Dr. Hartz received a medical degree from Northwestern University in 1974 and following her internship and residency, joined the department of surgery faculty of that medical school. In 1982, she became only the 13th woman to be certified for thoracic surgery.
She was appointed head of the cardiothoracic surgery department at the University of Illinois Hospital and Clinics, Chicago in 1991. She has done extensive research into the prevention and treatment of heart disease in women.