We are delighted to welcome Dr Monika Sanghavi, cardiologist and Associate Professor of Clinical Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA, as part of touchCARDIO Future Leaders 2025. Dr Sanghavi is a nationally recognized leader in women’s cardiovascular health and prevention. She currently serves as one of the Associate Program Directors for the Cardiovascular Disease Fellowship Program and is the immediate past Chair of the American Heart Association Women in Cardiology Committee.
Dr Sanghavi has a strong commitment to advancing sex-specific care in cardiology. Her clinical and academic focus is on addressing the disparities women face in cardiovascular diagnosis and treatment. She is especially passionate about ensuring women are heard and accurately diagnosed—an effort that remains central to her practice and advocacy.
In this Q&A, Dr Sanghavi shares reflections on the mentors who inspired her, the personal challenges she has overcome and her hopes for a future in which sex-based differences in cardiovascular disease are better understood and acted upon.
Q. What inspired you to pursue a career in your specialty?
I truly love cardiology—I may be biased, but I believe it is the best specialty. The scope of practice is remarkably broad, spanning from prevention to end-stage disease, all guided by strong evidence-based recommendations. We meet patients at a vulnerable moment in their lives, such as a heart attack or hospitalization, and have the chance to make a real difference in their life-expectancy, symptoms and quality of life. Within cardiology, I am especially passionate about women’s cardiovascular health. Women remain understudied, underdiagnosed and undertreated when it comes to cardiovascular disease. Changing the paradigm is critically important, and I am committed to help drive that change. This mission is what excites and motivates me every day.
Q. Who has been the most significant mentor or role model for you, and what did you learn from them?
I have been fortunate to have incredible mentors, sponsors and colleagues who have each helped me pursue my dreams. Dr Martha Gulati introduced me to women’s cardiovascular health and sparked my passion for this work. My residency and fellowship program directors, Dr Diane Wayne, Dr Amit Khera and Dr James de Lemos, saw potential in me before I did. My current colleagues continue to inspire me with their tireless work to advance the field. I would also like to acknowledge Dr Doug Jacoby, who has been instrumental in helping me grow as a leader by always challenging me to think bigger.
Q. What challenges have you faced so far in your career, and how have you overcome them?
Probably the most significant barriers in my career have been self-imposed. I’ve long struggled with imposter syndrome and fear of failure, not realizing these are common feelings that should be acknowledged and confronted, rather than allowed to limit our growth and potential. Failure and mistakes are not just part of growth, but essential to it. Through coaching, reflection and courage, I have begun to break out of that mindset, taking risks and pursuing opportunities I might have previously avoided.
Q. What aspects of your work do you find the most fulfilling?
The most fulfilling part of my work is caring for women whose symptoms have been overlooked or dismissed for years, truly “hearing” them, and helping get them appropriately diagnosed and treated.
Q. What advice would you give to medical students or young professionals considering a career in cardiology?
Cardiology is an incredibly rewarding career. If you are interested, talk to and engage with many people in this space until you find like-minded people who will encourage you. When I was in residency, one or two people had told me I would not be a good fit for cardiology. Had I listened and not sought other opinions, I would’ve missed out on pursuing my dream!
Q. What are you most excited to see develop further over the next few years?
I am most excited about advancing our understanding of sex differences in cardiovascular disease so we can better tailor diagnostic and management strategies for women. I believe this progress is on the horizon, and I look forward to helping improve the delivery of cardiovascular care for women in the future.
Citation: Monika Sanghavi. Q&A with Dr Monika Sanghavi: touchCARDIO Future Leader 2025. touchCARDIO. 14 July 2025.
Disclosures: This short article was prepared by touchCARDIO in collaboration with Dr Sanghavi. No fees or funding were associated with its publication.
touchCARDIO is celebrating the brightest rising stars in the cardiology community, who are set to shape the future of the field.
Read more about touchCARDIO Future Leaders 2025 here.
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