AHA FIT Newsletter

This committee is comprised of fellows advocating for and with fellows! They are tasked with representing you on a local and national level, including developing educational content at AHA Sessions for the fellows in training (FIT) Lounge, as well as creating and advertising FIT opportunities. For questions, concerns or ideas for how they can represent you better, or if you’re interested in getting involved with the AHA, we invite you to email [email protected].

By Beth Hill, DO

This past year marked an important chapter for Fellows-in-Training (FIT) with the American Heart Association (AHA). The AHA has long been a medical home for many trainees, but 2018 marked the first year for a physical touchstone for FITs in the form of a lounge for networking, learning, creating and reflecting at the AHA Scientific Sessions in Chicago. Standing room only was a telling barometer that the AHA has a pulse on what is important to the FIT, including talks such as tips on manuscript and scientific writing and a guide to mentorship. Faculty panelists, educators and scientists alike, committed their time as content experts to ensure each session was meaningful and interactive, with crucial career tips and networking opportunities for a variety of fields, such as women in cardiology, interventional cardiology, and heart failure. The FIT Lounge sessions were designed to provide a comfortable atmosphere for in vivo audience-guided discussions with the experts, such as AHA President Dr. Ivor Benjamin, AHA FIT Committee Chair Dr. Ileana Piña and other renowned faculty, including Drs. Martha Gulati, Pamela Morris, and Anthony DeMaria, among many others. The AHA Scientific Sessions programming team is actively working to create content that is even more tangible and impactful based on feedback from you and your colleagues. Please visit professional.heart.org/ahafit to learn more about the complimentary AHA FIT program. Also, please email [email protected] if there are ways in which AHA Scientific Sessions can better serve you. We hope to see you in Philadelphia!!

The number one question that we get asked the most is “what can we do as an AHA FIT?”

There are many ways to be an engaged FIT. Here is a list that Dr. Hena Patel compiled for you!

• AHA Task Force appointments – Join an AHA special project Taskforce. Be a leading voice on cardiovascular health within the AHA community!
• Moderate FIT/EC Lounge Events at Scientific Sessions – The FIT/EC Lounge at Scientific Sessions is designed for FITs to learn, socialize, and relax. All the programming in the lounge is inspired, designed and moderated by FITs.
• FIT Blogger – Be an AHA Early Career Voice blogger! Early Career Voice is now an Early Career and FIT Blog with a new blog published on a Routine basis.
• Grant reviewers – Assist AHA in grant and scholarship review.  Experience behind-the-scene grant review process.
• Scientific Council Committee appointments – Participate in AHA Scientific Council committee decisions as a voting member.
• AHA Journal Trainee Reviewer Program – Learn about the process behind journal review and work first hand as a reviewer!
• Network with prominent leaders within the AHA – As one of the largest healthcare non-profit organizations, the networking opportunity within the AHA is limitless!
• Mentorship – Join the AHA Mentorship program and learn from a leader from your field of interest.
• Feature articles for AHA Conferences Recaps – We are always looking to hear about your experience at AHA Conferences. Write about it, blog about it, tweet about it!