American Heart Association Launches Cardio-OB-GYN Education Program with $1 Million Gift to Address Women’s Cardiovascular Risk During Menopause

The American Heart Association announced a new initiative designed to transform how clinicians identify and treat cardiovascular risk in midlife women, powered by a $1 million philanthropic gift from Dr. Jennifer Ashton and her husband Tom Werner. Their generosity will accelerate the creation of a professional educational program uniting cardiologists and OB-GYNs to ensure women navigating the menopause transition receive proactive, evidence-based cardiovascular care.

Menopause transition is a life stage marked by sharp, independent increases in cardiometabolic risk that often go unrecognized in clinical care. Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death for women, responsible for 1 in 3 female deaths each year, and it is projected to increase over the next few decades, according to the Association. This makes the need for coordinated, evidence-based guidance for women in this life stage more urgent than ever before.

‘We are profoundly grateful for Jen and Tom’s remarkable vision and generosity,’ said Nancy Brown, chief executive officer of the American Heart Association. ‘Their leadership sets a new standard for philanthropy in women’s health. This commitment will accelerate the development of interdisciplinary education, but it will also redefine how cardiovascular and gynecologic health are connected across a woman’s life course.’

The vision for the new continuing education program is collaborative, with the Heart Association working with other professional medical societies and organizations focused on women’s health care. The overall goal is to increase healthcare professional knowledge, competence and performance around women’s heart health with a focus on menopause and other OB-GYN issues. By fostering strong interdisciplinary collaboration, the education can enhance patient outcomes and reduce the burden of CVD among women.

‘Menopause represents a period when women’s cardiovascular risks intensify, underscoring the need for truly coordinated, evidence-informed care,’ said Amy Young M.D., CEO of the American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology. ‘As the OB-GYN medical community seeks to do more to advance care for woman in menopause, we hope that as a certifying body, we can contribute to the collaborative conversations and the work to ensure women navigating this life stage receive safe, proactive, and connected care.’

Early intervention at midlife remains one of the most powerful opportunities to prevent cardiovascular disease in women. ‘As an OB-GYN, the daughter of a cardiologist and a woman, I know women’s cardiovascular risks are too often overlooked in midlife,’ said Dr. Ashton. ‘This program seeks to connect the dots between these two specialties with tailored curricula… it’s what doctors need to know.’

For many women, the menopause transition marks the period when cardiovascular risk accelerates due to declining estrogen, increased abdominal fat, worsening lipid profiles, vascular stiffening, and rising blood pressure. According to the American Heart Association, hot flashes and night sweats are associated with worse cardiovascular disease risk factor levels. Cholesterol levels and metabolic syndrome risk appear to increase with menopause beyond the effects of normal aging.

Only 7.2% of women transitioning to menopause meet physical activity guidelines, and fewer than 20% maintain a healthy diet, compounding midlife risk. After menopause, 1 in 4 women may develop irregular heart rhythms, such as atrial fibrillation, which increases stroke risk. Additional resources on this topic can be found through the Go Red For Women initiative and the American Heart Association Scientific Statement on ‘Menopause Transition and Cardiovascular Disease Risk.’

Initial courses will launch in Fall 2026, with additional modules released through Spring 2027. The program represents a significant step toward addressing treatment gaps and improving cardiovascular outcomes for women during a critical phase of life when coordinated care between medical specialties is essential.

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