UK takes part in AHA “National Wear Red Day”

On Friday, February 6, 2015 the Department of Pharmacology and Nutritional Sciences hosted the University of Kentucky’s inaugural “Wear Red Day” symposium to raise awareness for cardiovascular research in women. The event was a part of the annual “National Wear Red Day” sponsored by the American Heart Association (AHA) that takes place on the first Friday of February. National Wear Red Day was initiated in 2003 in response to the alarming fact that 1 in 3 women die of heart disease and stroke each year, yet 80 percent of cardiac events can be prevented with education and lifestyle changes. Drs. Analia Loria and Frederique Yiannikouris from the Department of Pharmacology and Nutritional Sciences organized the event that drew 75 attendees for an informative half-day program of lectures on the relevance of cardiovascular research at UK for women’s health. Dr. Susan Smyth, physician scientist and professor of Cardiology, led off the morning with a presentation on “unexpected findings” in women in cardiovascular clinical trials. Dr. Lisa Cassis, interim vice president of research and professor of Pharmacology and Nutritional Sciences, followed with the topic “Sex hormones versus sex chromosomes: Are females protected against abdominal aortic aneurysms or not?” Dr. Alison Bailey, clinical faculty in Cardiology spoke on “The state of cardiovascular health in Kentucky women.” Dr. Florin Despa, associate professor of Pharmacology and Nutritional Sciences, presented his findings on “Amylin dyshomeostasis in diabetes: Sex differences.” Dr. Debra Moser, professor in the College of Nursing, finished with an important message on “Reducing patient delay in seeking treatment for acute cardiac symptoms: What women need to know.” The morning concluded with a lively panel discussion on “Women at UKY: Experiences from Health Care and Research.”