*Emory University, 1365 Clifton Road NE, Building A, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA; smallik@emory.edu Susmita Parashar* speaks to Ellen Clarke, Commissioning Editor: Susmita Parashar is the Director, Winship at Emory Cardio-oncology Program at Emory University and is Associate Professor of Cardiology at Emory, and a cardiovascular outcomes researcher. Her research focuses on the role of clinical and biological factors in explaining outcomes of cardiovascular diseases in special high-risk population such as cancer and women. She has directed several clinical, translational, epidemiological and outcomes studies in cardiovascular patients. She has received several grants and awards including the Mentored Clinical Research Career Development Awards (K-12 and the K23) from the National Institute of Health and the Scientist Development Award (National) from the American Heart Association. Dr Parashar serves on the steering committee for the International Cardio-Oncology Society (ICOS), and is a member of the guidelines committee to develop a best practice consensus document for cardio-oncology at ICOS. She is also a steering committee member for the national cardio-oncology fellowship development as part of ICOS. She also serves on many professional organizations and committees at the institutional and national level including the Winship Cancer Institute Board. Dr Parashar has authored/coauthored over 60 peerreviewed publications, including invited textbook chapters, manuscripts, abstracts and review articles. Her work has been published in such prestigious journals as the New England Journal of Medicine, Archives of Internal Medicine and Circulation, and highlighted by the Nature and national media such as CNN, CBS and NPR news.