Cardiovascular disease remains the leading cause of death for women, responsible for over a third of all deaths.1 In contrast, women remain widely under-represented in cardiovascular trials,2 as well as in their roles as physicians and trialists.3
The scarcity of female representation in cardiology carries broad consequences, affecting patient care quality, workplace diversity, and the inclusion of women in clinical trials. Engaging more women in academia and industry collaborations can boost their professional visibility, career opportunities, and increases the likelihood of female patients to receive guideline-based therapies, all of which highlights the need for gender diversity in cardiology.4
Studies have identified gender differences in presentation, management and prognosis of acute cardiac conditions like acute coronary syndrome (ACS). Although older age and the presence of comorbidities contribute to higher mortality rates in women, shortcomings in the quality-of-care also negatively impact on the prognosis in women.5
Although numbers are increasing, only 29% of cardiology trainees and 16% of cardiology consultants are female.6 This disparity in numbers extends from the clinical setting into cardiovascular academia. Despite increasing numbers of female first authorship from 27% in 1994 to 37% in 2014,7 there is still a lack of female representation in academic leadership roles, including professorship.8
Addressing this gender gap and paving the way for future female cardiology leaders, Women in Cardiology representative Dr Sarah Birkhoelzer joined forces with the British Heart Foundation (BHF) to host an inspiring event at Oxford University Hospitals, introducing 30 pupils from Didcot Girl’s School to cardiovascular medicine.
This unique opportunity connected students from non-traditional backgrounds with professionals working in cardiovascular research, fostering early exposure, mentorship, and academic connections with the research community. The programme opened with inspiring stories of resilience, followed by insights on balancing cardiology with family life and research. Career adaptability was highlighted through a transition from software engineering to magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) research. Popular hands-on electrocardiogram (ECG), echocardiography, and cardiac MRI sessions captivated the audience, while discussions on neurodiversity underscored its crucial impact on healthcare excellence.
The success of this career day underscored the tremendous value in providing young aspirants with real-world insights and varied career options in cardiovascular research. There are three key reasons why encouraging women early to pursue a career in cardiovascular medicine is critical for advancing medical science and improving clinical outcomes. First, demographic, as well as gender diversity, offers diverse perspectives both in clinical and academic cardiology. Second, strong and visible role models inspire future generations to pursue careers in cardiovascular research. Third, promoting women in cardiovascular medicine leads to more equitable healthcare outcomes for all.
May this day encourage other communities to replicate this enriching experience, fostering connections and nurturing future professionals with their aspirations in cardiovascular research to become the future leaders in cardiology and transform the cardiovascular health of women.
Conflicts of interest
SMB has received funding for consultancy and talks from AstraZeneca, Bayer, Daiichi-Sankyo. ESG, KS, AC, EC: none declared.
Funding
The British Heart Foundation provided SMB with a grant to facilitate the day. PasTest, an online medical revision resource, provided free accounts for all participants and faculty. Medmastery, an online, video-based learning platform, provided free accounts for all participants and faculty.
References
1. Garcia M, Mulvagh SL, Merz CN, Buring JE, Manson JE. Cardiovascular disease in women: clinical perspectives. Circ Res 2016;118:1273–93. https://doi.org/10.1161/CIRCRESAHA.116.307547
2. Kim ES, Menon V. Status of women in cardiovascular clinical trials. Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol 2009;29:279–83. https://doi.org/10.1161/ATVBAHA.108.179796
3. Sinclair HC, Joshi A, Allen C et al. Women in cardiology: the British Junior Cardiologists’ Association identifies challenges. Eur Heart J 2019;40:227–31. https://doi.org/10.1093/eurheartj/ehy828
4. Birkhoelzer S, Kadavath S, Cader A. Global WIC-early careers: building an international multidisciplinary network of women in cardiology. J Am Coll Cardiol Case Rep 2020;2:2033–6. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jaccas.2020.09.003
5. Tan YC, Sinclair H, Ghoorah K, Teoh X, Mehran R, Kunadian V. Gender differences in outcomes in patients with acute coronary syndrome in the current era: a review. Eur Heart J Acute Cardiovasc Care 2016;5:51–60. https://doi.org/10.1177/2048872615610886
6. Portwood C. Reasons and resolutions for gender inequality among cardiologists and cardiology trainees. Br J Cardiol 2023;30:51–5. https://doi.org/10.5837/bjc.2023.013
7. Filardo G, Da Graca B, Sass DM, Pollock BD, Smith EB, Martinez MA. Trends and comparison of female first authorship in high impact medical journals: observational study (1994–2014). BMJ 2016;352:i847. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.i847
8. Carnes M, Bairey Merz CN. Women are less likely than men to be full professors in cardiology: why does this happen and how can we fix it? Circulation 2017;135:518–20. https://doi.org/10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.116.026671
