A lifeline for women: leading the way in cerebrovascular care
Women face distinct risks when it comes to stroke, particularly during pregnancy and menopause. Dedicated, gender-informed care is helping close long-standing gaps.
We are transforming care for women at high risk for stroke through the creation of the VGH Women's Cerebrovascular Health Clinic, the first of its kind in Western Canada.
Based in Vancouver General Hospital (VGH), this new clinic supports women across British Columbia and the Yukon by providing education, comprehensive screening and specialized management for cerebrovascular disease. Our focus is on stroke prevention and care during the stages of life when women face the greatest risk: pregnancy and menopause.
“Right now, there’s no program in B.C. designed specifically to support women with these risks,” says Dr. Alyson Plecash, Neurologist. “This clinic will give patients a clear place to go for help, bring different health experts together in one setting, and make visits, follow‑ups and testing more streamlined. It’s an important first step in improving access for women who often don’t get the specialized care they need.”
The clinic also strengthens education and research. We are creating robust educational opportunities for medical students, residents and clinical fellows, helping build expertise in this emerging field. At the same time, the clinic will serve as a research hub, advancing understanding of sex‑specific stroke risk factors and addressing persistent gender disparities in stroke outcomes.
“Stroke survivors continue to experience the same health concerns as other women, whether related to fertility, hormonal changes, or aging,” says Dr. Thalia Field, Neurologist. “But many patients and health‑care providers are understandably cautious about pursuing typical treatments because of concerns about cardiovascular or cerebrovascular risk.”
“This clinic gives us the opportunity to study safe, effective approaches to care, and to better understand the fears or misinformation that can stand in the way. By strengthening the evidence, we can empower women and their providers to make informed, confident decisions.”
Through this clinic, we are advancing gender-informed stroke care and strengthening our role as a leader in women’s cerebrovascular health, ensuring more women receive the specialized, coordinated care they need when it matters most.
