Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States. Yet it disproportionately affects people of color because of:

Barriers to accessing health care.
Educational inequities.
Social conditions and other factors that affect health and quality of life.

Diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives aim to improve representation of all individuals regardless of race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, and other factors. UPMC Heart and Vascular Institute experts recognize that heart disease disproportionately affects minority populations and are committed to advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion.

Upcoming Events

Diversity Council Literary and Multimedia Arts Club Speaker Series presents:
“LGBTQ+ Health: What Everyone Needs to Know.”

Date: Thursday, June 22, 2023
Time: 5 p.m. to 6 p.m.
Join the Event.

About the UPMC Heart and Vascular Institute Diversity Council

Our heart and vascular experts are committed to partnering with community groups to overcome heart health disparities through:

Education.
Research.
Heart screenings.

For more information about health disparities, visit UPMC.com/healthdisparities.

On the forefront of heart health disparities

Katie Berlacher, MD.

Katie Berlacher, MD, medical director of the Magee-Women’s Heart Program, sits down to discuss heart health in the LGBTQ+ community.

Listen to the podcast

Malamo Countouris, MD.

Listen to this UPMC HealthBeat podcast featuring Dr. Countouris, who gives an overview of what women need to know to maintain a healthy heart.

Listen to the podcast

Tarryn Tertulien, MD.

Dr. Tertulien and other UPMC colleagues recently published research that revealed Black and Hispanic patients are less likely to get proper heart attack care.

Read the article

UPMC Check Your Heart

Amber Johnson, MD, discusses heart disease risk factors, how to keep your heart healthy, and heart disease in the Black community with Charlie Batch as part of UPMC Check Your Heart.

Latest heart health disparities research

UPMC has a commitment to advancing diversity and equity in heart and vascular medicine. Our experts publish novel heart health disparities research in national journals like the Journal of the American Heart Association.

Amber Johnson, MD, published research on the intersection between race and education level as it relates to ideal heart and vascular health.
A.J. Conrad Smith, MD, associate chief of cardiology for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in the Division of Cardiology, has worked to combat heart health disparities through various projects. The University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine created the Conrad Smith Leadership Council (CSLC) in honor of his service and exemplary work.
Kathryn Berlacher, MD, and Dr. Johnson worked with University of Texas-Southwestern and Duke University colleagues on an editorial. The published work highlighted the need for a more diverse heart health workforce.

Community Events and Heart Screenings

Check back for more UPMC Heart and Vascular Institute events.

Heart Disease Risk Factors in Women

The Connection Between Race and Heart Disease

Find a UPMC Heart Doctor Near You and Make an Appointment

Search for a heart and blood vessel expert near you at Find A Doctor.

If you already have a UPMC doctor, make an appointment through MyUPMC or your patient portal. Select your doctor and an appointment date and time that works for you, and you're all set!

Contact Us

Partner with the UPMC Heart and Vascular Institute Diversity Council on heart screenings and educational programs.
Learn more about heart health disparities in the U.S.

Fill out this contact form to schedule an appointment with one of our heart health experts.

First Name Last Name Email Address Phone Number Zip Code Reason for Inquiry I am interested in partnering with UPMC for a heart screening or educational opportunity I am interested in receiving more information about heart health disparities I am interested in joining the Diversity Council

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