Advancing Gender Equity in Cardiology with RISE 2024

Why Women As One Partnered with ESC

In 2023, Women As One launched the inaugural RISE conference, attracting over 150 women physicians and allies to New York City for a full-day leadership development, skill-building, and professional networking event. As momentum grew, so did the ambition to expand RISE’s reach to a broader, more geographically diverse audience of women in cardiology. To achieve this, Women As One identified the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) as a natural strategic partner.

ESC is a global leader in cardiovascular science and education, and its annual ESC Congress attracts cardiologists from across the world. Its Gender Policy underscores a commitment to increasing representation and advancing gender equity in cardiology, making the organization an ideal collaborator. By aligning with ESC, Women As One aimed to elevate the voices of women cardiologists and amplify its impact on a larger international stage.

What RISE @ ESC Congress 2024 Delivered

RISE @ ESC Congress 2024 took place in London, the day before the official start of the ESC Congress. This full-day event convened over 300 attendees from more than 40 countries, creating a dynamic and diverse space for women in cardiology to connect, learn, and grow.

The program featured a robust lineup of speakers, including Jean-François Riffaud, CEO of the European Society of Cardiology, who underscored ESC’s commitment to fostering equity in cardiovascular medicine. The agenda was built to equip attendees with practical tools and insights for navigating leadership roles in healthcare. Sessions included values-driven leadership, negotiating with power, and managing institutional culture. Several sessions were delivered by faculty from Oxford University’s Saïd Business School, bringing an academic lens to real-world challenges facing women cardiologists.

Impact and Outcomes

RISE @ ESC Congress 2024 significantly expanded the reach and impact of Women As One’s programming and our work to achieve gender equity in cardiology. Attendance more than doubled compared to the inaugural event, and the geographic diversity of participants broadened the organization’s global footprint. Nearly 90% of attendees reported being satisfied or highly satisfied with the quality and relevance of the content.

The collaboration with ESC not only allowed Women As One to engage a broader international community of women in cardiology but also strengthened the call for systemic change in cardiovascular medicine. Together, both organizations demonstrated the value of joint action in addressing gender equity and supporting the advancement of women cardiologists across the globe.

This successful partnership affirms that when professional organizations align around shared values of inclusion and equity, the result is a stronger, more representative future for cardiology.

Women As One is a global nonprofit organization dedicated to increasing the inclusion, development, and advancement of women physicians in cardiology. By creating opportunities and resources specifically designed to support women in the field, we aim to address long-standing gender disparities and foster a more equitable and representative cardiovascular workforce.

We believe that partnerships with industry organizations are essential to creating meaningful, systemic change. Through collaboration, we can amplify our reach, align on shared goals, and develop innovative initiatives that promote gender equity across all areas of cardiology, from clinical trials and leadership to education and visibility. If your organization is committed to making cardiology a more inclusive and diverse specialty, we would be delighted to explore potential opportunities for collaboration. To learn more about partnership opportunities with Women As One, please contact us at info@womenasone.org.

Let’s create a lasting impact, together.

I could not imagine a better start to this year’s ESC Congress in London than with RISE @ ESC Congress 2024. Thank you Women As One and the European Society of Cardiology for this absolutely amazing day. This kind of perfectly framed and sincere female empowerment makes me see a bright future a lot clearer. I can’t wait for the next RISE event to come.
Dr. Julia Lueg
Cardiology resident, Deutsches Herzzentrum der Charité, Berlin, Germany