It's that time of the year again!
I am excited to share that I finally have my fundraising page set up for the American Heart Association's Young Professionals Ball 2019! I will again be participating as a member of the New York Young Professionals Team. You may remember that I raised funds in honor of the AHA through large-scale social media campaigns back in 2016, 2017, and 2018 - something I could not have done without the support and generous contributions of family and friends far and wide (over 100 individuals participated!), including yourselves.You may also know that I completed my pre-med postbacc at Penn and am now a first year medical student at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine.
I want to tell you a little bit more about what the American Heart Association means to me and why I would love to have your support in my campaign.
I have been volunteering with the AHA since I was a sophomore in High School in 2008. I initially got involved with their 'Go Red for Women' campaign, since the link between women and heart disease was just being figured out at the time. I was intrigued by this connection and felt the desire to learn more and protect myself and other women from succumbing to the #1 Killer, as it has been deemed. It is never too early to get the conversation going (and you all know about my love of - and daily practices that surround -preventive health)!
Since sophomore year, I have continued my involvement (and my learning!) and it has helped bring me to my current place in life: a first year medical student with a strong interest in cardiology and preventive health.
I spent over two years shadowing the director of women's cardiology at North Shore LIJ (part of the Katz Institute for Women's Health), and saw patients day-in day-out who suffer from a cardiac-related ailment. It is incredible to see how the cardiologists and their teams mitigate pain, prescribe cures, and help their patients with prevention. Through my work with AHA Philadelphia, too, I was able to go out into the community and lecture about heart health and prevention, support heart-healthy policy decisions, and integrate important endeavors like hands-only CPR training into the AMWA club that I founded, The Penn Future Women in Health Club.
The AHA's goals involve educating people all over the world about heart disease and stroke prevention, and providing aid and support to those that have been afflicted with the disease (or connected to someone who is).
Please join me in raising funds and supporting a mission close to our 'hearts' ;). I am hoping to raise $2000 between September 15th and October 15th, and any contribution will help (if you remember from the last few years, I will continue to utilize the venmo pool option so that any one who wants to contribute is able).
We are the next generation, and we have the responsibility to educate ourselves and others and keep those that we know healthy, active, and alive.
