NOW OPEN: ISHLT 2026 Elections

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Published 22 September 2025

Per the ISHLT Bylaws and Policies, the ISHLT Board of Directors has approved the slate of Directors and Officers for election as presented by the Governance Nominating Committee. This slate is now presented for a vote of ISHLT members.

ISHLT members in 8 out of the 10 Professional Communities (PCs) are also being asked to vote for leaders to represent their Primary Professional Community in ISHLT’s Interdisciplinary Network Steering Committees, and/or the Early Career and Trainee Committee.

Voting is open to all members in good standing as of 19 September, 2025. ISHLT Physician, Non-Physician, and Emeritus members may vote in both the Board of Directors and Professional Community elections. ISHLT Trainee and Retired members may vote only in the Professional Community elections.

Cast Your Vote

Below, find the slate of candidates for Directors and Officers as endorsed by the ISHLT Board of Directors for terms beginning 1 May, 2026.

President-Elect (one year-term): Kiran Khush, MD, Cardiologist, USA (2029)

Treasurer (two-year term): Simon Urschel, MD, Immunologist, Pediatric Heart Transplant, Canada (2028)

Director (three-year term): Alexander M. Bernhardt, MD, Cardiothoracic Surgeon, Germany (2029)

Director (three-year term): Brian Keller, MD, Pulmonologist, USA (2029)

Director (three-year term): Kyung-Hee Kim, MD, PhD, Cardiologist, South Korea (2029)

Director (three-year term): Palak Shah, MD, MS, Cardiologist, USA (2029)

Cast Your Vote

With members’ approval of this slate, the composition of the 2026-2027 Board will be:

President: Peter Hopkins, FRACP, Pulmonologist, Australia (2026)
Past President: Josef Stehlik, MD, Cardiologist, USA (2027)
President-Elect: Kiran Khush, MD, Cardiologist, USA (2029)
Treasurer: Simon Urschel, MD, Immunologist, Pediatric Heart Transplant, Canada (2028)
Secretary: Stephan Ensminger, MD, DPhil, Cardiac Surgeon, Germany (2027)
Director: Saima Aslam, MD, MS, Infectious Diseases, USA (2027)
Director: David Baran, MD, Cardiologist, USA (2027)
Director: Alexander M. Bernhardt, MD, Cardiothoracic Surgeon, Germany (2029)
Director: Filio (Phyllis) Billia, MD, PhD, Cardiologist, Canada (2028)
Director: Marta Farrero Torres, MD, PhD, Cardiologist, Spain (2027)
Director: Brian Keller, MD, Pulmonologist, USA (2029)
Director: Kyung-Hee Kim, MD, PhD, Cardiologist, South Korea (2029)
Director: Haifa Lyster, MSc, FRPharmS, FFRPS, Pharmacy, United Kingdom (2027)
Director: Palak Shah, MD, MS, Cardiologist, USA (2029)
Director: Robin Vos, MD, PhD, Pulmonologist, Belgium (2028)
Director: Angela Velleca, MHDS, BSN, RN, CCTC, Transplant Coordinator, USA (2028)