image: The TCT® 2025 Career Achievement Award will be presented to Stephan Windecker, MD, during Transcatheter Cardiovascular Therapeutics® (TCT®), the annual scientific symposium of the Cardiovascular Research Foundation® (CRF®). TCT® will take place October 25-28, 2025, in San Francisco, California at the Moscone Center.
Credit: CRF
NEW YORK – April 11, 2025 – The TCT® 2025 Career Achievement Award will be presented to Stephan Windecker, MD, during Transcatheter Cardiovascular Therapeutics® (TCT®), the annual scientific symposium of the Cardiovascular Research Foundation® (CRF®). TCT® will take place October 25-28, 2025, in San Francisco, California at the Moscone Center. The award is given each year to an outstanding individual who has made extraordinary contributions to the field of interventional cardiology and has transformed cardiovascular care through clinical excellence, pioneering research, and mentorship of the next generation of physicians and researchers.
Dr. Windecker has been a pioneering force in advancing interventional cardiovascular medicine. A board-certified cardiologist specializing in interventional cardiology with a focus on transcatheter heart valve interventions, Dr. Windecker is Chairman of the Department of Cardiology at the Cardiovascular Center Bern, University Hospital Bern, Inselspital, Switzerland. He is Professor of Medicine at the University of Bern and also holds the position of Vice-Dean for Clinical Affairs at the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Bern.
Dr. Windecker’s research has been instrumental in shaping the field — particularly in the evaluation of intracoronary devices and drugs for coronary artery disease, antithrombotic therapy for patients undergoing cardiac device implantation, and minimally invasive transcatheter interventions for aortic, mitral, and tricuspid valve disease. His extensive body of work includes more than 1,000 original peer-reviewed publications and over 100 review articles, underscoring his deep commitment to advancing cardiovascular science.
"This year’s honoree is not only a leader in interventional cardiovascular medicine but also someone who has personally inspired so many of us," said Martin B. Leon, MD, Founder and Chairman Emeritus of CRF® and TCT® 2025 Program Director. “Stephan has been a pioneering force in advancing the field with critical contributions in transcatheter heart valve interventions, intracoronary devices, and antithrombotic therapy. His extensive research has shaped clinical practice worldwide, and his leadership and collaboration continue to influence the future of cardiovascular medicine. We are proud to recognize his lifelong dedication, innovation, and lasting impact on our field."
"I am deeply honored to receive the TCT® Career Achievement Award and to be recognized among such esteemed colleagues in the field of interventional cardiology,” said Dr. Windecker. “My work is devoted to improving patient care and outcomes. Advancing cardiovascular care is a collective effort, and I am grateful to all the people who supported and inspired me along the way – mentors, mentees, colleagues, and friends worldwide.”
A dedicated leader and collaborator, Dr. Windecker is serving through 2026 as Secretary and Treasurer of the European Society of Cardiology. Previously, as ESC Vice President, he co-chaired the gender policy task force and two cardiovascular roundtables on priorities for device innovation in cardiovascular medicine. He also served as Chairman of the ESC Clinical Practice Guideline Committee overseeing the development of ESC guideline documents and co-chaired the ESC/EACTS guideline on myocardial revascularization in 2014. Additionally, he has served as an associate editor for several esteemed cardiology journals.
“If there’s one thing we can say about Stephan, it’s that he is the ‘prince’ of interventional cardiology,” said Roxana Mehran, MD, TCT® 2025 Program Director. “A visionary leader, he has set the bar for excellence in the field. Through his brilliance, unwavering integrity, and vast scientific knowledge, he has demonstrated an exceptional commitment to fostering and mentoring the next generation. For the past 20+ years, he has proved to be the best of the best, dedicating his career to advancing both coronary and structural interventions.”
“We are thrilled to honor Stephan with this year’s Career Achievement Award, celebrating his remarkable contributions and lasting impact on the field,” added Juan F. Granada, MD, President and Chief Executive Officer of CRF® and TCT® 2025 Program Director. “Throughout his career, Stephan has exemplified excellence in academic work, research, and patient care, holding himself to the highest standards both professionally and personally. He is a role model to us all, embodying exceptional humanistic qualities and seamlessly balancing his pursuits while fostering collaboration and unity.”
Dr. Windecker’s contributions have been recognized with numerous accolades. The American College of Cardiology honored him with the Simon Dack Award for Outstanding Reviewers in 2020 and the I2-Summit Innovator Award in 2005. He is a Fulbright Scholar and also the recipient of an American Medical Association/Educational Research Fund Award.
His academic journey is equally distinguished. Dr. Windecker is triple-fellowship trained: in interventional cardiology and general cardiology at the University Hospital Bern, and in cardiac electrophysiology at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, where he also completed his residency in internal medicine and earned his MD degree. He holds a Doctor of Medicine degree from the University of Heidelberg, Germany, and completed his undergraduate studies at the University of Saarland School of Medicine, Homburg, Germany.
Previous winners of the TCT® Career Achievement Award include Geoffrey O. Hartzler, MD; David R. Holmes, MD; Patrick W. Serruys, MD, PhD; John B. Simpson, MD; Antonio Colombo, MD; Julio C. Palmaz, MD; Donald S. Baim, MD; William W. O’Neill, MD; J. Eduardo M.R. Sousa, MD, PhD; Eugene Braunwald, MD; James T. Willerson, MD; Paul Yock, MD; Barry T. Katzen, MD; Seung-Jung Park, MD; Spencer B. King III, MD; Alain G. Cribier, MD; Eric J. Topol, MD; Renu Virmani, MD; Andreas Gruentzig, MD; Michael J. Mack, MD; John E. Abele; and Runlin Gao, MD; Elazer Edelman, MD, PhD; Bram Zuckerman, MD; Robert O. Bonow, MD, MS; Valentin Fuster, MD, PhD; Stuart J. Pocock, PhD; and Robert A. Harrington, MD.
About CRF® and TCT®
The Cardiovascular Research Foundation® (CRF®) is a global leader in interventional cardiovascular medicine, driving innovation, spearheading groundbreaking research, and transforming education in the field. Through its relentless pursuit of excellence, CRF® not only accelerates medical breakthroughs but also equips healthcare professionals with the tools and knowledge necessary to enhance survival rates and elevate the quality of life for millions worldwide. CRF’s centers of excellence include the CRF Skirball Center for Innovation, CRF Clinical Trials Center, CRF Center for Education, CRF Digital, TCTMD, and Structural Heart: The Journal of the Heart Team.
Transcatheter Cardiovascular Therapeutics® (TCT®) is the annual scientific symposium of CRF® and the world’s premier educational meeting specializing in interventional cardiovascular medicine. Anchored in a legacy spanning over three decades, TCT® is a world-class educational experience featuring disruptive innovation, scientific breakthroughs, expert-led tutorials, hands-on training, and ample opportunities for networking and collaboration.
For more information, visit www.crf.org and www.tctconference.com.
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