New women's cardiovascular clinic opens at South Health Campus

Women across southern Alberta now have access to a specialized cardiovascular clinic designed specifically for them—the first of its kind in Western Canada.

The Harold and Betty Allsopp Women's Cardiovascular Health Clinic at South Health Campus, funded by a $5 million donation, will offer education, diagnosis, and treatment for women with heart disease. The clinic addresses a critical gap: women experience different heart attack symptoms than men—indigestion, sweating, shortness of breath rather than chest pain—leading to under-recognition and delayed treatment.

Women are less likely to call 911 when symptoms appear because they don't recognize a heart attack. Even at emergency rooms, they're less likely to be diagnosed or seen quickly.

Dr. Roopinder Sandhu, director of the clinic and a cardiac electrophysiologist, said the facility will deliver "multi-disciplinary, team-based cardiovascular care" addressing conditions disproportionately affecting women. The clinic will also offer rehab services, targeted physician training on recognizing cardiovascular risk in women, and cutting-edge research.

Paul Rossmann, president of the Calgary Health Foundation, said the donation came after a multi-year fundraising campaign in partnership with Alberta Health Services. "While there are other women's health cardiovascular clinics in Canada, there is nothing like this in Western Canada," he said.