In latest episode of the “Health Care Heart to Heart” podcast, now streaming, UNMC Chancellor Jeffrey P. Gold, MD, speaks with Windy Alonso, PhD, assistant professor in the UNMC College of Nursing, heart failure nurse scientist and rural health advocate.

Dr. Alonso speaks with Dr. Gold about the start of her research science career and how she has blended two things that she’s passionate about — science and caring for people.

“I loved science — so ultimately, I got that bachelor’s degree in biology, not really thinking about what will I do with this degree whenever I graduate,” she said. “And so, I ended up working as a nursing assistant, coincidentally, on a step-down unit where we cared for a lot of adults with heart failure.”

They also discuss Dr. Alonso’s research in helping patients with heart failure overcome their fear of exercise and her collaboration with different rural communities across the state of Nebraska to test exercise interventions.