ISHLT2024 Annual Meeting Program Planning Committee

The Annual Meeting Program Planning Committee is responsible for the selection and finalization of all submitted scientific content for the ISHLT Annual Meeting & Scientific Sessions.

ISHLT members can log in to see contact information for each of the committee members and representatives listed below. Only ISHLT members have access to this information.

Headshot of Goran Dellgren

Goran Dellgren, MD (ALL)

2024 Scientific Program Chair
Sahlgrenska University Hospital
Göteborg, Sweden
Headshot of Jason Christie

Jason Christie, MD

ISHLT President
University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, PA USA
Headshot of Kiran Khush

Kiran Khush, MD, MAS

2025 Program Chair
Stanford University
Stanford, CA USA
Headshot of Howard Eisen

Howard Eisen, MD

2023 Scientific Program Chair
Penn State Heart and Vascular
Hershey, PA USA
Headshot of Melissa Cousino

Melissa Cousino, PhD (HEART (PRE-TRANSPLANT))

Team Leader / Nursing & Allied Health Representative
University of Michigan
Ann Arbor, MI USA
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Arne Neyrinck, MD, PhD (HEART (PRE-TRANSPLANT))

Anesthesiology & Critical Care Representative
Leuven University Hospital
Leuven, Belgium
Headshot of Sharon Chih

Sharon Chih, MBBS (HEART (PRE-TRANSPLANT))

Cardiology Representative
University of Ottawa Heart Institute
Ottawa, ON Canada
Headshot of Eugene DePasquale

Eugene DePasquale, MD (HEART (PRE-TRANSPLANT))

Cardiology Representative
University of Southern California
Los Angeles, CA USA
Headshot of Clive Lewis

Clive Lewis, MA MBBChir, PhD, FFICM, FRCP (HEART (PRE-TRANSPLANT))

Cardiology Representative
Royal Papworth Hospital
Cambrdige, United Kingdom
Headshot of Cristiano Amarelli

Cristiano Amarelli, MD (HEART (PRE-TRANSPLANT))

Cardiothoracic Surgery Representative
Monaldl Hospital
Napoli, Italy
Headshot of Harveen Lamba

Harveen Lamba, MD, MSc (HEART (PRE-TRANSPLANT))

Cardiothoracic Surgery Representative
Baylor College of Medicine
Houston, TX USA
Headshot of Jonathan Hand

Jonathan Hand, MD (HEART (PRE-TRANSPLANT))

Infectious Diseases Representative
Oschner Medical Center
New Orleans, LA USA
Headshot of Dylan Miller

Dylan Miller, MD (HEART (PRE-TRANSPLANT))

Pathology Representative
Intermountain Central Lab
Murray, UT USA
Headshot of Chesney Castleberry

Chesney Castleberry, MD (HEART (PRE-TRANSPLANT))

Pediatrics Representative
Dell Medical School at the University of Texas
Austin, TX USA
Headshot of Erik Henricksen

Erik Henricksen, PharmD (HEART (PRE-TRANSPLANT))

Pharmacy Representative
Stanford Healthcare
Stanford, CA USA
Headshot of Javier Carbone

Javier Carbone, MD, PhD (HEART (PRE-TRANSPLANT))

Research & Immunology Professional Community Representative
Hospital General Universitario
Madrid, Spain
Headshot of David Baran

David Baran, MD (HEART (POST-TRANSPLANT))

Team Leader / Cardiology Representative
Cleveland Clinic Heart, Vascular & Thoracic Institute
Virginia Beach, VA USA
Headshot of Alessandra Verzelloni Sef

Alessandra Verzelloni Sef, MD (HEART (POST-TRANSPLANT))

Anesthesiology & Critical Care Representative
Royal Brompton and Harefield Hospitals
Uxbridge, United Kingdom
Headshot of Cesar Guerrero-Miranda

Cesar Guerrero-Mirand, MD, FACC (HEART (POST-TRANSPLANT))

Cardiology Representative
Baylor University Medical Center / Baylor Scott & White
Dallas, TX USA
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Ivan Knezevic, MD, PhD (HEART (POST-TRANSPLANT))

Cardiothoracic Surgery Representative
University Medical Centre Ljubljana
Ljubljana, Slovenia
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Anna Meyer, MD (HEART (POST-TRANSPLANT))

Cardiothoracic Surgery Representative
Universitätsklinikum Heidelberg
Heidelberg, Germany
Headshot of Rebecca Kumar

Rebecca Kumar, MD (HEART (POST-TRANSPLANT))

Infectious Diseases Representative
Georgetown University Hospital Center
Washington, DC USA
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Fabienne Dobbels, MSc, PhD (HEART (POST-TRANSPLANT))

Nursing & Allied Health Representative
KU Leuven
Leuven, Belgium
Headshot of Carmela Tan

Carmela Tan, MD (HEART (POST-TRANSPLANT))

Pathology Representative
Cleveland Clinic
Cleveland, OH USA
Headshot of Estela Azeka

Estela Azeka, MD, PhD (HEART (POST-TRANSPLANT))

Pediatrics Representative
University São Paulo
São Paulo, Brazil
Headshot of Jennifer Conway

Jennifer Conway, MD (HEART (POST-TRANSPLANT))

Pediatrics Representative
Stollery Children's Hospital
Edmonton, AB Canada
Headshot of Jill Krisl

Jill Krisl, PharmD (HEART (POST-TRANSPLANT))

Pharmacy Representative
Houston Methodist Hospital
Houston, TX USA
Headshot of Nina Pilat

Nina Pilat, MSc, PhD (HEART (POST-TRANSPLANT))

Research & Immunology Representative
Medical University of Vienna
Vienna, Austria
Headshot of Wiebke Sommer

Wiebke Sommer, MD (LUNG)

Team Lead / Cardiothoracic Surgery Representative
University Heidelberg
Heidelberg, Germany
Headshot of Brandi Bottiger

Brandi Bottiger, MD (LUNG)

Anesthesiology & Critical Care Representative
Duke University Hospital
Durham, NC USA
Headshot of Dirk Van Raemdonck

Dirk Van Raemdonck, MD, PhD (LUNG)

Cardiothoracic Surgery Representative
University Hospital Leuven
Leuven, Belgium
Headshot of Silvia Campos

Silvia Campos, PhD (LUNG)

Infectious Diseases Representative
Heart Institute of São Paulo Medical School
São Paulo, Brazil
Headshot of Brittany Koons

Brittany Koons, PhD (LUNG)

Nursing & Allied Health Representative
Villanova University College of Nursing
Villanova, PA USA
Headshot of Carol Farver

Carol Farver, MD (LUNG)

Pathology Representative
Cleveland Clinic
Cleveland, OH USA
Headshot of Don Hayes

Don Hayes, MD (LUNG)

Pediatrics Representative
Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center
Cincinnati, OH USA
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Steven Ivulich, BPharm (LUNG)

Pharmacy Representative
Alfred Hospital
Melbourne, VIC Australia
Headshot of Jesper Magnusson

Jesper Magnusson, MD, PhD (LUNG)

Pulmonology Representative
Sahlgrenska University Hospital
Göteborg, Sweden
Headshot of Monique Malouf

Monique Malouf, FRACP (LUNG)

Pulmonology Representative
St. Vincent's Hospital
Darlinghurst, NSW Australia
Headshot of Michael Perch

Michael Perch, MD (LUNG)

Pulmonology Representative
Rigshospitalet
Copenhagen, Denmark
Headshot of John Greenland

John Greenland, MD, PhD (LUNG)

Research & Immunology Representative
University of California San Francisco
San Francisco, CA USA
Headshot of Tereza Martinu

Tereza Martinu, MD, MS (LUNG)

Research & Immunology Representative
Toronto General Hospital / UHN
Toronto, ON Canada
Headshot of Palak Shah

Palak Shah, MD, MS (MCS)

Team Lead / Cardiology Representative
Inova Heart and Vascular Institute
Falls Church, VA USA
Headshot of Barbara Wilkey

Barbara Wilkey, BSN, MPAS, MD (MCS)

Anesthesiology & Critical Care Representative
University of Colorado
Denver, CO USA
Headshot of Jennifer Cook

Jen Cook, MD (MCS)

Cardiology Representative
University of Cincinnati
Cincinnati, OH USA
Headshot of Jose Gonzalez-Costello

Jose Gonzalez-Costello, MD (MCS)

Cardiology Representative
Bellvitge Hospital
Barcelona, Spain
Headshot of Yaron Barac

Yaron Barac, MD, PhD (MCS)

Cardiothoracic Surgery Representative
Rabin Medical Center
Petah Tiqva, Israel
Headshot of Hannah Copeland

Hannah Copeland, MD (MCS)

Cardiothoracic Surgery Representative
Lutheran Medical Group
Fort Wayne, IN USA
Headshot of Ezequiel Molina

Ezequiel Molina, MD (MCS)

Cardiothoracic Surgery Representative
Piedmont Heart Institute
Atlanta, GA USA
Headshot of Sarah Schettle

Sarah Schettle, PA-C, MS, MBA (MCS)

Nursing & Allied Health Representative
Mayo Clinic
Rochester, MN USA
Headshot of Thomas Schlöglhofer

Thomas Schlöglhofer, MSc (MCS)

Nursing & Allied Health Representative
Medical University of Vienna
Vienna, Austria
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Oliver Miera, MD (MCS)

Pediatrics Representative
Deutsches Herzzentrum der Charité
Berlin, Germany
Headshot of Edward Horn

Edward Horn, PharmD (MCS)

Pharmacy Representative
University of Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh, PA USA
Headshot of Jaimin Trivedi

Jaimin Trivedi, MD, MPH (MCS)

Research & Immunology Representative
University of Louisville
Louisville, KY USA
Headshot of Raymond Benza

Raymond Benza, MD (PVD)

Team Lead / Cardiology Representative
Ohio State University
Columbus, OH USA
Headshot of Clara Hjalmarsson

Clara Hjalmarsson, MD, PhD (PVD)

Cardiology Representative
Sahlgrenska University Hospital
Göteborg, Sweden
Headshot of Stefan Sodeberg

Stefan Soderberg, MD, PhD (PVD)

Cardiology Representative
Umeå University
Umeå, Sweden
Headshot of Christopher Knosalla

Christoph Knosalla, MD (PVD)

Cardiothoracic Surgery Representative
Deutsches Herzzentrum Berlin
Berlin, Germany
Headshot of Micheal McInnis

Micheal McInnis, MD (PVD)

Cardiothoracic Surgery Representative
Toronto General Hospital
Toronto, ON Canada
Headshot of Rebecca Kingbeil

Rebecca Klingbeil, MSN, DNP (PVD)

Nursing & Allied Health Representative
Mayo Clinic
Jacksonville, FL USA
Headshot of Erika Rosenzweig

Erika Rosenzweig, MD (PVD)

Pediatrics Representative
Columbia University
New York, NY USA
Headshot of Bailey Colvin

Bailey Colvin, PharmD (PVD)

Pharmacy Representative
West Virginia University Medicine
Morgantown, WV USA
Headshot of Nicholas Kolaitis

Nicholas Kolaitis, MD (PVD)

Pulmonology Representative
University of California San Francisco
San Francisco, CA USA
Headshot of Deborah Levine

Deborah Levine, MD (PVD)

Pulmonology Representative
Stanford University
Stanford, CA USA
Headshot of Sue Bessner

Sue Bessner

Director of Education and Research
ISHLT
Chicago, IL USA
Headshot of Susie Newton

Susie Newton

Scientific Programs Manager
ISHLT
Dallas, TX USA
Headshot of Olivia Taylor Penninger

Olivia Taylor Penninger

Education Program Administrator
ISHLT
Richmond, VA USA

The Annual Meeting Program Planning Committee is responsible for the selection and finalization of all submitted scientific content for the ISHLT Annual Meeting & Scientific Sessions.

    Policies

    The Annual Meeting Scientific Program Committee shall consist of three components:

    Executive Program Committee (Exec PPC)
    Composition

    The Exec PC shall be chaired by the Scientific Program Chair, and shall also include the current President, the Immediate Past Program Chair, the Incoming Scientific Program Chair and the staff member in charge of Scientific Program Planning. The Scientific Program Chair for a given year’s Annual Meeting shall be nominated by the incoming President-Elect, subject to input from the Education Oversight Committee, be approved by the Board, and shall serve as Scientific Program Chair during the nominating President’s term of office.

    Responsibilities
    • Serve as advisors to the Scientific Program Chair and provide guidance regarding executive decision-making between meetings of the Program Committee
    • Assist in evaluating and resolving issues that arise that cannot be resolved by staff
    • Solicit and review published, expert, and learner feedback regarding educational needs and identify practice gaps and educational needs to be addressed
    • Develop learning objectives for the Annual Meeting that are tied to the identified practice gaps and educational needs
    • Make every effort to include both new and experienced members on the PPC and among the abstract reviewers, and to ensure specialty, gender, geographic, and generational diversity among each group.
    • Evaluate and prioritize applications for joint symposia with other organizations at the ISHLT Annual Meeting and make recommendations for such to the Board
    • Assist staff in evaluating the effectiveness of the format, structure, and content development process of the Annual Meeting Scientific Program
    • Liaise with and be responsive to the Chair of the Education Oversight Committee with respect to the Board’s strategic objectives, harmonization with other ISHLT educational activities and input from and participation by the Society’s various stakeholders.
    Program Planning Committee
    Composition
    • The Program Planning Committee (PPC) shall consist of the Exec PC members and sufficient additional members necessary to ensure that every eligible Interdisciplinary Network and Professional Community has adequate representation on the PPC.
    • The PPC members shall be appointed by the Scientific Program Chair, in consultation with the Exec PC and in accordance with the below process.
    • The final committee composition is subject to the approval of the Education Oversight Committee.
    • The Chair of the Education Oversight Committee shall serve in an advisory role to the Executive Program Committee. He/she will attend the symposium planning meeting in person, attend the abstract planning meeting via conference call, attend Exec PC conference calls as requested, and be copied on all Exec PC and PPC communications.
    • All Committee terms are for one year.
    Responsibilities
    • Understand and comply with all conflict of interest (COI) processes and policies and adhere to all COI resolution requirements
    • Understand all ISHLT policies and procedures relevant to the development of the annual meeting scientific program
    • Come prepared and participate actively in all conference calls and meetings
    • Provide content expertise, but seek to create the best overall program rather than advocating for specific content area
    • Ensure that the Annual Meeting Symposia and other invited content address the identified practice gaps and educational needs of the members and the established learning objectives
    • Review and evaluate symposium proposals
    • Select, refine, develop as needed, and schedule the final symposia and other invited content for the Annual Meeting
    • Review submitted abstracts and select those which describe the optimal scientific content for presentation at Annual Meeting
    • Ensure that the presentations to be developed from the chosen abstracts will address the identified practice gaps and educational needs of the members and the established learning objectives
    • Develop and schedule scientific session content based on the selected abstracts
    • Select finalists and/or recipients for the various ISHLT abstract awards
    • PPC Team Leaders:
      • Lead assigned interdisciplinary team’s efforts to assemble symposium content and speakers for presentation to the PPC
      • Communicate effectively with the Exec PC, staff, committee members, and other Team Leaders
      • Ensure that all deadlines are met and that all required information is provided to the Program Chair and staff
    • Professional Community Representatives:
      • The members of the PPC from each Professional Community shall meet once via conference call prior to the Symposium Planning Committee meeting and once via conference call prior to the Abstract Selection Committee meeting to review and assess the scientific content relevant to the interests of their Professional Community and provide feedback to the Exec PC regarding any concerns.
    Abstract Reviewers
    Responsibilities
    • Understand and comply with all conflict of interest (COI) processes and policies and adhere to all COI resolution requirements
    • Understand and comply with all ISHLT policies, procedures, and applications relevant to the development of the annual meeting scientific program
    • Review and score all assigned abstracts by the stated deadline
    Eligibility Criteria / Qualifications / Skill Set
    • Abstract reviewers must be members of ISHLT at the time of appointment and through the date of the meeting
    • Secure and uninterrupted email and internet access with response times not exceeding 48 hours, particularly during the grading period
    • The ability and willingness to block sufficient time during October/November to review and score abstracts via ISHLT’s online scoring system