Ramona Elena Brancu

Arberlandklinikum Viechtach, Germany

Title: Cardiology Competency Pathway 360° – Specialist Development as a Co- Creation Process

Biography

Ramona-Elena Brancu serves as the Chief Physician of the Cardiology Department at Arberlandkliniken Viechtach in Germany. She holds dual specializations in both invasive and non-invasive cardiology, bringing over a decade of clinical and academic experience from leading institutions in Germany and Romania. Dr. Brancu is a certified interventional cardiologist (EAPCI, DGK), a qualified lecturer in adult education, and is currently pursuing an MBA with a focus on Human Resources. Her professional interests lie in competency-based medical education, digital cardiology, and fostering interdisciplinary leadership within the healthcare sector.

Abstract

As cardiology embraces rapid technological advancements, including artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML), training programs must evolve to equip future specialists with both clinical and digital competencies. The Cardiology Competency Pathway 360° presents an innovative, structured, and milestone-based training model that integrates AI applications within a broader framework of co-creative specialist development.

At the core of the program is design thinking, enabling trainees to actively shape their learning journey through iterative feedback, interdisciplinary collaboration, and structured supervision. One of the program's key modules, AI-Assisted Diagnosis in Interventional Cardiology, introduces participants to fundamental AI concepts—such as supervised learning, neural networks, and model validation—and applies these in real-world diagnostic contexts.

The AI module covers tools like Quantitative Flow Ratio (QFR), FFR-CT, and automated intravascular imaging (IVUS/OCT). Trainees learn to integrate AI outputs into clinical decision-making processes while critically evaluating algorithmic limitations and potential biases. Ethical considerations, including transparency, interpretability, and patient consent in AI-supported diagnoses, are also addressed.

Residents document AI-assisted diagnostic cases in logbooks and participate in mentor- led discussions with AI-trained cardiologists. Competency is assessed through direct observation, structured feedback, and performance in simulated diagnostic scenarios.Initial implementation data show enhanced diagnostic precision, increased confidence in managing complex coronary lesions, and improved workflow efficiency. By combining AI literacy with agile methodologies (e.g., SCRUM, Kanban), economic strategy, and communication training, the pathway promotes a holistic and future-oriented skill set.

The Cardiology Competency Pathway 360° is a scalable and transferable model for aligning specialist training with the realities of digital cardiology, ensuring that future cardiologists are not just users of AI, but informed evaluators and integrators of these technologies.