Wednesday, January 24, 2024
National Wear Red Day, celebrated on the first Friday in February, is an annual campaign that raises awareness about heart disease in women.
The statistic is alarming: Heart disease is the most common cause of death for women. We are calling on our vibrant community to join the cause on Feb. 2. Rock your red and share your photos with us to show your support. Tag us on Instagram @UTHealthPhysicians.
This year, the movement is extra special for our very own Dawn S. Hui, MD, associate professor of cardiothoracic surgery and president of the San Antonio chapter of the American Heart Association.
"As a new mother to a baby girl, the importance of women's heart health has taken on a very personal meaning to me. Heart health is not just about symptoms. It's about taking control of your life so that you can be there for your loved ones as long as possible," she said. "Consuming less salt and sugar, more vegetables and lean proteins, and staying as active as possible can go a long way towards warding off problems like high blood pressure and high cholesterol that raise your cardiovascular risk."
She reminds us that cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death for women, accounting for one in three deaths each year.
“However, most heart disease deaths are preventable by making small, sensible changes to diet and lifestyle, which can improve heart health and decrease a woman’s risk by as much as 80 percent,” she said.
UT Health San Antonio is committed to promoting healthy living and improving women's lives in our community, so wear red on Feb. 2 to show your support and help raise awareness. For more information about National Wear Red Day and ways to prevent cardiovascular disease, please visit GoRedForWomen.org.
Dr. Hui is an adult cardiac surgeon. She enjoys aortic surgery including aortic root and aortic arch surgery, multiple arterial coronary bypass grafting, and structural heart interventions including transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR). Her passion is to continually improve patient’s lives and outcomes through collaborative approaches to patient care, and through community education on the prevention and treatment of heart disease. As such, she is a key member of the UT Health Heart Team, as well as a board member and President-Elect of the San Antonio Chapter of the American Heart Association.
A board-certified cardiothoracic surgeon, Dr. Hui obtained her medical degree and general surgery residency at The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, followed by cardiothoracic surgical training at The University of Southern California. She is an Associate Professor of Cardiothoracic Surgery at UT Health San Antonio. She also serves as Associate Program Director of the Thoracic Surgery Residency program and is the faculty advisor for the CT Surgery Interest group at the UT Health Long School of Medicine. Her research interests include clinical outcomes and translational research. She is an active mentor in both clinical and academic research for many students and residents.