Arooj Khan, MBBS, second-year fellow in cardiovascular disease and rising chief fellow, was selected for the Women in Cardiology Section Leadership of the American College of Cardiology (ACC). Khan credits mentorship from Mahi Ashwath, MD, MBA, FACC, clinical associate professor in Cardiovascular Medicine, and plans to continue to help women resolve the gender gap in cardiology.

“It is extremely humbling and exciting to be a part of this group of accomplished and inspiring women who are trailblazers in cardiology and are paving the way for trainees like me to aspire to and achieve more,” Khan said.

Previously, Khan served as the Chair of the Iowa Chapter’s Women in Cardiology Fellows in Training (FIT) Council. As the chair, Khan helped organize the 4th Annual Midwest WIC Symposium.

According to a 2019 study published in Circulation, only 14% of practicing cardiologists were women. “As part of the ACC women-in-cardiology section leadership, I hope to overcome this gap by organizing meetings with young women in high school and college to encourage them to pursue careers in cardiology,” Khan said.

In addition to Ashwath, who is also president of the Iowa Chapter of the ACC, Khan credits her success to other supportive mentors at Iowa and within the ACC WIC section. Khan points to Toniya Singh, MD, FACC, chair of the WIC Section Leadership Council, and her recent emphasis on the importance of mentorship for closing the gender gap in cardiology.

“I also want to bring the cardiology fellows’ perspective to the committee and discuss and find solutions to challenges faced by female fellows-in-training so they can be set up for success from the start of their careers,” Khan said. “In doing so, I hope I may one day be an inspiration to fellows like me.”