Saint Luke’s Muriel I. Kauffman Women’s Heart Center

Prioritizing Women's Heart Health

Saint Luke's Muriel I. Kauffman Women’s Heart Center is the first center of its kind in the United States to take a proactive role in addressing women’s heart health. Established in 1994, the center operated as a program within Saint Luke’s Hospital. After receiving a generous gift from Julia Irene Kauffman in 2004, the new center was unveiled and named in honor of her mother, Muriel I. Kauffman.

The Women’s Heart Center provides health education, offers screenings, and leads national research on women’s heart health and disease prevention. The center is nationally recognized as a leader in advocacy for women, their families, and their health.

In 2024, the creation of Saint Luke’s Muriel I. Kauffman Institute for Women’s Cardiovascular Research was announced. The Institute is the first of its kind, dedicated to studying the unique aspects of heart conditions in women with the goal of narrowing the sex-specific research gaps both in prevention and treatment of cardiovascular disease.

Recognition & Awards

Our team has had the honor of meeting, working with, and being recognized by passionate nationwide leaders, who have also contributed to the advancement of women’s heart health awareness.    

  • Recognition at two White House receptions for our pioneering efforts in women's heart health
  • Recipient of the Inaugural Woman’s Day Red Dress Award
  • Recognition as a partner with the CDC Million Hearts Initiative, a program designed to help save lives through education on lowering blood pressure and reducing the prevalence of cardiovascular disease
  • Founding partner of the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute’s Heart Truth Campaign, a national life-saving campaign to raise awareness about cardiovascular disease in women
  • Founding partner of WomenHeart: The National Coalition for Women with Heart Disease in Washington, D.C.
  • Leader as a national spokesperson for the American Heart Association
  • Founding partner of the Food As Medicine Institute Alliance

Location

Saint Luke’s Muriel I. Kauffman Women's Heart Center
4401 Wornall Rd
Kansas City, MO 64111
Phone: 816-932-5784

Assessments & Programs

Wellness Assessments
The best tools women can use in the fight against heart disease are education and awareness. Consider these packages to assess your heart’s health.

Food As Medicine Everyday
This program introduces people to the healing power of whole foods as medicine.

The Red Dress
The Red Dress is the national symbol for women and heart disease awareness. We educate our community all year with this symbol front and center.

The Red Scarf
Donate a handmade red scarf to show support, comfort, and encouragement for hospitalized women with heart disease.

Pathway to Purpose
Our volunteers with heart disease support women newly diagnosed with heart conditions.

Research

Saint Luke’s Muriel I. Kauffman Institute for Women’s Cardiovascular Research was established in 2024 as an arm of the Women’s Heart Center. The Institute is dedicated to innovative cardiovascular care and outcomes research. Currently, we are spearheading and participating in research registries in the below areas:

Learn more about Institute for Women’s Cardiovascular Research.

Meet our team

  • Tracy Stevens, MD, Medical Director
  • Marcia McCoy, RN, MSN, Director
  • Anna Grodzinsky, MD, Research Clinical Scholar
  • Carmen Butcher, RN, BSN, Heart Wellness Coordinator
  • Grace Webb, Nutrition Health Coordinator
  • Christina Kangethe, Administrative Assistant

Feedback

Questions and comments are welcome by calling 816-932-5624 or emailing mmccoy@saintlukeskc.org.

News

Mar. 10, 2025

Kansas City Star: Guest Commentary: How Pregnant Women With Heart Issues in Kansas City Can Help Moms Everywhere
Kansas City is poised to become a national leader in addressing the nation’s maternal health crisis, and there’s a way for you to help or to be treated if you’re pregnant and have a heart condition.
Mar. 1, 2025

KMBC: Saint Luke's Works to Raise Awareness For Women's Heart Health and Research this Heart Month
Heart disease remains the number one health threat for women, causing 1 in 3 deaths each year—that's more than all forms of cancer combined.
Feb. 25, 2025

KCTV: FAME: Roasted Red Pepper Chickpea Curry
Grace Webb, Nutritional Coordinator with Saint Luke's Food As Medicine Everyday (FAME) program, shares a warm and nutritious recipe perfect for cold days with KC Live.
Feb. 7, 2025

KCTV: Saint Luke's Cardiologist Helps Raise Awareness for Women's Heart Health on National Wear Red Day
Dr. Tracy Stevens, MD, medical director of Saint Luke’s Muriel I. Kauffman Women’s Heart Center, joined KCTV live from Hy-Vee this National Wear Red Day to discuss the risks women face when it comes to cardiovascular disease.
Jan. 24, 2025

Health Central: When to See a Doctor for High Blood Pressure: Key Warning Signs
Health Central sat down with cardiologist Tracy Stevens, MD, the medical director of Saint Luke's Muriel I. Kauffman Women’s Heart Center, to discuss warning signs of hypertension and when it's time to see a doctor.
Nov. 15, 2024

Health News You Can Use: Saint Luke’s Muriel I. Kauffman Institute for Women’s Cardiovascular Research
The new Saint Luke’s Muriel I. Kauffman Institute for Women’s Cardiovascular Research is the first of its kind dedicated to studying unique aspects of heart conditions in women.
Oct. 7, 2024

KSHB: Saint Luke's, UMKC to Lead Nationwide Study in Effort to Combat Maternal Mortality
The study will look at outcomes of 1,000 pregnant people to create better care for moms with heart conditions during pregnancy.
Oct. 4, 2024

KCTV: Saint Luke's, UMKC Leading New Study to Help Address Maternal Mortality
KCTV talked to Dr. Anna Grodzinsky and two local mothers who participated in the pilot phase of the HOPE Study for Mom and Baby.
Aug. 28, 2024

FOX4: Saint Luke's Foundation Announces New Institute for Women's Cardiovascular Research
FOX4 talked to Dr. Tracy Stevens about how women have been underrepresented in cardiovascular research and how the new institute plans to make a difference.
Aug. 28, 2024

KCTV: Saint Luke's Foundation Announces New Institute Committed to Women's Heart Research
KCTV spoke to Dr. Tracy Stevens about how the new institute aims to lead to a better understanding of the unique aspects of women's heart conditions.
Aug. 28, 2024

KSHB: Saint Luke's Foundation Announces Institute to Study Women's Heart Health
KSHB talked to Dr. Tracy Stevens and one local woman who suffered a SCAD heart attack about the significance of the new institute.
Jul. 22, 2024

KSHB: Rare Life-Threatening Pregnancy Condition Can Have Serious Health Implications Later in Life
HELLP Syndrome is a life-threatening pregnancy complication and women are often completely unaware that it can put them at an increased risk many years later.
Feb. 26, 2024

KMBC: Leavenworth Mother's Story Highlights the Perils Women's Hearts Face in Pregnancy
KMBC talked to Dr. Laura Schmidt about the impact pregnancy has on a woman's heart and Saint Luke's unique approach to treating these patients.