Kathleen Simpson, MD, Elected to PHTS Leadership

Over the next six years, pediatric cardiologist Kathleen Simpson, MD, will serve the heart transplant community in a new way: as president of the Pediatric Heart Transplant Society (PHTS). Her term began earlier this year, when she took her place as vice president — a role she’ll serve in for two years before officially becoming president for two years and then past president for another two years.

Dr. Simpson says she pursued this opportunity to contribute more to her field and to the kids, families and fellow providers at the center of her work.

“At this point in my career, I would like to devote more time to give back to the community that has given so much to me,” she adds. “I feel this role will provide me the opportunity to use what I have learned from quality improvement, research and mentorship in service to the PHTS mission.”

With so many upcoming changes in the pediatric transplant field, Dr. Simpson says now is a more important time than ever to take on this challenge. Between regulatory changes to organ allocation and the rise of artificial intelligence in clinical practice, this is a critical moment for the field, and particularly for pediatrics.

To that end, Dr. Simpson has outlined several goals for the next six years, including advancing research while maintaining the highest quality output, focusing on outreach to the wider patient community, inspiring the next generation of pediatric cardiologists and expanding collaboration with other groups outside PHTS.

“I'm looking forward to ensuring PHTS stays innovative and that we have a seat at the table for all the important conversations to advocate for our pediatric patients and families. As the field continues to evolve, it is important for PHTS to remain relevant and at the forefront of pediatric heart transplantation,” she says.