Local WomenHeart Champion Headed to the White House

Sandy Musacchio Invited to Learn More About the State of Cardiovascular Health in the U.S.

For the past couple of years, Sandy Musacchio has been leading the monthly WomenHeart support groups at the Dean & St. Mary’s Cardiac Center. This month, she gets the opportunity of a lifetime.  She has been invited to travel to Washington D.C. to attend the White House Community Leaders Briefing on Cardiovascular Health on February 24, 2012. 

“I am honored and thrilled to be invited,” says Musacchio. “We’ll hear from experts about the state of cardiovascular health and hopefully learn ways to promote improved heart health in our community.”

WomenHeart is a patient-centered national coalition for women with heart disease. Roughly 500 volunteers across the country work to build awareness about heart disease in women and offer support for those wishing to improve their health.   

For Musacchio, heart disease is personal.

“I lost my sister to a heart attack when she was just 39,” says Musacchio. “I was alarmed about my own risk and knew I needed a place where I could get support and connect with women who understood the disease and were taking measures to reduce their risk.” 

Musacchio now leads the WomenHeart support groups the second Wednesday of each month from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at the Dean & St. Mary’s Cardiac Center located in St. Mary’s Hospital. She looks forward to sharing what she learns at the White House with local women looking to take charge of their health.

“I hope to bring back the latest information related to staying heart healthy,” says Musacchio. I also look forward to connecting with other community leaders to learn new ways to reach women who could benefit from education and support related to heart health. 

Dean Clinic is proud to be the sponsor of Musacchio’s trip to Washington, D.C.