Women’s Heart Program

The cardiologists at Weill Cornell Medicine’s Women’s Heart Program are experts in caring for women’s unique cardiovascular health needs. Our mission is to identify women at increased risk for heart disease, prevent disease development and progression, as well as improve overall health and social well-being.  

Heart disease is the leading cause of death for women in the United States. Certain risk factors put women at unique risk for heart disease, even at younger ages, compared to men. Fortunately, women’s long-term cardiovascular health can be greatly improved when certain conditions and risks are identified and treated early.

Cardiac Risks for Women

Specific risk factors can play a significant role in the development of heart disease in women—and symptoms may be very different for women than men. 

Women with certain characteristics may be at increased risk for heart disease or rapid progression of heart disease. If you have any of these risk factors or conditions, you will benefit from an evaluation by our Women’s Cardiology Team.

  • Inflammatory disorders or rheumatologic disease (lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, inflammatory bowel disease)
  • History of complicated pregnancy (gestational diabetes, high blood pressure, preeclampsia, or low birth weight of the baby)
  • Certain chemotherapies and radiation therapies for cancer treatment (including breast cancer, ovarian cancer, or lymphoma treatment)
  • History of premature menopause from natural or medical causes (for example, oophorectomy at a young age for the treatment of certain cancers) especially below the age of 40 years
  • Diabetes or prediabetes
  • Current or prior history of smoking
  • Hypertension (high blood pressure)
  • Hyperlipidemia/dyslipidemia (high total cholesterol, high LDL cholesterol, elevated triglycerides, low HDL cholesterol)
  • Overweight status
  • Family history of heart attack, stroke, or sudden death, especially at an early age (less than 45 years old in a male relative or less than 55 years old in a female relative)
  • Fibromuscular dysplasia
  • Spontaneous coronary artery dissection
  • Personal history of heart disease, stroke, or peripheral vascular disease at an early age (less than 65 years)

Our Treatment Approach

The cardiologists at our center are experts in evaluating the symptoms and risks associated with heart disease in women. As a patient at our center, you will receive an in-depth cardiovascular evaluation and physical exam, completed by one of our women’s cardiology experts. 

Your evaluation may include:

  • Detailed medical history
  • Family history and review of lifestyle habits
  • Pregnancy/reproductive history
  • Lipid analysis
  • Biomarker screening
  • Advanced cardiac imaging

Evaluation, along with a thorough physical exam, enables our cardiologists to determine your risk factors and develop an individualized plan to reduce the likelihood of heart attack, stroke, bypass surgery, or angioplasty.

Your health plan may include:

  • Diet and exercise suggestions
  • Medication changes
  • Stress reduction suggestions 

Services We Offer

Our cardiologists work closely with other specialists, including rheumatologists, obstetricians, oncologists, and others to develop optimal an optimal treatment plan for you. Some of the services we offer include:,

  • Consultative evaluations
  • Nutritional counseling
  • Advanced multimodality diagnostic testing
  • Comprehensive cardiac and medical management
  • Referrals to partner specialties to manage conditions that may increase cardiac risk
  • Partnership with therapeutic interventional cardiologists, electrophysiologists, and surgical specialties should invasive therapy be needed

Request an Appointment

We encourage you to consider a preventive women’s cardiovascular evaluation if you have any of the above characteristics or are concerned about your overall cardiovascular health.

To schedule an appointment please call 646-962-PULS (7857).

If you are already an established patient, you may also request an appointment online using Weill Cornell CONNECT. We will make every effort to contact you within 24 hours.

Our staff is here to help coordinate your care. They will provide you with information on our physicians, their areas of expertise and help arrange for your visit and other testing when appropriate. 

Please Fill out Our New Patient Questionnaire

Our Physicians

Faculty Title Phone
Rebecca Ascunce
Rebecca Ascunce, M.D.
Assistant Professor of Medicine, Patient Safety & Quality Leader 646-962-5558
Jaya Kanduri
Jaya Kanduri, M.D.
Assistant Professor of Medicine 646-962-5558
Headshot of Julie L. Marcus
Julie L. (Friedman) Marcus, M.D.
Assistant Professor of Clinical Medicine 646-962-5558
Headshot of Alicia Mecklai
Alicia Mecklai, M.D.
Assistant Professor of Medicine, Director 4 North Telemetry Service, Co-Director Women's Heart Program 646-962-5558
Portrait of Nupoor Narula, MD, MS
Nupoor Narula, M.D. M.S.
Assistant Professor of Medicine, Director Cardiology Vascular Laboratory, Director Women's Heart Program 646-962-4733
Pritha Subramanyam
Pritha Subramanyam, M.D.
Assistant Professor of Clinical Medicine 646-962-5558

Make an Appointment

(646) 962-7857

Weill Cornell Medicine
Division of Cardiology

520 East 70th Street, Starr 4
New York, NY 10021

1305 York Avenue, 8th Floor
New York, NY 10021