Victorian Heart Hospital Public Lecture Series - Women's Heart
Description
What every woman should know about heart health
Cardiovascular disease is often thought of as a men's health issue, but it remains a major cause of illness and death for Australian women. Women may experience heart disease differently, and important risk signals can appear across life - from pregnancy complications and reproductive health to ageing, chronic conditions and routine health checks.
To kick off the Victorian Heart Hospital Public Lecture Series on World Heart Day, we're bringing together expert voices to explore how women can better understand, protect and advocate for their heart health.
Hosted by Australia's first dedicated heart hospital and institute - a partnership between Monash Health and Monash University - this event is designed to empower and inform, with real-world, evidence-based strategies for recognising risk, asking the right questions and living well at every age.
What you'll learn:
Why heart disease in women is still under-recognised, under-diagnosed and under-treated.
How symptoms of heart attack and heart disease can present differently in women, and when to seek help.
How pregnancy complications can provide an early warning sign for future cardiovascular risk.
How emerging research and technology may help identify women at risk earlier, including through routine screening and imaging.
What simple, evidence-based steps women can take now to understand and reduce their risk.
How the Victorian Heart Hospital and Monash University’s Victorian Heart Institute are advancing women-centred care, research and early detection.
Meet our speakers
Dr Esther Davis
Dr Esther Davis is a cardiologist, clinician-researcher and echocardiographer at the Victorian Heart Hospital and Victorian Heart Institute. She leads Women's Heart Health at the Victorian Heart Hospital and co-leads the Women's Heart Health Grand Challenge at the Monash Victorian Heart Institute. Her work focuses on improving recognition, diagnosis and care for women with heart disease, including new approaches to identify cardiovascular risk earlier.
Professor Kirsten Palmer
Professor Kirsten Palmer is an obstetrician, maternal-fetal medicine specialist and Monash researcher focused on improving outcomes for women and babies affected by pregnancy complications. Her research includes pre-eclampsia, fetal growth restriction and the longer-term health implications of pregnancy complications, including future cardiovascular risk.
Associate Professor Nitesh Nerlekar
Associate Professor Nitesh Nerlekar is a cardiologist, clinician-researcher and Deputy Director, Clinical Research at the Monash Victorian Heart Institute. His work focuses on improving cardiovascular prevention, diagnosis and care through clinical research, imaging and innovation. In this lecture, he will discuss how emerging tools, including AI and imaging-based risk detection, may help identify heart disease risk earlier in women.
Professor Dominique Cadilhac
Professor Dominique Cadilhac is Deputy Director, Health Systems at the Monash Victorian Heart Institute and a leading public health researcher focused on improving cardiovascular and stroke care. Her work examines how evidence can be translated into better health outcomes, care pathways and quality of life for patients and communities.
About the series
The Victorian Heart Hospital Public Lecture Series invites our community to engage with leading experts in heart research, health and innovation. Throughout the year, these public events connect you with trustworthy insights and practical knowledge to support better living.
Whether you're a patient, a carer, a member of the community, a student or someone who just wants to live well - this is your chance to hear from the people reimagining heart health in Australia.
Hosted by Australia's first dedicated heart hospital and research institute - a partnership between Monash Health and Monash University.
A partnership between
FAQs
- Who should attend?
This is a public event and everyone is welcome. Whether you're a patient, carer, member of the community, health professional, student or simply interested in learning more about heart health, we encourage you to join us.
- Is the event free?
Yes. This event is free to attend, but registration is essential as places are limited.
- Where is the event being held?
The lecture will be held at the Victorian Heart Hospital, 631 Blackburn Road, Clayton VIC 3168.
Arrive at the Victorian Heart Hospital Main Entrance and follow signs to the public lifts, take the lift to Level 2 and turn left to find the Conference Room.
- What time should I arrive?
The lecture begins at 5:30 pm. We recommend arriving 10-15 minutes early to allow time to make your way to the conference room and take your seat.
- Where can I park?
Parking is available at the Victorian Heart Hospital in the underground visitor car park, accessed via the traffic-lighted entrance on Blackburn Road. After entering the hospital driveway, turn left into the car park before the main entrance. Lifts provide direct access to the hospital's ground-floor foyer.
The car park is open 24 hours a day and standard visitor parking fees apply. View Victorian Heart Hospital parking information and fees.
A drop-off and pick-up area is also located directly in front of the VHH Main Entrance, convenient for taxi and rideshare arrivals.
Alternative parking is available on the Monash University Clayton campus. Hourly/daily public meter parking is available in the SE3 carpark, accessed from Wellington Road. From SE3, it is approximately a five-minute walk to the VHH Main Entrance via the Monash Sport ovals. Find out how to use meter parking at Monash.
Monash staff and students should follow their usual parking arrangements for the Clayton campus (O-Park).
- Is the venue accessible?
Yes. The Victorian Heart Hospital is an accessible venue. If you have specific accessibility requirements, please let us know when completing your registration so these can be accommodated.
- Will I be able to ask questions?
Yes. The lecture includes a Q&A with our speakers. You can submit a question when registering, and there will also be an opportunity to submit questions during the event. Due to time constraints, we may not be able to answer every question.
Please note that speakers will not be able to provide individual medical advice.
- Will the event be available online?
The event will not be live-streamed, but a recording may be made available after the event.
- Will I receive a calendar invitation?
A calendar invitation will be included in your confirmation email, allowing you to easily add the event to your preferred calendar.
- Will refreshments be provided?
No catering is planned for this one-hour lecture. You are welcome to use the filtered water station at the venue to stay hydrated!
- Can I bring someone with me?
Absolutely. Please ensure each person attending registers separately so we can accurately manage venue capacity.
- What if I register and can no longer attend?
As places are limited, please cancel your registration through Humanitix if you can no longer attend so your place can be offered to someone else.
- I'm interested in being involved in heart research. How can I get involved?
We'd love to hear from you! The Victorian Heart Institute Community Pulse connects people with lived experience, carers and community members with opportunities to help shape cardiovascular research and education.
You don't need a medical or research background, and you can choose the opportunities you'd like to be involved in.
Tickets for good, not greed Humanitix dedicates 100% of profits from booking fees to charity
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