5 cardiologists honored for women’s heart care in 2025

In 2025, national cardiovascular organizations recognized physicians whose work is advancing heart disease research, clinical care, education and innovation.

These five cardiologists were honored for their contributions to the specialty this year:

Note: This is not an exhaustive list.

1. Malissa Wood, MD. Vice President and Chief Physician Executive of the Lee Health Heart Institute (Fort Myers, Fla.): Dr. Wood earned the American College of Cardiology’s 2025 Bernadine Healy Leadership in Women’s Cardiovascular Disease Award, which recognizes national leadership and service advancing cardiovascular disease care for women. A longtime leader in women’s heart health, she previously served as associate chief of cardiology and co-director of the Corrigan Women’s Heart Health Program at Boston-based Massachusetts General Hospital and has led clinical, research and education efforts focused on sex-specific differences in cardiovascular disease.

2. Megan McLaughlin, MD. Assistant Professor of Medicine in the Division of Cardiology at the University of California, San Francisco: Dr. McLaughlin earned the American Heart Association’s 2025 Dr. Nanette K. Wenger Research Goes Red Award, which recognizes the best scientific article on cardiovascular disease and stroke in women published in the association’s peer-reviewed journals. She was honored for her study on disparities in postpartum care following hypertensive disorders of pregnancy, which identified gaps in cardiovascular risk counseling and follow-up among high-risk women and highlighted missed opportunities to improve long-term heart health.

3. Rekha Mankad, MD. Assistant Professor of Medicine and Director of the Women’s Heart Clinic at Mayo Clinic (Rochester, Minn.): Dr. Mankad was honored with a 2025 WomenHeart Wenger Award, which recognizes excellence in advancing women’s heart health. A noninvasive cardiologist, her clinical work focuses on the diagnosis and treatment of cardiovascular disease in women, including heart disease associated with autoimmune conditions and valvular heart disease.

4. Harmony Reynolds, MD. Joel E. and Joan L. Smilow Professor of Cardiology at NYU Grossman School of Medicine (New York City): Dr. Reynolds was named the 2025 Nanette Wenger Lectureship recipient by the American Society for Preventive Cardiology, which honors contributions advancing women’s cardiovascular health. A leading researcher in ischemic heart disease in women, her work has focused on myocardial infarction with nonobstructive coronary arteries and ischemia with nonobstructive coronary arteries, and she has led and co-led multiple National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute-funded clinical trials evaluating outcomes and treatment strategies in these populations.

5. Hayder Hashim, MD. Assistant Professor of Cardiology at Georgetown University and Interventional Cardiologist at MedStar Washington Hospital Center (Washington, D.C.): Dr. Hashim earned a 2025 WomenHeart Wenger Award for Excellence in Clinical Practice, which recognizes contributions advancing care for women with heart disease. His clinical and research work has focused on coronary physiology, intravascular imaging and unexplained chest pain, with particular attention to understanding and improving cardiovascular care for women.