Centre for Women’s Heart Health Research

The Centre for Women’s Heart Health is the home of pioneering research and clinical care in female cardiovascular disease in Western Canada. Its mandate consists of stopping and preventing the progression of heart disease in women via a comprehensive outpatient risk reduction program involving specialized diagnostics, cardiac rehabilitation, and education. The Centre consists of a team of leading authorities on the identification and treatment of heart conditions such as coronary microvascular disease (CMD) and spontaneous coronary artery dissection (SCAD), both of which affect women disproportionately.

Since its inception, the Centre has helped hundreds of women live longer and healthier lives while empowering patients to advocate for their health, and the health of other women in their communities. The Centre also sets itself apart in its volume of publications and ongoing research studies which function to increase the representation of women in clinical trials, with significant impacts on quality of care and patient outcomes.

Heart disease and stroke is the number one cause of premature death in Canadian women

“According to the Heart and Stroke Foundation, heart disease and stroke is the number one cause of premature death in Canadian women — and half of all women who experience heart attacks have their symptoms go unrecognized.”

Dr. Tara Sedlak

Dr. Tara Sedlak is the Director of the Centre for Women’s Heart Health and the Leslie Diamond Women’s Heart Health Clinic at Vancouver General Hospital, and the only certified Women’s Heart Health cardiologist in Canada. She is a clinical associate professor in the Division of Cardiology at the University of British Columbia. Her research areas include microvascular coronary dysfunction, coronary vasospasm, non-obstructive coronary artery disease and sex-specific cardiac risk factors in women.

Dr. Sedlak completed her undergraduate medical training at the University of British Columbia where she went on to pursue residencies in internal medicine and cardiology. Her interest in heart disease in women led her to complete an additional fellowship at Cedar Sinai Medical Centre led by Dr. Bairey Merz, the world’s leading expert on women’s heart health. Dr. Sedlak holds the distinction of being the only Canadian physician to have completed this program.

Throughout her career, Dr. Sedlak has been the recipient of numerous awards and honours. As a medical student, she was awarded the Gold Medal for top graduate and was named Chief Resident twice during her post-graduate training. In 2019, she was recognized for her excellence in clinical teaching and in 2021, was the recipient of the Canadian Women’s Heart Health Advocacy Award. Dr. Sedlak was the leader of the inaugural Wear Red Canada Day in 2019 and has spoken at over 50 public events in support of women’s heart health awareness. She is currently a member of the Canadian Women’s Heart Health Alliance.

Dr. Jacqueline Saw

Dr. Jacqueline Saw is an interventional cardiologist and the Director of the Interventional Cardiology Fellowship Program at Vancouver General Hospital, in addition to being a clinical associate professor in the Division of Cardiology at the University of British Columbia. She is a leader in the research and treatment of a condition called spontaneous coronary artery dissection (SCAD) which predominantly affects young, healthy women without traditional cardiac risk factors. Her other research interests include left-atrial appendage (LAA) closure, percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), carotid artery stenting, peripheral arterial disease and intervention, non-atherosclerotic coronary artery disease (including coronary fibromuscular dysplasia) and antiplatelet therapy. Her clinical expertise has led her to serve as the physician proctor for LAA closure using the Amplatzer Amulet and WATCHMAN devices globally.

Dr. Saw obtained her medical degree at the University of Ottawa and completed residencies in internal medicine and cardiology at the University of British Columbia, during which she held the title of chief cardiology fellow. She went on to complete a fellowship in interventional cardiology at the Cleveland Clinic Foundation, where she received advanced training on the treatment of carotid, peripheral and structural pathologies. As a proponent of research, Dr. Saw is the principal investigator for several high-profile projects including the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) funded SCAD study. She has authored over 100 peer-reviewed publications and is the editor of three textbooks on carotid artery stenting and LAA closure.

She currently serves as an associate editor for the Journal of the American College of Cardiology: Cardiology Interventions.