In conversation with the CIRSE 2025 SPC Chairpersons

November 5, 2024

While most attendees are still reflecting on all the great sessions and networking opportunities at CIRSE 2024, the CIRSE 2025 Scientific Programme Committee has already met in Vienna to begin to piece together next year’s programme. Prof. Adam Hatzidakis has expertly led the CIRSE SPC for the past two years – with the end of his term, the 2025 SPC reflects a change in leadership. CIRSE 2025 SPC Chairperson Prof. Gerard O’Sullivan and Deputy Chairperson Prof. Militiadis (Miltos) Krokidis spoke to us about their motivations and plans for next year’s CIRSE Annual Congress.

CIRSE: What was your motivation behind wishing to be the SPC chairpersons?

O’Sullivan: I love CIRSE – I always have, and I always will. For me, it summarizes all that is good not just in interventional radiology but in medicine – and in life. So, I will do anything that makes CIRSE stronger, and I think working on the annual meeting is a great way to achieve that!

I have been fortunate to be part of the SPC for many terms. I’ve been involved since 2018 and have been the Deputy Chairperson for the past two years. Along the way, I have had the opportunity to observe some really great SPC chairpersons and form close friendships with them. I have gotten particularly close to Adam Hatzidakis, the most recent SPC chair, who did a truly phenomenal job. CIRSE 2024 rocked – he made it happen – Miltos and I have big shoes to fill!

Prof. Gerard O’Sullivan, right, moderates a session at CIRSE 2024.

The CIRSE 2025 SPC meeting in Vienna in October.

Prof. Militiadis Krokidis speaks during ECIO 2024.

Krokidis: I think our main reward and motivation is that we get to leave a mark on this fantastic congress. Shaping the programme of the world’s largest IR meeting is a special moment in our careers. Putting together all the talks on a huge range of topics and involving physicians from around the world is super exciting! I have personally served as a member of the committee for the last two years and had the opportunity to see how much work is required behind the scenes both from the committee and the office to obtain this amazing result.

CIRSE: You both have been longtime CIRSE attendees – what have been your overarching favourite moments throughout the years?

O’Sullivan: CIRSE gets bigger and better each year. We survived the COVID crisis, and to see everybody band together and produce quite an incredible virtual CIRSE congress during the bleak years of 2020/2021 was inspiring. The feeling of being back together in person in 2022 was great, and then 2023 was even better; this year, it was literally sizzling.

On a more personal note, I really enjoyed the film interpretation quiz for the two years in which I was involved and loved getting so many people to attend. I either encouraged or frightened them by wearing my horrendous green suit – there is a ghastly photo of that somewhere. (Editor’s note: We have many photos, see one below.)

Krokidis: My first CIRSE meeting was in 2003. Since then, there has been without a doubt a tremendous evolution of the congress, and it has grown into the massive global platform for IR that it is today. Nevertheless, the CIRSE community still feels like family and has not lost the personal and collegial atmosphere. The best evolution, in my view, is the significant involvement of the new generation, particularly students. CIRSE has become a pioneer in involving and investing in the next generation of doctors. I’ve had several favourite moments over the years; however, I think my first participation in an film interpretation panel as a junior doctor in 2009 is probably the moment that stands out the most in my memory! (Editor’s note: we have that photo too!)

Prof. O’Sullivan made sure all attendees were well aware of the film interpretation quiz at CIRSE 2022.

The newly inducted CIRSE Executive Committee poses outside of CIRSE 2024.

Prof. Krokidis as a junior doctor on the film interpretation panel in 2009.

CIRSE: What will be your first tasks as SPC chairpersons? What is your vision for the future of the annual congress?

O’Sullivan: To produce as good as or better a programme than 2024. A TALL ORDER! I want to hear from as many members as possible about what THEY want, and I have emailed many to ask them that precise question – please feel free to suggest topics and speakers by emailing: [email protected].

Krokidis: We would like to maintain the high standards of the congress with a global approach, aiming to be more inclusive towards the whole of the IR community while offering innovation, education, and exchange of ideas. The main vision is that the outcomes of our congress will shape the future of healthcare with the aim of helping as many patients as possible.

CIRSE: What are topics that are specifically close to your heart? Are there any topics from your own practices that you hope you can shine a spotlight on during CIRSE 2025?

O’Sullivan: I love deep venous intervention and treatment of pulmonary embolus. And I still do a lot of arterial work and tons of embolization. Miltos and I should complement each other quite well in that respect. I want to continue the great work as envisioned by our immediate Past President Christoph Binkert on clinical practice, because that is what I practice in Galway with my own beds/clinic/rounds/admissions/discharges, etc.

Krokidis: My personal clinical activities are very wide, and I have several favourite topics. Interventional oncology is a fascinating, continuously evolving field and needs to be strongly represented in the programme, however, peripheral arterial interventions, embolization, and IR management are also very close to my heart. In particular, clinical aspects of IR need to be highlighted as it is of paramount importance to share the CIRSE’s vision of clinical IR and shape the mindset of the whole IR community towards clinical services.

CIRSE: Which sessions did you find particularly exciting at CIRSE 2024 that you want to build upon for 2025?

O’Sullivan: I thought SPHAIRE, which focused on artificial intelligence and robotics in IR,) was incredibly interesting. That will undoubtedly grow. Renal denervation is on the way back into our practices, and I think carotid stenting is also undergoing a renaissance. Finally, MSK embolization is going to explode.

Krokidis: I am always excited about the FIRST@CIRSE sessions because of the innovations presented. I found the histotripsy technology presented this year very interesting and will be waiting for the outcomes that will be presented next year. We will also wait for outcomes of studies comparing sirolimus and paclitaxel and on the use of biodegradable scaffolds for peripheral interventions. Finally, robotic and navigation technology is growing steadily, and some interesting outcomes will be definitively coming from that field.

CIRSE 2025 will take place in Barcelona, Spain, from September 13-17. If you wish to become a part of the CIRSE 2025 programme, it’s not too early to start preparing your abstract! Abstract submission for the IR meeting of the year will open in January 2025.

In need of inspiration? All content from CIRSE 2024 is available on demand via the CIRSE Library!