Women’s Heart Disease
Heart disease is the leading killer of women in the United States, yet it often is under-recognized and under-treated. We recognize the importance of preventing, identifying and treating women with cardiovascular disease.
The approach in the Center for Women’s Heart Disease is comprehensive and multi-disciplinary, addressing the unique needs of women at all stages of their life. The center employs a coordinated multidisciplinary approach including cardiologists specializing in maternal heart disease, maternal-fetal medicine experts, anesthesiologists and pulmonologists.
Our team
Our multidisciplinary team of expert physicians and nurses includes:
- Kathryn Lindley, Director (Cardiologist)
- Philip Barger, MD (Cardiologist)
- Anita Bhandiwad, MD (Cardiologist)
- Alison Cahill, MD, MSCI (Maternal-Fetal Medicine Specialist)
- Murali Chakinala, MD (Pulmonary Hypertension Specialist)
- Shayna Conner, MD, MSCI (Maternal-Fetal Medicine Specialist)
- Tessa Madden, MD, MPH (Family Planning Specialist)
- Colleen McEvoy, MD (Pulmonary Hypertension Specialist)
- Lynne Seacord, MD (Cardiologist)
Clinical expertise
Multidisciplinary maternal cardiovascular management team
- Pregnancy risk assessment, planning, and management for women with pre-existing conditions including congenital heart disease, coronary artery disease, cardiomyopathy, valvular heart disease, aortopathy, and arrhythmia
- Management of cardiovascular complications of pregnancy including peripartum cardiomyopathy, pre-eclampsia, and coronary artery dissection
- Co-management with primary obstetrician and cardiologist or assumption of patient care, as per patient and referring physician preferences
Multidisciplinary family planning clinic
- Contraception counseling for women with pre-existing cardiovascular conditions such as cardiomyopathy, congenital heart disease, pulmonary hypertension, arrhythmias, coronary artery disease and valvular heart disease
- Providing safe and effective methods of contraception, individualized to each patient’s unique cardiovascular and pregnancy risk profile
- Counseling regarding medication teratogenicity, contraceptive safety and effectiveness, and cardiovascular risk of pregnancy
Preventative heart health
- Cardiovascular risk assessment and risk factor modification to reduce the incidence of cardiovascular disease in women
- Recognition of cardiovascular risk factors disproportionately affecting women, including pregnancy complications and autoimmune disease
Women’s heart disease management
- Comprehensive cardiovascular care for women living with heart disease, including cardiomyopathy, coronary artery disease, valvular heart disease, and arrhythmias
- Management of cardiac conditions disproportionately affecting women, such as coronary artery dissection, heart failure with preserved ejection fraction, Takotsubo cardiomyopathy, coronary vasospasm, and microvascular heart disease
- Counseling regarding hormone replacement therapy in women with heart disease
Clinical affiliations
The center is supported by a network of collaborative services, including:
- Maternal-Fetal Medicine
- Center for Adult Congenital Heart Disease
- Gynecology and Family Planning
- Pulmonary Hypertension
Patient information
Learn more about maternal heart care »
Learn more about women’s heart health »
Make an appointment
Referring Physicians: 314-362-1291
Patients: 314-362-1291 or 888-210-8375