Two prominent women from Central Pennsylvania will help advance heart health and raise lifesaving funds to fight their No. 1 health threat with the American Heart Association, devoted to a world of healthier lives for all, as members of its Lancaster/Lebanon 2023 Woman of Impact class.
The Woman of Impact class members are nominated by their peers to become an American Heart Association Woman of Impact because of their passion and drive to make a difference in the community and raise awareness of women’s cardiovascular health. Woman of Impact is an extension of the American Heart Association’s long-standing Go Red for Women movement, a comprehensive platform designed to increase women’s heart health awareness and serve as a catalyst for change to improve the lives of women globally.
“Heart disease claims the lives of 1 in 3 women, including thousands of women in our community every year,” said Melissa May, nurse manager for invasive cardiology and interventional radiology at WellSpan Ephrata Community Hospital and co-chair of the 2023 Lancaster/Lebanon Go Red for Women campaign. “The Go Red for Women movement has already made an incredible impact on women’s health, but there is no better way to keep that momentum going and reach more women in a personal way than for local women to use their influence to make a difference.”
The Lancaster/Lebanon 2023 Woman of Impact Nominees are:
- Rachel Etter, director of cardiology services, WellSpan Good Samaritan Hospital
- Priscilla Gibson, realtor, Coldwell Banker Realty
Beginning on National Wear Red Day, Feb. 3, 2023, hundreds of Woman of Impact nominees nationwide embark on a 9-week journey to help transform the health of women. Each week, nominees and their Impact Teams, made up of friends or family members, participate in activities designed to create a culture of wellness and health equity. Activities may include educational events, learning and spreading the word about CPR, getting active, recruiting women to participate in research, and more. Nominees and their Impact Teams also raise critical funds for the American Heart Association’s Go Red for Women movement.
On April 6, 2023, the woman whose team has the highest number of impact points—awarded through a combination of fundraising and mission impact activities —is named Lancaster/Lebanon 2023 Woman of Impact Award Winner. The winner will be recognized at the Lancaster/Lebanon Go Red for Women Luncheon on Wednesday, May 24, 2023, at the Mount Hope Estate in Manheim.
To learn more about the American Heart Association’s Go Red for Women in Lancaster and Lebanon counties, visit lancastergored.heart.org.