The 2023 Women’s Cardiometabolic Health and Wellness Masterclass took place on Aug. 17-20, 2023, at the Laguna Cliffs Marriott Resort and Spa in Dana Point, California. The annual event, hosted by Cardiometabolic Health Congress, presented medical education content alongside professional development activities and wellness breaks. Attendees were able to recharge, learn and engage with their community from a beautiful seaside venue in Southern California.
Conference co-chairs, friends and colleagues, Pam R. Taub, MD, and Erin D. Michos, MD, MHS, led the three-day conference attended by multidisciplinary providers from across the nation. The Laguna Cliffs Marriott Resort and Spa was the perfect setting for the Women’s Cardiometabolic Health and Wellness Masterclass. Dr. Taub shared her hope that, beyond the medical education, each attendee would leave the meeting with at least three new friends. She mentioned how much it meant to her and Dr. Michos that they’d received many letters and emails from attendees of last year’s conference telling them about the new connections with colleagues that were made.
"The learning is great, but you can get that at so many conferences. What you're going to get here is an incredible spirit of collaboration and a community that uplifts each other."
Dr. Taub
Conference Day 1
The masterclass began with introductions from co-chairs, Drs. Michos and Taub, who welcomed the Keynote Speaker Amanda Salas. Amanda delivered a captivating talk about how resilience, positive thinking and fierce determination helped her achieve happiness and success despite a spinal cord injury when she was 16 years old. Insights on maternal health disparities from Rachel M. Bond, MD, considerations during menopause from Chrisandra L. Shufelt, MD, and fertility-related risk factors from Emily S. Jungheim, MD, MSci, were presented throughout the rest of the day.
The first day of the event concluded with a panel discussion led by Dr. Taub, in which audience members asked questions about how fertility, pregnancy outcomes, and menopause are specifically addressed in practice, and faculty members gave personal insights and real-patient examples to illustrate their treatment strategies.
Read more highlights in Day 1: Women’s Masterclass Nightly News
Conference Day 2
The second day of the masterclass featured lifestyle interventions for women’s cardiometabolic health from Martha Gulati, MD, management strategies from preventive cardiologist Fátima Rodriguez, MD, MPH, and pearls on resistant hypertension from longtime CMHC faculty member Keith C. Ferdinand, MD, of Tulane University School of Medicine.
At the conclusion of day two of the masterclass, attendees were invited to dine on light appetizers and enjoy wine and cocktails in the exhibitor hall. There were many options at the Laguna Cliffs Marriott for dining, entertainment, or water activities at the nearby beach throughout the evening.
Read more highlights in Day 2: Women’s Masterclass Nightly News
Conference Day 3
The third and final day of the Women’s Cardiometabolic Health and Wellness Masterclass began when Anuradha Lala-Trindade, MD, shared her insights and perspectives on overcoming barriers for better heart failure outcomes in women. Interventional cardiologist Angela Lowenstern, MD, MHS, detailed how to determine if a patient is a good candidate for transcatheter aortic valve replacement, after which Roxana Mehran, MD, discussed how vital it is to identify peripheral artery disease (PAD) which often results in amputations if untreated.
Read more highlights in Day 3: Women’s Masterclass Nightly News
Attendee Feedback
The attendee experience shapes and informs the education curated by CMHC. After each conference, audience members are asked for their feedback on everything from the venue and food to the education and overall experience. Here are some of the comments CMHC received about the 2023 Women’s Cardiometabolic Health and Wellness Masterclass:
Looking Ahead
Dr. Taub and Dr. Michos will once again co-host this exciting masterclass in 2024. Because of the popularity of the event and the exclusivity of the Laguna Cliffs Marriott Resort and Spa, CMHC has already opened registration for the 2024 event so that attendees can begin planning their trip to Dana Point, California next Aug. 22-25, 2024. All clinicians, trainees, or health professionals interested in providing exceptional, evidence-based care to women at all life stages are encouraged to register!