Engagement 365: Member Spotlight

I became a member of AHA in early 2019. I was looking for an organization that was centered on making an impact on the devastating burden that cardiovascular disease is and considers lifestyle medicine in that approach. Now in 2025, I am overwhelmed by the impact this organization has had on my career. I've experienced priceless mentorship, cultivated several amazing collaborative research efforts that have become friendships, and had the honor of contributing to Scientific Statements with researchers that I have admired for years. I sincerely thank Dr. Jerry Jerome for encouraging me to be involved and his dedication to my organizational involvement and Dr. Bethany Barone-Gibbs for her incredible mentorship and encouragement over the last 5 years. In the future, I would love to serve/mentor new and early career members, especially those who come from more teaching-based institutions, in how they can make an impact in this amazing organization. 

Shriie Ganesh, an MD candidate from Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, has been recognized as the top-scoring scholar in Student Scholarships in Cardiovascular Disease category, surpassing all other applications. Ganesh will be conducting her research mentored by Pradeep Natarajan, MD, MMSc, at Massachusetts General Hospital and the Broad Institute.

As the top-scoring applicant, Ganesh earned the distinction of Howard S. Silverman Scholar and received an additional $1,000 stipend. Dr. Silverman, despite severe heart problems, maintained a positive outlook, an active research program, and often served as mentor to medical students, residents, and cardiology fellows.

Ganesh’s research topic is “Investigating the Genetic Links Between Polycystic Ovary Syndrome and Cardiovascular Disease.”

Statement from Shriie Ganesh: I'm honored to receive the AHA Student Scholarship in Cardiovascular Disease and grateful to be supported by the Natarajan Lab and CWRU School of Medicine. This award will further my research on women's cardiovascular health, an area of medicine in need of deeper understanding.

One of the things that has struck me most in working with AHA is that AHA volunteers and staff have an incredibly strong sense of mission – many of us have had personal experience with loved ones and cardiovascular disease and that is a really strong motivator. I never cease to be amazed by the passion for making a difference of the people I meet working with AHA

AHA has so many strengths as a nonpartisan organization dedicated to improving health for all Americans – it has been energizing to have the opportunity to be part of a number of really amazing teams

I have greatly enjoyed having the opportunity to be the Science Lead for AHA’s Health Care by Food Initiative – for too long the health system has underappreciated the importance of diet to health; building stronger evidence on what types of programs are effective and cost effective for different populations can change that

In July of 2021 I had a sudden cardiac arrest – were it not for the prompt actions of heroic first responders including my daughters coaches John and Gina and the paramedics from Norwood (Cincinnati) and the excellent care I received at the University of Cincinnati I wouldn’t be here today. I am grateful for the work that paramedics and other clinicians and researchers do every day and for the support of organizations like AHA that makes ongoing progress in preventing and treating cardiovascular disease possible. This experience motivates me every day to try to make a difference to improve the lives of others.

Family: I have a wonderful wife, Marjorie, and 3 amazing daughters – Anna, Thea, and Daphne.  When I think of them I smile.

The American Heart Association has been imperative to my training and early career years as a cardiologist and physician-scientist. I would encourage all trainees and early career physicians to engage in the many opportunities AHA has made available to us. Some of my most meaningful engagements were through:

Fellows-In-Training Committee- being among the leadership for the FIT committee, I was able to collaborator alongside many ambitious cardiology and neurology fellows across the country to create FIT directed content through newsletter writing and webinars. We also had the great privilege to devise and execute all of the FIT lounge sessions during the AHA annual scientific sessions. This was a tremendous opportunity to practice moderating, to network with the top leaders in cardiovascular medicine, and to hear stories from a diverse set of voices on a range of topics in a smaller group, interactive setting.

Career Development Award- as an early career scientist, the AHA’s career development award has invested in both protecting my time for scientific development as well as funding and administrative support as a principal investigator of a multi-site cardiac MRI study examining hypertensive phenotypes in peripartum cardiomyopathy. As this is an uncommon but highly morbid disease impacting pregnant and postpartum individuals, I was honored that the AHA recognized the importance of investing in research toward improved care for this condition.

Grant Peer Reviewer- the AHA has a fantastic opportunity for physician-scientists to serve as a grant peer review volunteers. This has been a wonderful way to both learn about interesting projects being developed and to better understand how to critically appraise project proposals. This learning process has further been extended into reviewing manuscripts for AHA affiliated journals.

Go Red Women’s Committee- as a women physician-scientist, I am honored to serve on a committee which both recognizes and seeks to address challenges that may arise among women physicians. This committee has brought together a fantastic group of healthcare professionals who are all committed to AHA’s mission in: “Advancing health and hope for everyone, everywhere.”

I encourage all young cardiologists to explore the many ways that the AHA can help to achieve your career aspirations as a physician and/or physician scientist! I am incredibly grateful for their volunteer opportunities and support.