Advancing Women in Cardiology

Women represented just 17.2% of practicing Cardiologists in 2024. While efforts over the last two decades have helped increase representation, Cardiology remains one of the medical specialties with the lowest percentage of women physicians.

Increasing gender diversity and equity in Cardiology helps strengthen patient care. Diverse perspectives can enhance clinical decision-making, support more inclusive care experiences and contribute to better health outcomes for the communities we serve.

At Provider Solutions & Development (PS&D), we believe clinicians thrive when they find the right environment to build a meaningful and sustainable career. Supporting a diverse physician and advanced practice workforce is one way we support stronger care teams, healthier communities and long-term career satisfaction.

To learn more about the progress being made and the work still ahead, we spoke with Dr. Lori Tam, Medical Director of Providence Women’s Heart Program, about her experiences in Cardiology and opportunities to support the next generation of women entering the field.

PS&D: Can you tell us about your path into Cardiology and what drew you to focus on women’s heart health?

Dr. Lori Tam: I have been taking care of women my whole career. My Internal Medicine Primary Care clinic was actually at a women's heart clinic in Boston. So even then, as an Internal Medicine resident, I've been taking care of women initially in Primary Care and then subsequently as a Cardiologist.

This is my 14th year with Providence, and I'm the medical director for the Providence Women's Heart Program here. And I will say that for me, you know, the interesting thing about taking care of women, especially women's heart health, is that women's biology and physiology change throughout the lifespan. So, events like pregnancy, menopause affect our cardiac risk and guiding women through this life course is especially meaningful to me.

We know that heart disease in women has been under-recognized for many years and under-treated. And I think my focus on women's health really is centered on identifying risk factors earlier, looking beyond traditional risk factors, preventing heart disease before it happens, and then in women who actually do have heart disease, treating women optimally and with evidence-based approaches.

PS&D: Looking back over your career, where have you seen the greatest progress for women in Cardiology, and where has change been slower than you expected?

Dr. Lori Tam: So, I will say that Cardiology has been a male-dominated field. About 15 to 20 percent of Cardiologists are women. And in the cardiac subspecialties, even fewer. But we’re seeing more women leaders in Cardiology and medicine. I think that representation matters because you see other people who are like you doing it.

I think traditionally the intensity of training, the duration of training, and unpredictable call schedules make it harder for women to choose to be Cardiologists. But I also would say that in a large system like Providence, we share the call burden. There is a lot more equality built into our daily lives now and in our work life, such that we can have more balance. That has made it easier to practice medicine and be a practicing Cardiologist in the last two decades.

When we talked about barriers to women in Cardiology, in addition to call schedules and a demanding, competitive specialty, I think radiation exposure actually is something that is a concern we don't talk about so much. Most of us starting in our careers are in childbearing age, and if we're doing procedures that involve a lot of radiation exposure, that is of concern.

When I was pregnant with two of my kids, I was still doing coronary angiograms and I would wear double lead. These are the kind of things we don't always think about for women in Cardiology, but it is a big deal. Now that our technology has gotten better, our equipment's gotten better, our reliance on just coronary angiograms is less, we're doing coronary CTAs more, I think this will make the field more appealing to women who are interested in Cardiology.

PS&D: What efforts are making the biggest difference in advancing gender equity today?

Dr. Lori Tam: I would say mentorship. Especially in these professional fields, having mentors that can help guide your career and help direct you toward pathways to leadership are really important. And I also think equitable compensation is really important.

We know that over the course of our careers, women physicians make about 75 cents to a dollar compared to men. And that's not just in medicine; it's really in everything. I think there are certainly incentive structures that can make that not an issue. For example, in my group, all of our Cardiologists, after an initial period, are paid exactly the same. We have one shared contract.

I think for me, 15 years ago when I was signing up to be a Cardiologist, that was really important to me. I didn’t want to fall behind because maybe we may not negotiate aggressively and because we’re nice, but I didn’t want to feel like those qualities would create an unfair situation for me.

Over the years, my partners and I have been able to really negotiate together. And because of that, we've been able to protect each other by making sure that our compensation is fair and just, and I think that's really important.

PS&D: How does a more diverse Cardiology workforce influence patient care, clinical decision-making and patient trust?

Dr. Lori Tam: Having a diverse Cardiology workforce is important because it allows us to provide more thoughtful, inclusive care to our patients. I think we are better physicians when we have walked in their shoes.

After I had my babies, I could better understand the challenges women face when they're postpartum or pregnant and dealing with heart conditions. For example, we care for women with preeclampsia and other blood pressure issues. Standard care is often to see a woman for a postpartum follow-up six weeks after delivery, but for women who've experienced cardiac or blood pressure complications, that's not always enough. I recognize the barriers and the challenges people encounter when I've been there and walked in their shoes.

Another example is when my own father passed away from a long chronic illness. That experience gave me a much greater appreciation for end-of-life care. I think we are better doctors when we've walked in our patients' shoes. It helps us recognize care gaps and when you bring different perspectives to the table, you're more likely to challenge assumptions, to ask different questions and then recognize what can be done better in terms of providing patient care.

PS&D: What research advances or emerging trends are having the greatest impact on women’s cardiovascular health?

Dr. Lori Tam: Some of the things that have changed in the last couple of decades that are really important to women's heart health is we now recognize that women have a distinct cardiovascular biology and life course. For a long time, we were treating women like smaller versions of men, and that's not true. We're paying attention more to pregnancy related complications, how that impacts future heart health. We are understanding menopause better in terms of its impact on heart health, recognizing the autoimmune disease and other factors that we sometimes see in women impact cardiovascular risk. We're also recognizing that there's lots of other conditions that have traditionally been under-recognized that cause heart disease in women. So, things like microvascular disease, spontaneous coronary artery dissections, ischemia in the absence of obstructive coronary artery disease, coronary artery vasospasm, these are all cardiac conditions that are more common in women. We didn't understand the physiology and management as well for a long time. It is exciting that there is a lot of emerging research and areas of focus now allowing us to provide better care to our patients. We now have a better understanding and more tools to treat them.

PS&D: What advice would you give to women who are considering a career in Cardiology, and to early-career Cardiologists evaluating potential employers and career opportunities?

Dr. Lori Tam: I think it's really important to be amongst really excellent colleagues, people you feel are the kind of people you would want taking care of your own family. It's those relationships that keep us at jobs. You know, people maybe take a job for money, but we don't stay at a job long for money. It's really about relationships and being in a place where you feel empowered to do meaningful work and the opportunity to practice good medicine.

So, I think if you can find that, that's what's going to make a career not just a career, but really a place where you can do your life's work. And I'm grateful to have been able to find that with Providence. I mean, I started my career 14 years ago as a Cardiologist here, and it's still where I want to be.

How PS&D Can Support Your Cardiology Career

As Dr. Tam notes, meaningful relationships, strong colleagues and an environment that empowers physicians to provide excellent care can make all the difference in long-term career satisfaction. Supporting a more diverse Cardiology workforce means helping physicians and APCs find organizations where they feel valued, supported and positioned to succeed.

At PS&D, we take a personalized approach to the job search, helping clinicians identify opportunities that align with their professional and personal goals, practice preferences and vision for the future. With opportunities across a wide range of healthcare partners and practice settings, we can help you find a Cardiology role where you can grow, contribute and thrive. Reach out today.