How can we change the language of medicine to set up patients for success? This was one of the questions of Dr Lala when she met a young father with acute heart failure. After talking with him, she replaced the word failure with function. This seemingly small change created a real difference for the patient. How can we create real understanding through words? How can scientific publishing aid diversity, equity and inclusion?

This week’s episode starts a series in collaboration with the Heart Failure Society of America (HFSA). Host, Ankur Kalra’s guests are Robert Mentz and Anuradha Lala Senior Editorial Team of the Journal of Cardiac Failure (JCF), the official journal of the HFSA and the Japanese Heart Failure Society (JHFS).

In this practical and insightful episode, Dr Kalra asks what does diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging mean to the editorial board of JCF and what were the steps taken to put these principles into practice. Dr Mentz and Dr Lala walk us through how they examined existing practices and turned ideas and core values into action, including transparency and diversity, while creating an atmosphere that is open to innovation.

How can we mandate diverse authorship? What prompted JCF to introduce an early career section? How can we stand by what we are putting forth?

Questions and comments can be sent to “podcast@radcliffe-group.com” and may be answered by Ankur in the next episode. Guests @robmentz & @dranulala, hosted by @AnkurKalraMD. Produced by @RadcliffeCARDIO.

The views expressed in this episode do not reflect the views of the Heart Failure Society of America or the Journal of Cardiac Failure and all views expressed herein are those of the guests appearing on the show.