Young community perspectives for 2026—ESC acute cardiovascular care

For this beginning-of-the-year’s issue, we give voice to some members of the young Acute Cardiovascular Care community, to share their experiences, personal perspectives, and hopes for the 2026 ESC ACVC organization. In 2026, the Young ACVC Community stands at a pivotal moment, shaped by ongoing innovations in intensive cardiac care. With many members under the age of 40, our community continues to exemplify the Association’s identity as one of the most dynamic within the ESC. Recent years have shown how strongly young professionals can influence scientific dialogue and support educational initiatives. In 2025, young members contributed substantially to the ACVC congress programme in Florence, actively participating in several activities. They also contributed to the 2025 update of the ACVC Decision-Making Toolkit. Building on these achievements, 2026 will focus on consolidating of these initiatives, supporting the next generation of leaders in acute cardiovascular care. Education remains a core pillar of the ACVC mission. The success of the ACVC School, AcuteCVDays, Journal Club, and Cardio Talks has highlighted the growing need for practical learning and interdisciplinary exchange. A key step toward improved understanding and treatment of cardiogenic shock was the first ACVC-EAPCI Cardiogenic Shock School, a new hands-on programme on mechanical circulatory support. In 2026, I hope the Young Community will deepen its involvement in ACVC activities, advancing individual professional development. ACVC certification remains a milestone for career advancement and international recognition; I strongly encourage its inclusion in your professional plans for 2026. The ACVC also promotes research excellence and multinational collaboration, with young investigators playing an essential role in this mission. Young Members are encouraged to engage in ACVC-supported research networks, fostering a collaborative environment in which early-career clinicians feel supported by experienced colleagues and dedicated mentors. The people I have met through my involvement with ACVC have largely shaped my professional growth. The upcoming ACVC Congress in Lisbon continues to be a highlight for the Young Community, combining scientific excellence with collaboration and integration. Interactive formats, special events, and networking opportunities remain central to strengthening connections between trainees and international experts across Europe and beyond—do not miss it! As a member of the Young ACVC Community, I see 2026 as a crucial year for consolidating our subspecialty’s identity and expanding our global reach, especially considering the ‘Heart Team in Acute Cardiovascular Care’ theme of the ACVC congress in Lisbon. One of the main challenges in acute cardiovascular care remains the variability in training and clinical practice across Europe and worldwide. Standardization, simulation, and mentorship form the foundation for achieving future excellence in the field. In this context, the ACVC’s commitment to the Certification process, the ACVC School and the new Cardiogenic Shock School is essential to bridge the gap between theoretical knowledge and real-world skills. Furthermore, the ACVC Board Elections in 2026 represent a key opportunity to ensure that the voice of the Young Community remains strong, diverse, and well-integrated within the association’s leadership. My wishes for 2026 focus on making our community more accessible, impactful, and globally representative. First, I strongly support the formal establishment of a structured ACVC Mentorship Program, extending beyond conference-based interactions. This programme should pair young members with senior ACVC or ESC experts for 1 year, focusing on career guidance, research planning, and grant application support. Leveraging the ESC digital platform would help overcome geographical barriers and promote dedicated research grants for young ACVC members involved in high-impact cardiac critical care trials. Second, I propose the creation of a centralized, regularly updated global Cardiac Critical Care or Intensive Care Unit Fellowship Database, listing available positions, training curricula, and direct contact points. Many young cardiologists struggle to identify structured, high-level training opportunities abroad. An ACVC-endorsed exchange programme offering short-term fellowships or exchange grants focused on specific critical procedures would represent a major step forward. Finally, building on the Lisbon congress theme, I hope for the introduction of a ‘Heart Team’ Young Track at future congresses, featuring joint sessions with young professionals from other ESC communities and simulated multidisciplinary real-life case discussions, reflecting the team-based reality of acute cardiovascular care. One feature of contemporary acute cardiovascular care is the rapid adoption of digital and precision tools. Artificial intelligence (AI), rapid biomarker testing, advanced hemodynamic monitoring, and integrated digital platforms are already reshaping the diagnosis and management of life-threatening cardiovascular emergencies. AI-supported electrocardiogram interpretation and machine-learning–based risk models have shown promising results in predicting major adverse cardiac events.1–3 However, the growing role of AI also raises questions about transparency, validation, and bias. We hope that 2026 will offer increased opportunities for young clinicians to participate in AI governance. Precision diagnostics, particularly biomarker-driven decision pathways, continue to play an essential role in acute cardiovascular care. Many young clinicians hope to see broader access to near-patient testing technologies in 2026, together with standardized protocols that ensure rapid and equitable availability of advanced diagnostics across Europe and beyond. Digital health has become an integral component of the acute cardiovascular care continuum. Prehospital ECG transmission remains a cornerstone of early ST-elevation myocardial infarction management, reducing treatment delays and improving outcomes.4,5 Wearable sensors, remote patient monitoring, and telemedicine platforms offer new opportunities for early risk identification and follow-up. Young clinicians envision digital systems that streamline patient flow and support continuity of care after discharge. Beyond technology, training and teamwork remain fundamental priorities. Young ACVC members advocate for deeper integration of simulation-based training and structured mentoring. Interdisciplinary teaching is also essential to improving collaboration and decision-making during real-world emergencies. Team culture is another key theme. As the ACVC community evolves, young clinicians hope for greater recognition of the contributions of all team members, especially specialized cardiac nurses, and increased opportunities for shared leadership, which empower young professionals contribute. Research remains a cornerstone of the ACVC mission. The ACVC community has made significant progress in areas such as cardiogenic shock classification and management,6 post-resuscitation care, and acute coronary syndrome pathways.7 For 2026, priorities include expanded mentorship, clearer research pathways, and formal integration of young investigators into ACVC programmes. Finally, young clinicians are increasingly aware of the environmental impact of healthcare systems. In 2026, we hope to see greater adoption of sustainable practices within acute cardiovascular care units, including waste reduction, responsible procurement, and education on environmentally conscious clinical practice. The ACVC community has always been defined by its commitment to excellence in the most critical moments of patient care. Young clinicians and researchers are ready to carry this mission forward. Dr. André Dippenaar, MD, MSc, MRCP, FACC, FESC, Senior Clinical Fellow in Cardiac Transplant and Mechanical Circulatory Support, Royal Papworth Hospital, Cambridge, UK. Dr. Anna Oleksiak, MD, PhD, Cardiologist at the Department of Intensive Cardiac Therapy, National Institute of Cardiology, Warsaw, Poland. ACVC Young National Ambassador in Poland. Dr. Otilia Tica, MD, PhD, Cardiology Department, County Emergency Clinical Hospital of Bihor, Oradea, Romania. Senior Research Fellow in Cardiovascular Sciences, University of Birmingham, UK HFA Scientific Committee on Atrial Disorders (ESC-HFA). ACVC Scientific Committee on Acute Heart Failure (ESC-ACVC). Task Force on Digital Health (ESC-ACVC). None. No new data were generated or analysed in support of this research.