We are delighted to feature Dr Kamilė Čerlinskaitė-Bajorė as a touchCARDIO Future Leader 2026, recognized as an emerging leader in heart failure research.
As part of the touchCARDIO Future Leader 2026 series, we are delighted to feature Dr Kamilė Čerlinskaitė-Bajorė, heart failure cardiologist at the Centre of Cardiology and Angiology, Vilnius University Hospital Santaros Clinics and junior researcher at the Clinic of Cardiac and Vascular Diseases, Institute of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Vilnius University, Vilnius, Lithuania. Her work focuses on acute heart failure, risk stratification, clinical outcomes and optimising evidence-based treatment to improve patient prognosis. She recently defended her doctoral thesis investigating predictors of outcomes following acute heart failure, with particular emphasis on rehospitalisation and optimal therapy. An active contributor to international collaborative research, she has published in leading cardiovascular journals and participated in major studies examining treatment optimisation and patient outcomes. Her work aims to translate clinical evidence into better care, improved survival and fewer hospital readmissions.
In this interview, Dr Čerlinskaitė-Bajorė reflects on the experiences and mentors that have shaped her career in cardiology and heart failure, the challenges of caring for patients with complex needs, and the importance of resilience and collegial support. She also shares her perspective on exciting advances in heart failure treatment, including emerging research into heart failure with preserved ejection fraction and its links to obesity, metabolic processes and inflammation, offering a glimpse into the future of this rapidly evolving field.
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What inspired you to pursue a career in cardiology?
I decided to be a cardiologist rather early in my medicine studies as I saw cardiology as a field, where I could combine challenging clinical work and scientific research. I was further inspired after participating in my first internships and cardiology conferences and meeting different cardiologists. I also chose to pursue a career in heart failure specifically after meeting Professor Jelena Čelutkienė, with whom I have worked in research projects since 2013.
Can you tell us about a mentor who has had a significant impact on your career?
What have been the most significant challenges in your journey so far, and how have you overcome them?
I chose heart failure as a subspecialty because I wanted to work with the most complex patients. However, it came with its own challenges. One of the most difficult things is to accept when you can no longer help a patient. Other challenges come from the particularities of the health care system, and I think many doctors encounter similar challenges. I try to do my best every day, seek support from family and colleagues and provide support to my colleagues as well.
What current development or trend in your specialty excites you the most?
touchCARDIO is celebrating the brightest rising stars in the cardiology community, who are set to shape the future of the field.
See the full list of touchCARDIO Future Leaders 2026 winners here.
More content in heart failure
Cite: Dr Kamilė Čerlinskaitė-Bajorė on heart failure and research: touchCARDIO Future Leader 2026. touchCARDIO. October 2026.
Disclosures: Dr Kamilė Čerlinskaitė-Bajorė has participated in speaker’s bureau with Bayer, Boehringer Ingelheim, AstraZeneca, Pfizer and Medison Pharma. This short article was prepared by touchCARDIO in collaboration with Dr Kamilė Čerlinskaitė-Bajorė. No fees or funding were associated with its publication.
Editor: Heather Hall, Managing Editor
