Texas Heart Institute kicked off the first weekend of American Heart Month with several events reaching nearly 1000 community members.

Over 250 staff members and visitors participated in National Wear Red Day and Go Red For Women events on Friday, February 1. THI hosted world-renowned cardiologist Dr. Valentin Fuster at a faculty and fellows leadership breakfast in the Denton A. Cooley Boardroom and honored him after his Grand Rounds presentation, a longstanding educational tradition that unites physicians, scientists, and trainees from across the Texas Medical Center during the academic year.

Elnita McClain Women’s Center Go Red Luncheon & Fashion Show

Since 2011, the Center for Women’s Heart & Vascular Health has partnered with the 10th Episcopal District Women’s Missionary Society and the Elnita McClain Women’s Center at their annual fashion show and luncheon. Held during Heart Month, the luncheon serves to inspire and further educate society leaders across the region who are helping their communities stay healthy throughout the year.

Under the Episcopal leadership of Bishop Vashti Murphy McKenzie and Supervisor Stan McKenzie and directorship of Ms. Shamra Hodge, the Elnita McClain Women’s Center provides ongoing health and social awareness programs and offers shared office space for collaborative social service agencies. For nearly a decade, THI has collaborated with the Center on important screening initiatives and wellness projects.

Friends of THI’s Women’s Center and Center for Clinical Research were joined by THI Heart Health Community Ambassadors and WomenHeart Houston Champions Pam Guillory, Esmeralda Miranda, Sister Mama Sonya, Sabina Varela, and Kimberly Connell. Kimberly shared her childhood and adult heart journey living with cardiomyopathy and receiving a heart transplant.

Over 550 members from across the 10th Episcopal District traveled to Houston to attend the luncheon and honor 15 community members. Read more about the honorees here.

Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee honored District members and guests with a powerful and thoughtful message that emphasized the importance of diet and prevention in the fight against heart and vascular disease. She also acknowledged the value of clinical trials to ensure our doctors have the knowledge they need to determine the best treatments based on research.

Friends of THI’s Women’s Center and Center for Clinical Research were joined by THI Heart Health Community Ambassadors and WomenHeart Houston Champions, Pam Guillory, Esmeralda Miranda, Sister Mama Sonya, Sabina Varela and Kimberly Connell.  Kimberly shared her childhood and adult heart journey living with cardiomyopathy and receiving a heart transplant.

2019 Elnita McClain Luncheon & Fashion Show Event Photos

Pink Goes Red Women’s Health Symposium

The Houston Metropolitan Area Chapters of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated hosted their annual Pink Goes Red Health Symposium Saturday, February 2nd.

On this special day, Alpha Kappa Alpha women take off their pink and wear red for the day to raise awareness of this deadly disease and promote life changes that will increase the longevity and quality of the lives of women around the globe.

Each year, this inspirational event unites all of Houston’s AKA members and educates and empowers African American women to live heart healthy lives all year. The symposium included free health screenings, panel discussions, survivor testimony, CPR classes and a fun U-Jam class.

For this national tradition, Texas Heart Institute, a founding member of WomenHeart, partnered with AKA to share important life–saving information with the community as they kicked off the first weekend of American Heart Month.

The entire weekend was full of inspiration for our community, and we hope everyone will continue to embrace American Heart Month, heart-healthy lifestyles, and safe physical activity to exercise our heart muscles and promote good circulation.

Learn more about the different events we are supporting this year for Heart Month. And if you’re in the Houston area, we hope you will join us!

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Sunday, Feb 17 Support THI and log an hour of healthy physical activity at the 4th Annual Pilates Has Heart honoring Terri Dome who bravely fought cancer and heart disease 100% proceeds benefit THI Outreach .