Tonya Elliott has worked in the Ventricular Assist Device (VAD) space since 1990. Over the course of her career, the rapid advancement of MCS technology has inspired Tonya to focus on education and outreach, leading the development of community-based programs designed to support emergency medicine first responders, dialysis staff, and nursing facility teams who care for patients living with durable MCS devices. She is experienced in supporting teams through regulatory preparation, program development, and operational readiness. Tonya is active in ISHLT as a presenter, publisher, and is the incoming Standards and Guidelines Committee Chair. 

Tonya is an alumna of the State University of New York at Buffalo and The Catholic University of America. A proud Buffalonian, she is an avid Bills fan and brings the same loyalty, resilience, and team spirit to her professional and mentoring relationships.