PHA Scientific Leadership Council

PHA’s Scientific Leadership Council (SLC) is composed of leaders in the field of pulmonary hypertension (PH). Coordinating the medical arm of PHA, they provide medical and scientific leadership and guidance for the mission of PHA and lead the development of the wide array of PHA’s medical programming.

SLC members proactively facilitate the development of new knowledge about PH, develop educational resources for medical and public audiences, and advocate to raise awareness about pulmonary hypertension (PH). The SLC was formed out of the PHA philosophy that patients and medical professionals can achieve more working together.

Members of the SLC are clinicians and researchers recognized for performing outstanding research and providing excellent care for people living with PH.

Members of the Scientific Leadership Council (SLC) serve as PHA’s medical leadership and are cardiologists, pulmonologists and rheumatologists – leading PH experts that branch out into all areas of scientific exploration and treatment of pulmonary hypertension (PH). Not only do they guide the vast array of medical education PHA offers to both the medical and patient communities, they also are involved in the development of cutting-edge research exploring various aspects of PH such as the implications of genetics in pulmonary hypertension, treatments for children living with PH, PH and associated diseases and much more.

Many past and present members of the SLC are involved in authoring or editing Advances in Pulmonary Hypertension, the Official Journal of the Pulmonary Hypertension Association, in developing patient education materials or planning/speaking at patient education events, in planning or serving as faculty at continuing medical education (CME) activities, and in creating the comprehensive treatment fact sheets and consensus statements available on our website.

Individuals invited to serve on the SLC are known for their contributions in the PH field – in research and in providing quality care to people living with PH as well as for their volunteerism in the PH community through PHA. They represent PH centers and clinics in urban and rural areas, in large hospital systems and private practices.

Anna R. Hemnes, M.D.
Chair
Associate Professor of Medicine
Assistant Director, Pulmonary Vascular Center
Vanderbilt University Medical Center
Nashville, TN
Term Ends June 2026

Todd M. Bull, M.D.
Chair-Elect
Professor Medicine Pulmonary Sciences & Critical Care
School of Medicine – University of Colorado
Denver, CO

Murali M. Chakinala, M.D., FCCP
Immediate Past Chair
Professor of Medicine
Washington University School of Medicine
Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care
St. Louis, MO
Term Ends June 2024

Members of the Research Committees are leading researchers in the field of pulmonary hypertension. They guide the growth and development of PHA’s Research Program.

Mission Statement and Charge

The Research Committee of the Scientific Leadership Counsel was created to support PHA in its mission to advance PH research in the field for both patient and professional populations. In order to grow the research opportunities, information and resources available to these communities, the Research Committee is charged with supporting the following activities:

• The Research Committee will advance the goals of the PHA to become a funding body for new research initiatives.
• The Research Committee will encourage the development of new PH research and researchers through mentorship by established research leaders in the field who will recruit and lead newer researchers.

The Research Committee will commence periodically to discuss progress, evaluate goals and plan.

SLC Distinguished Advisory Committee