Dr. Jacqueline Saw is a leader through and through. Her incredible body of work in SCAD research and care is world-leading, and is helping the medical community uncover new ways to treat this relatively unknown condition which affects young and otherwise healthy women.

Let’s meet her.

Where did you grow up?
I was born and raised in Singapore. We immigrated to Vancouver when I was 16.

How long have you worked at VGH?
I started working as a resident at VGH in 1996 after graduating from medical school at the University of Ottawa. I did both my internal medicine and cardiology residencies at UBC. After completing my interventional cardiology fellowship at the Cleveland Clinic, I returned to VGH to be on faculty in 2004.

Why are you so interested about SCAD/heart health?
SCAD affects mostly young women who are otherwise healthy, without traditional cardiac risk factors. Being in the same age group, I feel connected to these women like sisters and friends. I find it incredibly rewarding to be able to help these women find answers for this relatively rare and poorly understood disease.

What do you like most about your job?
I love working with my hands. Doing complex procedures is a passion. I am also very inquisitive, and love doing research to uncover new findings. I also enjoy analyzing data and writing in solitude.

Who or what inspires you?
When I was a medical student, I did an elective with Dr. Doris Kavanagh-Gray. She was the first female cardiologist at a sister Vancouver hospital and subsequently became the Head of Cardiology. Her compassion, decisiveness and determination was truly inspiring. She is an amazing role model for women in cardiology, and I hope to follow her footsteps and help inspire and support women colleagues and trainees in cardiology.