Perspective on AHFTC Specialty by Women in Heart Transplant and MCS (WiTMCS)

The advanced heart failure (HF) and transplant cardiology specialty has seen a decrease in applicants seeking training in the field. Data are needed to identify principal reform areas to generate and maintain interest in the field for sustainability.

Women in Transplant and Mechanical Circulatory support conducted a survey across their membership group investigating the barriers to attracting new talent and areas that need reform to improve the status of the specialty. A Likert scale was used to assess various perceived barriers to attracting new trainees and reform needed to improve the specialty.

A total of 131 women physicians in transplant and mechanical circulatory support responded to the survey. Five principal areas in need of reform were identified: need for practice model variety (86.9%), inadequate compensation for non-revenue value unit activities and total compensation (86.4% and 79.1%, respectively), challenging work-life balance (78.5%), need for curriculum reform and specialized pathways (73.1% and 65.4%, respectively), and exposure during general cardiology fellowship (65.1%).

Given the increasing number of patients with HF and the increased demand for more HF specialists, reform is needed to restructure the 5 areas identified in our survey to increase interest in the field of advanced HF and transplant cardiology and maintain the current talent.