New formats, technology and even gamification in EuroEcho-Imaging 2015

Over the years, EuroEcho-Imaging has grown to become the main congress of cardiovascular imaging of the world. The main themes of this year were cardiomyopathies and early diagnosis of cardiovascular disease.

The congress is a forum in which doctors and scientists present and discuss the latest research in the wider spectrum of echocardiography along with other modalities of cardiovascular imaging: the scientific component of the event can be seen in two figures: 1,257 submitted abstracts, and no less than 156 sessions in seven lecture rooms plus the agora.

With 3,500 participants (3.143 healthcare professionals from 90+ countries, plus 353 international faculty members) and a large exhibition area, it fully occupied the new congress and exhibition centre of FIBES.

In terms of formats, the organizer of the event, Valérie Thiollet from ESC describes the main highlighted points of the event:

– The agora, a stage-centric format, enabled a better interaction with the audience (stage centric formats, be they agora or catwalk, seem to be increasingly popular in our industry)

– Voting was possible via the official congress mobile app in dedicated sessions

– Overflow screens outside crowded rooms to broadcast the slides and voice of the speaker – Echo@Jeopardy: the popular Jeopardy game turned into a cardiovascular imaging challenge for three teams: EACVI, local hosts, and the rest of the world, a gamified way of ensuring delegates´ engagement, as a complement to traditional sessions

– Imaging Campus workshops, where delegates could get a hands-on experience in a dedicated environment of maximum 30 attendees – another example of the “small is beautiful” and active involvement of the participants for better learning…

Also, four certification examinations took place during EuroEcho-Imaging, providing the formal and European recognition for individuals, governed by a scientific society.