Award for Support of Underrepresented Minorities

Sponsored by the Council on Hypertension and the Council on Kidney Disease in Cardiovascular Disease


To qualify for this Hypertension Scientific Sessions award you must meet the following deadlines:

  • May 23, 2023 – Deadline to have an active AHA membership with this Council.
  • May 25, 2023, 6 p.m. CDT – Deadline to submit your science to Hypertension Scientific Sessions and to apply for this award.

The Council on Hypertension and the Council on Kidney in Cardiovascular Disease are sponsoring this award to the American Heart Association’s Hypertension Scientific Sessions. This award supports minority early career investigators and students. Increased minority participation at AHA scientific conferences is vital to address hypertension and kidney related health disparities.


Eligibility Criteria

  • The candidate must be a minority by the standard NIH definition: He or she belongs to a minority group underrepresented in biomedical and behavioral science careers, based on their minority group's representation in the total population. This includes American Indians (including Alaskan Natives, Eskimos and Aleutians), Native Hawaiians, and other Pacific Islanders, Blacks or African Americans and Hispanics or Latinos. Other candidates considered a minority are those from medically underserved populations with low socio-economic status and those living in rural areas to include whites.
  • Applicant must be active in research and still be in training as an undergraduate or pre-doctoral student, or be within 10 years of completing medical fellowship (or residency as NIH states, MDs would be Fellows for 3-6 years of the 7-10), terminal degree or highest certificate (e.g. BSc, MSc).
  • The candidate must be conducting research in the field of hypertension and related renal-cardiovascular diseases.
  • Previous winners of this grant are not eligible to apply.

  • Evaluation Criteria

    Applications will be judged primarily based on the scientific ranking of the candidate's abstract. Only abstracts selected for presentation at the Hypertension Scientific Sessions will be eligible for consideration for this award.


    How to Apply/Required Documents

    (Please note: All documents listed must be included with the abstract submission. Incomplete applications will not be considered)

    Submit a scientific abstract to the Hypertension Scientific Sessions as well as all supporting award documentation via the conference's abstract submission site by the deadline.

    The following items must be submitted for consideration for this award:

    • A brief letter of recommendation by a mentor, section chief or department chair verifying the candidates eligibility including verification that he or she is part of a minority group as defined by the NIH and identification of the candidate's specific minority status.
    • Curriculum vitae, including biography.

    AHA membership at any level is required by the candidate by the time the award materials are submitted.

    All abstracts and application materials must be received through the Hypertension Scientific Sessions abstract submitter. Visit Hypertension Scientific Sessions for submission info.


    Prize

    • Awardee(s) will be notified after abstract acceptance notifications have been finalized. The award includes a cash prize to offset the cost of travel and complimentary registration to the conference. (NOTE:  Award amount will be determined on funds available. All funds are awarded after the conference.  
    • Awardee(s) must be the presenting author and attend the meeting to receive the award.

    Questions

    Please contact:

    Susan Kunish
    AHA Conference Manager

    Award winners pose for a photo during #Hypertension23 Scientific Sessions, held September 7-10, 2023, in Boston, Massachusetts.

    Hypertension Scientific Sessions

    September 5–8, 2024
    Hilton Chicago | Chicago, Illinois


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