Council on Basic Cardiovascular Sciences Early Career Committee Members
Chair
![Sarah Schumacher, PhD](/-/media/PHD-Images/Headshots/s/Sarah-Schumacher-PhD_200x200.jpg?h=200&iar=0&w=200)
Sarah M. Schumacher, PhD
Assistant Professor
Cardiovascular and Metabolic Sciences
Cleveland Clinic Lerner Research Institute
Chair Elect
![David Y. Barefield, PhD](/-/media/PHD-Images/Headshots/d/David_Y_Barefield_200x200.jpg?h=200&iar=0&w=200)
David Y. Barefield, PhD
Assistant Professor
Cell & Molecular Physiology Stritch School of Medicine
Loyola University Chicago
X handle: @barefieldd
Members
![Ankit Garg Headshot](/-/media/PHD-Images/Headshots/a/Ankit_Garg_200x200.jpg?h=200&iar=0&w=200&sc_lang=en)
Ankit Garg, MD, PhD
Assistant Professor
Internal Medicine/Cardiology
Johns Hopkins University
![Shanna Hamilton Headshot](/-/media/PHD-Images/Headshots/s/Shanna_Hamilton_200x200.jpg?h=200&iar=0&w=200&sc_lang=en)
Shanna Hamilton, PhD
Assistant Professor
Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine
University of Arizona
X handle: S_HamiltonLab
![Ioannis Karakikes, PhD](/-/media/PHD-Images/Headshots/i/Ioannis_Karakikes_PhD_200x200.jpg?h=200&iar=0&w=200)
Ioannis Karakikes, PhD
Assistant Professor (Research), Cardiothoracic Surgery
Member, Stanford Cardiovascular Institute
Stanford University
![Chi Fung Lee, PhD](/-/media/PHD-Images/Headshots/c/Chi_Fung_Lee_PhD_200x200.jpg?h=200&iar=0&w=200)
Chi Fung Lee, PhD
Assistant Member, Cardiovascular Biology Research Program
Adjunct Assistant Professor, Department of Physiology
University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center
X handle: @ChiFungLeePhD
![Cat Makarewich, PhD](/-/media/PHD-Images/Headshots/c/Cat_Makarewich_PhD_200x200.jpg?h=200&iar=0&w=200)
Cat Makarewich, PhD
Assistant Professor, Molecular Cardiovascular Biology
Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center
X handle: @CatMak23
![Diana Martinez, PhD](/-/media/PHD-Images/Headshots/d/Diana-Martinez-PhD_200x200.jpg?h=200&iar=0&w=200)
Diana Martinez, PhD
Assistant Professor, Department of Biomedical Sciences
Cooper Medical School of Rowan University
X handle: @5FootScientist
![Jessica Pfleger](/-/media/PHD-Images/Headshots/j/Jessica_Pfleger_200x200.jpg?h=200&iar=0&w=200&sc_lang=en)
Jessica Pfleger, PhD
Assistant Professor
Fralin Biomedical Research Institute
Virginia Tech Carilion
X handle: @Jess4genes
![Inna Rabinovich-Nikitin](/-/media/PHD-Images/Headshots/i/Inna_RabinovichNikitin_200x200.jpg?h=200&iar=0&w=200&sc_lang=en)
Inna Rabinovich-Nikitin, PhD
Assistant Professor
Department of Physiology and Pathophysiology
University of Manitoba
The Institute of Cardiovascular Sciences
St. Boniface Hospital Albrechtsen Research Centre
X handle: @RabinovichInna
![Priscilla Sato, PhD, FAHA](/-/media/PHD-Images/Headshots/p/Priscilla_Sato_PhD_FAHA.jpg?h=200&iar=0&w=200)
Priscila Sato, PhD, FAHA
Associate Professor
Heersink School of Medicine
University of Alabama at Birmingham
X handle: @PSatolab
![Jun Wang, PhD](/-/media/PHD-Images/Headshots/j/Jun_Wang_PhD_200x200.jpg?h=200&iar=0&w=200)
Jun Wang, PhD
Associate Professor, Department of Pediatrics
McGovern Medical School
The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston
![Yassine Sassi Headshot](/-/media/PHD-Images/Headshots/y/Yassine_Sassi_200x200.jpg?h=200&iar=0&w=200&sc_lang=en)
Yassine Sassi, PhD
Assistant Professor
Fralin Biomedical Research Institute
Virginia Tech Carilion
![Mingtao Zhao, PhD](/-/media/PHD-Images/Headshots/m/Mingtao_Zhao_PhD_200x200.jpg?h=200&iar=0&w=200)
Mingtao Zhao, PhD, FAHA
Assistant Professor, Department of Pediatrics
Nationwide Children’s Hospital / The Ohio State University
X handle: @mingtao_zhao
Postdoctoral Liaisons
![Arianne Caudal](/-/media/PHD-Images/Headshots/a/Arianne_Caudal_200x200.jpg?h=200&iar=0&w=200&sc_lang=en)
Arianne Caudal, PhD
Postdoctoral Fellow
Cardiovascular Institute
Stanford University
X handle: @arianneinthelab
![Peiheng Gan](/-/media/PHD-Images/Headshots/p/Peiheng_Gan_200x200.jpg?h=200&iar=0&w=200&sc_lang=en)
Peiheng Gan, PhD
Postdoctoral Researcher
Department of Molecular Biology
UT Southwestern Medical Center
X handle: @peihengg_heart
![Eric Aien Pereira da Silva](/-/media/PHD-Images/Headshots/e/Eric_Aien_Pereira_Da_Silva_200x200.jpg?h=200&iar=0&w=200&sc_lang=en)
Eric Aian Pereira da Silva, PhD
Postdoctoral Research Scholar
Department of Pharmacology
University of California, Davis
X handle: @eric_psilva
![Sasha Smolgovsky](/-/media/PHD-Images/Headshots/s/Sasha_Smolgovsky_200x200.jpg?h=200&iar=0&w=200&sc_lang=en)
Sasha Smolgovsky, PhD
Postdoctoral Fellow
Department of Immunology
Tufts University
X handle: @SashaSmolgovsky
Immediate Past Chair
![Susmita Sahoo, PhD](/-/media/PHD-Images/Headshots/s/Susmita_Sahoo_206x206.jpg?h=206&iar=0&w=206)
Susmita Sahoo, PhD
Associate Professor of Medicine, Cardiology
Cardiovascular Research Center
Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
X Handle: @SusmitaSahooPhD
Past BCVS Early Career Committees
![Kevin M. Alexander, PhD](/-/media/PHD-Images/Headshots/k/Kevin_M_Alexander_200x200.png?h=200&iar=0&w=200)
Kevin M. Alexander, MD
Assistant Professor
Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Department of Medicine
Stanford Cardiovascular Institute
Stanford University
X handle: @KMAlexanderMD
![Mohammad Al-Khalaf, PhD](/-/media/PHD-Images/Headshots/m/Mohammad_Al_Khalaf_PhD_200x200.jpg?h=200&iar=0&w=200)
Mohammad Al-Khalaf, PhD
Research Associate
Cardiac Function Laboratory
University of Ottawa Heart Institute
X handle: @MoAlKhalafPhD
![David Y. Barefield, PhD](/-/media/PHD-Images/Headshots/d/David_Y_Barefield_200x200.jpg?h=200&iar=0&w=200)
David Y. Barefield, PhD
Assistant Professor
Cell & Molecular Physiology Stritch School of Medicine
Loyola University Chicago
X handle: @barefieldd
![Ke Cheng, PhD, FAHA](/-/media/PHD-Images/Headshots/k/Ke_Cheng_200x200.jpg?h=200&iar=0&w=200)
Ke Cheng, PhD, FAHA
Professor of Regenerative Medicine
UNC-Chapel Hill and NC State University
X handle: @KeChengLab
![Ronglih Liao, PhD, FAHA](/-/media/PHD-Images/Headshots/r/Ronglih_Liao_PhD_FAHA_200x200.jpg?h=200&iar=0&w=200)
Ronglih Liao, PhD, FAHA
Co-Director, Professor of Medicine
Nola Leishman Professor II in Cardiovascular Diseases
X handle: @RonglihL
![Patricia K. Nguyen, MD](/-/media/PHD-Images/Headshots/p/patricia_nguyen.jpg?h=200&iar=0&w=200)
Patricia K. Nguyen, MD
Assistant Professor, Medicine
Division of Cardiovascular Medicine
Stanford University
![Sean M. Wu, MD, PhD](/-/media/PHD-Images/Headshots/s/Sean_M_Wu_140x140.jpg?h=140&iar=0&w=140)
Sean M. Wu, MD, PhD
Professor of Medicine, and, by courtesy, Pediatrics
Dept. of Medicine, Div. of Cardiovascular Medicine
Associate Director, Stanford Cardiovascular Institute
Stanford University School of Medicine
X Handle: @SeanM_Wu
Chair
![Sean M. Wu, MD, PhD](/-/media/PHD-Images/Headshots/s/Sean_M_Wu_140x140.jpg?h=140&iar=0&w=140)
Sean M. Wu, MD, PhD
Professor of Medicine, and, by courtesy, Pediatrics
Dept. of Medicine, Div. of Cardiovascular Medicine
Associate Director, Stanford Cardiovascular Institute
Stanford University School of Medicine
X Handle: @SeanM_Wu
Chair Elect
![Susmita Sahoo, PhD](/-/media/PHD-Images/Headshots/s/Susmita_Sahoo_206x206.jpg?h=206&iar=0&w=206)
Susmita Sahoo, PhD
Associate Professor of Medicine, Cardiology
Cardiovascular Research Center
Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
X Handle: @SusmitaSahooPhD
Members
![Federica Accornero, PhD](/-/media/PHD-Images/Headshots/f/Federica_Accornero_200x200.jpg?h=200&iar=0&w=200)
Federica Accornero, PhD
Associate Professor
Department of Physiology and Cell Biology
Ohio State University
![Kevin M. Alexander, PhD](/-/media/PHD-Images/Headshots/k/Kevin_M_Alexander_200x200.png?h=200&iar=0&w=200)
Kevin M. Alexander, MD
Assistant Professor
Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Department of Medicine
Stanford Cardiovascular Institute
Stanford University
X handle: @KMAlexanderMD
![David Y. Barefield, PhD](/-/media/PHD-Images/Headshots/d/David_Y_Barefield_200x200.jpg?h=200&iar=0&w=200)
David Y. Barefield, PhD
Assistant Professor
Cell & Molecular Physiology Stritch School of Medicine
Loyola University Chicago
X handle: @barefieldd
![Jean C. Bopassa, MD, PhD, FAHA](/-/media/PHD-Images/Headshots/j/Jean_C_Bopassa_200x200.jpg?h=200&iar=0&w=200)
Jean C. Bopassa, MD, PhD, FAHA
Associate Professor
Department of Cellular and Integrative Physiology
University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio, Texas
![Ke Cheng, PhD, FAHA](/-/media/PHD-Images/Headshots/k/Ke_Cheng_200x200.jpg?h=200&iar=0&w=200)
Ke Cheng, PhD, FAHA
Professor of Regenerative Medicine
UNC-Chapel Hill and NC State University
X handle: @KeChengLab
![Dominic Del Re, PhD](/-/media/PHD-Images/Headshots/d/Dominic_Del_Re_200x200.jpg?h=200&iar=0&w=200)
Dominic Del Re, PhD
Associate Professor
Department of Cell Biology and Molecular Medicine
Rutgers, New Jersey Medical School
![Chen Gao, PhD](/-/media/PHD-Images/Headshots/c/Chen_Gao_200x200.jpg?h=200&iar=0&w=200)
Chen Gao, PhD
Assistant Researcher
Division of Molecular Medicine, Department of Anesthesiology
University of California, Los Angeles
![Rebecca Levit, MD](/-/media/PHD-Images/Headshots/r/Rebecca_Levit_200x200.jpg?h=200&iar=0&w=200)
Rebecca Levit, MD
Assistant Professor
Emory University
X handle: @LevitLab
![Ronglih Liao, PhD, FAHA](/-/media/PHD-Images/Headshots/r/Ronglih_Liao_PhD_FAHA_200x200.jpg?h=200&iar=0&w=200)
Ronglih Liao, PhD, FAHA
Co-Director, Professor of Medicine
Nola Leishman Professor II in Cardiovascular Diseases
X handle: @RonglihL
![Patricia K. Nguyen, MD](/-/media/PHD-Images/Headshots/p/patricia_nguyen.jpg?h=200&iar=0&w=200)
Patricia K. Nguyen, MD
Assistant Professor, Medicine
Division of Cardiovascular Medicine
Stanford University
![Sarah Schumacher, PhD](/-/media/PHD-Images/Headshots/s/Sarah-Schumacher-PhD_200x200.jpg?h=200&iar=0&w=200)
Sarah M. Schumacher, PhD
Assistant Professor
Cardiovascular and Metabolic Sciences
Cleveland Clinic Lerner Research Institute
![Michael Tranter, PhD](/-/media/PHD-Images/Headshots/m/Michael_Tranter_200x200.jpg?h=200&iar=0&w=200)
Michael Tranter, PhD
Assistant Professor
College of Medicine
University of Cincinnati
Early Career Social Media Liaison
![Mohammad Al-Khalaf, PhD](/-/media/PHD-Images/Headshots/m/Mohammad_Al_Khalaf_PhD_200x200.jpg?h=200&iar=0&w=200)
Mohammad Al-Khalaf, PhD
Research Associate
Cardiac Function Laboratory
University of Ottawa Heart Institute
X handle: @MoAlKhalafPhD
Immediate Past Chair
![Nicole Purcell, PhD](/-/media/PHD-Images/Headshots/n/Nicole_Purcell_200x200.jpg?h=200&iar=0&w=200)
Nicole H. Purcell, PhD
Associate Professor
Cardiovascular Division
Huntington Medical Research Institutes
Clinical Associate Professor (Adjunct)
Cardiovascular Division, Department of Medicine
Keck School of Medicine of University of Southern California
X handle: @nhpetunia
Chair
![Nicole Purcell, PhD](/-/media/PHD-Images/Headshots/n/Nicole_Purcell_200x200.jpg?h=200&iar=0&w=200)
Nicole H. Purcell, PhD
Associate Professor
Cardiovascular Division
Huntington Medical Research Institutes
Clinical Associate Professor (Adjunct)
Cardiovascular Division, Department of Medicine
Keck School of Medicine of University of Southern California
X handle: @nhpetunia
Chair Elect
![Sean M. Wu, MD, PhD](/-/media/PHD-Images/Headshots/s/Sean_M_Wu_140x140.jpg?h=140&iar=0&w=140)
Sean M. Wu, MD, PhD
Professor of Medicine, and, by courtesy, Pediatrics
Dept. of Medicine, Div. of Cardiovascular Medicine
Associate Director, Stanford Cardiovascular Institute
Stanford University School of Medicine
X Handle: @SeanM_Wu
Members
![Jean C. Bopassa, MD, PhD, FAHA](/-/media/PHD-Images/Headshots/j/Jean_C_Bopassa_200x200.jpg?h=200&iar=0&w=200)
Jean C. Bopassa, MD, PhD, FAHA
Associate Professor
Department of Cellular and Integrative Physiology
University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio, Texas
![Ke Cheng, PhD, FAHA](/-/media/PHD-Images/Headshots/k/Ke_Cheng_200x200.jpg?h=200&iar=0&w=200)
Ke Cheng, PhD, FAHA
Professor of Regenerative Medicine
UNC-Chapel Hill and NC State University
X handle: @KeChengLab
![Dominic Del Re, PhD](/-/media/PHD-Images/Headshots/d/Dominic_Del_Re_200x200.jpg?h=200&iar=0&w=200)
Dominic Del Re, PhD
Associate Professor
Department of Cell Biology and Molecular Medicine
Rutgers, New Jersey Medical School
![Chen Gao, PhD](/-/media/PHD-Images/Headshots/c/Chen_Gao_200x200.jpg?h=200&iar=0&w=200)
Chen Gao, PhD
Assistant Researcher
Division of Molecular Medicine, Department of Anesthesiology
University of California, Los Angeles
![Nirmala Hariharan, PhD](/-/media/PHD-Images/Headshots/n/Nirmala_Hariharan.jpg?h=199&iar=0&w=199)
Nirmala Hariharan, PhD
Assistant Adjunct Professor
Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine University of California, Davis
![Litsa Kranias, PhD, FAHA](/-/media/PHD-Images/Headshots/e/Evangelia_Kranias_200x200.jpg?h=200&iar=0&w=200)
Evangelia “Litsa” Kranias, PhD, FAHA
Hanna Professor and Director Cardiovascular Biology
Distinguished University Professor
Co-Director, Cardiovascular Center of Excellence
Department of Pharmacology & Cell Biophysics
University of Cincinnati College of Medicine
![Rebecca Levit, MD](/-/media/PHD-Images/Headshots/r/Rebecca_Levit_200x200.jpg?h=200&iar=0&w=200)
Rebecca Levit, MD
Assistant Professor
Emory University
X handle: @LevitLab
![Glenn C. Rowe, PhD](/-/media/PHD-Images/Headshots/g/Glenn_C_Rowe_180x180.jpg?h=180&iar=0&w=180)
Glenn C. Rowe, PhD
Assistant Professor in Medicine
Division of Cardiovascular Disease
The University of Alabama at Birmingham
![Susmita Sahoo, PhD](/-/media/PHD-Images/Headshots/s/Susmita_Sahoo_206x206.jpg?h=206&iar=0&w=206)
Susmita Sahoo, PhD
Associate Professor of Medicine, Cardiology
Cardiovascular Research Center
Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
X Handle: @SusmitaSahooPhD
![Sarah Schumacher, PhD](/-/media/PHD-Images/Headshots/s/Sarah-Schumacher-PhD_200x200.jpg?h=200&iar=0&w=200)
Sarah M. Schumacher, PhD
Assistant Professor
Cardiovascular and Metabolic Sciences
Cleveland Clinic Lerner Research Institute
![Michael Tranter, PhD](/-/media/PHD-Images/Headshots/m/Michael_Tranter_200x200.jpg?h=200&iar=0&w=200)
Michael Tranter, PhD
Assistant Professor
College of Medicine
University of Cincinnati
![Jop Van Berlo, MD](/-/media/PHD-Images/Headshots/j/Jop_van_Berlo.jpg?h=140&iar=0&w=140)
Jop Van Berlo, MD
Assistant Professor
Lillehei Endowed Scholar
Lillehei Heart Institute
Division of Cardiology
University of Minnesota
Immediate Past Chair
![Sakthivel Sadayappan, PhD, MBA, FAHA](/-/media/PHD-Images/Headshots/s/Sakthivel_Sadayappan_200x200.jpg?h=200&iar=0&w=200)
Sakthivel Sadayappan, PhD, MBA, FAHA
Professor, Department of Internal Medicine
University of Cincinnati
![black male doctor](/-/media/PHD-Images/Membership/black_male_doctor.jpg?h=340&iar=0&w=340)