Effective interventional education goes beyond sharing techniques. It is about helping clinicians understand the core challenges they face and equipping them to think clearly under pressure. Few understand this better than Dr John Hung, Consultant Cardiologist at Liverpool Heart and Chest Hospital and Co-Director of Optima Istanbul.
Education that Gets to the Heart of the Problem
“I have always been interested in education,” says Dr Hung, “but that really developed when I began working with Optima during my fellowship with Professor James Spratt. I learned what high quality education really means. Understanding the subject clearly, identifying the key issues, and communicating them in a simple, focused way.”
He continues, “Optima is about identifying the key problems in intervention, getting to their root, and bringing the interventional community together to share experience and develop our collective mindset.”
Istanbul: A Hub of Energy and Exchange
With Optima Istanbul fast approaching, Dr Hung is looking forward to another lively and interactive meeting. “It’s always a great event with an experienced, enthusiastic audience. We will have live cases, expert presentations, and more interactivity than ever.”
Sessions will cover left main and bifurcations, calcium management, and CTO PCI, alongside the introduction of a central theme, proactive PCI.
Why Istanbul? “It always draws a large, engaged audience,” he explains. “It is an exciting place to visit, and with our co-organiser, Professor Omer Goktekin, who is hugely experienced, we can expect lively discussions, debates, and hands-on learning.”
Defining Proactive PCI
So, what does proactive PCI really mean?
“It’s about preparation,” says Dr Hung. “Patient cases are more complex than ever, and we have more tools and information to navigate. Variability in treatment remains a problem. It depends on where the patient is treated, by whom, and under what conditions. We want to help interventionists set the right environment, acquire the right information, and make sound decisions to reduce variability and improve outcomes.”
He describes proactive PCI as both a clinical and educational philosophy. “It is about understanding why we make certain choices, recognising biases, and training ourselves to filter out noise. The cath lab can be high pressure. Proactive PCI means creating calm, informed decision-making and setting up technically and mentally for success.”[FF1]
Shifting the Focus from Tools to Thinking
In Istanbul, that mindset will be woven throughout the programme. Delegates will take part in live polling, make procedural choices, and analyse new case information and expert insights to see how their thinking evolves
“We often focus on tools and techniques, but less on how we think,” says Dr Hung. “I hope delegates will reflect on their own decision-making, the heuristics that drive what we do in the lab and come away more confident and better equipped to create success in their own cath labs.”
Why Attend an Optima Event?
Optima’s next phase is designed to give interventionists more than technical expertise. It is about developing the clarity and confidence to make better decisions in the lab.
“While we still focus on complex PCI and CTO,” says Dr Hung, “we are now tackling broader, conceptual issues such as decision-making and information handling that are just as important as technical skills. Proactive PCI is part of that shift.”
Across upcoming Optima courses and conferences, delegates can expect interactive discussions, practical insights, and the chance to strengthen both their mindset and their technical approach. Each meeting is an opportunity to learn, challenge assumptions, and refine the thinking that drives successful intervention.
Encouraging a Thinking Interventionist Approach
As Optima continues to expand globally, proactive PCI represents an evolving approach to interventional education. It encourages careful preparation, thoughtful decision-making, and a focus on mindset alongside technical skills. It gives interventionists the tools and frameworks to think critically in the cath lab and approach each case with clarity and consideration.
[FF1]Good!