CVI Celebrates Women in Medicine

2023

September marks the American Medical Association’s Women in Medicine Month. We are proud to celebrate the accomplishments of all of our CVI members and women in medicine. They are blazing trails in basic, translational, and clinical cardiovascular research. Stanford CVI membership includes hundreds of extraordinary women faculty and trainees, a subset of whom are recognized below.

CVI Steering Committee Faculty

Casey Gifford, PhD

ASSISTANT PROFESSOR OF PEDIATRICS (CARDIOLOGY)

Latha Palaniappan, MD, MS

PROFESSOR OF MEDICINE (CARDIOVASCULAR MEDICINE)

Ronglih Liao, PhD

DOUGLASS M. AND NOLA LEISHMAN PROFESSOR OF CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASE

Alison Marsden, PhD

DOUGLASS M. AND NOLA LEISHMAN PROFESSOR OF CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASES, AND PROFESSOR OF PEDIATRICS (CARDIOLOGY) AND OF BIOENGINEERING

Marlene Rabinovitch, MD

DWIGHT AND VERA DUNLEVIE PROFESSOR IN PEDIATRIC CARDIOLOGY

Edda Spiekerkoetter, PhD ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR OF MEDICINE (PULMONARY AND CRITICAL CARE MEDICINE)

Why did you choose a career in science / academic medicine?

I am a curious person and love to ask questions.

What advice would you give to women in science / academic medicine?

Run your own race and don't compare yourself too much with others.
Also, try to get some sponsors that support you beyond mentoring.

What motivates you and how do you stay inspired in a challenging field?

I love the quote "Ever tried. Ever failed. No matter. Try again. Fail again. Fail better" by Samuel Becket. It gives our journey in life the perspective that whatever we attempt and might struggle with, is part of our discovery to make things better.

Ngan Huang, PhD ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR OF CARDIOTHORACIC SURGERY (RESEARCH)

What advice would you give to women in science / academic medicine?

My advice to women in science is to not let your career deter you from having a family. Sometimes balancing your career with young children may feel like a continuous game of whack-a-mole, but know that it is temporary and will be worth it when your children are grown up.

More about Ngan

Marcia Stefanick, PhD

PROFESSOR (RESEARCH) OF MEDICINE (SPRC) AND OF OBSTETRICS AND GYNECOLOGY

Kristy Red-Horse, PhD

ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR OF BIOLOGY

Patricia Nguyen, MD

ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR OF MEDICINE (CARDIOVASCULAR MEDICINE)

Sushma Reddy, MD

ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR OF PEDIATRICS

Han Zhu, MD ASSISTANT PROFESSOR OF MEDICINE (CARDIOVASCULAR MEDICINE)

Why did you choose a career in science / academic medicine?

Growing up, I was inspired to enter science watching my father, who is a professor and scientist. He helped me discover my own curiosity for science, and he led by example, impressing upon me the values of hard work and resilience. I feel fortunate to be doing what I love most, which helps motivate me through even the hard times.

More about Han

Trainees with CVI as Home Department

Christina Alamana

Life Science Research Professional
Lab of Joseph C. Wu

Nadjet Belbachir

Instructor
Lab of Joseph C. Wu

Nixuan Cai

Research Assistant
Lab of Kevin Alexander

Arianne Caudal

Postdoctoral Researcher
Lab of Joseph C. Wu

Gracia Fahed

Postdoctoral Researcher
Labs of Kevin Alexander and Francois Haddad

Anna Hnatiuk Hnatiuk

Instructor
Lab of Mark Mercola

Nerea Jimenez Tellez

Postdoctoral Researcher
Lab of Joseph C. Wu

Ana Kojic

Postdoctoral Researcher
Lab of Joseph C. Wu

Audrey Li

Assistant Clinical Research Coordinator
SCVI Biobank

Lichao Liu

Postdoctoral Researcher
Lab of Joseph C. Wu

Chikage Noishiki Postdoctoral Researcher
Lab of Nazish Sayed

Why did you choose a career in science / academic medicine?

These have been familiar to me since I was a child.

What advice would you give to women in science / academic medicine?

All experiences become your blood and flesh.

What motivates you and how do you stay inspired in a challenging field?

To choose an area in which you are really interested or better at than others.

Guyu Qin

Postdoctoral Researcher
Lab of Juyong Brian Kim

Tahmina Samad

Postdoctoral Researcher
Lab of Sean Wu

Lin Wang

Instructor
Lab of Joseph C. Wu

Lingyun Xu

Life Science Research Professional
Lab of Nazish Sayed

Yanjun Zha

Life Science Research Professional
SCVI Biobank

Yang Zhou

Life Science Research Professional
Lab of Joseph C. Wu

Jennifer Arthur

Postdoctoral Researcher
Lab of Ioannis Karakikes

Francesca Briganti

Instructor
Lab of Mark Mercola

Gabriela Canel Rivero

Assistant Clinical Research Coordinator
Lab of Joseph C. Wu

Barbara Enne de Paula Vecci

Life Science Research Professional
Lab of Mark Mercola

Amira Flores Banuelos

Assistant Clinical Research Coordinator
SCVI Biobank

Diem Huynh

Postdoctoral Researcher
Lab of Patricia Nguyen

Hyeon Yu Kim

Instructor
Lab of Joseph C. Wu

Xiaohui Kong

Postdoctoral Researcher
Lab of Joseph C. Wu

Juana Li

Life Science Research Professional
SCVI Biobank

Lu Liu

Postdoctoral Researcher
Lab of Nazish Sayed

Lu Ren

Postdoctoral Researcher
Lab of Joseph C. Wu

Francesca Vacante Postdoctoral Researcher
Lab of Joseph C. Wu

Why did you choose a career in science / academic medicine?

My advice is to embrace and entwine your unique traits into your path towards leadership. I am the founder & chair of iWISH-Talks. This initiative inspires women scientists to learn from powerful role models about their key to success. Join us, be inspired!

Yinghua Xie

Postdoctoral Researcher
Lab of Patricia Nguyen

Zehra Yildirim

Postdoctoral Researcher
Lab of Joseph C. Wu

Mao Zhang Postdoctoral Researcher
Lab of Joseph C. Wu

Why did you choose a career in science / academic medicine?

I am passionate about understanding the natural world, improving human health, and positively impacting society. I am driven by curiosity and the desire to contribute to knowledge, and this career offers the opportunity to address complex problems, engage in lifelong learning, and collaborate with like-minded individuals.

Wenjuan Zhu

Postdoctoral Researcher
Lab of Joseph C. Wu

Yan Zhuge

Senior Research Scientist
SCVI Biobank