Persistent gender gaps in cardiovascular medicine
Despite meaningful progress, gender disparities persist across cardiovascular medicine. Women remain underrepresented in leadership positions, senior academic roles, guideline writing committees, and invited faculty at major scientific meetings. Structural barriers, unconscious bias, unequal access to mentorship, and challenges related to work–life integration continue to influence career trajectories. Addressing these issues is not simply a matter of fairness; it strengthens our scientific community by allowing talent, creativity, and leadership to flourish across the entire workforce.
The EACVI Gender and Equity Group was created to help address these challenges and to foster an inclusive professional environment where all members of the cardiovascular imaging community can thrive. The group advocates for equitable representation in leadership, education, and scientific activities within the EACVI. By raising awareness and promoting opportunities, it helps ensure that the future of cardiovascular imaging is shaped by diverse voices and perspectives.
A key component of the group’s work is mentorship and professional development. Career progression in academic medicine often depends on access to guidance, networks, and sponsorship. By facilitating connections between early- and mid-career professionals and established leaders in imaging, the Gender and Equity Group helps support career development and nurture the next generation of experts and leaders within the EACVI community.
Advancing research in cardiovascular disease in women
Importantly, the group’s mission extends beyond professional equity to advancing knowledge about cardiovascular disease in women. Cardiovascular disease remains the leading cause of death among women worldwide, yet it has historically been under-recognised, under-studied, and sometimes under-diagnosed. The EACVI Gender and Equity Group actively contributes to research focused on cardiovascular disease in women, highlighting sex-specific differences in disease presentation, imaging findings, and outcomes. Through collaborative research initiatives and several influential position statements, the group has helped bring attention to areas where sex- and gender-specific considerations are essential in cardiovascular imaging.
These position statements and scientific contributions aim to improve awareness among clinicians and researchers, promote better diagnostic approaches, and ultimately enhance the care of women with cardiovascular disease. By integrating sex- and gender-based perspectives into imaging research and clinical practice, the group contributes directly to improving patient outcomes.
Education and dialogue are also central to the group’s work. Through dedicated sessions at scientific meetings, research collaborations, and advocacy within the EACVI, the Gender and Equity Group encourages the cardiovascular community to reflect on how equity, diversity, and inclusion can strengthen both science and clinical care.
Why equity matters in cardiovascular imaging
Importantly, the Gender and Equity Group is not solely about women—it is about building a culture of equity that benefits everyone. Achieving meaningful change requires the engagement of the entire community. By working together to remove barriers and promote inclusive leadership, we can ensure that cardiovascular imaging continues to evolve as a field defined by excellence, collaboration, and fairness.
On International Women’s Day, we celebrate the achievements of women in cardiovascular imaging while reaffirming our commitment to progress. The EACVI Gender and Equity Group represents a shared effort to advance equity, promote research on cardiovascular disease in women, and strengthen our community. By embracing diversity and inclusion, we not only support the professionals within our field but also improve the care of the patients we serve.
