Women Empowering Women in Heart Transplantation and Mechanical Circulatory Support

Abstract

The Women in Heart Transplantation and Mechanical Circulatory Support (MCS) Network officially began with a virtual reception at the 2021 International Society of Heart Lung Transplant (ISHLT) meeting. At the outset, a small network of women heart failure cardiologists and cardiothoracic surgeons started to hold monthly meetings. Through social media efforts and word of mouth, this network has grown to include more than 300 women in the last 11 months. The network is composed of approximately 93% advanced heart failure cardiologists and 7% cardiothoracic surgeons, with 94% members from the United States and around 6% from Canada, with representation from all career stages. This perspective piece serves to introduce our network to the heart failure community, highlight the existing gender disparity within the advanced heart failure leadership, and summarize the organization's vision and objectives.