St. Boniface Hospital establishes new women's heart health research chair

Dr. Shelley Zieroth has been appointed as the Heart & Stroke, St. Boniface Hospital Foundation, and Research Manitoba Chair in Women’s Clinical Heart Health Research. The five-year initiative aims to address the historical underrepresentation of women in cardiovascular clinical research, where approximately two-thirds of studies have focused on men.

Dr. Zieroth, a clinician-scientist and professor at the University of Manitoba, will lead efforts to develop a Women’s Heart Care program in Manitoba. The research will focus on advancing understanding of women's unique cardiovascular health needs and translating discoveries into clinical practice. The initiative seeks to foster collaboration among researchers and clinicians within Manitoba, across Canada, and internationally.

The St. Boniface Hospital Foundation has raised $1.7 million to support this initiative. These funds will finance the new Chair and two additional fundamental research positions in cardiology to improve cardiovascular health outcomes for women.