‘a la Buena Salud!’ – Two Latina doctors you should know

 

POSTED ON Sep 25, 2020

 

One in 3 Hispanic women has a form of heart disease, according to the American Heart Association. For Hispanic women, it is the second leading cause of death, just behind cancer, said a 2020 report published by Scripps Women’s Heart Center, which provides heart care for women, by women.

Dr. Maribel Hernández, a Lankenau Heart Institute cardiologist, received the American Heart Association (AHA) Philadelphia Chapter’s Por Tu Corazón Ambassador Award in 2014. The award was presented in recognition of her commitment and dedication to AHA in the fight to build healthier lives free of cardiovascular disease and stroke in the Latino community.

“It is vitally important that we spread the word that heart disease is the number one killer in Hispanic women,” said Dr. Hernández. “As an ambassador of the Por Tu Corazón program, I am able to reach Latino women right here in our community and help them learn how to reduce their risk of heart disease. I want to thank the AHA for allowing me to use my knowledge and passion to make a difference in the lives of these women. This award is a true honor.”

In 2012, she received the Hero of the Community award presented by radio station El Zol, 1340 AM, during Hispanic Heritage Month. She was also recently honored as the 2013 Woman of the Heart at the AHA’s Go Red for Women luncheon for her tireless work to promote awareness of heart disease in women.

Fatima Rodriguez, MD, (right) is an assistant professor in cardiovascular medicine at the Stanford Prevention Research Center.

Dr. Rodriguez’s research includes a range of topics relating to racial, ethnic, and gender disparities in cardiovascular disease prevention and developing novel interventions to address disparities.

Her honors and awards include the  Presidential Scholars Public Service Initiative, Harvard Medical School (2011), Women in Cardiology Trainee Award for Excellence, American Heart Association (2015), and the Center of Excellence Faculty Fellowship, Stanford University (2018).

According to the CDC’s  ¡A la Buena Salud! – To Good Health!, heart disease and cancer in Hispanics are the two leading causes of death, accounting for about 2 of 5 deaths.