Faculty Highlight | UVA Women in Cardiology

FACULTY HIGHLIGHT/
Division of Cardiovascular Medicine

“UVA Women in Cardiology”: A New Forum for Women in Heart-Related Specialties

UVA Women in Cardiology (WIC) was established in 2015 by faculty members from the Division of Cardiovascular Medicine to serve as a forum for networking and information-sharing among women in the field. Faculty from the Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery (Department of Surgery) are active participants as well.

“Cardiovascular medicine and its related disciplines have been largely dominated by men over the years — a trend that has not changed much in recent times,” says Surovi Hazarika, MD, faculty co-chair of WIC with Jamie Kennedy, MD. She cites a 2009 survey from the American College of Cardiology that found women represented only about 12% of general cardiologists and less than 10% of those in advanced cardiovascular (CV) specialities. Reasons cited by respondents for not specializing in cardiology included the long years of training, difficulties with work/life balance, and perceived radiation risks.

“Given this reality, a key part of our mission is offering mentorship to medical students and residents considering cardiovascular-related fields, as well as support to women already in CV fellowships,” Dr. Hazarika said. Lavone Smith, MD, chief fellow this year (together with Michelle Ouellette) for the Basic Cardiovascular Fellowship program, is serving as WIC’s chair for fellows. Members are also reaching out to Charlottesville-area women in cardiology, and to alumna of UVA’s CV programs.

The group meets monthly to discuss relevant clinical, research and professional issues, and is involved in community health programs such as Club Red. Professional education and development occur through journal clubs and sponsorship of speakers in the Cardiology Grand Rounds series. Mardi Gomberg-Maitland, MD, associate professor of medicine at the University of Chicago and director of its pulmonary hypertension program, will give one of the upcoming Grand Rounds in the 2015–2016 academic year, according to Dr. Kennedy.

The group welcomes new members. For more information, contact:

• Jamie Kennedy: jlk4b@virginia.edu (faculty co-chair)
• Surovi Hazarika: sh4cj@virginia.edu (faculty co-chair)
• Lavone Smith: las2mn@virginia.edu (fellow chair)