This post was authored by Nichole M. Polin, MD, FACC, program director of Cardiovascular Fellowship, co-director of the Cardio-Oncology Clinic at the John Ochsner Heart and Vascular Institute, and senior lecturer at the Ochsner Clinical School, University of Queensland School of Medicine in New Orleans, LA. Polin is also the chair of the Louisiana Chapter's Women in Cardiology Section.

February was a busy month for the Louisiana Women in Cardiology (LA-WIC) Section. The LA-WIC Section was newly formed this past year with the goal of providing a forum where women practicing cardiology in Louisiana could network and share ideas across institutions, develop valuable leadership skills, mentor medical students and residents considering a career in cardiology, and begin to develop community based programs to encourage healthy living. Women in both academic and private practice sit on the leadership council, as well as mid-level practitioners and cardiology fellows.

On Feb. 4, the LA-WIC section hosted its first educational and networking event at The Heritage Grill in Metairie. Nanette Wenger, MD, MACC, professor of Medicine Emeritus at the Emory University School of Medicine, was the special guest of honor and spoke to a packed house about "Women and Stable Ischemic Heart Disease." The dinner event was attended by over 30 local cardiologists from Louisiana State University, Tulane, Ochsner, and private practice. Residents and mid-level practitioners were also in attendance. The evening was an overwhelming success. What better speaker to represent the success of women in the field of cardiology than Dr. Wenger? At the end of the evening, I, along with LA-ACC Governor Hector Ventura, MD, FACC, were honored to present Dr. Wenger with a Lifetime Achievement Award.

On Feb. 11, the formation of the LA- WIC section was announced to New Orleans by lighting the Super Dome red, coinciding with American Heart Month. Members of the section attended the lighting and watched as the green, purple, and gold colors of Mardi Gras were replaced by a beautiful red hue. The Dome remained red for the day as a reminder that heart disease remains the number one killer of women in this country. Louisiana has many talented women practicing cardiology who are committed to empowering the community's women to live healthier lives and take care of their hearts. The event was covered by the local news media and appeared on WGNO as well the LA-ACC chapter website.

For more information on the Louisiana Chapter, check out LAACC.org.