I have asked John Teerlink, MD, FHFSA, Chair of the HFSA Leadership Recruitment Committee and HFSA Immediate Past President, to join me for this month’s HFSA President’s Message to describe HFSA’s nominations process for the 2024-2025 cycle.

The cornerstone of the process is the HFSA Leadership Recruitment Committee (LRC), which is charged to identify the best candidates for the various positions at our association using considerations of diversity, societal involvement and effectiveness of all candidates.

So how does the LRC gather such a great slate of candidates every year? Every spring, HFSA contacts our members and asks them to volunteer for the various leadership positions at our association. HFSA is fortunate to have so many members step forward to serve the association (we had a record number of volunteers this year). This is an indication of a strong, robust society where members see the value in helping conduct the work of the association as we serve our members and fulfill our mission.

In addition to asking our members to volunteer for the association, we actively recruit members to serve in various positions at the association, including on our various committees, the Board of Directors and as officers. Other opportunities include serving on government and corporate health care panels as well as serving as HFSA representatives at HFSA-sponsored and other society events. We also promote HFSA volunteer opportunities with the assistance of other organizations, including the Academy of Physician Associates in Cardiology, the American Association of Heart Failure Nurses and the Association of Black Cardiologists.

Once we have our list of volunteer candidates for the year, the LRC meets to identify the best candidates for the various positions in our association. In those deliberations, considerable effort is made to balance the selected volunteers across multiple domains of diversity as aligned with the HFSA policy statement on this important issue. We recognize that diversity in committee membership and association leadership is important for fostering innovation and dialogue within our organization and ensures that decisions are comprehensive and reflective of the entire community we serve.  

Following this process, the LRC recommendations are then forwarded to the Board of Directors for a rigorous discussion incorporating the principles outlined above. It is the Board of Directors who makes the final selection for all volunteer appointments. Following each nomination cycle, we review the appointments and modify the following year’s procedure as we strive to continuously improve this inherently iterative process. 

Our aim with this Presidential message is to provide transparency regarding the selection process for volunteer opportunities at the HFSA. We encourage you to reach out with questions, queries or comments. If you are looking to make a fulfilling impact in the heart failure field while also advancing your career, we hope you will consider one of the many volunteer experiences at the HFSA.
 

James C. Fang, MD, FHFSA
HFSA President 2023-2024

John Teerlink, MD, FHFSA
HFSA Immediate President 2023-2024