While there may be a serious lack of women in cardiovascular medicine\u2014both in practice and in research\u2014right now, the future looks much brighter, if students like Syracuse University\u2019s Plansky Huong are any indication.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Plansky, a graduate research assistant at SU\u2019s College of Engineering and Computer Science, is pursuing her PhD in chemical engineering. Thanks to a highly competitive fellowship from the American Heart Association, she\u2019s doing research on how medications may affect fetal heart cells.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe goal of my research is to understand heart and organ development for better and reliable safety testing of medications administered during pregnancy,\u201d said Plansky, a Syracuse native who also received her bachelor\u2019s at SU. \u201cSince pregnant women are excluded from clinical research, there\u2019s almost no information on if most medications are safe to prescribe or take. This causes real problems if pregnant women need to continue a medication for preexisting conditions, such as depression.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In her research, Plansky uses human stem cells to engineer 3D miniature heart tissues to see how certain drugs impact their development.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe hope to develop this model further for pharmaceutical companies to be able to implement and expand clinical research for pregnant women to make more informed decisions about which medications to take,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Plansky\u2019s research has the potential to help the approximately 40,000 born with a congenital heart defect in the U.S. each year. She said it could change the trajectory of current research methods in the pharmaceutical industry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Moreover, Plansky said women are very well represented in her field.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIn my research lab alone, women account for at least 50 percent of the group,\u201d she said. \u201cI think it\u2019s because medical research with a clear application is relatable and very rewarding, which is something I think women value and actively pursue.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
She said seeing more women in cardiovascular research is encouraging more women to get involved.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI think as more and more confident and qualified women are stepping up and diversifying the field, it can encourage other women to push through and achieve their full potential,\u201d Plansky said. \u201cIt\u2019s important to have a diversified group of people represented in research because different individuals bring different points of view to allow research to evolve.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
While there may be a serious lack of women in cardiovascular medicine\u2014both in practice and in research\u2014right now, the future looks much brighter, if students like Syracuse University\u2019s Plansky Huong are any indication. Plansky, a graduate research assistant at SU\u2019s College of Engineering and Computer Science, is pursuing her PhD in chemical engineering. Thanks to…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":2257,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[99,101,126,4],"tags":[531,747,762,765,759],"class_list":["post-2256","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-featured","category-features","category-health","category-special-feature","tag-american-heart-association","tag-go-red-for-women","tag-plansky-huong","tag-syracuse-un","tag-women-in-cardiology"],"gutentor_comment":0,"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/Women-in-Cardiology-Plansky-Huong.jpg?fit=5184%2C3456&ssl=1","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":2830,"url":"https:\/\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/?p=2830","url_meta":{"origin":2256,"position":0},"title":"Go Red For Women: Early Menopause: What\u2019s the Risk?","author":"Staff","date":"February 1, 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"By Dr. Riya S. Chacko \u00a0 Our understanding of women\u2019s cardiovascular health has continued to evolve since the 1980s, thanks in part to large research studies such as the Women\u2019s Health Initiative, UK Biobank and Framingham Heart Study. In addition to changing stereotypes about women and heart disease, such research\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Features"","block_context":{"text":"Features","link":"https:\/\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/?cat=101"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/heart-care-1040250_1280.jpg?fit=1200%2C600&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/heart-care-1040250_1280.jpg?fit=1200%2C600&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/heart-care-1040250_1280.jpg?fit=1200%2C600&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/heart-care-1040250_1280.jpg?fit=1200%2C600&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/heart-care-1040250_1280.jpg?fit=1200%2C600&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":3480,"url":"https:\/\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/?p=3480","url_meta":{"origin":2256,"position":1},"title":"Cover: Felisha Legette-Jack – SU hoops hero puts her heart into everything she does","author":"Alyssa Dearborn","date":"February 1, 2023","format":false,"excerpt":"By Norah Machia When Syracuse University Women\u2019s Basketball Coach Felisha Legette-Jack unexpectedly lost a close friend to heart disease, it was both a shock and a wake-up call. Her friend had undergone open heart surgery, and the odds for a successful recovery seemed to be in her favor. But that\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Cover Story"","block_context":{"text":"Cover Story","link":"https:\/\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/?cat=100"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/Coach-Felisha-Leggette-Jack-Syracuse-Woman-Magazine-0001-scaled.jpg?fit=801%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/Coach-Felisha-Leggette-Jack-Syracuse-Woman-Magazine-0001-scaled.jpg?fit=801%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/Coach-Felisha-Leggette-Jack-Syracuse-Woman-Magazine-0001-scaled.jpg?fit=801%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/Coach-Felisha-Leggette-Jack-Syracuse-Woman-Magazine-0001-scaled.jpg?fit=801%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":2625,"url":"https:\/\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/?p=2625","url_meta":{"origin":2256,"position":2},"title":"SPECIAL FEATURE: Supermodel Emme will be keynote speaker at Go Red for Women luncheon","author":"Sarah Hall","date":"October 8, 2019","format":false,"excerpt":"A familiar face will take the stage at the Go Red for Women Luncheon and Festival of Red later this month. Syracuse University graduate and supermodel Emme will be the keynote speaker for the event, which takes place from 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 24, at the Nicholas\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Causes"","block_context":{"text":"Causes","link":"https:\/\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/?cat=104"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Go-Red-Emme-headshot.jpg?fit=900%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Go-Red-Emme-headshot.jpg?fit=900%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Go-Red-Emme-headshot.jpg?fit=900%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Go-Red-Emme-headshot.jpg?fit=900%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":3496,"url":"https:\/\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/?p=3496","url_meta":{"origin":2256,"position":3},"title":"Inspire: Latha Ramalingam, Ph.D. – SU researcher finds answers to unusual questions about heart health","author":"Alyssa Dearborn","date":"February 8, 2023","format":false,"excerpt":"By Kate Hanzalik The number one cause of death among American men and women is heart disease, according to the Centers for Disease Control. In fact, someone dies from the condition every 34 seconds. Numerous factors contribute to heart disease, ranging from congenital defects, genetic predisposition, lifestyle, and socioeconomics, to\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Inspire"","block_context":{"text":"Inspire","link":"https:\/\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/?cat=1143"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/AMB_LathaRamalingam_00001-scaled.jpg?fit=799%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/AMB_LathaRamalingam_00001-scaled.jpg?fit=799%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/AMB_LathaRamalingam_00001-scaled.jpg?fit=799%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/AMB_LathaRamalingam_00001-scaled.jpg?fit=799%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":410,"url":"https:\/\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/?p=410","url_meta":{"origin":2256,"position":4},"title":"Women in Cardiology","author":"Staff","date":"January 29, 2017","format":false,"excerpt":"The Slow Rise of Female Cardiologists By Lorna Oppedisano When Dr. Uzma Iqbal, a cardiologist associated with St. Joseph\u2019s Hospital Health Center, interviewed for her cardiology fellowship, she was met with unsettling warnings from two women already established in the field. Uzma had been married for seven years. She and\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Features"","block_context":{"text":"Features","link":"https:\/\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/?cat=101"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/syracuse-women-magazine-logo-jan-17-smallest.jpg?fit=445%2C200&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":2225,"url":"https:\/\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/?p=2225","url_meta":{"origin":2256,"position":5},"title":"Stories from the heart: Bea Gonz\u00e1lez, Go Red for Women chair","author":"Sarah Hall","date":"February 1, 2019","format":false,"excerpt":"As the chair of this year\u2019s Go Red for Women campaign for the American Heart Association, Bea Gonz\u00e1lez sees storytelling as a big part of her job. \u201cThere's a lot of power in story telling,\u201d she said. \u201cYou never know the impact if will have on people\u2014\u2018\u2019Oh, my friend finally\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Cover Story"","block_context":{"text":"Cover Story","link":"https:\/\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/?cat=100"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/Bea-Gonzalez-Syracuse-University-0003.jpg?fit=801%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/Bea-Gonzalez-Syracuse-University-0003.jpg?fit=801%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/Bea-Gonzalez-Syracuse-University-0003.jpg?fit=801%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/Bea-Gonzalez-Syracuse-University-0003.jpg?fit=801%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2256","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=2256"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2256\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2258,"href":"https:\/\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2256\/revisions\/2258"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/2257"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=2256"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=2256"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=2256"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}