UCLA’s Johnese Spisso to lead American Heart Association’s campaign to fight heart disease and stroke in women

The American Heart Association’s (AHA) Go Red For Women campaign will be led this year by Johnese Spisso, president of UCLA Health and CEO of UCLA Hospital System. As the Go Red chairwoman, Spisso will drive the efforts to empower Los Angeles women to live longer, healthier lives. She also will spearhead three events in May to raise awareness and funds to advance the fight against heart disease and stroke in LA women.

Heart disease, stroke and other cardiovascular diseases kill nearly 1 in 3 women each year. Heart disease continues to be the number 1 killer of women, taking more lives than all cancers combined.

“Earlier in my career, when I worked as a Registered Nurse, I saw firsthand the debilitating impact of heart disease and stroke on patients and their families,” said Spisso, who also serves as Associate Vice Chancellor for UCLA Health Sciences. “I have been personally involved with Go Red For Women for over a decade, and I am excited to now lead the efforts to reach, empower and help improve the health of the 5 million women in Los Angeles County,”

The Go Red For Women events include a luncheon in Manhattan Beach on May 5, featuring educational sessions, motivational speakers and a heart-healthy meal, and the Dia de las Madres Dinner in Los Angeles on May 10, which will bring together Latina executives and their mothers for a Mexican Mother’s Day celebration. The month-long festivities culminate on May 17 at the Rock the Red Music Benefit in Hollywood where women’s heart health will be celebrated with music by special guest performers. Visit lagored.heart.org for more information.

Funds raised at the Go Red For Women events help the American Heart Association continue its support of lifesaving heart disease and stroke research. Since 1949, the American Heart Association has invested more than $4 billion in research. That investment has yielded or contributed to many important discoveries, including CPR, life-extending medicine, pacemakers, bypass surgery, the heart and lung machine and surgical techniques to repair heart defects. These and other advances make it possible for many to call themselves “survivors.”

The Los Angeles Go Red For Women campaign is sponsored nationally by Macy’s and CVS Health. Union Bank is the Los Angeles Life is Why sponsor and Huntington Hospital is the local presenting sponsor.

About the American Heart Association

The American Heart Association is devoted to saving people from heart disease and stroke – the two leading causes of death in the world. We team with millions of volunteers to fund innovative research, fight for stronger public health policies, and provide lifesaving tools and information to prevent and treat these diseases. The Dallas-based association is the nation’s oldest and largest voluntary organization dedicated to fighting heart disease and stroke. To learn more or to get involved, call 1-800-AHA-USA1, visit heart.org or call any of our offices around the country. Follow AHA Los Angeles on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.