Educational innovation in cardiovascular care: Developing a curriculum for women's cardiovascular health

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of death among women in the United States, with significant knowledge gaps in sex-specific care among providers. To address this, we developed and implemented a structured, multidisciplinary women's cardiovascular health (CVH) curriculum within the cardiovascular fellowship program at the University of Virginia. The curriculum focused on women-specific cardiovascular health, including cardio-obstetrics, spontaneous coronary artery dissection (SCAD) and coronary microvascular disease (CMD), and encompassed didactic lectures and unique experiential learning through clinical work, research, and community outreach. This multidisciplinary approach enhances individualized care and prepares trainees to recognize and treat the unique cardiovascular needs of women. Continued development of such curricula is crucial for reducing morbidity and mortality disparities in CVD.