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Association of Women's Heart Programs

The Association of Women’s Heart Programs is a newly formed nonprofit organization created to define program/site specific accreditation and professional credentialing, which promotes and advocates the highest quality cardiovascular care for women with an emphasis on their unique gender differences. Founded in 2005, the organization is aligned with the American College of Cardiology and located in Washington, D.C.

Dr. Tracy Stevens, Medical Director (photo, right), and Marcia McCoy, RN, MSN, Director (photo, left) of Saint Luke’s Mid America Heart Institute’s Muriel I. Kauffman Women’s Heart Center are founding Board Members providing leadership in the development of this organization, along with other cardiologists and health care providers specializing in women’s heart health.

Program Goals

1. Set best practice guidelines for cardiovascular care in women.
2. Increase awareness within the health care community and among the general public about women and heart disease.
3. Promote and market women’s heart programs.
4. Influence and shape public policies affecting women with cardiovascular disease and their access to quality health care.
5. Achieve strong overall financial and operational performance.

In 2006 the organization hosted a Thought Leaders Conference (TLC) in Washington, D.C. to create a core membership; promote, refine and translate existing guidelines into practice; establish criteria for the credentialing and accreditation process; establish a scientific advisory committee; and identify knowledge gaps in the unique gender differences in women’s cardiovascular health and care.

Key partners: National Heart Lung and Blood Institute, American College of Cardiology, and Office of Women’s Health

Other Board of Directors: Susan Bennett, M.D., George Washington University Hospital, Washington, D.C.; Jennifer Mieres, M.D.,North Shore University Hospital, Manhasset, NY; Pamela Marcovitz, M.D., William Beaumont Hospital, Ann Arbor, MI; Salvatore Trazzera, M.D., The Huntington Heart Center, Cold Spring, NY

Representatives of Saint Luke’s Mid America Heart Institute’s Muriel I. Kauffman Women’s Heart Center were among a select group invited to attend a national press conference held by First Lady Laura Bush at the White House on Frebruary 2. The event launched American Heart Month and raised awareness about women's heart disease. In her remarks, Mrs. Bush provided special recognition to the Women's Cardiac Center for its life-saving work.