HFA Career Café

Meet internationally renowned experts in your field during the Heart Failure 2026 congress in Barcelona, Spain, on 10 and 11 May 2026.

What is HFA Career Café?

HFA Career Café is the meeting place for the future generation of cardiologists.

In a focused 20-minute one-on-one interview, selected participants have the invaluable opportunity to connect with leaders in their field, gaining tailored career advice and guidance.

This unique initiative offers a rare opportunity to build meaningful connections that can lead to lasting professional relationships.

NEW! For the 2026 edition, mentees will have the opportunity to meet with a Young mentor in addition for more valuable insights.

Important dates

HFA Career Café 2026 will take place in the HFA Members Lounge on:

Sunday, 10 May at 18:00
Monday, 11 May at 18:00

Registration is not yet open - keep an eye on our communications.

Am I eligible?

In order to participate, you must fulfil the mandatory eligibility criteria and be:

Under 40 years old or in training
Registered for Heart Failure 2025
An HFA Member or Fellow of the HFA: Become an HFA Member now
Registered on the ESC Mentoring platform

Important: Applicants must not simultaneously hold any conflicting roles.

Schedule of the mentors

Sunday, 10 May (18:00–19:00)

Professor Antoni Bayes Genis

Doctor Antonio Cannata

Professor Ekaterini Lambrinou

Associate Professor Kevin Damman

Doctor Klaus Witte

Professor Magdy Abdelhamid

Professor Nicolas Girerd

Professor Lars Lund

Professor Susanna Price

Professor Wilfried Mullens

Monday, 11 May (18:00–19:00)

Associate Professor Camilla Hage

Professor Cecilia Marianne Linde

Professor Gianluigi Savarese

Professor Hadi Skouri

Professor Izabella Uchmanowicz

Assistant Professor Jozine Ter Maaten

Mrs Maggie Simpson

Professor Mitja Lainscak

Professor Peter Van Der Meer

Doctor Pierpaolo Pellicori

Testimonials from our mentees

Participating in the Career Café during Heart Failure 2025 was driven by my curiosity to meet new people and explore new opportunities. The experience was incredibly rewarding, as it allowed me to connect with professionals who later offered me the chance to work with them – an opportunity that ultimately led to my current fellowship in their centre. I would strongly encourage others to join the Career Café, as it creates meaningful connections and can open unexpected career pathways.

Doctor Stefania-Teodora Duca

My participation in the Career Café during the HF Congress 2025 was a particularly meaningful experience in my professional journey. I had the opportunity to engage in an exchange that proved to be both inspiring and decisive.
During this discussion, I received invaluable advice regarding a career in the field of heart failure, both from an academic and a clinical perspective. The vision shared, along with deep experience and genuine availability, strengthened my motivation to commit long term to this demanding and fascinating specialty.
This exchange had a very concrete impact on my career path: it gave me the confidence to continue the dialogue afterward, leading to a major milestone in my professional development. This continuity—from an informal mentoring discussion within the HFA to a key academic step—perfectly illustrates the human and academic value of the HFA community.

Mr Paul Lucain

The HFA Career Café has been a truly inspiring experience. It gave me the opportunity to connect with outstanding mentors who provided strong support in research, clinical decision‑making, and a deeper understanding of heart failure management.
Through meaningful discussions, I gained valuable insight into real‑world cardiovascular care challenges, particularly in a developing‑country context such as Indonesia, and explored practical ways to address these limitations.
Most importantly, this experience helped me make thoughtful and informed decisions about my future career in cardiology. I am deeply grateful to have been part of the HFA Career Café.

Mrs Inne Pratiwi Farissa

Not a member yet?

Joining the Heart Failure Association (HFA) offers numerous benefits for healthcare professionals specialising in heart failure.

You can enjoy:

Savings on the annual Heart Failure congress

Discounts on HFA courses and certification exams

Congress resources and webinars on ESC 365

Access to HFA Fellowship programme

Board eligibility

European Journal of Heart Failure and ESC Heart Failure

Become a member