Early Career & Trainee Committee

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The purpose of the Early Career and Trainee Committee (ECTC) is to coordinate the Society’s efforts to engage with, provide effective mentorship of and leadership opportunities for those who are in the early stages of their careers.

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Andrea Grillini, MD

Andrea Grillini, MD (2026)

Co-Chair

Duke University
Jason Christie, MD, MS

Jason Christie, MD, MS (2026)

Co-Chair

University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, PA USA
Andrew Morley-Smith, MRCP, PhD

Andrew Morley-Smith, MRCP, PhD (2026)

Member
AHFTX Interdiscplinary Network Steering Committee Representative

Harefield Hospital
Alin Gragossian, DO, MPH

Alin Gragossian, DO, MPH (2027)

Member
Anesthesiology & Critical Care Professional Community Representative

Equum Medical
Anju Bhardwaj, MD

Anju Bhardwaj, MD (2027)

Member
Cardiology Professional Community Representative

University of Texas / McGovern Medical School
Caitlin Demarest, MD, PhD

Caitlin Demarest, MD, PhD (2026)

Member
Cardiothoracic Surgery Professional Community Representative

Vanderbilt University Medical Center
Madeleine Heldman, MD, MS

Madeleine Heldman, MD, MS (2028)

Member
Infectious Diseases Professional Community Representative

Duke University
Morgan Wahl, RN, BSN

Morgan Wahl, RN, BSN (2028)

Member
Nursing & Allied Health Professional Community Representative

Inova Fairfax

Federica Pezzuto,

Federica Pezzuto, (2026)

Member
Pathology Professional Community Representative

University of Padova

Neha Bansal, MD

Neha Bansal, MD (2026)

Member
Pediatrics Professional Community Representative / Representative to Standards & Guidelines Committee

Mount Sinai Kravis Children's Hospital
Bailey Colvin, PharmD

Bailey Colvin, PharmD (2026)

Member
Pharmacy Professional Community Representative

WVU Medicine Ruby Memorial Hospital
Morgantown, WV USA
Lorenzo Zaffiri, MD, PhD

Lorenzo Zaffiri, MD, PhD (2027)

Member
Pulmonology Professional Community Representative

Emory University
Atlanta, GA USA
Julie Semenchuk, BSc, MD

Julie Semenchuk, BSc, MD (2028)

Member
Research & Immunology Professional Community Representative

University of Toronto
Jessica Burke, MA, CAE, IOM

Jessica Burke, MA, CAE, IOM

ISHLT Staff Liaison

ISHLT
Alyssa Simpson,

Alyssa Simpson,

ISHLT Staff Liaison

ISHLT

The purpose of the Early Career and Trainee Committee (ECTC) is to coordinate the Society’s efforts to engage with, provide effective mentorship of and leadership opportunities for those who are in the early stages of their careers in advanced heart failure and transplantation, advanced lung failure and transplantation, mechanical circulatory support, and pulmonary vascular disease. 

Policies

Committee Composition
Committee Composition

In February of every year the early career and trainee members of each professional community shall elect an early career member to serve as their representative to the ECTC for a one-year term, renewable up to three times. Terms shall commence at the conclusion of the ISHLT Annual Meeting.

The ECTC shall be Co-Chaired by the second Immediate Past President of ISHLT, the CEO or other assigned staff member, and an individual elected no later than April 1 by and from among the incoming committee members.

The elected ECTC Co-Chair shall serve as the ECTC representative to the Leadership Advisory Forum.

Committee Responsibilities
Committee Responsibilities
  • Work with staff to develop and implement effective mentoring opportunities throughout the year
  • Work with the Professional Community representatives to the Interdisciplinary Networks to:
    • Identify and secure the participation of senior and mid-career members to participate in the Society’s organized mentoring opportunities
    • Facilitate robust participation of mentors and mentees in the specialty-specific Early Career Mentoring Sessions at the Annual Meeting
    • Facilitate robust participation of mentors and mentees in the Mentor/Mentee Matching program via ISHLTConnect
  • Work with the JHLT Managing Editor and the Director of Communications to identify individuals to participate actively in the Journal Watch program
  • Work with the Director of Communications to identify individuals to serve as roving reporters for the Annual Meeting Daily Conference Coverage newsletter
  • Work with the various Committees, Interdisciplinary Networks, and Professional Communities to:
    • Ensure the engagement of early career professionals in Society leadership opportunities
    • Ensure the needs of early career professionals are met via the Society’s various programs and services
  • Respond promptly and by the deadline to all assigned tasks
  • Come prepared and participate actively in all conference calls and meetings
Online Community
Online Community

Junior faculty and trainee members are the lifeblood of ISHLT and the profession, and ISHLT leadership is committed to facilitating their full engagement in all the Society offers. ISHLT maintains two online communities in ISHLTConnect for Early Career Professional members (defined as individuals who have completed training less than six years ago) and our Trainee members (defined as individuals actively participating in a formal training program). Society leadership encourages all members who meet these criteria to participate actively in these online communities and to become involved volunteers and participants in ISHLT programs and services.