11th Annual Wenger Awards Honors Those Making Extraordinary Contributions to Women's Heart Health

WASHINGTON, June 21, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Two individuals and two organizations were honored tonight for their extraordinary contributions to women's heart health at the 11th Annual Wenger Awards hosted by WomenHeart: The National Coalition for Women with Heart Disease. Heart disease is the leading cause of death in women and more women than men have died from heart disease since 1984. However, major efforts are underway to change that, and tonight's honorees are leading the way.

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20110621/DC23406 )

The Wenger Awards are named for Nanette Kass Wenger, MD, pioneer in women's cardiovascular disease. The Wenger Awards is the only national recognition for those who are making extraordinary contributions to women's heart health. This year's honorees are:

Secretary Kathleen Sebelius, US Department of Health & Human Services for Excellence in Public Service, for continuing to help women take advantage of important provisions under the health care law that provide better access to preventive care -- including screenings that detect raised levels of cholesterol, elevated blood pressure and other cardiovascular disease risk factors. Most recently, Secretary Sebelius launched the Make the Call, Don't Miss a Beat public service announcement campaign, a national partnership dedicated to helping women recognize the seven warning signs of a heart attack and encourage them to call 911 as soon as any of these symptoms occur; hosted the first national conference call on women and heart disease; and welcomed attendees to the first national media briefing on women and heart disease. She also continues to lead an ambitious effort to make sure women have the tools and the information to make heart-healthy choices – from providing access to fresh fruits and vegetables to disclosing calorie information on restaurant menus.

Mayo Clinic for Excellence in Community Outreach for a decade of hosting the annual WomenHeart Science & Leadership Symposium where women heart disease survivors are trained as community educators; now 520 in 48 states, nearly 50% of WomenHeart Champions report that they have been credited with saving a life through the education they have provided and by empowering women to take charge of their heart health.

Bayer HealthCare, LLC for Excellence in Corporate Leadership for their long standing commitment to educating women about the role of aspirin therapy in heart health and the pill tote campaign. To date, more than 50,000 small, cylinder shaped pill totes designed to hold aspirin have been distributed to women throughout the country, in effort to be sure they are prepared in the event of a suspected heart attack.

Lori Mosca, MD, MPH, Ph.D. for Excellence in Medical Leadership for a career devoted to advancing women's heart health, and most recently as the lead author of the 2011 Updated Clinical Practice Guidelines for the Prevention and Treatment of Cardiovascular Disease in Women, and for serving as the lead physician expert for Make the Call. Don't Miss a Beat. national public service announcement campaign to teach women the signs of heart attack and encourage them to call 911.

To arrange interviews or for further information on any of these events, please contact Lisa Clough at 202.464.8734 or [email protected].

About WomenHeart:

WomenHeart: The National Coalition for Women with Heart Disease is the nation's only patient centered organization serving the 42 million American women living with or at risk for heart disease – the leading cause of death in women. WomenHeart is solely devoted to advancing women's heart health through advocacy, community education, and the nation's only patient support network for women living with heart disease. WomenHeart is both a coalition and a community of thousands of members nationwide, including women heart patients and their families, physicians, and health advocates, all committed to helping women live longer, healthier lives. To receive a free on line heart health action kit or to donate visit www.womenheart.org/kit. 

Sponsors for the Wenger Awards are: Corporate Host Medtronic Foundation; VIP Reception sponsor Gilead; Media Sponsor WJLA-TV; Heart Partner sponsor Abbott Vascular; Heart Healer sponsor Pfizer; Heart Sister sponsor Mayo Clinic; Heart Friends sponsors Bayer HealthCare LLC, Edwards Lifesciences, Johnson & Johnson, Takeda, and Novartis; Contributing sponsors American College of Cardiology, American Hospital Association, Bio/Biotechnology Industry Organization, Inspire, US Wellness Inc.; and In Kind contributors Clos du Bois and Tea Forte'.

SOURCE WomenHeart: The National Coalition for Women With Heart Disease