About ISHLT

Vision
Transforming care and outcomes for people with advanced heart and lung disease through transplantation and innovative therapies, catalyzed by research, education, and global collaboration.
Mission
ISHLT unites a global, multidisciplinary community to advance research, education, and innovation in the care of patients with advanced heart and lung disease. Through collaboration, advocacy, and the development of best practices, we work to improve outcomes and shape the future of care worldwide.

ISHLT Strategic Plan

ISHLT Strategic Framework: Vision, Mission, and Goals outlines ISHLT’s vision, mission, and five strategic goals that guide priorities through 2028.

Download the Strategic Framework

The full ISHLT Strategic Plan is expected in Fall 2025.

Who We Are How We Practice What We Do How We Govern

Who We Are

Professional Communities

ISHLT is an international and multidisciplinary professional society representing the members of the broad health care delivery teams engaged in the management of patients with end stage heart or lung disease.
Our membership of over 3,000 individuals is drawn from more than 50 countries.
Our members practice in more than 23 different specialty areas. Within ISHLT, they are organized into 10 Professional Communities where they network, share expertise, and advance knowledge in their specialty as it relates to the mission of ISHLT.
The members of the Professional Communities are the source of scientific and medical content expertise for all ISHLT programs and services.
The Professional Communities are the entry point for members to engage in ISHLT.
Nonmembers may access the Professional Communities via ISHLTconnect, our online discussion board platform.

How We Practice

Interdisciplinary Networks

We leverage the value of our multidisciplinarity to deliver on our mission by organizing into 4 core therapy/disease-focused practice areas called Interdisciplinary Networks:

This interdisciplinary focus is a unique aspect of ISHLT and a primary value for our members and industry partners as it brings all decision makers (surgeons, physicians, allied health professionals, and scientists) together to solve problems in managing advanced heart and lung disease.
Each Network is comprised of members from each professional specialty according to their therapy/disease area of practice. Within each Network, these members address their professional needs and the needs of their patients from a truly interdisciplinary perspective that mirrors how care is delivered in the modern era.
These Interdisciplinary Networks, each led by a multidisciplinary Steering Committee, ensure that the mission and purposes of the Society and all of the activities pursued by the Society (education, research, publications) are reflective of the perspectives of the entire health care delivery team.

What We Do

Committees

We pursue our mission through three primary areas of activity:
- Education
- Research
- Publications

ISHLT’s educational activities include:
- An annual scientific meeting incorporating peer reviewed cutting edge research and expert lectures
- Pre-meeting core competency courses, master classes, and post-graduate seminars
- Online educational webinars
- Collaborative educational activities with a variety of international medical societies

ISHLT’s research activities include:
- Grants and awards for research and career development
- Data registries
- The ISHLT Foundation

ISHLT’s publications include:
- JHLT, the Society’s flagship journal (8.578 impact factor)
- JHLT Open, the Society's new Open Access Journal
- Professional Practice Standards and Guidelines
- ISHLT Monograph series

How We Govern

Board of Directors
- Executive Committee
- Governance Committee

Oversight Committees
- Education Oversight Committee
  - Annual Meeting Scientific Program Committee
  - Pre-meeting and Post-graduate symposia and courses
  - Online Education
  - Joint Educational Activities
  - Meeting Endorsements
- Publications Oversight Committee
  - Standards and Guidelines Committee
  - The Journal of Heart and Lung Transplantation
  - JHLT Open
  - Monograph Series
  - Public Comments
  - Communications
- Research Oversight Committee
  - Thoracic Transplant Registry Steering Committee
  - IMACS Registry Steering Committee
  - Grants and Awards Committee
  - Collaborations with external funding partners

Leadership Advisory Forum