Jill Kalman, MD, to chair the American Heart Association New York City 2024-25 Go Red for Women® initiative
New York, NY, December 5, 2024 — Nearly half of women ages 20 and older are living with some form of cardiovascular disease (CVD), the No. 1 killer of women.[1] Because of her life’s work as a global leader improving women’s heart health, Jill Kalman, MD, Executive Vice President and Chief Medical Officer at Northwell Health will serve as the 2024-2025 volunteer chair of Go Red for Women in New York City. Launched more than two decades ago to increase women’s heart health awareness, Go Red for Women is the American Heart Association’s global movement designed to serve as a catalyst for change to improve the health of women. As the American Heart Association enters its second century of lifesaving work, Dr. Kalman will play a critical role in women’s health by leading this movement.
Dr. Kalman is Northwell’s first woman to hold its top clinical role. Dr. Kalman joined Northwell in May 2014 as associate medical director in the office of the chief medical officer, and as the associate medical director at Long Island Jewish Medical Center. She later served as executive director and medical director of Lenox Hill Hospital, where she was responsible for the quality of patient care, safety and day-to-day operations.
Under Dr. Kalman’s leadership, Lenox Hill elevated its reputation as a regional, national and global destination for top quality tertiary care. She was instrumental in leading the Lenox Hill response to the COVID-19 pandemic and its recovery efforts. She is an expert in congestive heart failure and has tremendous experience managing patients with advanced heart disease. She has been published extensively on the subject and has dedicated her career to improving the quality of life for patients at all stages of heart disease.
CVD is the leading cause of death in women, claiming more lives than all cancers combined, and continues to be women’s greatest health threat.[2] According to the American Heart Association, as women grow and change so does their risk for CVD. Unique life stages like pregnancy and menopause can affect that risk. The good news is the majority of cardiovascular disease incidents can be prevented through lifestyle changes and education. Through Go Red for Women, the Association calls on all women to take charge of their health and encourages other women to do the same. Because when it comes to their health, women have the best resource: they have each other.
“I am inspired to chair Go Red for Women this year because heart disease continues to impact so many women in our community, said Dr. Kalman. “As women, we often put others first. Through Go Red for Women, the American Heart Association encourages us to prioritize our own heart health. I’m honored to lead this effort to raise awareness, provide education and inspire action to help women of all ages take control of their heart health and support each other in this vital mission.”
“We are incredibly grateful for Dr. Kalman and her unwavering passion and dedication to the Go Red for Women movement,” said Brian Kingston, CEO of Brookfield’s Real Estate business and Chair of the American Heart Association New York City board of directors. “She leads by example through her commitment to raising awareness and advocating for women’s heart health, and because of this Dr. Kalman has made a significant impact on our community.”
Go Red for Women is a global movement with impact across the United States and in more than 50 countries around the world. This year’s Go Red for Women movement and its local achievements will be celebrated on Wednesday, April 23, 2025, at the 2025 New York City Go Red for Women Celebration.
Go Red for Women is nationally sponsored by CVS Health and locally by platform sponsors Northwell Health, Pfizer, Bettina Equities.
For more information and/or to get involved with the NYC Go Red for Women movement, please contact Kevin Stec kevin.stec@heart.org
[1] Heart Disease and Stroke Statistics—2023 Update: A Report From the American Heart Association | Circulation (ahajournals.org) [2} https://www.cdc.gov/women/lcod/2017/all-races-origins/index.htm