UCI Health chief strategy officer chairs annual Go Red for Women Luncheon

Chief strategy officer spoke about prevention of heart disease, stroke

Orange, Calif. — Tatyana Popkova, UCI Health chief strategy officer and senior vice president, served as the community volunteer chair of the May 9 Orange County Go Red for Women Luncheon. She spoke at the annual luncheon about the importance of educating women of all ages about their heart health and the need to help fund critical, lifesaving research to address their unique risk factors and needs.

“Cardiovascular disease remains the leading cause of death in women. Events like this year’s Go Red for Women Luncheon play a vital role in raising awareness and educating women, including Gen Z and Millennials, about how to reduce their risk of this condition and also stroke,” said Popkova.

“Together, we can ensure every woman is informed, supported and never has to face heart disease alone.”

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the No. 1 killer of women, yet it remains underdiagnosed and undertreated. Women also experience unique life stages, like pregnancy and menopause, that increase their risk of heart disease and stroke. Nearly 45% of women over the age 20 are living with some form of CVD. It’s also the leading cause of maternal death in the U.S., and pregnancy-related deaths are on the rise, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

That’s why the American Heart Association’s Go Red for Women movement and UCI Health are committed to ensuring women are no longer disproportionately affected by CVD.

Dr. Shaista Malik, a cardiologist and the founding executive director of the Susan Samueli Integrative Health Institute, part of UCI Health, was also in attendance. She received the 2025 American Heart Association’s Go Red for Women Orange County Woman of Impact award in recognition of her fundraising and driving educational initiatives to raise awareness of how heart disease and stroke affect women.

The luncheon, attended by more than 300 guests dressed in red and locally sponsored by UCI Health, Edwards Lifesciences and Cotality, honored survivors and celebrated advancements in heart health. It raised more than $732,000 to continue to better identify, diagnose, treat and prevent CVD in women.

UCI Health and the cardiologists of the Mary & Steve Wen Cardiovascular Division in the UC Irvine School of Medicine have established one of California’s leading heart health centers, with a commitment to providing world-class care, advanced by clinical innovation, at 11 UCI Health locations, including the Tsai Ya Au Heart & Vascular Pavilion at UCI Medical Center in Orange and the Joe C. Wen & Family Center for Advanced Care in Irvine.

UCI Health Women’s Heart Services is the only program in Orange County based at an academic health system. Women and their loved ones have access to female heart-health physicians with the expertise to identify the signs of heart disease in women that are frequently missed, including coronary microvascular disease.

It also leads research that advances the understanding of the unique life events affecting women and their risk for heart disease, such as pregnancy.

Recognized for its leading-edge treatments and diagnostic capabilities, UCI Health consistently delivers safe, high-quality heart care for all populations, setting benchmarks in the field of cardiovascular medicine.

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