UC Davis Health
GETTING TO THE HEART OF WOMEN’S HEALTH
D
r. Amparo Villablanca is a pioneer heart disease prevention, the molecular and
physician-scientist. This UC cellular determinants of atherosclerosis,
Davis Health cardiologist leads how hormones regulate susceptibility to
the way in the field of women and heart cardiovascular disease, and the foundations
disease — in 1994, she launched the first of neurovascular inflammation that may
program in the nation focused on women’s lead to vascular dementia.
heart health, the UC Davis Women’s
Cardiovascular Medicine Program.
Her efforts, together with those of the
now more robust nationwide network of
The program’s roots are in Dr. Villablanca’s women’s heart health specialists, have
passions. Early in her career, she learned helped reduce heart disease deaths in
that heart disease was the leading killer of women. Yet, more work is needed.
women, yet there was a lack of knowledge
about heart disease in women, even among
medical specialists. She committed herself
to finding solutions and offering hope to
women afflicted by heart disease.
“Heart disease remains the leading killer
of women, but only about half of women
realize this is so. Research funding also
remains low, there are still many gaps in
and deaths from heart disease are rising
symptoms are more subtle, and they don’t among younger women,” Dr. Villablanca
always receive the proven medications adds. “We need to change all of that.”
says Dr. Villablanca. “I’m passionate about
reducing heart disease deaths in women
through community engagement and
— DR. AMPARO VILLABLANCA
”
Physician-Scientist
knowledge about heart disease in women,
“Heart disease is different for women. Their
and post-heart-attack care that men do,”
“
I’m passionate
about reducing
heart disease
deaths in women
through community
engagement and
gender-based
clinical care and
research.
Profile Sponsored By
For more information about the UC Davis
Women’s Cardiovascular Medicine Program,
visit womenshearthealth.ucdavis.edu.
gender-based clinical care and research.”
Dr. Villablanca’s research — funded by an
endowment, private foundations, the U.S. UC Davis Women’s Cardiovascular
Medicine Program
Department of Health and Human Services, Lawrence J. Ellison Ambulatory Care Center
and the National Institutes of Health —
focuses on finding effective models for
4860 Y St., Sacramento, CA 95817
Request a consultation: 916-734-3761
Make a donation: 916-734-9416
womenshearthealth.ucdavis.edu
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