New research chair to advance women's heart health at Manitoba hospital

St. Boniface Hospital in Manitoba has appointed Dr. Shelley Zieroth as its new clinical research chair dedicated to women's heart health. The initiative, announced by the St. Boniface Hospital Foundation, aims to significantly advance research and care for cardiac conditions affecting women.

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Her leadership will help accelerate discoveries that improve cardiac outcomes for women and have a lasting impact – not only here in Manitoba, but beyond.

Dr. Zieroth, who has been with the hospital since 2006, emphasized the critical need to shift the focus of cardiovascular research. "Two-thirds of clinical research in cardiovascular disease, thus far, has focused on men. It’s time to change that and focus on women’s hearts," she stated. Her work will bridge bedside care, clinical trials, and translational science to improve outcomes.

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As a clinician-scientist, I am able to bridge the worlds of bedside care, clinical trials and translational science. Together, with my many colleagues at St. Boniface Hospital, we have begun to build the foundation for a truly integrated women’s heart health research initiative here in Manitoba.

The newly created position is supported by funding from the Heart & Stroke foundation and Research Manitoba. Zieroth plans to use these resources to establish an integrated women's heart health research initiative and a dedicated clinic. "My vision for this chair is to build a women’s heart care clinic and research initiative at St. Boniface as a shared institutional platform," she explained, highlighting a long-term plan to advance health equity.

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Two-thirds of clinical research in cardiovascular disease, thus far, has focused on men. It’s time to change that and focus on women’s hearts, and not only about the physiology, but also how we deliver that care and how we follow evidence-based care to improve their heart outcomes.

Hospital CEO Nicole Aminot underscored the importance of this specialized focus, noting that heart attack symptoms can differ significantly in women. "It’s so important to know that the signs of a heart attack are different in women and to recognize that women’s hearts need to be viewed through a different scientific lens," Aminot said. The initiative promises to improve care and outcomes for women, addressing a historically underrepresented area in cardiac research.

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My vision for this chair is to build a women’s heart care clinic and research initiative at St. Boniface as a shared institutional platform.