WomenHeart has named the 2009 recipients of its annual Wenger Awards. Six individuals or organizations who have made outstanding contributions to women’s heart health accepted the honor on Monday evening, May 18, during a dinner celebration at the Embassy of Italy in Washington, D.C.
 
“This year’s honorees have been relentless in keeping women’s health and particularly women’s heart health front and center in the debate on health care reform and we salute them and support their efforts,” said Lisa M. Tate, CEO of WomenHeart.  “Women can feel reassured that these dedicated souls are working hard and will continue to work to make a difference for the millions of women living with heart disease.”
 
“Medtronic shares and strongly supports WomenHeart’s mission to improve the heart health of all women,” said David Etzwiler, executive director of the Medtronic Foundation, which sponsors the award event. “During the past decade, we’ve accomplished much with more women living longer. But there is still more to be done. By recognizing, celebrating and sharing the accomplishments and leadership of this year’s Wenger Award winners, we will continue to make measurable progress.”
 
Named for Nanette Kass Wenger, MD, FAHA, FACC, a pioneer in women’s cardiology, this year’s awards were given in the fields of Advocacy, Community Education, Corporate Leadership, Healthcare, and Public Policy.

2009 Wenger Award Recipients:

PUBLIC POLICY

Senator Lisa Murkowski, (R-AK), is the lead Republican on the HEART for Women Act (S.422), introduced in the 111th Congress on February 12, 2009. The legislation, the first of its kind written specifically for women’s heart health, would fund the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of heart disease and stroke in women.  Sen. Murkowski is receiving a Wenger Award for her passion in improving the state of health care, particularly in chronic disease management such as heart disease and hypertension as a means to reduce health care costs and ensure access to care.  Now serving her first full Senate term, Sen. Murkowski is the first Alaskan-born U.S. Senator.   Among others, she is a member of the Appropriations; Health, Education, Labor & Pensions (HELP); and Indian Affairs Committees.

Senator Debbie Stabenow, (D-MI), one of the original co-sponsors of the HEART for Women Act, (S.422), re-introduced the bill in the 111th Congress on February 12, 2009.  Serving her fourth term in Congress, Sen. Stabenow is a respected leader in Congress on health care issues, particularly in the fight to make prescription drugs more affordable and to bring innovative technology to the health care system.  In addition to receiving a 2009 Wenger Award, Sen. Stabenow has been recognized for her work in health care by the Michigan Primary Care Association and the National Association of Community Health Centers.  The first woman to represent Michigan in the U.S. Senate, Stabenow serves on numerous committees and is the Chair of the Democratic Steering and Outreach Committee.

ADVOCACY

National Women’s Law Center (NWLC) is being honored with a Wenger Award for its overall health care reform advocacy and for its Reform Matters: Making Real Progress for Women and Health Care project which provides women’s policy advocates with the tools to be active and vocal in the fight for progressive health care reform on the national and state levels.  NWLC’s most recent publication, a special report titled, Nowhere to Turn: How the Individual Health Insurance Market Fails Women, drew national media attention and shined the spotlight on critical gaps in the nation’s health care system.  NWLC was founded in 1972 to expand opportunities for American women and girls in education, employment, family economic security, and health, with special attention given to the needs of low-income women and their families.  NWLC has led the charge to ensure that any health reform includes quality, comprehensive, affordable health care for women and their families.

COMMUNITY EDUCATION

WISEWOMAN Program of North Carolina (Well-Integrated Screening and Evaluation for Women Across the Nation) is being recognized for providing critical cardiovascular screenings and behavior change counseling to thousands of women at risk and in need.  NC WISEWOMAN provides cardiovascular disease screenings to women enrolled in the NC Breast and Cervical Cancer Control Program at 47 health departments and referral services, including A New Leaf … Choices for Healthy Living—a program that empowers women to make positive lifestyle changes.  NC WISEWOMAN is one of 21 programs in 20 states and tribal organizations funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), to provide low-income, underinsured, or uninsured women ages 40-64 –with support and education to help them control or delay cardiovascular and other chronic diseases.

CORPORATE LEADERSHIP

Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation is a recipient of a 2009 Wenger Award for its ongoing support of women’s heart health advocacy and its dedication to providing treatment options for women living with chronic conditions that contribute to the development of heart disease.  Novartis reinforces its commitment to promoting women’s heart health through its ongoing support of WomenHeart’s educational, support and advocacy programs, as well as the important work of allied organizations including the Women’s Health Resource Center, Sister to Sister Foundation, Events of the Heart, and the Society for Women’s Health Research.

HEALTHCARE

Tracy L. Stevens, MD, FACC, is receiving a Wenger Award for her long-time commitment to delivering quality heart care to women in her practice and as Medical Director at Saint Luke’s Muriel I. Kauffman Women’s Heart Center in Kansas City, Missouri, the first women’s heart center in the United States.  As a professor of medicine at the University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Medicine, Dr. Stevens takes on the important work of training tomorrow’s doctors.  She was present at the White House for the signing of the proclamation in support of the National Heart, Lung, & Blood Institute’s (NHLBI) The Heart Truth Campaign and later received recognition by President Bush and Laura Bush for her role as a pioneer in women’s heart health. An important voice for cardiovascular health, Dr. Stevens serves on the Woman’s Day magazine Heart Health Advisory Board and is a national spokesperson for the American Heart Association.