The Women’s Heart Health Summit has wrapped, and I left feeling what I hope every attendee did: galvanized. We didn’t just gather to talk. We gathered to lead. Across panels and hallway conversations, six themes rose to the top that are clear, urgent, and impossible to ignore.
1. Hypertension in Women Is a Silent Emergency
Women are uniquely vulnerable to the effects of high blood pressure, especially after midlife. As Dr. Erin Michos reminded us, women are more likely than men to suffer cardiovascular consequences at lower blood pressure thresholds. And yet, only 23% of women treated for hypertension have it under control.
“Hypertension affects one in two adults—but the impact on women is more severe, and we’re still doing a terrible job controlling it.”
—Dr. Erin Michos, Johns Hopkins Medicine
This isn’t just a gap. It's a missed opportunity for prevention on a national scale.
2. Maternal Heart Health Is a Crisis Hiding in Plain Sight
The leading cause of maternal death in women? Hypertensive disorders. More than 65% of maternal deaths occur postpartum, yet we still only offer women one routine postpartum visit.
As Dr. Ofili and others discussed, many of these deaths are preventable—but systemic delays, provider bias, and fragmented care create a dangerous gap. The conclusion was clear: maternal heart care must extend before, during, and long after birth.
“Cardiac health is now the leading cause of maternal mortality—and 68% of those deaths are preventable.”
—Dr. Oyere Onuma, Harvard Medical School
3. Heart Healthcare Deserts Are Real—And They’re Deadly
Rural and tribal communities are facing “healthcare deserts” where even basic care is hours away. From rural counties without OB-GYNs to tribal lands with no local cardiologist, women are often forced to navigate immense distances just to access basic services.
“In some tribal areas, people drive four hours just to access care. In Alaska, water costs $14 a gallon—but soda is $1.20. That tells you everything.”
—Roselyn Tso, Former Director, Indian Health Service
The outcomes are predictable—and devastating.
4. Mental Health and Heart Health Are Deeply Connected
Dr. Kiki Fehling said it best: “Cardiac health requires mental health.” After surviving a heart attack at 29, she experienced panic, hypervigilance, and trauma—but found little support in the system for emotional recovery.
“Painful emotions aren’t the problem. They become problems when we don’t understand them and don’t know how to cope.”
—Dr. Kiki Fehling, Licensed Psychologist & Heart Attack Survivor
One in three heart patients lives with anxiety or depression. Yet most providers aren’t screening for it. This is a fixable gap—if we start treating hearts and minds as one system, not two.
5. Technology Can Help Close the Gap
Digital health isn’t just about convenience—it’s about equity. Technology has the potential to increase access, improve adherence, and personalize care for the women who need it most. From remote blood pressure monitoring to AI-powered coaching, the right tools can meet women where they are—and give them more control over their health.
But only if we build them right.
“AI is only as good as the data it’s trained on—and women have been left out of clinical studies for decades. If we do this right, technology can level the playing field. If we don’t, we risk reinforcing the same biases that have harmed women for years.”
—Maayan Cohen, CEO, Hello Heart
The message was clear: innovation must be intentional. If we want technology to solve for the gaps, not widen them, women’s experiences must shape the design from day one.
6. Women Belong at the Center of Solutions
Again and again, one theme emerged: Women must not only be included in the conversation—we must lead it.
Whether addressing benefit design, clinical guidelines, or digital health innovation, women leaders across sectors are driving change. As I put it: “We created a space for women to lead—especially around a problem of our own.”
It’s clear that the future of women’s heart health requires women’s voices, insights, and leadership at every level.
What’s Next
In the coming weeks, we’ll continue to share learnings from the Summit, highlight promising innovations, and explore what it means to build a future where preventable heart disease among women is truly a thing of the past.
Thank you to all who joined us—and to those continuing the work long after the Summit ends.
1. Gazit T, Gutman M, Beatty AL. Assessment of Hypertension Control Among Adults Participating in a Mobile Technology Blood Pressure Self-management Program. JAMA Netw Open. 2021;4(10):e2127008, https://doi.org/10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2021.27008. Accessed October 19, 2022. (Some study authors are employed by Hello Heart. Because of the observational nature of the study, causal conclusions cannot be made. See additional important study limitations in the publication. This study showed that 108 participants with baseline blood pressure over 140/90 who had been enrolled in the program for 3 years and had application activity during weeks 148-163 were able to reduce their blood pressure by 21 mmHg using the Hello Heart program.) (2) Livongo Health, Inc. Form S-1 Registration Statement. https:/www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1639225/000119312519185159/d731249ds1.htm. Published June 28, 2019. Accessed October 19, 2022. (In a pilot study that lasted six weeks, individuals starting with a blood pressure of greater than 140/90 mmHg, on average, had a 10 mmHG reduction.) NOTE: This comparison is not based on a head-to-head study, and the difference in results may be due in part to different study protocols.
2. Validation Institute. 2021 Validation Report (Valid Through October 2022). https://validationinstitute.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/Hello_Heart-Savings-2021- Final.pdf. Published October 2021. Accessed October 19, 2022. (This analysis was commissioned by Hello Heart, which provided a summary report of self-fundedemployer client medical claims data for 203 Hello Heart users and 200 non-users from 2017-2020. Findings have not been subjected to peer review.)
