I recently had the pleasure of joining state representatives from all around the country for a virtual "happy hour" meetup to discuss upcoming chapter events and share ideas on how to improve fellow engagement and overall involvement. The event started with introductions, and I quickly learned the meeting was not only attended by U.S. Fellows in Training (FITs), but international members as well. The presence of the international cohort brought attention to what the ACC could provide for its members around the world and broadened the scope of the conversation. Despite the time difference, international FITs joined from Japan to Nigeria, and shared their journey within cardiology and training in their country.

A common theme throughout the meeting centered around the need for mentorship as FITs transition from fellowship to further subspecialization or starting their career. Some FIT state representatives shared their plans of putting together a panel at their state chapter meeting to provide their members a chance to learn and ask questions as they navigate this stage of their career. There was also discussion on how to improve involvement in statewide jeopardy competitions. From being nominated by program directors to volunteering via email, state representatives are committed to creating incredible teams and having the best jeopardy competition yet.

From our international peers, we learned how training varies from country to country, and what our colleagues endure to pursue a career in cardiology. FITs from Mexico logged in during their busy call shifts and shared that while there can be limitations to subspecialization in their country, they hope to utilize the FIT network in finding opportunities to pursue research and exposure at programs in the U.S. The sentiment of collaboration was also shared by ACC's Florida Chapter FIT representative who plans to extend chapter event invitations to Latin American countries and provide resources and visibility to their members.

When it came to statewide communication, many chapters implemented WhatsApp threads or email chains to keep everyone up to date. A former Louisiana state representative shared how she established the first Women in Cardiology event for her peers, and over the years, this event has grown from a simple happy hour among friends to attendance from fellows from all over the region. This experience showed the benefit of establishing communication between state leadership and FIT representatives and the potential this relationship can unlock for all trainees.

Overall, the event provided a forum for members to present their ideas and receive feedback and suggestions from their peers to maximize the success of the event. FITs all around the world can look forward to virtual and in-person events curated for their growth within the field.