Heart disease claims the lives of more women than any other disease and is sometimes misdiagnosed because women’s symptoms can differ from men’s. To promote heart health for women, Alta Bates Summit Medical Center recently convened the Goggio Cardiovascular Conference, which drew an enthusiastic crowd of more than 200 participants, including community members and staff from Alta Bates Summit and other hospitals.

The October 24, 2006 event honored the memory of Al Goggio, M.D., a pioneering Alta Bates Campus cardiologist. The event was funded by the Goggio family and several generous donors who worked with the Foundation to establish the conference’s endowment. The curriculum explored new frontiers in women’s heart disease, from gender differences in acute coronary syndrome to care for arrhythmias.

“We wouldn’t be able to put on an event like this without the Foundation’s generous assistance,” says Allen Bengtson, administrative director of Alta Bates Summit’s Cardiovascular Center of Excellence, which was one of the principal beneficiaries of the Foundation’s successful Centennial Campaign for Excellence. “We hope to do this on an annual basis. Our goal is to raise from $200,000 to $400,000. Education is really important, and we all realize that we have to find more ways to support it.”

Planning is already under way for next year’s conference. To find out more or to contribute, call (510) 869-8288.