Vanderbilt Heart Signature Program

Coronary artery disease and stroke have always been considered men's diseases. Most people don’t realize that the leading cause of death among women is cardiovascular disease. That’s why we established the Women’s Heart Program. Here we give each woman the individualized care she needs. 

Services and treatment
The Women’s Heart Program is a unique program that focuses on prevention, diagnosis and treatment of heart disease in women. We believe the best way to accomplish this is through an active partnership between each woman and her physician. Women can choose to get a complete health screening, including screening for cardiovascular disease. We perform diagnostic testing often right here in the clinic instead of in the hospital. These tests show us what is wrong and help us determine what care each woman needs.

We advise women on the lifestyle changes they need to make to prevent heart disease and stroke. In addition, we offer a wide variety of treatments for women with coronary heart disease, heart rhythm problems, shortness of breath and exercise intolerance, dizziness or fainting and congenital heart disease. Also available is a broad range of cardiac catheterization-based techniques, including but not limited to angioplasty and stenting. Angioplasty is a process that widens narrowed arteries. Stenting occurs often after angioplasty to keep arteries open. In severe cases and when it is absolutely necessary we will perform surgery.

The Women’s Heart Program tailors care for each woman’s special needs. Our team of specialists assist our patients with social, nutritional, exercise and financial needs. The team includes physicians and nurse practitioners with a focus on women’s health as well as nurses, exercise specialists, a social worker and a nutritionist. Patients learn about a heart-healthy lifestyle through education about nutrition, exercise, cholesterol reduction, smoking cessation, diabetes control and high blood pressure management.

We make sure that we see our patients promptly and coordinate our care with your primary care physician. We also give women easy access to other physicians at the center who specialize in women’s health, including general internal medicine, ob/gyn, breast health, endocrinology, bone and joint diseases and others.

Current research
The Women’s Heart Program participates in research trials to evaluate treatments specific to women’s health issues. Patients who qualify will have the option to participate.

Providers
Julie B. Damp, MD
Emily G. Kurtz, MD
Lisa Mendes, MD