Growing number of women physicians in Santa Rosa helps shift a male-dominated field

Women have become an increasingly visible force across medicine, stepping into leadership roles and shaping care in hospitals and clinics nationwide. But cardiology has long remained one of the field’s most male-dominated specialties.

In Santa Rosa, that dynamic is changing.

At Sutter Medical Group of the Redwoods, women make up the majority of the cardiology team. Seven of the group’s 11 physicians and advanced practice clinicians are women, about 63.6%. Nationally, women represent just 15.5% of practicing cardiologists.

Dr. Emily Conway, a cardiologist and chief medical officer of Sutter Medical Group of the Redwoods, says the shift wasn’t intentional, but it has been meaningful.

“We didn’t set out to build a team based on gender,” Dr. Conway said. “We focused on recruiting excellent clinicians who share a commitment to excellence and patient-centered care. The result has been a team that better reflects the patients we serve.”

Why Cardiology Has Lagged Behind

Cardiology’s gender gap has persisted in part because of the specialty’s demanding and lengthy training pathway. After medical school and an internal medicine residency, cardiology fellowships and subspecialty training can extend well into physicians’ early and mid-30s, years when many doctors are starting families.

“The training pathway is long, and the timing has historically influenced who entered the field,” said Dr. Conway.

Today, that picture is beginning to shift.

More than one in four cardiology fellows in the U.S. are now women, reflecting steady growth in the future cardiology workforce. Health systems across the country, including Sutter Health, are seeing more women choose cardiology and advance into clinical and leadership roles.

“Seeing women at Sutter Health flourish across both clinical and leadership roles inspires trainees and colleagues alike,” said Dr. Michael Pham, chair of Sutter Health’s Advanced Heart and Vascular Service Line. “Their leadership strengthens cardiovascular care for all patients while advancing women’s heart health across our system.”

Sutter continues to prioritize inclusive recruitment and mentorship as part of its broader workforce strategy, recognizing that diverse teams contribute to stronger outcomes, deeper collaboration and more responsive care for patients.

A critical moment for women’s heart health

The growing representation comes at an important moment. Heart disease is the leading cause of death for American women, responsible for about one in five female deaths.

“Diverse care teams are especially valuable in cardiology because heart disease does not always present the same in women as it does in men,” Dr. Conway said.

Women experiencing a heart attack, for example, are more likely to report symptoms such as fatigue, shortness of breath, or nausea rather than classic chest pain. Conditions such as microvascular disease, which occur more often in women, can also be harder to detect with standard cardiac testing.

“When we understand how symptoms and testing can differ, we’re better able to recognize heart disease earlier and help patients get the care they need sooner,” Dr. Conway said.

Building a Collaborative Team

For Dr. Nisha Soneji, a cardio-obstetrics specialist who joined the Santa Rosa practice after completing fellowship training at the University of Texas, the group’s culture stood out during her national job search.

“One of the reasons I joined this group was the strong female presence,” Dr. Soneji said. “I interviewed at more than 10 programs across the country, but I felt especially comfortable here because of the number of women helping to shape both the work and the care.”

She adds that women remain underrepresented in cardiovascular clinical trials, which can influence how treatments are studied and applied.

“Having more women involved in both research and clinical care helps ensure those perspectives are reflected,” she said.

Cardio-obstetrics, which focuses on heart health before, during, and after pregnancy, is one example of how the field continues to evolve as physicians work to better understand cardiovascular risk across a woman’s lifetime.

Expanding Care in Sonoma County

The growth of the Santa Rosa cardiology team also reflects rising demand for cardiovascular care across Sonoma County.

To meet that need, Sutter Health plans to move the practice into a new building at 18 E. Fulton Road, across from its current office on Mark West Springs Road. The move will effectively double the practice’s footprint and capacity, allowing the team to care for more patients with advanced heart and vascular services. The new location is expected to open in December 2026.

“Expanding specialty heart care and prevention services is only possible when we have strong, integrated teams working together,” Dr. Pham said.

For Dr. Conway, the team’s growth and composition represent more than a staffing milestone.

“When patients walk through our doors and see women leading, diagnosing and advancing heart care, it sends a powerful message,” she said. “It reflects where cardiology is headed and reinforces Sutter’s commitment to building a workforce that meets the needs of today and the future.”