The American Heart Association in New York City’s Go Red for Women® campaign’s STEM Goes Red initiative is back for its third year. While the 2020 event will be a digital experience, the goal remains the same: to encourage young women to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM).
As a science-based organization, the American Heart Association knows women are vastly underrepresented in STEM. Women fill close to half of all jobs in the U.S. economy, but hold less than 25% of STEM jobs, of which there are millions becoming available. The New York City STEM Goes Red initiative is dedicated to working with high school girls across the five boroughs to arm them with the tools and resources they need to reach their goals in STEM as well as live healthy lives.
The initiative will be a digital experience that will span two weeks, beginning on November 5 with a live kickoff event at 4 p.m. and culminating on November 20. Like in previous years, STEM Goes Red will feature inspiring stories of successful women in STEM, current events in scientific research, interactive hands-on learning experiences, and mentoring to help young women create their own career paths.
“My passion for science started when I was a young girl,” said Jennifer Hodge, PhD, Chair of 2020 NYC STEM Goes Red, and North America Medical Affairs Lead for Early Pipeline and Gene Therapy at Pfizer. “As someone who received mentorship from strong STEM women across my career, it is an honor to chair this initiative and encourage the next generation of women leaders to pursue their dreams.”
Dr. Hodge is a classically trained Immunologist who uses her expertise to understand how the immune system may be a therapeutic target for disease. In her role at Pfizer, she is responsible for applying advances in science and technology to address unmet therapeutic needs in rare diseases.
“As women and scientists, we have a responsibility to envision a better future for ourselves and our loved ones,” Hodge says. “We can use our skills and talents to build a healthier, more equitable world. By supporting STEM Goes Red, I hope to inspire more young women to follow in my footsteps. Now more than ever, we need leaders with a strong foundation in the STEM fields.”
Go Red for Women® is nationally sponsored by CVS Health and locally sponsored by the Elizabeth Elting Foundation, Rewire Me, and UBS. STEM Goes Red is sponsored by Salesforce, Mount Sinai Heart, Northwell Health, Pfizer, McKinsey & Company, and New York Life.
For more information about STEM Goes Red New York City, please visit nycstem.heart.org.