approx. 1,500 PCR GIA alumni by 2030.

A promising future for high-level training in small groups

In addition to the coronary and TAVI tracks already lined up, Andreas Baumbach shares that PCR GIA will explore the tailoring of similarly structured training programmes that cover specific fields of interventional cardiovascular medicine. “When you’re a post-graduate with a few years practice, you run out of long-term programmes or certifications for that stage of your career, but you still want to get better. The PCR Global Academy brand is there to fill that void, with a completely different engagement compared to a fellows course or a teaching session. It’s a model that must be actively pursued and it holds a lot of promise for the worldwide interventional community in the coming years.”

The first academic year of the TAVI track will close with a dedicated session at PCR London Valves in November. The second academic year for the coronary and TAVI tracks will be kicking off shortly. For these and upcoming PCR GIA training programmes, it seems likely that there will be no lack of motivated candidates - eager to take up the challenge and contribute thereby to the enhancement of patient care worldwide.

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