Dr. Bekardi was dedicated to treating pediatric burn victims in Costa Rica and other Central American countries, eventually bringing her to Houston’s Shriners Hospital for Children for further experience. While providing critical-care education to burn victims and their families transported to the Texas Medical Center in Houston, she realized the importance of education to improve care. Through her work with Shriners Hospital, she was exposed to exceptional research and treatment programs that included longitudinal outcome assessments, outreach clinics to rural areas, and investigations into techniques to improve functional outcomes.

She then completed fellowships in Cardiovascular Disease Research and Women’s Heart Health Research at The Texas Heart Institute, eventually joining the Women’s Center as a researcher. She is active in multiple research projects, including projects on echocardiography, valvular heart disease and percutaneous valve outcomes, coronary artery anomalies, the relationship between depression and cardiovascular disease, fibromuscular dysplasia, women’s preventive medicine, and the development of digital educational materials. She oversees the Houston HeartReach Registry (HHR) and the Percutaneous Valve Registry.

Her research interests have been primarily influenced by her interactions with the underserved and underinsured Spanish-speaking community. Through the Houston HeartReach project, she enjoys working with established and reputable community organizations such as nationally recognized non-profits BakerRipley and LHI, which are dedicated to eliminating barriers to healthcare and promoting health and wellness. Since the launch of the HoustonHeart Reach study and registry, Dr. Bekardi has enrolled and screened over 1600 women in the program.

Dr. Bekardi also supports clinical education by serving as a supervisor for The Texas Heart Institute Cardiovascular Disease Fellowship at Baylor St. Luke’s Medical Center.