New SCAI President Dawn Abbott outlines workforce training and inclusion priorities
The Society for Cardiovascular Angiography and Interventions (SCAI) is entering a new chapter as Dawn Abbott, MD, MSCAI, who assumed the presidency this week with a focus on strengthening the future of interventional cardiology through workforce development, expanded training pathways and continued efforts to broaden inclusion in the specialty.
Abbott, who serves as director of interventional cardiology at the Brown University Health Cardiovascular Institute, said her priorities build on recent initiatives led by past SCAI leaders, including physician wellness programs, and efforts to improve care for cardiogenic shock. Now, she aims to turn attention toward the long-term sustainability of the field.
“We need to get back to our community in terms of the pipeline,” Abbott said, emphasizing the importance of examining the profession “from start to finish” to ensure a strong and stable workforce.
A key component of that effort is refining training and recruitment. SCAI played a central role in developing national interventional cardiology training standards and co-authored a major training statement in 2023. That work was followed by the integration of interventional cardiology into a formal residency match process in 2024, creating new visibility into applicant trends and workforce dynamics.
Early data from the match highlight a growing challenge. While interest in the field is increasing modestly, the number of available training positions has expanded at a faster pace, leaving a gap between supply and demand. Abbott said understanding whether the field needs more trainees, or a restructuring of existing programs, will be critical.
“We now have tangible data on how many positions we’re offering and how many applicants there are,” she explained. “It’s so important for us to understand what are the needs of the interventional workforce.”
Abbott also underscored the need for more inclusion across all career stages, from trainees to late-career physicians. A longstanding priority for SCAI has been improving gender representation in interventional cardiology, where women still make up only about 10–12% of practitioners.
She pointed to the organization’s Women in Innovations (WIN) initiative as a key effort. The program is nearly two decades old and helped elevate the visibility and participation of women within interventional cardiology.
Concerns about radiation exposure and the physical demands of the specialty have historically been barriers, but Abbott said these issues are being actively addressed through improved safety standards, advocacy with regulatory bodies, and new technologies designed to reduce radiation exposure.
“SCAI led the way on developing statements to assure women they could work safely in the cath lab environment,” she said, noting that efforts to improve safety and awareness are ongoing.
At the same time, Abbott emphasized that expanding diversity in the field will require reaching potential candidates earlier in their careers. Because interventional cardiology draws from physicians who have already chosen internal medicine and cardiology, SCAI is working to engage medical students and early trainees to build interest sooner.
Another major initiative during Abbott’s presidency will be strengthening engagement with program directors. SCAI plans to offer free membership to program directors and launch a dedicated forum aimed at improving communication, standardizing training experiences, and better tracking both applicants and training programs.
“One of my goals is to reengage program directors and serve them better,” Abbott said. “We need a more comprehensive way to understand what’s happening across programs and ensure equal access to opportunities.”
Abbott said she is eager to collaborate with SCAI leadership and members to continue advancing the field.
“I’m just really excited to work with the SCAI staff and my colleagues and continue the efforts that have been ongoing,” she said.
As interventional cardiology evolves amid shifting workforce dynamics and technological innovation, Abbott’s presidency signals a renewed focus on building a resilient, inclusive and well-prepared next generation of specialists.
Dave Fornell has covered healthcare for more than 17 years, with a focus in cardiology and radiology. Fornell is a 5-time winner of a Jesse H. Neal Award, the most prestigious editorial honors in the field of specialized journalism. The wins included best technical content, best use of social media and best COVID-19 coverage. Fornell was also a three-time Neal finalist for best range of work by a single author. He produces more than 100 editorial videos each year, most of them interviews with key opinion leaders in medicine. He also writes technical articles, covers key trends, conducts video hospital site visits, and is very involved with social media. E-mail: [email protected]