ON THE COVER

COVER STORY: A DECADE OF A CIRCLE OF RED

A Decade of A Circle of Red

CELEBRATING 10 YEARS OF FIGHTING FOR WOMEN'S HEART HEALTH

By Kristy Smorol

Susan Crossett, CEO of CPS Recruitment, has been a member of the Circle of Red since it launched 10 years ago. “When I first joined, it was because three women in my life have heart disease, including my mom,” Crossett said.

In fact, one in three women die of heart disease. It’s a high price to pay for being a woman, and the Circle of Red has spent the past decade trying to change

that. The Circle is part of the American Heart Association’s Go Red for Women movement, which is dedicated to removing barriers women face to experiencing good health and wellbeing.

When the Circle of Red started, the group of 14 influential women were committed to raising awareness for women’s heart health. “I got pulled in by a group of women making great strides in our community,” said former Circle of Red chairwoman Evelyn Ingram, director of community engagement at Wegmans. “It was a group of women I respected and saw as role models. I think they saw something in me, too. It brings a smile to my face when I think back on when I first got involved in the Go Red for Women campaign.”

Nationally, the Go Red for Women movement launched in 2004 because too few women knew cardiovascular disease was their leading killer. All too often, women put themselves last as they fill the simultaneous roles of mom, wife, caregiver, executive, teacher, and more. The simple fact is, women don’t move enough, don’t eat well enough, don’t sleep well enough, and don’t manage stress or blood pressure well enough.

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By sharing their stories, the women in the Circle of Red have put faces to the movement and encouraged others to join.

“I have learned of many more women in my life that have been impacted by heart disease,” Crossett said. “I think my speaking out about why I am a member of the Circle of Red has made others comfortable in sharing their own experiences.”

Many volunteers share Crossett’s sentiments, and found that sharing their experiences has empowered others.

That’s what drew Rachel Galusha, vice president and senior business banking manager at KeyBank, and current Circle of Red co-chairwoman, to the group.

“I have always admired the women who were able to tell their stories about their heart difficulties,” she said. “How they survived, how it changed their lives, how it impacted their families. As a woman, I am deeply moved and affected by their experience.” Co-chairwoman Laura Serway, proprietress of Laci’s Tapas Bar and Restaurant, knows the leadership from this group will make a difference. “I feel it’s my duty to be a part of the solution,” she said.

Since its inception, the Circle of Red has grown exponentially, and has reached more than 100 members. In the past 10 years, the Circle has expanded its mission, created programs, and diversified the membership on behalf of the Go Red for Women movement locally.

Circle member Merriette Pollard noticed a lack of women of color at the first Go Red for Women Luncheon she attended several years ago. Pollard, along with other volunteers and American Heart Association staff, worked to fix that. Now, she is one of several members who say they value the diversity ofthe movement. “To see the huge change and to be part of making it happen was an experience that warmed my heart,” Pollard said. “This disease impacts all and our activities should reflect that.” Cardiovascular disease claims the lives of more Black women than all forms of cancer, accidents, assaults, and Alzheimer’s Disease combined. In 2014, members of the Circle of Red were instrumental in creating the “Loving Myself,

Loving My Sisters” program. It is a coalition of community organizations with a mission to improve the heart health of Syracuse’s Black community. The program has hosted dozens of events, featuring topics like blood pressure management, signs of heart disease and stroke, stress reduction, healthy cooking, and knowing your family history.

Circle member Lisa Alford, commissioner of the Onondaga County Department of Adult and Long-Term Care Services, is one of the leaders behind the “Loving Myself, Loving My Sisters” program. She says her favorite memory was a Hands-Only CPR training hosted by the program’s coalition.

“We had so many people interested we had to do two separate sessions and the room was packed both times,” Alford said. “I just thought of the community impact we could have by training that many people on those skills to help save someone’s life.”

Thanks to support from the CNY Community Foundation, every participant took home a CPR training kit to share with their families.

Increasing the diversity of the Circle of Red has also meant inviting men, who first joined in 2013. These men also wanted to make a difference in their

community and protect the hearts of the women they love.

“As a man I felt it vital to help rally other men to join the fight,” says past Men Go Red chairman Mark Worden, senior vice president - wealth management, The Barter/Worden Group at UBS Financial Services Inc. “I support the mission because there are so many women in my life I care about, and one especially is my lovely wife Reghan. I was happy to that opportunity and to involve so many men to join the cause.”

Now, the Circle of Red is looking to the future.

Women, particularly women of color, continue to be grossly underrepresented in cardiovascular research and STEM careers. Research shows women experiencing cardiac events potentially have better outcomes when treated by a female physician in the ER. Women make up nearly 50% of the workforce but less than 25% of STEM careers.

“I would like the Circle of Red educational programs to reach all school girls and to encourage them to go into the science field, ensuring that all doors are open to them, so they can realize their full potential and contribute to a healthier and better society,” said Aminy Audi, CEO and chair of the board at Stickley, Audi and Co., former Circle of Red chairwoman, and one of the group’s original members. Next month’s Go Red for Women Luncheon will be a digital experience with a special highlight on STEM. The keynote speaker will be Syracuse native Jeanette Epps, Ph.D., aerospace engineer and NASA astronaut. Donations from the Circle of Red have helped support female researchers across the country, including Plansky Huong, a graduate research assistant at Syracuse University studying how medication may affect fetal heart cells. Research has also been funded locally at SUNY Upstate Medical University, Cornell University, Ithaca College, and Binghamton University. “Research has moved medicine and the treatment of heart disease forward,” said former Circle of Red chairwoman Mara Charlamb, Vice President of United Radio. “Is there any greater accomplishment you could ask to be involved with, other than saving lives?” SWM

Kristy Smorol is the communications director for the American Heart Association in Syracuse.

Thank you to our Circle of Red 2020 Mary Adulky, MD Tammy Lindsay** Miranda Askew Brown Cheryl Manna** Aminy I. Audi Anne Messenger Debbi Barber Denise McGraw Janet Billington** Diane Mowry Karen Broughton Margaret (Meg) O'Connell James Burns Christine O'Connell More Bill Byrne Karen O’ Connor Nancy Phipps-Byrne* Mary Pat Oliker Liz Campbell Merriette Pollard Mara Charlamb Charles Polka** Mark Charlamb, MD Colette Powers Pavi Chigateri LaVonda Reed Joe Convertino, Jr. Rita Reicher* Casey Crabill M. Catherine Richardson Susan Crossett Cami Riley, MD Beth Donnelly Egan Kate Rolf Lisa Dunn Alford Arnold Rubenstein Lillie Fields Libby Rubenstein Marion Hancock Fish** Phillip Rubenstein Angela Franco Kristin Rubino** Franklin G. Fry Me’Shae Brooks Rolling Bea Gonzalez Michele Sardinia** Rachel Galusha Laura Serway Kimberly Graf** Kristin Short Bridget-ann Hart Joan Q. Simmonds Carolyn Hendrickson** Peter Simmonds Alyse Holstein John Schwartz, Jr.** Evelyn Ingram Trina Tardone Candace Campbell Jackson Maureen McCarthy Tracy Kathleen Jerose Barbara Huntress Tresness Joanna Jewett Theresa Waters, MD Dell Ford Jordan Nicole Woodall Nelly Kazzaz, MD Elaine White Mary Sandra Kinsella *Cor Vitae Laurie Liechty **New