CLEVELAND — For the 30th year in a row, Cleveland Clinic has been named the nation's No. 1 heart center by U.S. News and World Report. The impressive three-decade distinction is something to be proud of, but it's time to expand.
One of the ways the Clinic is doing this is by hiring more female heart surgeons. According to the American College of Cardiology, only 10-15% of practicing cardiologists and 4% of interventional cardiologists are women. When it comes to heart surgery, women make up about 6%.
Donna Kimmaliardjuk, M.D., knew by age 6 she wanted to be a doctor, a dream many Canadian Inuit women never considered.
"My whole mother's family is from the Arctic," Kimmaliardjuk, also known as "Dr. K," said. "Literally, my grandfather was born in an igloo, and then we were raised in Ottawa because my parents wanted to give us better educational opportunities."
Kimmaliardjuk became Canada’s first Inuk heart surgeon, trained at Cleveland Clinic. Eventually, she returned to Cleveland.
"I just absolutely loved the heart," she explained. "I think it's the most fascinating organ in the body. I went to go watch heart surgery as a medical student, and I just felt like, 'That's where I needed to be.'"
Like many aspects of life, "Dr. K" always knew there would be barriers, but she faced them and stayed true to her calling. Today, walking into a double bypass valve replacement surgery is a day at work that brings her joy and purpose.
Her advice to other women with big dreams is the same she gave to herself.
"If you feel passionate about something and feel driven and drawn to something, whether it be in medicine or science or engineering or technology, pursue it. Go for it," she said. "You will have naysayers, you will have doubters, you will have people tell you, 'It's too hard. It can't be done. Why bother? Ignore it.' Really, (it's) as simple as it sounds. Follow your passion, follow your heart, and do what makes you happy and believe in yourself."
She also understands the responsibility she carries for her culture. She’s very proud of it, and it’s very important to her.
While she may be the first, she hopes she’s not the last.
"There's only one of me now, but I'm hoping to, you know, maybe set an example or inspire others to pursue a career in medicine and in heart surgery," she added.
Kimmaliardjuk's family believed in her and supported her from the day she shared her dream, but she also found mentors who also believed in her and wouldn’t let her quit. It's likely why she returned to the No. 1 heart center in America.
"I did my training in Canada, and then when it came to finishing up training, one of my mentors encouraged me to apply to Cleveland Clinic to come do some extra training and specifically learn from one of the surgeons here," she recalled. "I came with the intention of learning a special skill and taking that skill back to Canada, which I did, but then I got a call that they would like me to come back to work with them."