Dr. Jacqueline Saw is a Health & Wellness nominee for the 39^th annual YWCA Women of Distinction Awards, with the winners to be announced on May 26, 2022. These awards recognize an outstanding woman or business operating in the Lower Mainland. Dr. Saw is nominated alongside other remarkable women connected to VGH & UBC Hospital Foundation, Dr. Elizabeth Bryce and Vendanshi Vala.

Dr. Jacqueline Saw, VGH Interventional Cardiology Fellowship Program Director, is not only a compassionate doctor, tenacious researcher and passionate advocate, she is also the leading expert in Spontaneous Coronary Artery Dissection (SCAD) — a rare heart condition that affects young women for reasons still largely unknown.

Through her world-leading research, Dr. Saw is working tirelessly to advance SCAD treatment and care. Under her watch, Dr. Saw has created the only SCAD rehab program in the world, and is serving as the principal investigator of the Canadian Institutes of Health Research multi-centre prospective Canadian SCAD study. In addition, she is conducting genetic studies and expanding the SCAD registry internationally in the hopes to uncover genetic links and medications that can be used to care for SCAD.

“Dr. Saw is an outstanding cardiologist, educator, leader, and she is also saving the hearts of women in Vancouver and all over the world,” says Dr. Martha Gulati, former Chief of Cardiology at the University of Arizona. “There are few people who will ever be able to say that. But then again, there are few like Dr. Jacqueline Saw.”

Dr. Saw has also quite literally written the book on SCAD, utilizing her growing knowledge to educate the next generation of heart health specialists across the globe. She has been a leading voice locally, provincially and nationally in promoting cardiovascaular health, and conducting talks around the globe around SCAD and heart health.

As a dedicated philanthropic supporter of VGH & UBC Hospital Foundation for 15 years, Dr. Saw is a key organizer of the annual SCAD conference and associated fundraiser. She also volunteers regularly to attend events and connect with the community, helping inspire donors to generously contribute to cardiovascular care.

A prolific writer and speaker, Dr. Saw has presented at more than 600 conferences around the world, published more than 240 peer-reviewed papers, edited two textbooks on carotid artery stenting, and more.

Dr. Saw’s remarkable research and impact on health care has been empowered thanks to donor funding. Donations help fund the future of health care at our hospitals and health care centres, providing health care teams with the equipment, technology and research they need to save lives.

Congratulations and good luck to Dr. Jacqueline Saw.