The Heart of the Matter: Prioritizing diversity and inclusivity in the Resuscitation Science Symposium 2024

ABSTRACT The Resuscitation Science Symposium (ReSS) is an annual specialty conference of the American Heart Association, Council on Cardiopulmonary, Critical Care, Perioperative and Resuscitation (3CPR). The first meeting was held as a pre-conference in 2003, bringing together leading scientists and investigators dedicated to improving outcomes from cardiac arrest. Today, the symposium is a 2-day event with approximately 50 multidisciplinary conference faculty presenting innovative and novel science to an international audience. ReSS has evolved over the years, with a focus on advancing the careers of early scientists, building a diverse and inclusive community for inquiry, and expanding into scientific realms that encompass all aspects of the cardiac arrest “Chain of Survival.” Since it's inception, ReSS has included events to promote early-career scientists by hosting a Young Investigator Networking Event the night prior to the start of official scientific proceedings, as well as an annual Women in Resuscitation Event that varies in content from open forum discussion to career coaching. ReSS also boasts a phenomenal track record of being the forum for presentation of ground-breaking research, including topics such as targeted temperature management and dual sequential defibrillation. It is a meeting where thought-leaders debate outcomes, create collaborations, and plot a pathway forward to improve outcomes from cardiac arrest. In light of this opportunity, the programming committee for ReSS recognizes the strength in diverse, collaborative teams. We are firmly committed to growing the pipeline of future investigators in cardiac arrest research. To that end, we recognize the importance of a diverse and inclusive team that sponsors and grows investigators for all demographic, region, and specialty. This proposal to the NIH is requesting support to provide resources to individuals who are young investigators, members of underrepresented groups, attendees what might have hardship travelling due to caregiving needs, financial hardship or disability. The ReSS programming committee is invested in growing our community as a means of creating novel inquiry that will undoubtedly improve outcomes from cardiac arrest.