For Me, It’s Always About the Journey
Let me share with you my journey and how we benefit from more women in cardiology.
Women in Cardiology: The Stats
In 2019, the journal Circulation published an article discussing gender inequality in cardiology, observing trends in medical school through cardiology training. Comparing 2017 to 2007, not much has changed for women physicians.
Regardless of specialty, fewer women in training ultimately become practicing doctors. Cardiology is no exception.
While I was in training, only 10% of women became attending cardiologists, even though women made up 18% of the cardiology fellowship class.
Currently, women make up only 22% cardiology fellowships.
Why Women Patients Need an Ambassador
My entire professional career has focused on advocating for women, ensuring that female patients have a good ambassador to rely on regarding cardiovascular issues.
Because many cardiac diseases and comorbidities start during pregnancy, much of my practice is dedicated to caring for pregnant women at high risk, treating conditions such as preeclampsia and gestational hypertension.
With obesity on the rise in North America, the risk of pregnancy-related complications is rising as well. These conditions make women more likely to develop other diseases, such as high blood pressure, stroke, and heart attack later in life.
My passion for maternal cardiology stems from my desire to make an impact at such a crucial point in a woman’s life, where proper interventions could affect the total burden on the healthcare system for all of us.
Women’s Health Is Not Just Pregnancy
Caring for women beyond the pregnancy years requires paying close attention to risk factors for heart disease. Similar diseases in men and women, such as malfunctioning heart valves, can often be approached differently if seen from a female perspective.
A patient’s ability to feel comfortable with their care team is also facilitated by a clinic specifically designed for women.
Understanding the Female Perspective in Healthcare
As a non-invasive cardiologist, I use my clinical skills to find the correct diagnosis for a patient, and then formulate a treatment plan which is aligned with their beliefs and goals.
As a woman in cardiology, I strive to understand my female patients from this perspective, so that an appropriate treatment plan can be created for each individual.
Allowing women to make healthcare decisions in a comfortable environment, where their needs are being met, is my mission as a woman cardiologist.
It’s the Journey, Not the Destination
So it is about the journey, my own personal journey as I forge ahead as an advocate for women, and for the patients themselves, as they live out their lives through pregnancy and beyond.
Helping women navigate the healthcare system with a physician partner who understands their goals and desires, means that we need more women physicians entering the marketplace.
Empowering clinics dedicated to women’s health is an emerging concept dear to my heart.
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*Dr. Reuss started the HonorHealth Women’s Heart Health Group, Shea campus, which focuses on women with an emphasis on pregnant women. This clinic offers cardiovascular care during pregnancy and care to prevent and manage cardiovascular disease later in life.