Proactive Pulse: Thanks so much for joining us, Matt.
Matt Sibbald: Great to be here. Looking forward to the course.
Proactive Pulse: Could you give us a brief introduction, your background and main areas of interest?
Matt Sibbald: I’m an interventional cardiologist at McMaster University in Ontario, Canada. Early in my career, I became fascinated by how clinicians make decisions under pressure in the cath lab. That led me to pursue both a master’s and a PhD at Maastricht University, focusing on decision-making in high-stakes medical environments and how we can improve it.
Proactive Pulse: What drew you to that area?
Matt Sibbald: I noticed a lot of variability in physician decision-making. Patients often assume experienced clinicians always make safe, effective choices—but in reality, even experts face unpredictability. I wanted to understand what goes into those decisions and how we could improve them. Working with a cognitive load expert in the Netherlands helped me realise it’s not just what we know that matters, but also the conditions under which we make decisions and the limits of our cognitive capacity.
Proactive Pulse: Could you explain cognitive load for those who might not be familiar with it?
Matt Sibbald: Think of doing something very challenging while your kids are jumping on the couch, the phone is ringing, and the fire alarm goes off. You quickly run out of mental resources to focus. That’s cognitive load. It’s essentially the number of “balls” you can juggle at once and still make a sound decision. Even the most experienced physicians face the same cognitive limitations as a novice.
Proactive Pulse: So the cath lab is full of distractions and pressure.
Matt Sibbald: Absolutely. It’s chaotic. But understanding cognitive load allows us to rethink how we approach decision-making. We can use our knowledge more strategically, improve outcomes for patients, and create a more rewarding experience for clinicians.
Proactive Pulse: How do clinicians build expertise in that environment, so they’re not always reacting?
Matt Sibbald: That’s exactly what we explore at Optima (PCI London 2025). It’s an opportunity for a community of experts to reflect on the tools we use in the cath lab, anticipate challenges, and take a proactive approach to decision-making. The goal is better patient outcomes, a more rewarding clinician experience, and more “ergonomic” decision-making.
Proactive Pulse: Mindset seems surprisingly important in such a technical role. How widely recognised is that?
Matt Sibbald: Historically, medicine, especially interventional cardiology, emphasised endurance and devotion rather than mindset. But that’s changing. Other elite fields, like Olympic sport, consider mindset central to performance. This is an exciting new space for medicine to explore, with huge potential to enhance both outcomes and careers.
Proactive Pulse: As co-director of Optima London, can you give a flavour of what participants will experience and why they should attend?
Matt Sibbald: Participants can expect an eye-opening exploration of cognitive load and decision-making. They’ll get hands-on experience with cath lab technology, see live cases, and learn how to take a systematic, proactive approach. We’ll discuss how complications unfold and how to be prepared, applying lessons from both experts and educational science to everyday practice. It’s about reshaping your mindset to improve outcomes and your career experience.
Proactive Pulse: Thanks so much, Matt. Looking forward to seeing you next month in London.
Matt Sibbald: I hope to see you all there!