Announcing the 2025 Women’s Health Equity Fellow at the Penny Anderson Women’s Cardiovascular Center

The Penny Anderson Women’s Cardiovascular Center at the Minneapolis Heart Institute Foundation® (MHIF) is committed to closing the gap and eliminating disparities that exist in health care delivery and outcomes between men and women and for people of color. As part of the educational aim for the center, a one-year fellowship in women’s health equity was created and we are thrilled to announce that Jessica Shamdas, MPH has been selected to serve as its next fellow.

Jessica brings extensive research experience to the program, with some of her most recent roles that consult on federally funded initiatives, including CDC Screen for Life Colorectal Cancer Campaign, Veterans Affairs (VA) Behavioral Health Study, CDC Comprehensive Family-Centered (CHANCE) Study, California Tobacco Prevention Program (CTPP), among others. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Biology and Spanish and earned her MPH from the University of Minnesota with a focus on Epidemiology and a Minor in Health Services Research, Policy, and Administration.

In her fellowship role at MHIF, Jessica will support both MHIF research and community education efforts. Her first research project will focus on an international valve disease in women registry under Dr. Nadira Hamid’s direction, as the U.S. site Principal Investigator.