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SCAD Alliance was established as a 501(c)(3) organization in 2013 when Katherine K. Leon and Rachel Doucette, with the vision to empower each SCAD survivor with an accurate diagnosis, superior outcome, and answers, decided to work diligently to raise the profile of spontaneous coronary artery dissection (SCAD), educate key audiences, and advocate for clinical studies.

In 2013, Dr. Malissa Wood became the first SCAD Alliance Scientific Advisor and in 2014 was joined by Dr. Esther Kim. After being named Chair of the SCAD Alliance Scientific Advisory Board (SAB), Dr. Kim led the development of "Spontaneous Coronary Artery Dissection: Current State of the Science: A Scientific Statement From the American Heart Association"—the first document of its kind. In 2015, Dr. Sahar Naderi joined the SAB and worked to advance SCAD professional awareness on the west coast. This core leadership team of Kim, Wood, Naderi and Leon created the first independent, multi-center SCAD Registry in the United States, which launched on March 8, 2019. In 2026, the registry has more than 2,400 participants and 29+ sites.

SCAD Alliance is a unique organization with an integrated approach to the challenges facing SCAD patients and those who care about them. Our four-leaf “lucky” heart logo represents the torn artery that we must overcome, supported by family, health partners, and researchers. With a focus on collaboration, SCAD Alliance has incorporated the many disciplines that play a role in researching spontaneous coronary artery dissection and caring for patients. We have crafted a team whose members are experts in the fields of cardiology, vascular disease, clinical psychology, connective tissue disorders, obstetrics/gynecology, endocrinology, and genetics.