Session Proposals 2026

Below are the suggested session topics for 2026. If your proposal does not align with these topics, you may select "Other" during the submission process.

1. Advanced Heart Failure, Durable Mechanical Circulatory Support
2. Basic and Translational Science, Biomarkers, -Omics, Precision Medicine
3. Business of Heart Failure (Health Policy and Economics)
4. Cardiogenic Shock, Temporary Mechanical Circulatory Support, and Critical Care Cardiology
5. Caregiving, Patient Perspectives, Palliation and End of Life
6. Comorbidities (Kidney Disease, Diabetes, Lung Disease, Sleep Disorders, Anemia, COVID-19)
7. Epidemiology and Global Heart Failure
8. Genetics, Inherited Cardiomyopathies, HCM
9. HFpEF Clinical Care, Management Strategies, New Interventions
10. HFrEF/HFimpEF/HFmrEF Clinical Care, Management Strategies, New Interventions
11. Hospitalized HF, Readmissions
12. Infiltrative Cardiomyopathies (Sarcoidosis, Amyloidosis) and Myocarditis
13. Leadership and Education
14. Non-MCS Heart Failure Devices (Remote Monitoring, EP Devices, Structural, Other Innovations)
15. Nutrition, Metabolism, Obesity, and Exercise
16. Population Health, Social Determinants of Health and Disparities of Care, Outcomes Research
17. Preventive Cardiology
18. Pulmonary Hypertension and Right Heart Failure
19. Quality Improvement and Implementation
20. Specialty Populations (Cardio-Oncology, Cardio-OB, Geriatric)
21. Transplant
22. Valvular Disease

• Focus on Current, Innovative, or Emerging Topics
  • Choose a topic that reflects current evidence, innovation, or emerging areas in heart failure care.
  • Ensure the proposal advances multidisciplinary collaboration and patient-centered care.
• Create a Balanced Session
  • Establish a clearly defined theme or clinical question.
  • Keep content well-paced and avoid overly broad or unfocused topics.
  • Build in opportunities for interaction, including panel discussions and audience Q&A.
  • Creative formats are highly encouraged, including fireside chats, debates, “shark tank”-style sessions, and similar innovative approaches.
• Thoughtful Timing & Structure
  • Ensure individual presentations are appropriately timed.
  • For a 60-minute session, four presentations of 12–15 minutes each work well, leaving time for a meaningful panel discussion.
  • For a 30-minute session, plan for one or two short presentations followed by a 10-minute panel discussion with the moderators and faculty.
  • For creative sessions, plan content for 50 minutes to maintain structure and allow a 10-minute buffer so the session does not run over.
• Select Qualified & Diverse Faculty
  • Include presenters and moderators with recognized expertise in the subject area.
  • Strive for diversity in career stage, discipline, gender, race/ethnicity, and geography.
  • Avoid faculty who have conflicts of interest with ineligible companies or who are employed by industry.

To submit a session proposal, log in to the HFSA 2026 Submission Portal using your HFSA Member Portal credentials.

1. Complete your disclosures by following these steps:

   • Click your name in the top-right menu and select “Disclosure.”
   • Enter and finalize your disclosures in the HFSA Disclosure Portal. Note: Incomplete disclosures will block submission.
   • Click “Return to Dashboard” to return to the Submission Portal.

2. Scroll to the bottom of the page and select “+ Add New” next to Proposals.

   • If the option is unavailable, check the deadline or ensure your disclosures are finalized.

After completing the "Session Information" Submission Step, you will be prompted enter a session moderator. Each proposal must include at least one moderator. 

Adding a Moderator

To add a moderator:

1. Search for your moderator using their last name or email in the portal.
2. If the moderator cannot be found, you must manually enter the following information:
   • First Name and Last Name
   • Degrees
   • Email Address
   • Institution
   • Professional Category
   • Gender and Ethnicity* (optional, for diversity and inclusion purposes)

Eligibility of Moderators

Moderators cannot be employed, a principal owner, or a partner of an ineligible company.

Ineligible Companies:
Organizations whose primary business is producing, marketing, selling, re-selling, or distributing healthcare products used by or on patients. Examples include:

• Advertising, marketing, or communication firms whose clients are ineligible companies
• Bio-medical startups that have begun a governmental regulatory approval process
• Compounding pharmacies that manufacture proprietary compounds
• Device manufacturers/distributors
• Diagnostic labs that sell proprietary products
• Growers/distributors/manufacturers/sellers of medical foods and dietary supplements
• Manufacturers of health-related wearable products
• Pharmaceutical companies or distributors
• Pharmacy benefit managers

*Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging. The HFSA is committed to fostering programs that reflect its core values – of diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging. HFSA supports and promotes diversity of gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, race, ethnicity, discipline, career-stage and geography, among other domains across all areas of the association. To achieve our commitment to DEI programming, we are requesting additional information regarding diversity. If you do not wish to provide a response, please select “Decline to respond”. Declining to respond will not affect your proposal.

After completing the "Moderator" Submission Step, you will be prompted to enter speaker and presentation information.

Adding a Speaker 

Each presentation must have at least one speaker. Speaker alternates are not required but are highly encouraged.

To add a speaker:

1. Search for your speaker using their last name or email in the portal.
2. If the speaker cannot be found, you must manually enter the following information:
   • First Name and Last Name
   • Degrees
   • Email Address
   • Institution
   • Professional Category
   • Gender and Ethnicity* (optional, for diversity and inclusion purposes)

Eligibility of Speakers

Speakers cannot be employed, a principal owner, or a partner of an ineligible company.

Ineligible Companies:
Organizations whose primary business is producing, marketing, selling, re-selling, or distributing healthcare products used by or on patients. Examples include:

• Advertising, marketing, or communication firms whose clients are ineligible companies
• Bio-medical startups that have begun a governmental regulatory approval process
• Compounding pharmacies that manufacture proprietary compounds
• Device manufacturers/distributors
• Diagnostic labs that sell proprietary products
• Growers/distributors/manufacturers/sellers of medical foods and dietary supplements
• Manufacturers of health-related wearable products
• Pharmaceutical companies or distributors
• Pharmacy benefit managers

Adding Presentation Information

Each session must include at least one presentation. You will need the following details for each presentation:

• Presentation Title
• Presentation Length (in minutes)
• Presentation Description: 1,500-character limit

*Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging. The HFSA is committed to fostering programs that reflect its core values – of diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging. HFSA supports and promotes diversity of gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, race, ethnicity, discipline, career-stage and geography, among other domains across all areas of the association. To achieve our commitment to DEI programming, we are requesting additional information regarding diversity. If you do not wish to provide a response, please select “Decline to respond”. Declining to respond will not affect your proposal.

After completing the "Presentations" Submission Step, you will be prompted to enter the following information under the Submitter step:

• First Name
• Last Name
• Degrees
• Email
• Institution
• Professional Category
• Gender and Ethnicity* (optional, for diversity and inclusion purposes)

*Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging. The HFSA is committed to fostering programs that reflect its core values – of diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging. HFSA supports and promotes diversity of gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, race, ethnicity, discipline, career-stage and geography, among other domains across all areas of the association. To achieve our commitment to DEI programming, we are requesting additional information regarding diversity. If you do not wish to provide a response, please select “Decline to respond”. Declining to respond will not affect your proposal.

After completing each submission step, you will reach the "Summary" Submission Step, which provides an overview of your proposal. You will also have the option to print the summary for your records.