The American Heart Association (AHA) has introduced the Dr. Nanette K. Wenger Award for Best Scientific Publication on Cardiovascular Disease and Stroke in Women, a prestigious accolade named after a true pioneer in cardiology. This award celebrates Dr. Nanette K. Wenger’s groundbreaking career and enduring impact on the field of cardiovascular medicine, particularly her tireless advocacy for women’s heart health.
Dr. Nanette K. Wenger, an Emeritus Professor of Medicine in the Division of Cardiology at Emory University School of Medicine, stands as a towering figure in cardiology. Her affiliations extend to Consultant at the Emory Heart and Vascular Center, Founding Consultant of the Emory Women’s Heart Center, and Director of the Cardiac Clinics and Ambulatory Electrocardiographic Laboratory at Grady Memorial Hospital in Atlanta. Her dedication and expertise have shaped the landscape of cardiovascular care for decades, making her a deserving namesake for this significant award.
The Dr. Nanette K. Wenger Award aims to spotlight exceptional research focused on cardiovascular disease and stroke in women. It is open to all authors submitting manuscripts to any of the American Heart Association’s 12 scientific journals. This inclusive approach encourages broad participation, with a particular emphasis on submissions from authors who identify as members of under-represented racial or ethnic groups. The award also strongly encourages submissions that explore the influence of structural and social determinants of health, policy implications, and advancements in computational biology and engineering within the context of women’s cardiovascular health.
Manuscripts submitted for consideration will undergo rigorous peer-review by the AHA’s Research Goes Red Research and Publications Sub-Committee, supplemented by additional experts as needed. Submissions for the 2022 Award were accepted from June 1, 2021, through May 29, 2022. The inaugural award was presented at the American Heart Association Scientific Sessions, held November 13-15, 2021.
Dr. Mitchell S.V. Elkind, M.D., M.S., FAAN, FAHA, President of the American Heart Association, aptly summarized Dr. Wenger’s legacy: “Dr. Wenger’s name is practically synonymous with women’s cardiovascular research and care. She has been a formidable leader in the field of women’s heart health and a strong ally and advocate for women in cardiology and medicine.” He emphasized the award’s role in recognizing her “incredible legacy of paving the way, supporting and mentoring women as scientists and medical professionals, as well as her pioneering efforts in cardiovascular disease research about, for and by women.” Dr. Elkind believes the award will inspire “continued innovation and discovery in research on cardiovascular disease and stroke in women” and motivate future generations in the field.
For over six decades, Dr. Wenger has been a pioneer in cardiology, driving advancements in patient care. She was among the first to concentrate on coronary heart disease in women, meticulously examining the distinct cardiovascular risk factors, symptoms, and conditions that women experience compared to men. Her groundbreaking work stemmed from a crucial observation: women were presenting with heart disease in significant numbers, yet existing research inadequately addressed their specific symptoms and treatment needs. This prompted her to initiate her own investigations.
Dr. Wenger and her colleagues made the pivotal discovery that women often exhibit different heart attack symptoms than men, symptoms that were frequently overlooked or misdiagnosed. This revelation was a paradigm shift in understanding and treating heart disease in women.
Her relentless clinical and research endeavors established the critical understanding that cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the primary cause of mortality for women in the United States, accounting for approximately one in five female deaths. These findings have been instrumental in raising awareness, shaping public health initiatives, and stimulating further research into the significant risks of CVD for women, ultimately contributing to saving countless lives.
Even today, Dr. Wenger remains actively involved at Emory University School of Medicine, persistently advocating for and conducting gender-specific cardiology research. Her current research interests include exploring the complex relationship between pregnancy complications and cardiovascular disease, as well as investigating potential links between certain breast cancer treatments and heart failure.
In a collaborative effort with colleagues at Grady Memorial Hospital, Dr. Wenger spearheaded the development of a pioneering 21-day cardiac rehabilitation program for patients recovering from myocardial infarction (heart attack). This program became a national model, contrasting sharply with the then-standard practice of six months of bed rest and a year-long restriction from returning to work post-heart attack. Today, thanks in part to Dr. Wenger’s influence, hospital stays after heart attacks have dramatically shortened, and cardiac rehabilitation is predominantly delivered post-discharge, through remote or in-person programs.
Dr. Wenger’s academic journey is marked by exceptional achievements. She graduated summa cum laude with a Bachelor of Arts from Hunter College and was among the first women to earn a doctorate in medicine from Harvard Medical School. In 1956, she broke barriers again, becoming the first woman named chief resident in cardiology at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City. Following her move to Atlanta, she completed her fellowship at Emory University School of Medicine. Since 1959, Dr. Wenger has been a dedicated staff member at Grady Memorial Hospital and Emory University, serving as chief of cardiology at Grady Memorial Hospital from 1998 to 2009.
Throughout her illustrious career, Dr. Wenger has received numerous accolades recognizing her outstanding contributions. Notably, she co-authored the American Heart Association’s 2007 Guidelines for Cardiovascular Disease in Women and has been honored with multiple awards from the Association, including the Distinguished Achievement Award from the Scientific Councils, the Women in Cardiology Mentoring Award, and the prestigious Gold Heart Award – the AHA’s highest honor. Her recognition extends beyond the AHA, encompassing the James D. Bruce Memorial Award from the American College of Physicians, a Lifetime Achievement Award in 2009, the Inaugural Bernadine Healy Leadership in Women’s CV Disease Distinguished Award from the American College of Cardiology, and the 2020 Eugene Braunwald Academic Mentorship Award.
In October 2020, Dr. Wenger was featured in The Hill newspaper’s “The Century of the Woman: 100 Women Who Have Helped Shape America.” Her leadership extends to chairing the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute’s Conference on Cardiovascular Health and Disease in Women and the World Health Organization’s Expert Committee on Rehabilitation after Cardiovascular Disease. She also co-chaired the Guideline Panel on Cardiac Rehabilitation for the U.S. Agency for Health Care Policy and Research. A past president of the Society of Geriatric Cardiology and former editor-in-chief of the American Journal of Geriatric Cardiology, Dr. Wenger has been a long-standing supporter of WomenHeart: The National Coalition for Women with Heart Disease, with The Wenger Awards given in her honor.
The Dr. Nanette K. Wenger Award is proudly sponsored by AHA’s Research Goes Red initiative, which aims to empower researchers to advance women’s health research. Cardiovascular disease remains the foremost health threat to women, claiming one in three lives. Research Goes Red bridges the gap between consumers participating in health research, American Heart Association volunteers and experts, and Verily’s cutting-edge tools and technologies. Recognizing the historical underrepresentation of women in clinical studies and the limited analysis of women-specific heart health data, Research Goes Red strives to rectify these disparities, improve care, and prevent heart disease in women. Through collaborative efforts, they aim to transform these statistics and protect the health of women everywhere. The Dr. Nanette K. Wenger Award serves as a beacon, inspiring future generations to continue Dr. Wenger’s Pioneer Cardiology work and further advance the understanding and treatment of cardiovascular disease in women.
