Roadmap for cardiovascular education across the European Society of Cardiology: inspiring better knowledge and skills, now and for the future
Authors: Kotecha Dipak , Bax Jeroen J , Carrera Céline , Casadei Barbara , Merkely Bela , Anker Stefan D , Vardas Panos E , Kearney Peter P , Roffi Marco , Ros Michelle , Vahanian Alec , Weidinger Franz , Beeri Ronen , Budaj Andrzej , Calabrò Paolo , Czerwińska-Jelonkiewicz Katarzyna , D’Ascenzi Flavio , De Potter Tom , Fox Kevin F , Hartikainen Juha , McAdam Brendan , Milicic Davor , Pasquet Agnès A , Sionis Alessandro , Sohaib S M Afzal , Tsioufis Costas , Verhorst Patrick M J , Kirchhof Paulus ,   ESC Scientific Document Group, Altun Armagan , Anguita Manuel P , Agladze Rusudan , Baldus Stephan , Bettencourt Nuno , Borg Alexander N , Burri Haran , Carballo David , Dekleva Milica , Demiraj Aurel F , Eha Jaan , Erglis Andrejs , Frey Norbert , Freyschuss Anna , Ginghina Carmen , Gonçalves Lino M , Grapsa Julia , González-Juanatey José R , Hatala Robert , Hrafnkelsdóttir Thordis , Isnard Richard , Joubert Line , Kavoliuniene Ausra , Kerimkulova Alina S , Kinova Elena , Kjaergaard Jesper , Kletsiou Eleni , Kontsevaya Anna , Landmesser Ulf , Lisii Dorin , Mascherbauer Julia , Mourali Mohamed S , Moutiris Joseph A , Mulder Barbara J M , Nasr Gamela , Nesukay Elena , Oukerraj Latifa , Poposka Lidija , Price Susanna , Ribeiras Regina , Rotevatn Svein , Sádaba Sagredo J Rafael , Sirnes Per Anton , Smith Russell E A , Sokolović Šekib , Tanner Felix C , Van Der Bilt Ivo A C , Varenne Olivier , von Haehling Stephan , Zavatta Marco ,   2016 ESC Education Conference, Demiraj Aurel , Beeri Ronen , Mascherbauer Julia , Calabrò Paolo , Weidinger Franz , D’Ascenzi Flavio , Pasquet Agnès , Kerimkulova Alina , De Potter Tom , Erglis Andrejs , Sokolovic Šekib , Bajare Iveta , Smith Russell , Kavoliuniene Ausra , Sohaib Afzal , Poposka Lidija , Kinova Elena , Borg Alexander , Milicic Davor , Lisii Dorin , Moutiris Joseph , Oukerraj Latifa , Kjaergaard Jesper , Verhorst Patrick , Nasr Gamela , Rotevatn Svein , Shaban Gamal , Budaj Andrzej , Eha Jaan , Czerwinska-Jelonkiewicz Katarzyna , Hartikainen Juha , Bettencourt Nuno , Isnard Richard , Ginghina Carmen , Agladze Rusudan , Balanova Yulia , Frey Norbert , Zavatta Marco , Anker Stefan D , Dekleva Milica , Kitsiou Anastasia , Hatala Robert , Tsioufis Costas , Anguita Manuel P , Chrysoou Christina , Freyschuss Anna , Csanádi Zoltan , Carballo David , Hrafnkelsdóttir Thordis , Gudnason Thorarinn , McAdam Brendan , Dalton Barbra , Mourali Mohamed Sami , Altun Armagan , Nesukay Elena 
Published: January 2018

Abstract

Aims
The provision of high-quality education allows the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) to achieve its mission of better cardiovascular practice and provides an essential component of translating new evidence to improve outcomes.

Methods and results
The 4th ESC Education Conference, held in Sophia Antipolis (December 2016), brought together ESC education leaders, National Directors of Training of 43 ESC countries, and representatives of the ESC Young Community. Integrating national descriptions of education and cardiology training, we discussed innovative pathways to further improve knowledge and skills across different training programmes and health care systems. We developed an ESC roadmap supporting better cardiology training and continued medical education (CME), noting: (i) The ESC provides an excellent framework for unbiased and up-to-date cardiovascular education in close cooperation with its National Societies. (ii) The ESC should support the harmonization of cardiology training, curriculum development, and professional dialogue and mentorship. (iii) ESC congresses are an essential forum to learn and discuss the latest developments in cardiovascular medicine. (iv) The ESC should create a unified, interactive educational platform for cardiology training and continued cardiovascular education combining Webinars, eLearning Courses, Clinical Cases, and other educational programmes, along with ESC Congress content, Practice Guidelines and the next ESC Textbook of Cardiovascular Medicine. (v) ESC-delivered online education should be integrated into National and regional cardiology training and CME programmes.

Conclusion
These recommendations support the ESC to deliver excellent and comprehensive cardiovascular education for the next generation of specialists. Teamwork between international, national and local partners is essential to achieve this objective.