Heart Valve Voice Canada

02/13/2026

We’re proud to spotlight a leader and board member helping us advance heart valve disease care for women in Canada: Dr. Jessica Forcillo, a cardiac surgeon at the University of Montreal Hospital Centre (CHUM).

Today for Wear Red Canada, a day to raise awareness for women’s cardiovascular health, CHUM and Dr. Forcillo are hosting a stethoscope check event. Heart valve disease is especially underdiagnosed and undertreated in women.

Dr. Forcillo focuses on valvular and aortic surgery. She is the first formally trained cardiac surgeon in Canada, in both surgical and percutaneous transcatheter valve procedures, following a two-year fellowship at Emory University Hospitals, one of the world’s high-volume transcatheter heart valve centres.

Her work goes far beyond the operating room. She holds a PhD degree in biomedical sciences and a master’s in public health, and co-founded the Cardio-F Clinic at CHUM, dedicated to advancing women’s cardiovascular health. Her research program focus on sex-based differences in cardiovascular disease

Thank you, Dr. Forcillo, for helping us improve awareness, early detection and health outcomes for Canadians impacted by heart valve disease.

Watch Dr. Forcillo answer common patient questions on our YouTube channel. https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLy4zz3oROMJaKj-YEsC7_23DE1zXc5YEM

02/12/2026

Getting a stethoscope check is a simple first step toward heart valve disease detection, which can be fatal without timely treatment. Free stethoscope events are coming soon to several Canadian cities; they’re especially important for those 60+.

These events matter because heart valve disease is:
➡️ Serious, but treatable.
➡️ Difficult to recognize because symptoms vary and often mimic general signs of aging, such as fatigue, shortness of breath or palpitations.
➡️ Too often undetected, undiagnosed or untreated.
➡️ Rising as our population ages

What to expect:
💙 A healthcare provider will use a stethoscope to listen for a heart murmur.
💙 A heart murmur may be the first sign of valve disease, which can be treated.
💙 Early detection leads to better health outcomes.

Event locations:
Edmonton
Winnipeg
Toronto
Ottawa
Hawkesbury
Montreal
Quebec City
Halifax

Event details 👉 https://www.heartvalvevoice.ca/listentoyourheart

Thank you to our many supporters and partners (continued in first comment) for making this possible.

West Edmonton Mall
GETCA
CK Hui Heart Centre
Royal Alexandra Hospital Foundation
Reh-Fit Centre
Hawkesbury & District Hospital (HGH)
University of Ottawa Heart Institute
Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre
CHUM
Institut universitaire de cardiologie et de pneumologie de Québec-UL
Nova Scotia Health

02/09/2026

Over 60? When was the last time a healthcare provider listened to your heart?

Join us for a free stethoscope check event in Québec City on Feb. 13 for Wear Red Canada / TLM en Rouge to raise awareness for women’s cardiovascular health.

🩺A healthcare provider will listen for a heart murmur—often the first sign of heart valve disease.
💡Valve disease is serious but treatable.
👉Click to learn more https://www.heartvalvevoice.ca/listentoyourheart

Institut universitaire de cardiologie et de pneumologie de Québec-UL Plaza Laval Wear Red Canada / TLM en Rouge

Heart Valve Disease Awareness Day Sunday, February 22, 2026 “Listen To Your Heart” stethoscope check eventsHeart Valve Voice Canada is excited to offer free stethoscope check events in support of Heart Valve Disease Awareness Day, February 22nd, 2026.Don’t leave your heart health to chance—m...

02/09/2026

Over 60? When was the last time a healthcare provider listened to your heart?

Join us for a free stethoscope check event in Montréal on Feb. 13 for Wear Red Canada / TLM en Rouge to raise awareness for women’s cardiovascular health.

🩺A healthcare provider will listen for a heart murmur—often the first sign of heart valve disease.
💡Valve disease is serious but treatable.
👉Click to learn more https://www.heartvalvevoice.ca/listentoyourheart

CHUM Wear Red Canada / TLM en Rouge

Heart Valve Disease Awareness Day Sunday, February 22, 2026 “Listen To Your Heart” stethoscope check eventsHeart Valve Voice Canada is excited to offer free stethoscope check events in support of Heart Valve Disease Awareness Day, February 22nd, 2026.Don’t leave your heart health to chance—m...

02/05/2026

Patient stories like Stacy-Ann’s show why we raise awareness and advocate for better care for women with heart valve disease, due to care gaps and inequities.

💚 You can’t be too young to have heart valve disease. Age is a risk factor, but it impacts people of all ages.
💚 Your symptoms are real: fatigue, shortness of breath and heart palpitations are not normal.
💚 Ask your health provider to listen to your heart: a simple stethoscope check is the first step in early detection.

Read the recommendations we’re advancing in the report 👉 Shaping the Future for Women with Heart Valve Disease. https://www.google.com/url?q=https://static1.squarespace.com/static/650334c9e748db4e86436dd9/t/68af40c059b26d2f09fe5f78/1756315840931/Report_HVD_Shaping%2Bthe%2BFuture%2Bfor%2BWomen%2Bwith%2BHVD_140825_e-copy.pdf&sa=D&source=docs&ust=1770317301855940&usg=AOvVaw2iSX66eFBrhfntfJGXANeJ

Global Heart Hub

02/03/2026

Take simple steps to care for your health during .

Your heart valves are critical to the heart’s function—and easy to take for granted until there’s a problem.

Heart valve disease affects 1 million+ Canadians and it’s on the rise. It is serious, and potentially fatal, but treatable. Yet too often it goes undetected, undiagnosed and untreated.

Here’s what you can do to be proactive:

1. Know the common signs and risk factors of heart valve disease. Know that sometimes valve disease can be asymptomatic, which is why the next step is important.

2. Ask your healthcare provider to listen to your heart with a stethoscope, especially if you’re 60+. A heart murmur may be the first sign of heart valve disease.

3. Tell a friend and attend a “Listen to Your Heart” Stethoscope Check. Every February, for Heart Valve Disease Awareness Day, these free community events help save lives by improving early detection and health outcomes for Canadians.

Learn more: https://www.heartvalvevoice.ca/listentoyourheart

Heart Valve Disease Awareness Day Sunday, February 22, 2026 “Listen To Your Heart” stethoscope check eventsHeart Valve Voice Canada is excited to offer free stethoscope check events in support of Heart Valve Disease Awareness Day, February 22nd, 2026.Don’t leave your heart health to chance—m...

01/29/2026

If it’s been a while since a healthcare provider listened to your heart with a stethoscope, add Heart Valve Disease Awareness Day (Feb. 22) to your calendar.

To improve awareness and early detection of heart valve disease, we’re hosting stethoscope check events across the country.

Learn more 👉https://www.heartvalvevoice.ca/listentoyourheart

01/23/2026

Ask An Expert videos on our YouTube channel can answer your questions AND give you smart questions to ask your healthcare provider about your situation.

In this video, Dr. Jessica Forcillo unpacks what to know if you’re considering a mechanical valve replacement 👉 https://youtu.be/8kSrbnRODHc?si=KZpQz7B5IPXplD2m

A cardiac surgeon at CHUM and a board member at Heart Valve Voice Canada, Dr. Forcillo helps patients understand:

➡️Why anticoagulants are recommended after a mechanical valve replacement
➡️Why blood thinners require monitoring
➡️Which foods and drinks to limit or avoid
➡️Which physical activities to avoid

I am considering a mechanical valve replacement and understand that I will need to take anticoagulants (blood thinners) for the rest of my life. What should ...

01/13/2026

Can you regain your quality of life after treatment for heart valve disease? Yes. Here’s proof.

Tap through the images to meet 7 Canadians who are back to living active full lives including:
✅ Walking
✅ Cycling
✅ Golfing
✅ Cross-country skiing
✅ Working

Find insightful patient stories at 👉 https://www.heartvalvevoice.ca/en/patient-stories

01/06/2026

Popular question: Can heart valve disease be genetic?

Yes, some heart valve disease can be inherited. The most common is bicuspid aortic valve. However, most forms of valve disease have more to do with natural aging than your genes.

If one of your parents or other close family members has valve disease, it’s important to share that information with your primary healthcare provider.

Find reliable information for patients by clinicians in the FAQs on our website: https://www.heartvalvevoice.ca/en/heart-valve-disease/overview

12/16/2025

Eleanor was told not to worry when her doctor diagnosed mild aortic stenosis eight years ago.

Until she was diagnosed with severe aortic stenosis and needed surgery.

She’d wisely checked in with her doctor between monitoring appointments after feeling short of breath walking on a flat trail.

Eleanor’s story is a good reminder:
❤️ Heart valve disease can quietly worsen with symptoms that are easy to dismiss as “normal aging.”

❤️ Early detection— regular stethoscope checks for people age 60+—and timely treatment save lives.

After valve replacement surgery, Eleanor is back to yoga, aquafit and walks in her Edmonton neighbourhood.

What’s her best advice to other heart valve disease patients?
Read her story 👉 https://www.heartvalvevoice.ca/en/patient-stories-collection/getting-her-breath-back

Until she had valve replacement surgery, Eleanor didn’t realize how much aortic stenosis had taken from her.

12/10/2025

Want these practical tips and insightful stories delivered to your inbox on December 16th?

Subscribe to our bimonthly newsletter for people impacted by heart valve disease.

Sign up here 👉 https://www.heartvalvevoice.ca/

From pre-diagnosis through treatment and recovery, we connect you to the information & resources you need on your journey with heart valve disease.