Dr. Megan McLaughlin has been selected to receive the 2025 Dr. Nanette K. Wenger Research Goes Red Award at the American Heart Association's Scientific Sessions 2025 for her research article examining disparities in postpartum care following hypertensive disorders of pregnancy. Her study, published in the Association's journal Hypertension on April 2, 2025, analyzed nationally representative data from over 47,000 postpartum individuals and found that while most attended a postpartum visit, attendance varied significantly by race, ethnicity, insurance status, and socioeconomic factors.
The research revealed that many patients reported not receiving essential counseling or screening for cardiovascular risk factors during these visits, including lifestyle guidance, smoking cessation support, and diabetes testing. These findings represent missed opportunities to improve long-term heart health in a population at high risk for future cardiovascular disease, as hypertensive disorders of pregnancy are a major risk factor. The study's conclusions underscore systemic gaps in care that disproportionately affect vulnerable groups during a critical window for intervention.
Dr. Stacey E. Rosen, the American Heart Association's 2025-2026 volunteer president, emphasized the importance of this work, stating that it highlights the critical role of early education and targeted intervention in preventing long-term heart disease among women. The award, named for pioneering cardiologist Dr. Nanette K. Wenger, recognizes the best research article focused on cardiovascular disease and stroke in women published in any of the Association's 14 peer-reviewed scientific journals during the previous year. Submissions were evaluated by 25 expert peer reviewers for scientific impact, innovation, methodology, and quality of evidence.
Dr. McLaughlin's manuscript was selected from 123 submissions from 17 different countries published between June 1, 2024, and May 29, 2025. In accepting the honor, Dr. McLaughlin expressed her admiration for Dr. Wenger's trailblazing career and her passion for pursuing research that leads to better cardiovascular care for women. The American Heart Association's Research Goes Red initiative aims to empower women to contribute to health research, and this award specifically recognizes outstanding contributions to understanding cardiovascular disease and stroke in women.
The findings from this research provide important insights that could help shape future guidelines and interventions to improve postpartum cardiovascular care. By identifying where and how care delivery fails to meet the needs of women with pregnancy-related hypertension, the study offers a evidence-based foundation for developing more equitable and effective strategies to reduce long-term heart disease risk in this vulnerable population. This recognition underscores the growing emphasis on women's health research within cardiology and the urgent need to address disparities that contribute to preventable cardiovascular morbidity and mortality.
