get out, get active...
...goRED for heart health
photography Jeff Noble styling Katy Ruben location Desert Botanical Garden AZ | may 2012
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H
ow healthy are you? Better yet, how healthy is your heart? Heart disease is the No. 1 killer of women in this country, but thousands of lives can be saved each year just by knowing the risks of heart disease and the signs of a heart attack.
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AZ | may 2012 • S P E C I A L A D V E R T I S I N G F E AT U R E
For the fifth consecutive year, az magazine and the Greater Phoenix Division of the American Heart Association have teamed up for GO RED for Women, a campaign to emphasize a hearthealthy lifestyle.
you go girls!
Photographed at the beautiful Desert Botanical Garden in Phoenix, the women on these pages — business leaders, doctors, mothers and daughters — all understand the importance of getting out, exercising and staying active.
While there are some risk factors we can’t control, such as age and family history, there are many you can manage. You can eat a healthy diet, exercise daily, and watch for early signs of heart disease. Are you ready to join the fight against heart disease? Let’s get out and play!
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Maureen Sterbach
health because I’ve been personally affected. When I was five, my grandmother, age 50, died from a massive heart attack. Years later, my grandson was born with hypoplastic left heart syndrome, a fatal heart defect in which the left side of the heart is severely underdeveloped. We were fortunate; at three months he received a heart transplant and is now a healthy seven-year-old.
Age: 53; Occupation: Vice President, Dignity Health Service Area Leader, Human Resources; Favorite outdoor activity: Golfing; Why involved in Go Red: My mom suffered a heart attack in her mid-fifties because she did not recognize the subtle symptoms she experienced. Education about heart disease and lifestyle choices is important to me. I don’t want to see women my age suffer because they did not know to seek medical attention.
4 Vicki Grove Age: 51; Occupation: Leadership Coach, Consultant and Training Facilitator, Grove Strategies, LLC; Favorite outdoor activity: I enjoy hiking, and taking walks in Pine, Arizona, where the trees are amazing and the views are inspiring; Why involved in Go Red: Being involved offered me the chance to get connected with and support other professional women in the community. Go Red’s supports research, wellness and educational information and encourages busy women to take better care of themselves and their friends.
2 Maria Bailey Benson
Age: 42; Occupation: Chief Furniture Enthusiast, Nyla Simone Home; Favorite outdoor activity: Running; Why involved in Go Red: Heart disease is very prevalent in my family. I lost my mother to a heart attack nine years ago. I know how powerful knowing your numbers can be. 3
Linda Lujan, Ph.D.
Age: 60; Occupation: President, Chandler-Gilbert Community College; Favorite outdoor activity: Walking and bicycling; Why involved in Go Red: I care about heart
Heather BennettMorrison, R.N. 5
Age: 52; Occupation: President, First Assistant Associates, LTD;
Favorite outdoor activity: Snow skiing; Why involved in Go Red: Professionally, my specialty is assisting in heart surgery. Getting involved with Go Red for Women allows me to fight heart disease both professionally and personally. Educating women to reduce their risk for heart disease helps me help others help themselves. 6 Renee Dee Age: 44; Occupation: Founder, Girlfriend University/Amplify U; Favorite Outdoor Activity: Biking, Hiking, Tennis ; Why involvement in Go Red: I want my sisters and girlfriends to enjoy vibrant health and longevity by consistently engaging in heart-healthy activities, wise lifestyle choices and time with girlfriends that is proven to extend their lives... and make the journey a whole lot more fun! 7
Lin Sue Cooney
Age: 53 Occupation: TV newscaster; Favorite outdoor activity: Walking my cute dog; Why involved in Go Red: A heart condition took the life of my beloved father-in-law Pep Cooney and turns out it’s hereditary and other relatives have it too. That means my
husband is at risk. Suddenly cardiac health became a priority. Then several years ago, I developed unexplained heart palpitations. They have since disappeared, but it certainly was a reality check for me, that I am not immune to problems and that it is time to learn how to stay heart healthy. 8 Iva Smolens, M.D. Age: 50; Occupation: Cardiothoracic Surgeon, Red Mountain Cardiothoracic Surgeons; Favorite outdoor activity: Golf; Why involved with Go Red: I am committed to being involved with the American Heart Association and Go Red for both personal and professional reasons. I take care of a number of women, both young and old, with extensive heart disease. I want to help raise awareness about women’s heart disease in the community, in an effort to decrease its overall incidence. Additionally, my father died at a very young age of heart disease and my mother from complications of vascular disease, so cardiovascular disease has affected me on a very personal level.
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athletic gear provided by sports chalet and sole sports
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AZ | may 2012 • S P E C I A L A D V E R T I S I N G F E AT U R E
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9 Mary Jo Jerde, R.N. Age: 53; Occupation: Executive Director, Disease Solutions Operations, OptumHealth; Favorite outdoor activity: Golf; Why involved in Go Red: I have always had a passion to support healthy lifestyles and address disease progression. The American Heart Association’s mission of building healthier lives aligns with my personal passion. I also have a personal interest as I have several family members who have been impacted by cardiovascular disease. 10 Patty White, R.N. Occupation: President & CEO, St. Joseph’s Hospital; Favorite activity: Running, Skiing; Why involved in Go Red: My mother died of sudden cardiac death when I was a senior in college. That was very devastating to my family, as we had no warnings and were not prepared to lose her. For such a long time, heart disease was seen as a disease of men. Women’s heart health was not addressed. Now we know that the symptoms of heart disease in women can be very
different than in men and it is the leading cause of death in women. Go Red For Women is our call to action. 11 Nina Jeppesen-Linder
Age: 43; Occupation: Full Time Mom and American Heart Association Volunteer; Favorite Outdoor Activity: Camping and hiking with my family; Why involved in Go Red: I believe it is important for women to understand the need to listen to their bodies, be aware of the signs when something is wrong, and to make sure they pursue medical treatment. As a survivor and now a mom, I want to make sure that I help with fundraising for continued research so that others can benefit as I have from the technological advances that the American Heart Association has helped fund.
12 Jayleen Jensen Age: 40; Occupation: Director, St. Joseph’s Hospital and Medical Center; Favorite outdoor activity: swimming and cycling; Why involved in Go Red: Through my work, I regularly witness life-changing
The American Heart Association presents the:
Luncheon
Friday, May 11 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Desert Ridge Marriott Resort and Spa Join the fight against heart disease—the No. 1 killer of women in Arizona — at the American Heart Association’s annual Go Red For Women Luncheon. The Go Red For Women Luncheon will feature breakout sessions, health screenings, interactive health exhibits, networking and the opportunity to discover tools and resources to build healthier lives. Guests will hear the inspirational story of
and life-ending effects of heart disease. Also, on a personal note, I have had two family members lost suddenly and unexpectedly to heart disease. Promoting research, raising awareness, and encouraging personal responsibility for healthy habits are primary vehicles to reduce devastation due to heart disease. 13
Meredith Dekker
Age: 53; Occupation: Financial Planner and Asset Manager, Dekker; Favorite outdoor activity: Golf; Why involved in Go Red: Many women like me aren’t aware of their risk for this often preventable disease, and they don’t know what they can do about it. I can help change that for women in the Valley through Go Red for Women. I feel that we all need to discover and use the gifts that we are given to help others. Volunteering can be a lot of work, but it also can be very rewarding. Serving others helps us realize that when times are bad, there are often others who have gone through greater trials than we could even imagine.
14 Debbie Castaldo Age: 44; Occupation: Vice President of Corporate and Community Impact for the Arizona Diamondbacks, Executive Director of the Arizona Diamondbacks Foundation; Favorite outdoor activity: Baseball, football, tennis, and biking; Why involved in Go Red: In March 2011, my dad passed away after a decadelong battle with heart disease. This spurred my involvement in the American Heart Association’s Go Red campaign. 15 Marci Zimmerman Age: 48; Occupation: Owner, Delete - Tattoo Removal & Laser Salon; Favorite outdoor activity: Cycling; Why involved in Go Red: Heart disease has devastated my family. My grandmother was tragically and unexpectedly lost to hidden heart disease. She went in to the doctor for a routine physical and was immediately rushed to the hospital. The Go Red campaign increases awareness of and fights heart disease in women. My hope is that more women learn the symptoms and stop heart disease before it’s too late.
a local survivor’s triumph over heart disease and enjoy a heart-healthy lunch. The event is sponsored nationally by Macy’s and Merck. Local sponsors include the Arizona Diamondbacks, Banner Health, Cardiovascular Consultants, Chandler Regional Medical Center, Mercy Gilbert Medical Center and United HealthCare. Media sponsors include 12 News, The Arizona Republic, az magazine and azcentral.com. For tickets, call (602) 414-5363 or visit www.phoenixgoredluncheon.org. For information about Go Red for Women, visit GoRedForWomen.org or call 888-MY-HEART.
Become a fan on Facebook – Go Red for Women – Official Page
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for your heart. for your family. for your friends. for yourself. Go to the Arizona Heart Institute, where our nationally recognized heart and our $99 Calcium Score Test
Call 602-266-2200 Â Â?Â? Â?
2632 North 20th Street | Phoenix www.azheart.com
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