She knew it was a problem – even before it happened to her

She knew it was a problem – even before it happened to her

Heart disease is the leading cause of death for women in the U.S., killing more women than all cancers combined, so Suzanne Gilbert was always surprised she didn’t hear more about it.

She’d see bus ads about mammograms, and male colleagues in her law firm would talk about their recent stress tests or calcium scores, but heart health wasn’t a major topic for the women around her.

That’s what first drew her to the AdventHealth Heart Lung and Vascular Foundation board in 2012.

She had no experience with heart disease and there was no history of it among the women of her family. But she wondered: “Why was [prevention] more directed to men than women? If women… are dying from heart disease, why aren’t we doing more for women?”

That question – and some of what she learned through her interactions with AdventHealth specialists and facilities – was invaluable when, almost 10 years after ending her service on that foundation board, she found herself in need of emergency cardiac care.

A cascade of challenges leading straight to the ER

After a relatively mild case of COVID-19 in 2023, Suzanne began to notice a “cascade” of health issues that included dull chest pain. She had always been active and healthy, but COVID seemed to have “flipped the switch” on continuing health challenges.

At first, cardiac-related tests turned up no significant concerns, but in summer 2024, she found herself in the emergency room. She was diagnosed with pericarditis and atrial fibrillation (AFib).

Her doctors quickly treated the conditions with medication. But they recommended an ablation for the long-term treatment of AFib, and she underwent that surgery in January. Her time on the foundation board didn’t affect how she approached her treatment, but it bolstered her confidence in her medical team.

“I think that’s what I learned the most from the board,” she said. “I knew that I was in the right care and that I had the right doctors.”

Suzanne donated to AdventHealth after receiving stand-out care in 2023 and 2024, and then reached out to ask about returning to the board.

“Nobody wants to be in the hospital, but if you have to be, at least you’ll know you’re going to get good care,” she said of her treatment at AdventHealth. “I’ve now been the recipient of the care, so I would like to give back – and still focus on women’s health.”