Heart of a Woman Medical Symposium 13-14 July, 2019

Heart of a Woman Medical Symposium

Lloyd Erskine Sandiford Centre, Barbados

13 July 2019 9am-5pm, 14 July 2019 9am-1pm

Event Brief

Cardiovascular disease is the number one cause of morbidity and mortality in women worldwide. Yet, research consistently reveals a profound lack of awareness of this fact, not only among women, but also among many healthcare professionals. Beyond this lack of awareness, disparities in treatment of cardiovascular disease in women exist, often because of failure to appreciate differences in disease presentation between men and women. 

It is for these reasons that the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Barbados conceptualized HoW, a forum designed to educate both the Barbadian public and healthcare providers in concurrent symposia.  The aim of the CME activity is to heighten awareness and to bridge the knowledge gap of manifestations, diagnosis and management of CVD in women.

The conference programme is led and developed by Dr. Dawn Scantlebury, Medical Director, HFSB and will feature some leading cardiologists from the USA and other guest presenters. Speakers include:

Dr. Jennifer Mieres, Cardiologist, USA

Jennifer Mieres, MD, is one of the leading experts and patient advocates in the fields of cardiovascular disease in women. She is the author of ‘Heart Smart for Black Women and Latinas’ and ‘Heart Smart for Women’. Her documentary, ‘A Woman’s Heart’ was nominated at the 46th Annual New York Emmy Awards. In her role as leader of Northwell Health’s Center for Equity of Care, Dr. Mieres has oversight of the Katz Institute for Women’s Health, all of Northwell’s health, wellness, community health education and healthcare access programs. She is also the health system’s chief diversity and inclusion officer and is a member of the health system’s leadership team.

Dr. Gina Price Lundberg, Cardiologist, USA

Gina Price Lundberg, MD is the Clinical Director of the Emory Women’s Heart Center and a Preventive Cardiologist with Emory Clinic in Marietta, Georgia. Dr. Lundberg is an Associate Professor of Medicine at Emory University School of Medicine. She has been interviewed on the subject of Heart Disease in Women in various media channels including CNN and in USA Today.

Dr. Selma Mohammed, Cardiologist, USA

Selma Mohammed, MBBS, PhD,  is a Heart Failure and Transplant Cardiologist at MedStar Health, and Assistant Professor of Medicine, Georgetown University of School of Medicine, Washington, DC. She conducts clinical research in heart failure as a scientific lead for the heart failure research team at MedStar.

Dr. Patricia Best, Cardiologist, USA

Patricia J M Best, MD, is an associate professor of internal medicine and cardiovascular diseases at Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science. She is an interventional cardiologist, an active member of the Women’s Heart Clinic and a researcher at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota. She is a fellow of the American College of Cardiology and a fellow of the Society for Cardiac Angiography and Intervention.

Helene Charlebois, Registered Dietitian, Canada

Helene Charlebois is a Registered Dietitian and Obesity Expert with over 25 years of experience in counselling, nutrition education and weight management.

Dr. Dawn Scantlebury, Interventional Cardiologist, Barbados

Dawn Scantlebury, MBBS  is a consultant cardiologist at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, and senior associate lecturer in cardiology, University of the West Indies. Dr. Scantlebury’s areas of practice include interventional cardiology, echocardiography and cardiac rehabilitation. Her main research focus is cardiovascular disease in women, particularly stress-induced cardiomyopathy and the long-term cardiovascular effects of hypertensive pregnancy.

Dr. Alafia Samuels, Epidemiologist, Barbados

Alafia Samuels, MBBS, PhD is the Director, George Alleyne Chronic Disease Research Centre, Deputy Dean for Research and Graduate Programmes, Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of the West Indies, Cave Hill campus Barbados and co-Principal Investigator of the IDRC (International Development Research Centre, Canada) funded evaluation of the CARICOM Heads of Government 2007 NCD Summit Declaration. She is currently a member of the Barbados National NCD (Non Communicable Diseases) Commission and the principal author of the Barbados Ministry of Health Strategic Plan of Action for the Prevention and Control of NCDs 2015-2019 as well as the CARICOM Regional NCD Plan 2010-2015

Other speakers may include:

Dr. NaTisha Robinson, Materno-Fetal Medicine Specialist, Barbados

Dr. Aderemi Soyombo, Cardiologist, Barbados

Dr. Ariane Harvey, Internist and Hypertension Specialist, Barbados

Rosanna Springer, RN, Barbados

Dr. Colette George , Endocrinologist

Dr. Cindy Flower, Rheumatologist

Heart of a Woman Medical Symposium

Lloyd Erskine Sandiford Centre, Barbados

13 July 2019 9am-5pm, 14 July 2019 9am-1pm

Draft Programme

Day 1 – 9AM-5PM

1.  Introduction
2. What does it matter?
3. Inequities in cardiovascular care
4. Barbadian data- from the BNR

1. Risk factors and prevention
2. Prevention Guidelines and role for risk prevention scores
3. Hypertension guidelines
4. Lipid management
5. Autoimmune disorders and the heart
6. Diabetes
7. Other conditions in women (e.g. migraine).

1. Break

1. Common Cardiac Conditions.
2. Stable coronary artery disease
3. Acute Coronary syndromes- including spontaneous coronary artery dissection, takotsubo cardiomyopathy
4. Heart failure with reduced EF
5. Heart failure with preserved EF
6. Atrial fibrillation and Stroke

1. Lunch 

1. Bikini Medicine!
2. Normal cardiac findings in pregnancy
3. Cardiac problems in pregnancy- from minor to major
4. Pregnancy complications including HPD and CVD

1. Lifestyle management
2. Beneficial effects of exercise on the heart
3. Cardiac Rehab
4. Nutrition counselling
5. Weight management counselling
6. Stress management counselling and resources.

Day 2: 9AM-1PM

1. ECG workshop

1. Cases (break out: docs vs nurses)
   1. Primary prevention
   2. Acute coronary syndrome
   3. Heart failure