UCI Health leader chairs 2025 Orange County Go Red for Women® movement
Tatyana Popkova, American Heart Association collaborate to empower women, build a healthier future
January 31, 2025
"I am inspired every day by the resilience and strength of individuals facing cardiovascular disease," says UCI Health Chief Strategy Officer and Senior Vice President Tatyana Popkova, who is the community volunteer chair of the 2025 Orange County Go Red for Women movement.
Orange, Calif. — Tatyana Popkova, UCI Health chief strategy officer and senior vice president of ambulatory, is the community volunteer chair of the 2025 Orange County Go Red for Women movement.
Go Red for Women is a worldwide initiative of the American Heart Association designed to increase women’s heart health awareness and serve as a catalyst for change to improve the lives of women locally, nationally and globally.
"I am inspired every day by the resilience and strength of individuals facing cardiovascular disease," said Popkova. "The work of the American Heart Association transforms lives, and I am honored to chair the Go Red for Women movement this year. Together, we can empower more women to take charge of their heart health, prioritize prevention and build healthier futures for themselves and their families."
“We are thrilled to have Tatyana’s experience, conviction and passion to help drive Go Red in Orange County. Together, we know that we will have a positive impact on the lives of women in our community and the families that depend on them,” said Dr. Pranav M. Patel, chief of the Mary & Steve Wen Cardiovascular Division and the American Heart Association Orange County and Inland Empire Board President.
Heart disease: No. 1 killer of women
Heart disease is the No. 1 cause of death for women in the U.S., according to the American Heart Association. One reason is because the signs are often misdiagnosed or missed entirely.
“Half of women who have heart attacks have symptoms different from the chest pain or pressure that men typically experience,” said UCI Health cardiologist Dr. Jin Kyung Kim, who specializes in women’s heart health.
“They may not have any symptoms, or they may experience heart palpitations or heightened anxiety.”
UCI Health Women’s Heart Services is the only program in Orange County based at an academic health system. Its female heart-health physicians have the expertise to identify the signs of heart disease in women than are frequently missed, including coronary microvascular disease.
They also lead research that advances the understanding of the unique life events affecting women and their risk for heart disease, such as pregnancy.
UCI Health obstetrician and cardiologist Dr. Afshan Hameed spearheaded the development of an assessment tool to better predict the risk of cardiovascular disease during pregnancy, which accounts for one-third of all pregnancy-related deaths in the U.S. That risk-assessment tool is used today to screen all expectant mothers at the medical center and its effectiveness is now being studied at other major U.S. maternity centers.
Hameed also co-chairs the California Maternal Quality Care Collaborative Cardiovascular Disease in Pregnancy and Postpartum Task Force and is a member of the collaborative’s Pregnancy Associated Mortality Review Committee, which examines all maternal mortality cases to identify care gaps and quality improvement opportunities.
Who is at risk?
Some women are at especially high risk for developing heart disease. You should be evaluated if you have any of the following risk factors:
- Symptoms related to heart disease
- Family history of heart disease
- Abnormal stress test, followed by a normal angiogram
Women experiencing the following symptoms, you should be evaluated for heart disease:
- Chest pain or chest pressure
- Jaw pain
- Nausea
- Pain in the left arm or shoulder
- Shortness of breath with exertion
- Unusual and unexplained fatigue
Leading provider of cardiovascular care
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.
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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