Female Interventional Cardiologist Dr. Reema Sheth is a Rarity in the U.S.
Dr. Reema Sheth
Dr. Reema Sheth is a rarity, even among the widespread, diverse specialists on staff at Silver Cross Hospital in New Lenox: She is among fewer than 5 percent of female interventional cardiologists in the United States.
Specializing in coronary and peripheral artery interventions, you could say Dr. Sheth was destined to become an interventional cardiologist.
“I was born with a heart defect and had corrective surgery as an infant,” said Dr. Sheth, who has been on staff at Silver Cross for two years and is in practice with Heart Care Centers of Illinois.
“It was in medical school at Michigan State University that I became interested in interventional cardiology. I always was interested in physiology and how the body works.”
And Dr. Sheth wants to share that knowledge at two programs during American Heart Month. She will offer one for the general community from 5 to 6 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 28, at the Silver Cross Conference Center.
The other will be held for the Lincolnway Area Business Women’s Organization from 6 to 8:30 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 20, at Gatto’s Restaurant, 1938 E. Lincoln Highway, New Lenox.
Her 15-minute presentation there will focus on “Women and Heart Disease.” While there are similarities between how heart issues affect men and women, there are some of which women especially need to be aware.
“Rather than chest pain, women may have more back discomfort and shortness of breath,” said Dr. Sheth.
Women need to be conscious of other factors that can lead to heart issues, such as family history, high blood pressure and obesity.
Finding a heart-related issue early means women and men can be treated with medication and lifestyle changes before the problem becomes critical, Dr. Sheth said.
Dr. Sheth also practices general cardiology and is trained to perform procedures on patients who require stents. She is skilled in the trans-radial approach for cardiac catheterizations, where she can perform coronary angiograms through the artery in the wrist.
Additionally, she uses the latest advanced devices such as intravascular lithotripsy, intravascular ultrasound and atherectomy to provide the best care.
As for being one of the rare female interventional cardiologists in the country, Dr. Sheth said she hasn’t felt any different treatment.
“My colleagues are wonderful. And I keep them on their toes!”
To attend Dr. Sheth’s Preventing Heart Disease silvercross.org . To listen to Dr. Sheth’s IMatter Health video podcast, Is Heart Disease Genetic or Environmental? , visit the hospital’s YouTube channel, watch and listen on your favorite podcast platform or click on the following link: https://youtu.be/aEw5pQ-DV7U?si=ZSh9VAVr1npUKvT
