Step into the Personalized Skills Zone at ACC.26 — an immersive learning zone designed to help you sharpen your clinical and procedural skills through hands-on education. Explore a wide range of cardiovascular topics at interactive simulation stations, then head to the small stage for dynamic, expert-led sessions that bring real-world challenges to life. Whether you're practicing a new technique, refining your decision-making, or learning from peers, the Personalized Skills Zone is where knowledge meets action.

HANDS-ON LEARNING AREAS

• Transesophageal Echocardiography For Left Atrial Appendage and Tricuspid Valve Evaluation
  Sharpen your imaging skills as you practice acquiring and interpreting TEE views for left atrial appendage and tricuspid valve assessment. Use simulators to grade tricuspid regurgitation and strengthen decision-making for structural heart interventions.
• Cardiopulmonary Exercise Testing Basics
  See CPET in action through a live demonstration and interactive case discussion. Learn how to interpret results and apply test findings to optimize clinical decision-making and patient care.
• Cardiac and Pulmonary Point of Care Ultrasound
  Gain hands-on experience assessing shock states and respiratory distress to make rapid, data-driven decisions at the bedside and build your knowledge and confidence in the use of POCUS to evaluate critically ill patients.
• Pulmonary Artery Catheterization
  Walk through every step of PA catheterization — from setup and waveform interpretation to troubleshooting real-world challenges — in this immersive simulation training.
• AI – Are We Asking the Right Questions to Get the Answers We Need?
  Explore how AI tools can support clinical decision-making. Experiment with prompts, compare outputs, and learn how to ask smarter questions to get more reliable, evidence-based answers.
• Veno Arterial Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation
  Gain practical experience with VA ECMO management in cardiogenic shock scenarios. Learn about common indications, contraindications and complications and how to troubleshoot access issues, manage complications, and discuss strategies for escalation, de-escalation, and patient recovery.
• Emergent Transvenous Pacing
  Step into an emergency scenario where every second counts. Work as a team to prepare equipment, float a pacing wire, and stabilize a patient in this high-intensity simulation.
• Emergent Pericardiocentesis
  Take charge in a simulated cardiac tamponade emergency. Practice rapid diagnosis, preparation, and performance of pericardiocentesis under time-sensitive conditions.
• From Catheter to Cure – Mastering Left Heart Cath and Angioplasty
  Step into the cath lab for hands-on training with expert instructors. Practice safe catheter techniques, interpret hemodynamic signals, and apply radiation safety principles as you build confidence in diagnostic left heart catheterization and angioplasty skills.
• Heart Failure Interactive Learning Board
  Put your diagnostic instincts to the test in this interactive heart failure learning board. Each case reveals subtle clues across ECGs, imaging, and clinical presentation — can you distinguish the look-alikes and choose the right treatment strategy?
• Cardiac Arrest and Pulmonary Embolism Escape Room: One Clot, One Shot, One Chance!
  Race against time as your team manages a simulated PE and cardiac arrest case. Work together to solve challenges, apply PE guidelines, and save your patient before the clock runs out.
• The HCM Challenge Escape Room: Thick Walls, Thin Margins!
  The clock is ticking. Step into this mystery where only teamwork will save the day! Investigate the clues and think fast to identify hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and determine evidence-based treatment options. Teamwork and quick thinking are your keys to escape!

SMALL STAGE SESSIONS

• ACC.26 Cardio Sim Creator Award Ceremony
  Celebrate innovation in cardiac simulation! Join us in the Personalized Skills Zone as we reveal the winner of the ACC.26 Cardio Sim Creator Competition. See the winning simulator in action and discover how creative, home-grown innovations are transforming cardiac education and training.
• Arrhythmia Diagnosis in a Smart Device World
  Step into this interactive, case-based session to navigate real-world challenges in managing arrhythmias detected by wearables and implants. Learn how to interpret rhythm data, choose the right monitoring tools, and apply shared decision-making in patient care.
• STEMI Smackdown 2026: The Ultimate Cardiology Showdown!
  Are you ready to witness the pinnacle of interventional cardiology excellence? Get ready for a high-energy showdown as top teams compete to be crowned the Top STEMI Team of the Year! Watch elite cardiology teams race against the clock, showcasing teamwork, precision, and clinical excellence. Cheer on your favorite team in this crowd-favorite competition — don't miss the semifinals and finals live at ACC.26!
• Pulmonary Artery Catheter: The Why, Who, How and When
  Take a deep dive into the evolving role of invasive hemodynamics in heart failure care. Through expert insights and audience-driven discussion, gain practical, actionable strategies for when and how to use pulmonary artery catheters effectively.
• Exercise Testing: Foundational Principles and Real Case Examples
  Explore the essentials of cardiopulmonary exercise testing through real patient cases. Learn from experts how to apply CPET findings to conditions like pulmonary hypertension and congenital heart disease to enhance your own clinical practice.

Elevate your skills, embrace hands-on learning, and put knowledge into practice at the ACC.26 Personalized Skills Zone.