On Wednesday, April 1, 2020 at 4 p.m. EDT, cardiologist Icilma Fergus, M.D., associate professor at Mount Sinai Medical Center and past president of the Association of Black Cardiologists, will host “COVID-19 and the Heart,” a live Q&A on Black Health Matters Facebook. Not only is Dr. Fergus an accomplished cardiologist, but she is also a beloved friend of Black Health Matters who spoke at the 3rd Black Health Matters Summit in Harlem in 2019. Tune to our Facebook page on April 1 at 4 p.m. as Dr. Fergus discusses the implications of COVID-19 for heart patients. Improve your health knowledge and get your questions answered by an expert!
Dr. Fergus (known as “Dr. Icy”) is an associate professor of medicine and director of cardiovascular disparities at Mount Sinai Medical Center in New York City. She previously served as chief of the division of cardiology at Harlem Hospital Center. Her undergraduate and graduate education were at Barnard College, Columbia University and SUNY Downstate. She completed her residency and chief residency at Albert Einstein Medical Center. Dr. Fergus completed a cardiology fellowship at Weill Cornell Medical Center. She is board certified in internal medicine and cardiology.
Dr. Fergus has authored numerous articles related to heart disease in peer-reviewed journals, including a diabetes education booklet and a chapter in the book Cardiovascular Disease in Ethnic Minorities. She is currently working on several written works, including Happy Hearts Cookbook—with a Tropical Twist, Delite in Your Heart and The ABCs of Community Interventions. Her current clinical and research interests involve cardiovascular disparities, hypertension, heart failure and heart disease in women. She has been an investigator in several clinical trials.
Dr. Fergus is an active member of several professional organizations, including the American Heart Association where she sits on the Founder’s Affiliate board and is president of the Westchester Chapter, the American College of Cardiology and the Association of Black Cardiologists where she is the immediate past president. She also served a number of years on the ABC board including two years as secretary and Chair of Community Programs for six years. She is a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha incorporated, and co chairs the Health Promotions Committee and sits on the board of the Jack and Jill of America Foundation as Vice President. She is a prominent educator in the local community where she works including board member of the Community Advisory board of Touro College.
Dr. Fergus is the founder and director of the series of Healthy Hearts projects – Harlem Healthy Hearts (HHH), Montserrat Healthy Hearts (MHH) and Programme Ultima Femme ( PUF). These programs focus on addressing lifestyle motivation for cardiac prevention as well as education, demonstration and screening to promote optimal health management of cardiovascular risk factors and chronic conditions that may lead to heart disease. She has embarked on several medical mission visits to the island of Montserrat beginning in 2011 and continues to do so with a growing team every year. The Diabetes Booklet was inspired by her last trip there. Dr. Fergus continues to be very active in communities where health care disparities are present.
Dr Fergus is also Mrs. Rowe, wife to Robert Rowe and mother to three lovely children Orion, Arianne and RJ. She has been featured in several magazines newspapers and shows including Girl Friends Magazine, Heart and Soul, New York Daily News and “Being Black in America: CNN series Part 1”. Her non-medical book is entitled “B.A.D. Moms”. She is the recipient of Luminary Award from the American Heart Association 2016, the Cocovia Award from Women’s Day Magazine at the Red Dress Awards 2018, as well as the recipient of numerous other awards and accolades. You may find her on Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram or Facebook and visit the website www.healthyheartseries.org.
