Women in Pulmonary Hypertension Lunch
During the PVRI congress, a special lunch was organized for women involved in pulmonary
hypertension – clinicians, researchers and patient advocates. We were welcomed by Anna
Hemnes, who is the current president of the Pulmonary Vascular Research Institute.
Isabel Blanco and Mona Lichtblau honoured Lucilla Picari, who passed away at the end of
last year. They shared beautiful memories and highlighted her work, especially in pulmonary
hypertension associated with interstitial lung disease & climate change and pulmonary
hypertension. We were asked to continue Lucilla’s work, and the session ended with a
moment of silence to remember her.
Two guest speakers, Corey Ventetuolo and Anita Saxena, shared their inspiring career
journeys. They began their careers in a time when it was very rare for women to become
academics. They talked about the challenges they faced, including stigmas and balancing
work and home life, and how they succeeded despite these obstacles.
A short questionnaire was then conducted. Questions focused on gender balance in research teams and physician teams, and who holds decision-making positions. Key findings included:
- in research, there are more women, but decision-making roles are often held by men.
- In physician teams, the balance between men and women is improving, sometimes reaching nearly fifty-fifty depending on the country, but men still dominate leadership positions.
It was a great opportunity to meet others, share experiences, and discuss challenges and
opportunities for women in the field.
