Welcome to the opening edition of the ‘Controversies’ section of the Journal of NeuroInterventional Surgery. Inspired by the successful point–counterpoint lectures at the Society's Annual Meeting and Practicum, this series will feature opinions by leaders in the field on the current divisive topics which lurk in the background of our everyday practice. Based on the inaugural editorials by David Sacks and Donald Heck, this section will prove to be informative and instructive for the readership as their enthusiasm for and insight into the subject brings poignant significance to the facts.

Drs Sacks and Heck will be discussing the controversial topic of prerequisite training to perform acute stroke intervention. Clearly, technical skills in endovascular intervention overlap in all disciplines, however, organ specific medical training and knowledge is highly specialized. The debate …