BAKERSFIELD, Calif., January 8, 2024 — The American Heart Association, a global force devoted to a world of healthier lives for all, has named five tenacious women to serve as ambassadors for the 2024 Go Red for Women® movement in Kern County. These survivors and advocates illustrate how cardiovascular disease can impact women of all backgrounds and life stages. The Go Red for Women ambassadors will share their personal stories and passion with the hope of inspiring others to prioritize heart and brain health for themselves and their loved ones. 

For the last two decades, the American Heart Association’s Go Red for Women movement has raised awareness of cardiovascular disease – the leading cause of death for women in the U.S. – and served as a catalyst for change to improve the lives of women globally. Now, as the American Heart Association marks 100 years as an organization, the movement remains committed to empowering even more women to know their risk factors and access the tools they need to lead a long, heart-healthy life.

Meet the 2024 Go Red for Women ambassadors: 

Robin Mangarin-Scott. As a mother, wife and hospital executive, Robin sees the multifaceted personal, professional and health-related challenges facing women. Throughout her career, she has sought to raise awareness of critical health issues and act in service to the Bakersfield community. Go Red for Women is important to her personally because she recently experienced the risks of heart disease. During a Zoom call in her office at the hospital, her heart started beating rapidly and continued to race faster. Following a trip to the emergency room, she was diagnosed with atrial fibrillation (Afib) and immediately entered a course for care. Robin’s advocacy for women’s health and well-being led her to the American Heart Association. This year, as a Go Red for Women ambassador, she will also serve as the 2024 Go Red for Women Kern County chairperson. 

Dinah Brindley. One day, during a particularly stressful period of her life, Dinah just didn’t feel right: numbness from head to toe, a lack of balance, trouble driving, unexpectedly dropping items, an inability to dial her phone. Eventually, at the insistence of coworkers, she went to the emergency room where a scan revealed she had experienced a stroke. She was immediately admitted to the ICU and received life-saving treatment. Her medical team determined the stroke was very likely caused by extremely high blood pressure exacerbated by extreme stress. Following this life-threatening experience, Dinah was reminded of the importance of community and her own faith. Her key advice for other women is to find personal support if you’re feeling a lot of pressure or stress, and to immediately seek medical attention if your body feels out of sorts. 

Amy Durbin. In 2020, just four years after getting married, Amy’s husband Ken suffered a stroke. On top of the shock and stress of the situation, Amy was suddenly faced with managing Ken’s medical decisions and paperwork, as well as his neuro rehabilitation and caregiving duties once he came home. She learned to unabashedly ask the various medical teams as many questions as she needed to truly understand what was happening and carefully write all the information in one, huge notebook, which was especially helpful when she needed to advocate for a particular route of care. Amy wants other women caring for a loved one after a stroke to remember it’s okay to look out for your own well-being and ask for help, whether that’s clarifying a detail with a physician or working with a mental health professional to navigate a new family dynamic. 

Felicia Pickett. In 2019 at a work colleague’s going-away party, Felicia started feeling ill. She thought it was indigestion after indulging in too much festive food. Her adult son finally convinced her to go to the doctor when she started to feel “delirious” and her arms began to hurt. Once at an urgent care clinic, the doctor informed Felicia she was having a heart attack and called an ambulance to take her to the nearest hospital. Doctors placed a stent to restore blood flow to Felicia’s heart and she was admitted to the hospital for three days. Although a specific cause for her heart attack was never diagnosed, she was under a lot of personal and professional stress at the time. Now she’s using her experience to urge others to pay attention to their body. “If you feel something different from what you normally feel, get checked.” 

Srilakshmi Madhusudhan, M.D. As a family practice clinician, Dr. Madhusudhan works with patients across many different life stages and has observed gaps in care and knowledge provided to men versus women. Considering this, she believes that women’s health education – particularly around cardiovascular disease – could significantly help in addressing certain health inequities. Steps as simple as training every member of a family in CPR could help save lives. Dr. Madhusudhan would also like her fellow clinicians to ensure women patients understand their personal risk factors for cardiovascular disease, such as smoking and vaping, excess alcohol consumption, family history and race. Since risk factors change over time, she urges women to work with their provider on a regular basis so they can address any issues quickly. 

To help raise awareness and show support for the Go Red for Women movement, the community is invited to wear red on Go Red for Women’s icon day, National Wear Red Day on Friday, February 2, 2024. The local movement will culminate in the Kern County Go Red for Women Luncheon on March 8, 2024, at Bakersfield College Renegade Events Center. Go Red for Women is nationally sponsored by CVS Health and locally presented by Dignity Health Bakersfield. 

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About Go Red for Women®

The American Heart Association’s signature initiative, Go Red for Women®, is a comprehensive platform designed to increase women’s heart health awareness and serve as a catalyst for change to improve the lives of women globally. While the majority of cardiac events can be prevented, cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in women, claiming the lives of 1 in 3 women. For 20 years, Go Red for Women has encouraged awareness. The movement harnesses the energy, passion and power of women to band together and collectively wipe out heart disease. It challenges them to know their risk for heart disease and take action to reduce their personal risk. It also gives them tools they need to lead a heart healthy life. The Go Red for Women movement is nationally sponsored by CVS Health, with additional support from national cause supporters. For more information, please visit GoRedforWomen.org or call 1-800-AHA-USA1 (242-8721)   

About the American Heart Association

The American Heart Association is a relentless force for a world of longer, healthier lives. We are dedicated to ensuring equitable health in all communities. Through collaboration with numerous organizations, and powered by millions of volunteers, we fund innovative research, advocate for the public’s health and share lifesaving resources. The Dallas-based organization has been a leading source of health information for a century. During 2024 - our Centennial year - we celebrate our rich 100-year history and accomplishments. As we forge ahead into our second century of bold discovery and impact our vision is to advance health and hope for everyone, everywhere. Connect with the American Heart Association in Kern County on heart.org/southern-california, Facebook, Instagram, X or by calling 1-800-AHA-USA1.  

For media inquiries:

Lily Gordon, lily.gordon@heart.org 

For Public Inquiries: 1-800-AHA-USA1 (242-8721)

heart.org and stroke.org