image: SCAI Scientific Sessions 2026 & CAIC-ACCI Summit
Credit: Society for Cardiovascular Angiography & Interventions and Canadian Association of Interventional Cardiology
MONTREAL – APRIL 25, 2026 – The Society for Cardiovascular Angiography & Interventions (SCAI) today announced that Lauren Balkan, MD, has been selected as the recipient of the 2026–27 Women in Innovations (WIN) Complex and High-Risk Coronary Intervention (CHIP) Fellowship, a competitive award that supports the advancement of women in complex and high-risk coronary interventions. The announcement was made during the SCAI 2026 Scientific Sessions & CAIC-ACCI Summit, held April 23–25, 2026, in Montréal, Canada.
“Interventional cardiology puts you at the center of some of the most critical moments in a patient’s care. It’s that ability to make a difference in real time that drew me to the field, particularly the most acute, high-risk cases where the decisions are complex and the stakes high,” said Dr. Balkan, an interventional cardiology fellow at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston. “The SCAI WIN-CHIP Fellowship gives me the opportunity to keep building those skills and focus on complex procedures at the highest level, while also having the time to stay involved in research and continue learning. Just as importantly, it connects fellows to a broader community of interventional cardiologists, which plays a huge role in how you grow in this field.”
The WIN-CHIP Fellowship provides $85,000 in funding for an additional year of advanced training in chronic total occlusions (CTO), complex coronary anatomy, percutaneous mechanical circulatory support (MCS), and intravascular imaging. Dr. Balkan will complete her training at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and Lahey Hospital and Medical Center, where she will gain additional experience across these complex and high-risk procedures.
A first-generation college and medical school graduate, Dr. Balkan earned her medical degree from SUNY Downstate College of Medicine before completing her internal medicine residency at NewYork-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medicine in New York City, where she served as chief medical resident. She then completed a cardiovascular disease fellowship at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, a teaching hospital of Harvard Medical School in Boston, where she is currently an interventional cardiology fellow.
“The WIN-CHIP Fellowship is proud to support women physicians who are prepared not only to perform the most complex procedures, but to help lead and advance the field. Dr. Balkan exemplifies that mission,” said Holly Bauser-Heaton, MD, PhD, FSCAI, Chair of the SCAI Women in Innovations Committee. “Her mentors describe her as technically skilled, thoughtful, and deeply dedicated to patient care, with a collaborative approach that strengthens the entire care team. She also brings a strong commitment to mentorship and education, supporting trainees as they navigate their careers in interventional cardiology.”
In addition to her technical expertise, Dr. Balkan is recognized for her preparation and approach to complex cases, her ability to integrate imaging and hemodynamic data into real-time decision-making, and her composure in managing critically ill patients. She is also known for her collaborative approach across multidisciplinary teams and her commitment to mentorship and education, supporting trainees as they navigate and shape their own paths in interventional cardiology.
The WIN-CHIP Fellowship is supported by industry partners, including Abiomed (founding supporter), Boston Scientific, Medtronic, and Shockwave Medical, Inc. SCAI and the WIN Committee continue to expand opportunities and infrastructure to ensure women not only enter the field of interventional cardiology but thrive, lead, and shape its future.
About SCAI Scientific Sessions 2026
The SCAI Scientific Sessions annual meeting convenes nearly 2,000 of the world’s premier clinicians, scientists, researchers, and innovators in the field of interventional cardiology and endovascular medicine. With 500+ faculty and hundreds of abstracts, experts in the field work together to share the latest clinical data, procedural guidance, and advanced expertise. Highlights include live cases, featured clinical research, new SCAI clinical documents, case-based learning, and keynote speakers. For more information, visit https://scai.org.
About the Society for Cardiovascular Angiography & Interventions (SCAI)
The Society for Cardiovascular Angiography & Interventions, established in 1978, stands as the primary nonprofit medical society dedicated to representing invasive and interventional cardiology. SCAI's mission is to guide the global interventional cardiovascular community by fostering education, advocacy, research, and upholding standards for quality patient care. For more than 40 years, SCAI has exemplified professional excellence and innovation worldwide, cultivating a reputable community of over 5,000 members committed to advancing medical science and providing life-saving care for individuals, both adults and children, affected by cardiovascular disease.
For more information about the SCAI 2026 Scientific Sessions, visit https://www.scai.org/education-and-events/events-schedule/scai-2026-scientific-sessions-caic-acci-summit. Follow @SCAI on X for the latest heart health news and use #SCAI2026 to follow the latest discussions.