EPI Early Career Development

The Council on Epidemiology and Prevention (EPI) and the Early Career Committee fosters the development of trainees and early career professionals in cardiovascular disease epidemiology, including research scientists and clinicians. We also promote and encourage trainees and early career individuals to participate in council activities. The committee is made up of early career members.

EPI Early Career Committee Membership

We encourage and accept applications from early career professionals.

Early Career Professionals are defined as Investigators, Clinicians, or Healthcare Providers who have completed training within the last four years and MDs or PhDs in the first four years after their first faculty appointment.

How to Apply

Please submit your application below and attach the following:

  • Personal letter
  • Letter of Recommendation
  • CV

Please note that an active membership in the American Heart Association is required of all committee members.

Submission Period is April 1–April 15

EPI Early Career Committee

Chairperson

Joshua Joseph, MDJoshua Joseph, MD
The Ohio State University COM
College Of Medicine
Columbus, Ohio

Chair Elect

Madison LeCroy, PHDMadison LeCroy, PHD
Assistant Professor
NYU Grossman School of Medicine
New York, NY

Immediate Past Chair

Sadiya Khan, MD, MSSadiya Khan, MD, MS
Assistant Professor of Medicine
Northwestern University
Oak Park, IL

Members
William Aitken, MDWilliam Aitken, MD
Cardiology Fellow
University of Miami
Biscayne Park, FL 		Duke Appiah, PhDDuke Appiah, PhD
Texas Tech University HSC
Lubbock, TX
Natalie Cameron, MDNatalie Cameron, MD
Instructor of Medicine
Chicago, IL 		YamnYamnia Cortes PhD RN MSNia Cortes, PhD, RN, MSNia Cortes, PhD, RN, MSN
Associate Professor
University of Iowa
Iowa City, IA
Meredith Duncan, PhDMeredith Duncan, PhD
Assistant Professor
University of Kentucky
Lexiton, KY 		Ben King, PhD, MPHBen King, PhD, MPH
Clinical Assistant Professor
University of Houston, COM
Houston, TX
MathMathMathias Lalika MD MD MPHias Lalika, MD, MD, MPHias Lalika, MD, MD, MPH
Mayo Clinic
Rochester, MN 		Oluwabunmi Ogungbe, MPH, PhDOluwabunmi Ogungbe, MPH, PhD
Post-Doctoral Fellow
Johns Hopkins University
Baltimore, MD
Robin Ortiz, MSRobin Ortiz, MS
Assistant Professor of Pediatrics and Population Health
NYU Grossman School of Medicine
New York, NY
 Ruth-Alma Turckson-OcranRuth-Alma Turckson-Ocran
Instructor
Harvard Medical School
Boston, MA
Victor Zhong PhDVictor Zhong, PhD
Shanghai Jiao Tong University
Shanghai, China

Staff
Kelsey Stanley, BA, BAKelsey Stanley, BA, BA
American Heart Association
Dallas, TX

Become an Epidemiology and Prevention Council Member 

Visit the Council on Epidemiology and Prevention to find out more.

Joining the Council on Epidemiology and Prevention is easy. Please see the Professional Members page to join or renew your membership.

Volunteer 

Interested in getting involved with the EPI Council? To help us identify opportunities for you in the organization, tell us about yourself. Complete the Science Volunteer Online form

Career Skills

Mentorship

A critical component of early career development and training is mentorship. The following resources can help identify an appropriate mentor and evaluate the mentor-trainee relationship.

Mentoring Presentations

Presentations

Writing and Funding Presentations

Job Search Presentations

Other Presentations

American Heart Association Grants

Student and Predoctoral Fellowship Opportunities

  • Predoctoral Fellowship
    Helps students initiate careers in cardiovascular and stroke research by providing research assistance and training.

    Offered by: Founders, Greater Southeast, Midwest, SouthWest, and Western States Affiliates
    Career Stage: Gaining credentials – doctoral student

National Institutes of Health (NIH) Grants

NIH: Post-Doctoral Research Training

CVD Epidemiology Research Training

  • About the NRSA Programs; T32 vs. F32, etc.

Programs are available at the following institutions:

  • Brigham and Women's Hospital
  • Case Western Reserve University
  • Johns Hopkins University
  • North Carolina State University
  • Northwestern University
  • University of Alabama at Birmingham
  • University of California San Diego
  • University of Minnesota
  • University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
  • University of Rochester
  • University of Wisconsin-Madison
  • Wake Forest University School of Medicine

NIH: Career Development Awards for Physicians

NIH: Career Development Awards for Research Doctorates: NIH

Meetings

Top experts from around the world come to discuss and debate the latest cardiovascular and clinical information.

EPI|Lifestyle 2025

March 6–9, 2025
Hyatt Regency New Orleans
New Orleans, Louisiana
Learn more about #EPILifestyle25
Audience members watch the Opening Session of Scientific Sessions 2023 in Phoenix, Arizona.

Scientific Sessions
November 7–10, 2025
Ernest N. Morial Convention Center | New Orleans, Louisiana
Learn more about #AHA25

Council Awards and Lectures

The AHA scientific council awards acknowledge significant achievements in cardiovascular diseases and stroke, ranging from basic research to service to the councils and the association. These awards recognize the achievements of researchers, scientists, clinicians, nurses and allied health professionals throughout their careers. They also provide opportunities for financial rewards, special presentations and funding to attend Scientific Sessions and other AHA scientific meetings.

Epidemiology and Prevention Specific Awards

The Council on Epidemiology and Prevention (EPI) proudly sponsors numerous awards, lectures and travel grants to AHA meetings, as well as a medical student scholarship. These programs honor researchers, early career investigators and medical students for their outstanding contributions and research of heart disease.

Awards include

  • Awards presented at the EPI|Lifestyle Scientific Sessions
  • Lecture and Awards presented at Scientific Sessions
  • Medical Student Scholarship

Visit the EPI Awards and Lectures page for a full list of available awards and lectures.