Two Puget Sound Changemakers Triumph in Cardiovascular Disease Competition

Puget Sound Changemakers Emergent: Study Design and Context of the 2026 Go Red Campaigns

The accolades acknowledge leadership and advocacy aimed at advancing heart health in the Puget Sound region.

• Overview of awards and purpose:
• The American Heart Association recognized Uma Krishnan, M.D., as the 2026 Puget Sound Woman of Impact and Alexis Teh as the 2026 Puget Sound Teen of Impact.
• The awards were announced at the Moment of Impact event in Medina, Washington, on April 23, 2026, following a nine-week impact competition that began on National Wear Red Day, February 6, and concluded on April 9.
• Campaign reach and resources:
• Across this year’s Puget Sound cohort, the fourteen nominees collectively raised more than $320,000 to support American Heart Association initiatives in research, advocacy, and education.
• The Woman of Impact campaign operates within the Go Red for Women framework, concentrating on women’s heart health, while the Teen of Impact program emphasizes empowering younger generations to influence cardiovascular health outcomes.

• Dr.

Her campaign centered on preventing heart disease with a particular emphasis on women.

Expressed intent to continue collaboration with the American Heart Association and Go Red for Women to enhance risk awareness and access to support for women.

• Background and focus: A cardiologist with over two decades of experience, affiliated with MultiCare Health System in the South Sound region.
• Campaign engagement: Amplified awareness through speaking engagements, organized gatherings, and the leadership of a campaign team comprising 109 members, noted as the largest Woman of Impact team nationwide this year.
• Personal rationale: Cited witnessing the long-lasting benefits of education on women’s heart health as a motivating factor for participation.
• Alexis Teh:
• Profile and motivation: A Redmond High School sophomore whose sister was born with congenital heart defects and underwent open-heart surgery, shaping her focus on early detection, education, and family support.
• Campaign impact: Emphasized personal connection to heart disease and the AHA’s work serving her and her family, with intentions to persist in supporting research and awareness efforts to aid survivors and affected families.

• Campaign structure and scope:
• Across both initiatives, a total of fourteen nominees competed in the 2026 Puget Sound Woman of Impact and Teen of Impact campaigns, each contributing to the broader aim of combating cardiovascular disease—the nation’s leading health threat.
• The national-level recognition will be determined by the broader sweep of regional winners, with national winners from each campaign to be announced on May 20, 2026.
• Sponsorship and regional emphasis:
• The local Teen of Impact campaign carried sponsorship from Seattle Children’s, signaling a regional partnership to support pediatric cardiovascular awareness and education.
• The national organization continues to position Go Red for Women as a central vehicle for elevating women’s heart health, while the Teen of Impact program seeks to mobilize youth in cardiovascular health advocacy.

Krishnan and Ms.

Teh are identified as two among more than 100 community-level winners nationwide who may contend for national recognition.

• Public health framing:
• The campaigns are framed as efforts to fund lifesaving research, advocacy, and education within the Heart Association’s broader mission to reduce cardiovascular disease and stroke, and to promote equitable health across communities.
• The Go Red for Women initiative is highlighted as a signature platform, designed to increase awareness of women’s risk factors and actions for prevention, with CVS Health noted as a national sponsor and Go Red partners contributing support.
• Community and national trajectory:
• Dr.
• The national winners are scheduled for designation on a specific date, underscoring the multi-tiered nature of the program—from local impact campaigns to national acknowledgement.
• Information and communication channels:
• The Heart Association provides multiple channels for involvement and information dissemination, including its website and social media platforms, emphasizing accessibility to communities seeking heart-health resources, education, and event details.

No clinical recommendations or patient-specific guidance are stated.

• Outcome granularity:
• The source reports the total funds raised and identifies the winners, but it does not provide breakdowns of donations by campaign, nor does it present specific outcomes related to health metrics, program reach, or long-term impact beyond fundraising totals.
• There is no explicit comparative analysis of the Puget Sound result relative to other regions, beyond noting that the 109-member Woman of Impact team was the largest nationally among this year’s teams.
• Safety and clinical implications:
• The article centers on recognition, fundraising, and personal motivation rather than clinical interventions, patient outcomes, or safety data.
• Limitations in scope:
• Details about the structure of the nine-week competition, criteria for judging, or the exact nature of the campaigns (beyond general aims) are not provided.
• The piece does not describe methodological approaches for delivering education or advocacy, nor does it quantify reach in terms of audience size, events held, or engagement metrics beyond the fundraising tally and team size.

• What specific activities or milestones defined the nine-week impact campaigns in Puget Sound, and how were campaign successes evaluated?
• How does the fundraising performance compare to prior years within Puget Sound or nationally across the Woman of Impact and Teen of Impact programs?
• What are the planned next steps for the regional winners in terms of advancing heart-health education, research funding, or policy advocacy, both locally and nationally?
• Are there any measurable health education outcomes anticipated or tracked as a result of these campaigns (e.g., increased awareness of risk factors, education session attendance, or partnerships with healthcare providers)?

The recognition of a veteran cardiologist and a young advocate underscores the spectrum of stakeholders involved in cardiovascular health promotion.

• The Puget Sound awards highlight sustained community engagement in heart-health advocacy and education, anchored by Go Red for Women and youth-focused initiatives.
• The event’s emphasis on fundraising signals continued dependence on community-driven support to sustain research, advocacy, and education efforts, acknowledging that financial resources are a critical component of public health progress in cardiovascular disease.
• While the source does not provide granular clinical data or guideline-based outcomes, it situates the Go Red for Women movement as a longstanding, nationally sponsored framework aimed at elevating women’s awareness of heart disease risk factors and preventive actions.

• Puget Sound 2026 Woman of Impact: Uma Krishnan, M.D., cardiologist with over 20 years of experience; leadership of a large 109-member team and advocacy focused on women’s heart health.
• Puget Sound 2026 Teen of Impact: Alexis Teh, Redmond High School sophomore; personal connection through congenital heart defects in her family, emphasizing early detection and education.
• Campaign scale: Fourteen nominees across Woman of Impact and Teen of Impact; total regional fundraising surpassing $320,000 to support research, advocacy, and education.
• Timeline: Campaign runs from National Wear Red Day (Feb 6) through April 9; winners announced April 23, 2026, with national winners to be named on May 20, 2026.
• Sponsorship and organizational context: Seattle Children’s sponsorship for the Teen of Impact segment; Go Red for Women framed as the broader movement supporting women’s cardiovascular health.