The American Heart Association is advancing local efforts to reduce the burden of cardiovascular disease (CVD) among women in Tampa Bay by encouraging women to prioritize their heart health. The association named Alicia Schulhof, M.H.A., FACHE, as chair of the Tampa Bay 2026–27 Go Red for Women movement to lead community engagement, education and advocacy aimed at preventing cardiovascular disease and improving outcomes for women.
CVD is noted in the source as the leading cause of death for women both locally and across the United States. The Go Red for Women initiative seeks to move women from awareness to action by promoting risk assessment, preventive screening, lifestyle changes and timely medical care.
Alicia Schulhof serves as president of Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital and has more than 20 years of experience leading healthcare organizations through transformational change in for-profit, nonprofit, community and academic settings. The source highlights her record for building and empowering high-performing teams and positions her as the 2027 Tampa Bay chair of Go Red for Women.
Schulhof’s local leadership role is framed as a way to amplify the movement’s work in Tampa Bay, bringing together survivors, advocates and community leaders to increase awareness and create supportive networks for women’s heart health.
The Go Red for Women campaign in Tampa Bay will emphasize the “Red Means Go” message, which encourages women to take concrete steps rather than remain merely aware of heart disease risks. Actions promoted include learning personal risk factors, scheduling preventive screenings, making heart-healthy lifestyle changes and seeking medical evaluation when indicated.
Local campaign priorities described in the source include closing gaps in research, education and care that disproportionately affect women, and building community support systems that encourage prevention and timely intervention.
The source notes that less than half of women are aware of their risk for cardiovascular disease. In response, Go Red for Women is committed to narrowing disparities in access to care and advancing research and education targeted to women’s cardiovascular health needs.
By mobilizing survivors, advocates and community leaders, the initiative aims to empower women across life stages to know their risk and take preventive action. The campaign also seeks to influence broader change by supporting research and educational programs that address gaps in clinical care and community access.
A specific emphasis for this year’s local efforts will be on increasing CPR awareness among youth. The source describes this as a priority to prepare the next generation to take lifesaving action in emergencies and strengthen community preparedness for cardiac events.
Integrating CPR education into Go Red for Women activities is intended to complement prevention strategies by ensuring more people are equipped to respond in critical moments.
The Tampa Bay Go Red for Women Experience is scheduled for Wednesday, February 24, 2026, at the Tampa Museum of Art. The source describes the event as a signature local celebration of Go Red for Women achievements, featuring a Pop-Up Lounge, inspiring survivor stories, opportunities for meaningful community connections and recognition of local impact.
The national Go Red for Women initiative is sponsored by CVS Health. Local sponsors for the Tampa Bay Go Red for Women Experience identified in the source include Aledade, Encompass Health, Healthe Systems, HCA Florida Healthcare, Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital, Microlumen, PAR, Raymond James, Shutts, Symphona, Tampa General Hospital, Tampa Electric, and Ultimate Medical Academy.
For additional event information, the source lists a contact: Shana Vono at ShanaVono@heart.org.
The article reiterates the American Heart Association’s mission to promote longer, healthier lives and equitable health across communities. The organization supports research, advocacy and public health programs and serves as a longstanding source of cardiovascular and stroke information.
The Go Red for Women platform is described as the AHA’s signature initiative to increase women’s heart health awareness, encourage risk knowledge and serve as a catalyst for change that improves outcomes for women globally. The source notes that the movement has worked for more than two decades to encourage prevention and to provide tools women need to reduce their risk for heart disease.
For media inquiries, the source lists Madison Potter (madison.potter@heart.org). For public inquiries, the American Heart Association contact phone number provided in the source is 1-800-AHA-USA1 (1-800-242-8721).
The source also provides general links for additional information about the American Heart Association and Go Red for Women, and indicates national sponsorship by CVS Health for the Go Red movement.