Tag: medical students aren’t taught about women’s unique cardiac care needs

Talking about women’s heart disease to medical students

~ Carolyn Thomas ~ 14 Comments

by Carolyn Thomas  ♥  @HeartSisters

I was invited recently to do my “Heart-Smart Women” virtual presentation to a medical school class in New York.  For a heart patient like me, this was a dream invitation. I’ve spoken to thousands of people – including patients, the general public, doctors, nurses and academics- since graduating in 2008 from the WomenHeart Science & Leadership patient advocacy training at Mayo Clinic – but I’ve always known that what I really wanted to do was to reach our future doctors. Here’s why those trainees are so important to me.      . Continue reading “Talking about women’s heart disease to medical students” →

Nine lessons about women’s heart disease that future doctors will learn in med school

~ Carolyn Thomas ~ 6 Comments

by Carolyn Thomas   ♥  @HeartSisters

A cardiologist who teaches medical students at a prominent medical school was asked if his students were learning about the known disparities in cardiac research, diagnostics, treatment and outcomes in female heart patients compared to our male counterparts. His answer basically was: “If we start taking up time to talk about women, we’d have to stop teaching one of the equally important subjects in our curriculum.”  See also: Women’s Heart Health: Why it’s NOT a Zero Sum Game

That reluctant conversation-stopper may help to explain what cardiac researchers keep reminding us:  physicians now in practice likely received little if any specific med school training in women’s health aside from reproductive health issues. And as Emergency physician Dr. Alyson McGregor at Brown University reminds her colleagues:

“Women are NOT just men with boobs and tubes.”   

Continue reading “Nine lessons about women’s heart disease that future doctors will learn in med school” →