Canadian Women's Heart Health Education Course

Canadian Women’s Heart Health Education Course & Teaching Toolkit Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of hospitalization and premature death for women in Canada. 

Historically, the majority of cardiovascular research, awareness, education, diagnostic testing and interventions have focused on men. Research also points to the fact that healthcare professionals do not have a clear understanding of women’s cardiovascular health or risk factors for heart disease. Despite the fact that CVD kills more women than any other diagnosis, there are disparities in care in virtually all cardiovascular conditions, including ischemic heart disease, heart failure, valvular heart disease, and aortic disease.

Women with CVD are under-enrolled in clinical trials and under-investigated, under-diagnosed, and under-treated in clinical settings. 

In 2017, the Canadian Women’s Heart Health Centre (CWHHC) published results from a national survey identifying a need to increase awareness and knowledge regarding the incidence, prevalence, significance, and management of heart disease in women among Canadian clinicians. 

To address this need, 9 educational modules have been created, targeting trainees as well as healthcare professionals within cardiology, general internal medicine, and emergency medicine. Users can access each module for individual learning, or faculty can download the tools (PowerPoints, speaking notes, and resources list) to present at their institutions.  

See Incorporating a Women’s Cardiovascular Health Curriculum Into Medical Education article published in CJC Open for more information.

Overarching Learning Objectives:

  • Describe cardiac risk assessment in women.
  • Discuss acute coronary syndrome in women.
  • Review the approach to chest pain in women.
  • Describe SCAD and Takotsubo syndrome which are more prevalent in women.
  • Describe contemporary management of women with heart failure.
  • Explain cardiovascular risk in women with gestational diabetes and hypertensive disorders of pregnancy.
  • Review the unique aspects of recovery and cardiac rehabilitation for women.
 

REGISTER HERE 

How to Access Course

  1. Register online
  2. Select one of the 9 modules listed on the course homepage and click “+ Enroll” and then either “Start” or “Watch Webinar”.
  3. Once the webinar is completed click “Next”.
  4. Click “Go to Evaluation” to complete the required evaluation. 
  5. Click “Complete Course” to return to the module description page 
  6. To obtain your certificate, you can download “Certificate” and/or “Transcript.”
  7. Once the module is complete, you will receive a confirmation email with the certificate attached.

If you have any questions, please contact us or visit the Frequently Asked Questions page for more information.

There are two potential uses of these modules: 

  • Those interested in learning more about women’s cardiovascular health can view the free, pre-recorded webinar sessions or interactive e-modules (coming soon);
  • Faculty can download the tools (PowerPoint, speaker scripts and resources list) to present content at your institutions (i.e. Grand Rounds). You are also welcome to contact us for invited talks.

Accreditation and Certificate of Completion

Learners must register to access the powerpoint and speaker scripts recorded webinars or interactive e-module (coming soon)  and complete the required evaluation form to obtain a certificate of completion.

This event is an accredited Group Learning Activity (Section 1) as defined by the Maintenance of Certification Program of the Royal College of Physicians & Surgeons of Canada and approved by the Canadian Cardiovascular Society. You may claim a maximum of 7 hours.

Pre-Recorded Modules

If have any content-related questions, please contact us.

Cardiovascular Risk Assessment in Women – The Role of Risk Factors and Scores

This presentation will highlight the unique aspects of women’s cardiovascular risk, define and review the traditional and non-traditional risk factors affecting women and identify risk scores and their potential limitations in women.

Monique OaksMonique Oaks
Ottawa, ON

Experience Living with Heart Disease: Hear Monique’s Story:
Listen to Monique's personal journey through the healthcare system from symptom recognition to heart attack diagnosis, treatment, and outcomes.
 

Dr. Carolyn Baer

Carolyn Baer, MD, FRCPC 
General Internist
Assistant Professor, Dalhousie University
Moncton, NB

 

Helena Van RynHelena Van Ryn, PT
Physiotherapist, University of Ottawa Heart Institute
ACSM Certified Clinical Exercise Physiologist
Ottawa, ON

 


Acute Coronary Syndromes (ACS) in Women

This presentation will describe the presentation characteristics when women present with ACS, outline the assessment and management strategies for ACS, identify the additional challenges presented by younger women with ACS and appraise the literature related to ACS in women.

Kelly TuckerKelly Tucker
Fitzroy Harbour, ON

Experience Living with Heart Disease: Hear Kelly's Story
Listen to Kelly's personal journey through the healthcare system from symptom recognition to diagnosis, treatment, and outcomes of Acute Coronary Syndromes (ACS).

Dr. Michele Turek

Michele Turek, MDCM, FRCPC
Co-Chair, Canadian Women’s Heart Health Summit
Staff Cardiologist, University of Ottawa Heart Institute & The Ottawa Hospital
Associate Professor, University of Ottawa
Ottawa, ON

 


Approaches to Chest Pain - A Sex & Gender Focus

This presentation will discuss an appropriate diagnostic workup for women with symptoms, and identify how we classify chest pain into typical, atypical, or nonanginal pain. We will then explore how the pretest probability affects the interpretation of the test results and lastly, describe how to formulate an assessment and management plan based on the clinical picture and testing. 

Nicole NickersonNicole Nickerson
Middle Lahave, NS


Experience Living with Heart Disease: Hear Nicole's Story
Listen to Nicole's personal journey through the healthcare system from symptom recognition to heart attack diagnosis, treatment, and outcomes.

Dr. Beth L. Abramson

Beth L. Abramson, MD, MSc, FRCP, FACC
Associate Professor of Medicine, University of Toronto
Paul Albrechtsen Professor in Cardiac Prevention and Women's Health
Division of Cardiology at St. Michael's Hospital
Toronto, ON

 


MI with Non-Obstructive Coronary Arteries (MINOCA)

This presentation will describe who is at risk of ischemia/myocardial infarction with non-obstructive coronary artery disease (INOCA/MINOCA), list the criteria for the diagnosis and pathophysiologic sub-types of INOCA/MINOCA. Identify the next step in diagnosis when the angiogram is normal and describe how treatment differs between the sub-types. Lastly, explain the prognostic differences between ischemic heart disease (IHD) with obstructive versus non-obstructive coronaries.

Bobbi Jo GreenBobbi Jo Green
Edmonton, AB


Experience Living with Heart Disease: Hear Bobbi Jo's Story
Listen to Bobbi Jo's personal journey through the healthcare system from symptom recognition to diagnosis, treatment, and outcomes of Ischemia with Non-Obstructive Coronary Arteries Disease (INOCA). 

Dr. Anita Pozgay

Anita Pozgay, MD, FRCPC, Dip Sport Med
Emergency Physician, The Ottawa Hospital
Assistant Professor, University of Ottawa
Ottawa, ON

 


Stress-Induced Cardiomyopathy (SIC)

This presentation will address the clinical presentation and associated triggers for SIC, review the differences between SIC and acute coronary syndrome and lastly, explore the outcomes and treatments for SIC.

Bev JarvisBev Jarvis
Winnipeg, MB


Experience Living with Heart Disease: Hear Bev’s Story
Listen to Bev's personal journey through the healthcare system from symptom recognition to diagnosis, treatment, and outcomes of Takotsubo cardiomyopathy. 

Dr. Judy Luu

Judy Luu, MD/PhD, FRCPC
Clinical Fellow, Barbra Streisand Women’s Heart Disease Fellowship
Cedars-Sinai Medical Center
Los Angeles, California

 


Spontaneous Coronary Artery Dissection (SCAD)

This presentation will define the underlying pathophysiology of SCAD and how to recognize the clinical symptoms and signs. We will review the differences between SCAD and other causes of chest pain and lastly, distinguish the difference in diagnosis and management between SCAD and acute coronary syndrome (ACS). 

Sudi BarreSudi Barre
Edmonton, AB


Experience Living with Heart Disease: Hear Sudi’s Story
Listen to Sudi's personal journey through the healthcare system from symptom recognition to diagnosis, treatment, and outcomes of Spontaneous Coronary Artery Dissection (SCAD) and heart failure. 

Dr. Najah AdreakNajah Adreak, MD
Research Assistant, Division of Cardiovascular Surgery
University of British Columbia – Vancouver Campus
Vancouver, BC

 

 


Contemporary Management of Women with Heart Failure

This presentation will highlight the differences between men and women with respect to heart failure, define and review the causes of heart failure, focus on the medical therapies used to treat heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) and finally, discuss the lifestyle modifications which are relevant to all heart failure patients.

Marie Del RosarioMarie Del Rosario
Winnipeg, MB

Experience Living with Heart Disease: Hear Marie's Story
Listen to Marie's personal journey through the healthcare system from symptom recognition to heart failure diagnosis, treatment, and outcomes. 
 

Dr. Stephanie PoonStephanie Poon, MD, MSc, FRCPC
Medical Co-Director, Heart Function and Rapid Cardiology Assessment Clinic
Cardiologist, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre
Assistant Professor, University of Toronto
Toronto, ON

 


Cardiovascular Risk In Women With Gestational Diabetes & Hypertensive Disorders Of Pregnancy

This presentation will highlight the concepts of cardiovascular risk in women, review the underlying mechanisms and increased future risk of pregnancy related risk factors such as preeclampsia and gestational diabetes and finally, review the gaps and optimal management strategies for these women.

Christine McNairChristine McNair
Ottawa, ON

Experience Living with Heart Disease: Hear Christine’s Story
Listen to Christine's personal journey through the healthcare system from symptom recognition to diagnosis, treatment, and outcomes of preeclampsia, transient ischemic attack, angina and microvascular disease. 

Dr. KajennyKajenny Srivaratharajah, MD, MSc, FRCPC
Cardiac Health and Rehabilitation Clinic at the Hamilton General Hospital
Assistant Professor, Department of Medicine, McMaster University
Hamilton, ON

 


Recovery and Cardiac Rehabilitation (CR) for Women

This presentation will explain the benefits of CR for women living with cardiovascular disease, identify barriers that deter women from participating in CR, describe factors that may increase women's participation in CR and lastly, summarize the main components of a CR program.

Charlotte GirardCharlotte Girard
Otterburn Park, QC

Experience Living with Heart Disease: Hear Charlotte’s Story
Listen to Charlotte's personal journey through the healthcare system from symptom recognition, to diagnosis of coronary microvascular disease with vasospasms, to her experience with cardiac rehabilitation.

Dr. April PikeApril Pike, PhD, RN
Associate Professor, School of Nursing Memorial University
St. John’s, NFLD


 

Dr. Martha Mackay

Martha Mackay, PhD, RN
Clinical Nurse Specialist, Cardiology, St Paul’s Hospital Heart Centre
Clinical Associate Professor, School of Nursing
University of British Columbia
Vancouver, BC

 

Dr. Kajenny Srivaratharajah

Kajenny Srivaratharajah, MD, MSc, FRCPC
Cardiac Health and Rehabilitation Clinic at the Hamilton General Hospital
Assistant Professor, Department of Medicine, McMaster University
Hamilton, ON

 

Helena Van RynHelena Van Ryn, PT
Physiotherapist, University of Ottawa Heart Institute
ACSM Certified Clinical Exercise Physiologist
Ottawa, ON

 

 

 

The University of Ottawa Heart Institute is the convening body of the Canadian Women's Heart Health Alliance, which is a network of experts and advocates from across Canada aiming to improve women's cardiovascular health across the lifespan.

Powered by:

Canadian Women's Heart Health Centre Logo

English