By: Yog Rahi Gupta
The Heart of the Matter: Understanding Cardiovascular Health in Women
An Inspiring Presentation by Dr. Inna Rabinovich-Nikitin
On a bright and welcoming summer afternoon, the Caribbean Community Cultural Centre hosted an impactful health education event titled “The Heart of the Matter: Understanding Cardiovascular Health in Women.” This was part of the 2025 Caribbean Canada Heart Health Education initiative and featured a distinguished guest speaker: Dr. Inna Rabinovich-Nikitin, Assistant Professor at the Institute of Cardiovascular Sciences, St. Boniface Hospital Albrechtsen Research Centre in Winnipeg, Manitoba.
The program opened with a warm welcome by Mr. Kamta Roy Singh, President of the Caribbean Community organization. He proudly shared the noble work the organization has been doing since 2015, including raising funds to purchase and ship medical equipment to support people in the Caribbean, and providing aid to victims of hurricanes. His remarks highlighted the organization’s ongoing dedication to global health and humanitarian efforts.
Following this, Mr. Singh invited Dr. Paramjit Tappia to the stage to introduce the guest speaker. Dr. Tappia offered a gracious and inspiring introduction of Dr. Inna Rabinovich-Nikitin, detailing her outstanding achievements in cardiovascular science and her particular focus on women’s heart health. He also noted her prestigious awards and global recognition, including having presented her research at NASA.
Dr. Rabinovich-Nikitin’s presentation was both informative and engaging. She addressed a wide range of topics related to cardiovascular health in women, including:
- The alarming rise in heart disease among women, even as it declines among men.
- The lasting impact of pregnancy.
- complications on future cardiovascular health.
- The roles of diabetes, high blood pressure, and ethnicity in increasing risk.
- The importance and benefits of cardiac rehabilitation, especially for women.
- The relationship between circadian rhythm, metabolic function, and heart health.
She also shared practical, research-backed lifestyle advice to help lower risk factors for heart disease. Dr. Inna strongly recommended a healthy, balanced diet, regular physical activity, and emphasized that daily walking is essential. She advised avoiding foods with preservatives and warned against heavily advertised products, reminding the audience that “what is heavily advertised is not always healthy.”
I had the privilege of attending this presentation and was fortunate to have a meaningful one-on-one discussion with Dr. Inna afterward. Her humility, clarity, and deep commitment to women’s heart health were not only evident during her lecture, but also in her personal interactions. Our conversation gave me deeper insight into the urgency and importance of her work.
The audience was highly engaged, with many thoughtful questions posed during the Q&A session. Dr. Inna responded to each question patiently and with great care, clearing doubts and deepening understanding on multiple aspects of women’s cardiovascular health.
Dr. Rabinovich-Nikitin’s research has been published in top-tier journals such as Circulation, Journal of Clinical Investigations, Circulation Research, and Nature Communications. She also serves on the editorial boards of several prestigious publications and is the recipient of numerous honors, including the Louis N. and Arnold M. Katz Basic Science Research Prize from the American Heart Association, the Martha Donovan Women’s Leadership Development Award, and the Ken Hughes Young Investigator Award, among others.
In conclusion, Dr. Paramjit Tappia returned to the stage to thank Dr. Inna for her excellent presentation. He also expressed appreciation to the invited guests for their attendance and enthusiastic participation. He then invited the executive members to join him on stage to present honorariums to the guest speaker. The event concluded with a warm sense of community and delightful refreshments served to the attendees.