Hello,
We hope you enjoy The WomenHeart Beat , our advocacy newsletter designed to keep you updated on WomenHeart’s advocacy activities, policy priorities, clinical trial information, and Advocacy Corps.
Cardio Renal Metabolic Support, Education and Advocacy
In summer 2024, WomenHeart began creating its Cardio-Renal-Metabolic (CRM) Education and Support Program to address the needs of women living with heart disease who also face or are at risk for chronic kidney disease and metabolic conditions such as obesity and Type 2 diabetes. The program highlights the interconnection among these diseases, now recognized collectively as Cardiovascular-Kidney-Metabolic (CKM) syndrome.
Historically, heart, kidney, and metabolic diseases were treated separately, often increasing risks across other systems. Today, with a better understanding of how these conditions interact, interdisciplinary care and new therapies offer a safer and more comprehensive approach to treatment. Unfortunately, education and support for patients remains limited.
WomenHeart’s cardio renal metabolic program provides educational resources, peer support, and advocacy activities focused on helping women navigate the complexities of managing several chronic diseases at once, including the mental health challenges that often accompany them.
As part of its broader advocacy efforts, WomenHeart supports and advocates for equitable access to care and takes action to increase coverage for and access to medications and therapies for heart, kidney and metabolic diseases. In 2024, WomenHeart advocated for passage of the Treat and Reduce Obesity Act (TROA) for coverage of obesity medication and behavioral therapy, but despite the efforts of WomenHeart and many other patient advocacy groups, the bill did not pass. WomenHeart did not stop advocating for access to and coverage, but in another setback for patient care, the Trump Administration announced in April 2025 that Medicare and Medicaid will not cover anti-obesity medications, including the GLP-1 class of drugs. Regardless, WomenHeart remains committed to continuing to work towards better care for all women.
Watch our HeartTalk on The Role of Nutrition and Lifestyle in Supporting Cardiovascular Kidney Metabolic Health HERE [[link removed]] .
The Cardio Renal Metabolic Education and Support Program was generously supported by The Boehringer Ingelheim-Lilly Alliance and Roche Diagnostics.
Advocacy through Education, Collaboration, & Community
Today, funding for women’s heart health research and programs for women's health faces great uncertainty. Yet, WomenHeart remains a powerful advocate for women living with or at risk of heart disease. Through education, peer support, and advocacy, WomenHeart works to address the unique challenges women face. Central to these efforts is WomenHeart's Advocacy Corps—a network of WomenHeart Champions who share their personal stories to help shape policies that improve outcomes for women.
Advocacy through education. On Feb. 3, 2025, WomenHeart hosted the Heart Health IS Women’s Health Summit in partnership with HealthyWomen, a signature event focused on the critical connection between heart health and women's health across the lifespan. The Summit highlighted innovations in treatment and care and the power of collective action to drive policy change. Watch Here [link removed]
Advocacy through collaboration. Despite operating with a relatively small staff, WomenHeart’s impact is mighty. Its leadership serves on national councils, coalitions, and collaboratives, ensuring women’s heart health remains a priority across the healthcare landscape. By joining collective actions and signing onto advocacy letters, WomenHeart amplifies its voice—and the voices of women everywhere—to drive change beyond what any one organization could achieve alone.
Advocacy through relationships. On February 4, WomenHeart hosted its annual Advocacy Day, bringing Advocacy Corps members and organizational leadership to Capitol Hill to meet with their members of Congress. With many new lawmakers in office, this year’s event marked the beginning of meaningful relationship-building that WomenHeart Champions will continue to foster throughout the year. During the event, WomenHeart also introduced its policy priorities—key issues the organization will continue to champion well beyond Advocacy Day.
Advocacy in communities. There's a saying, "All politics is local." Today, due to rapid changes at the federal level, WomenHeart advocates are working in their states or local communities to address key issues of access, coverage and equity. WomenHeart provides training on state and local advocacy and plans to expand these activities in the coming year.

Advocate Spotlight
Tiffany Foege
We’re honored to spotlight Tiffany Foege, a passionate advocate and member of WomenHeart’s Advocacy Corps. Tiffany took part in Advocacy Day on February 4, 2025, lending her voice and lived experience to the ongoing fight for better heart health for women. Born with congenital heart disease (CHD)—a condition that affects 1 in 100 people—Tiffany understands just how vital research funding is to advance treatments and improving quality of life for those living with CHD.
Earlier this year, when WomenHeart became aware of proposed cuts to women’s health research and to programs at the CDC and Veterans Administration, our CEO, Celina Gorre, swiftly called our community to action. We released an alert and developed a customizable letter for advocates to send to lawmakers. Tiffany’s insights and personal experience helped strengthen that message, making it even more compelling and impactful.
Advocates like Tiffany are the heart of WomenHeart’s mission. Their courage, leadership, and willingness to share their stories are what drive progress—and we are incredibly grateful for their commitment to advancing care and equity for women living with or at risk of heart disease.
Clinical Trial Corner
Women and Clinical Trials: Closing the Gap in Heart Disease Research
In the last issue of The WomenHeart Beat, we explored the longstanding underrepresentation of women in clinical trials. While the percentage of women participating in cardiovascular disease (CVD) trials has grown over time, women still make up only about 30% of participants today. This disparity leaves critical gaps in our understanding of how heart disease affects women differently, raising concerns about whether current treatments are truly safe and effective for women.
Early clinical research often excluded women due to concerns around hormonal fluctuations and potential pregnancy. In response to growing concern from Congress, scientists, and health advocates, the NIH established the Office of Research on Women’s Health (ORWH) in 1990. This marked a major step forward in addressing the exclusion of women from federally funded clinical studies. At the time, most medical decisions for women were based largely on research conducted on men.
Still, significant barriers remain—and many of them could be addressed by designing more inclusive trials from the start. Here are some key factors contributing to lower female participation:

* Trust and Safety Concerns : Women are more likely to perceive higher risk from trial participation, especially when under stress, which can make difficult health decisions even harder.
* Decision-Making Process : Women often seek input from family, friends, and trusted professionals before making health decisions and may need more time to weigh their options.
* Balancing Priorities : As primary caregivers in many households, women are often focused on the well-being of others, which can lead them to delay or forgo their own healthcare needs.
* Lack of Awareness : Many women report they would be willing to join a clinical trial, but they simply aren’t aware of the opportunities available to them.
* Limited Access : Practical barriers like transportation, time constraints, and caregiving responsibilities can make participation difficult or even impossible.
* Underrepresentation in Leadership: Women are also significantly underrepresented in clinical trial leadership and authorship. Although there has been progress, change has been slow, and diverse leadership is key to making trials more inclusive and responsive to women’s needs.
Addressing these challenges is essential for ensuring that research reflects the realities of all patients. By closing the gender gap in clinical trials, we can improve heart health outcomes for women and help shape a future where medical research truly serves everyone.
* Clinical Trial Frequently Asked Questions [[link removed]]
* Clinical Trial Discussion Guide [[link removed]]

WomenHeart’s Advocacy Corps is a program made up of WomenHeart Champions —women who have lived experiences with heart disease and are trained to share their stories and advocate for better health for all women. Advocacy Corps allows women’s stories and advocacy activities to be coordinated and amplified for greater impact so WomenHeart can meaningfully engage in advocacy initiatives that improve the lives of women living with and at risk of heart disease.
WomenHeart Champions who are part of Advocacy Corps receive:
* Advocacy Training throughout the year
* Bi-monthly meetings (March meeting details coming soon)
* Priority for Advocacy Day attendance
* Option to participate in speaking opportunities and other advocacy events
If you are a WomenHeart Champion and would like to learn more, you can email us at [email protected] or contact Jodi Smith at [email protected].
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Advocacy Corps would not be possible without the generous support of our Advocacy Corps sponsor:
Bristol Myers Squibb®
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© 2024 WomenHeart: The National Coalition for Women with Heart Disease. All rights reserved. Unauthorized use prohibited. WomenHeart is a qualified 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization.
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