Women Caring for Women
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The Heart of Women's Health
With heart disease as our nation’s number one killer of women, according to the American Heart Association, two female cardiologists are making it their life’s work to turn the tide on heart disease – one patient at a time.
Tehmeena Shah, MD, and Varda Singhal, MD, are interventional cardiologists at the Liberty Hospital Heart Center. They also are quite rare in their field: according to data, less than 4% of practicing coronary interventionalists in America are women. In addition to three years of study for general cardiology, interventional cardiologists spend an additional year learning the technical skills to perform procedures such as placing stents in coronary arteries for chest pain or heart attacks.
"The field of cardiology is like an exciting puzzle where the patient’s story, physical examination, the tests we do and procedures we perform all fall into place to lead to better patient outcomes."
- Dr. Shah
While Dr. Shah was in her final year of medical school, her father suffered a heart attack while in his early 50s.
“His treatment and recovery just strengthened my resolve to pursue this specialty,” she said. “I love the technical aspects of my work, and I am privileged to get the chance to build long-term relationships with my patients.”
Dr. Singhal also understands heart problems from a personal perspective. Growing up in Delhi, India, she watched her mother experience cardiac issues, including undergoing open-heart surgery at age 22.
“Every time I accompanied her for clinic visits and met her physicians, I experienced a sense of gratitude and also felt immensely interested in the field of cardiology,” she recalled.
That interest eventually led her to the U.S. to continue her education, completing her residency in Rochester, NY, a general cardiology fellowship in Nebraska and an interventional cardiology fellowship at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York City. “When I started my fellowship in interventional cardiology, I was the only female fellow in my program, and there were no female fellows in the years preceding me,” Dr. Singhal said. “But the field is changing rapidly, and we have started seeing one to two female fellows every year.”
More and more women are seeking female cardiologists, Dr. Shah said. “This makes me happy as a doctor,” she said.
“After all, women know women.”
Dr. Shah knows women, on average, wait longer to seek treatment for a heart attack. Too often, women brush off symptoms such as chest pain, neck or jaw pain, nausea and lightheadedness.
“Besides the general risk factors for heart disease, such as smoking, elevated BMI, diabetes, high blood pressure and high cholesterol), young women's risk factors include pre-eclampsia, gestational diabetes, polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), and breast cancer therapy.”
“I also have a special interest in heart attacks due to spontaneous coronary artery dissection (SCAD). I want to help raise awareness so women with heart attacks get prompt help and avoid deadly consequences.”
Dr. Shah has lived in Kansas City for more than a decade. She and her husband have three children. Dr. Singhal and her husband, Dr. Pulkesh Bhatia, a cardiothoracic surgeon at Liberty Hospital, enjoy calling the Northland home and have two children.
To schedule an appointment with Dr. Shah or Dr. Singhal, call 816.407.5430.
Heart Attack Symptoms in Women
- Uncomfortable pressure, squeezing, fullness or pain in the center of your chest. It lasts more than a few minutes or goes away and comes back.
- Pain or discomfort in one or both arms, the back, neck, jaw or stomach.
- Shortness of breath with or without chest discomfort.
- Other signs such as breaking out in a cold sweat, nausea or lightheadedness.
- As with men, women’s most common heart attack symptom is chest pain or discomfort. But women may experience other symptoms that are typically less associated with heart attack, such as shortness of breath, nausea/vomiting and back or jaw pain.
Breast Screening and Surgery
With breast cancer as the most common form of cancer among women in the U.S., according to the American Cancer Society (ACS), Liberty Hospital’s Breast Care Center and new Breast Surgeon Kayla Barnard, MD, are committed to women’s breast health from screening through surgery.
ACS statistics show an estimated 43,700 women will die from breast cancer each year in the U.S. That’s why Dr. Barnard is passionate about early detection and screenings that can save lives. As a breast surgeon, she wants to avoid seeing patients as much as possible.
“We promote mammograms and early detection year-round. I am always asking others, ‘When are you going to find the time to take time out of your day and get a mammogram?’ It does not take long.”
A mammogram is a low-dose X-ray of breasts recommended annually for women beginning at age 40. Aside from promoting breast health, she values her work and the impact she can have on a patient in the early stages of their fight against breast cancer.
“I am usually the first person who patients will see after they have been diagnosed with breast cancer,” Dr. Barnard said. “I love that after I have talked to them, they say they feel so much better; they are not as anxious or scared. For me, outside of surgery, my job is done when I meet with patients and help them understand their situation. I love being that for the patients. It is the unknown patients are afraid of, and I can help."
Helping is exactly why she went to medical school, she said. “I knew I wanted to help women,” Dr. Barnard said. “I thought of being a family practice doctor and tried dermatology and radiology, but when I got to general surgery, I knew that being a surgeon was what I was looking for.”
Prior to joining Liberty Hospital this fall, Dr. Barnard was a breast surgeon in Oklahoma, Texas and Kansas. To schedule a breast surgery consultation, call 816.415.7990. To schedule a mammogram, call 816.792.7089 or visit us online.
Primary Care
Good healthcare starts with choosing the right primary care provider for you. A primary care provider is a physician, physician assistant or nurse practitioner who coordinates all your care. Amanda Thomas, DO, at Liberty Hospital Primary Care Shoal Creek, is one of the clinic’s newest providers.
“It is very important for women to have a primary care provider because it is important to have a medical home – a provider who is familiar with your background and other specialists’ care. Having a primary care provider will also help you make sure that all age-appropriate screenings and preventative care is given.”
Dr. Thomas enjoys being a solid fixture for her patients. “I chose primary care because I like being able to take care of patients of any age, gender and background,” she said. “I enjoy being a problem solver and aiding patients in finding solutions to their needs.”
As a woman, she says she is passionate about women’s health. “In particular, I care greatly about staying up to date on guidelines for breast and cervical cancer screening, and I very much enjoy aiding patients with education on various birth control methods.”
Originally from Kansas City, Dr. Thomas has returned after several years out of state and now lives here with her husband, daughter and three mini Australian shepherds.
To schedule an appointment, call 816.415.3451.
Birthing Center
When moms and babies are healthy, everyone benefits - and delivering your baby at Liberty Hospital offers the best of all worlds for your whole family with personalized attention and specialized care. Our highly skilled obstetric and neonatal nurses take care of you and your newborn in a state-of-the-art medical facility with all the comfortable amenities of home.
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