WomenHeart Champion Maxine Levy Leads Local and National Efforts to Improve Women's Heart Health

Whether at home in Springfield, New Jersey or walking the halls of Congress in Washington, DC, Maxine Levy is becoming well known as a leader in the effort  to improve women's heart health and healthcare.

Maxine visited her Congressman in Washington, DC during the WomenHeart's 2009 Advocacy Institute and successfully persuaded him to become a co-sponsor of HR 1032, the HEART for Women Act.   She continues to communicate with her Senator, who has not yet signed on to the bill.

Also at the national level, Maxine is expanding the WomenHeart advocacy network by establishing a strong connection between WomenHeart and Hadassah, a national women's organization with a major focus on health.  Maxine used her local contacts to initiate a conversation between national staff at both organizations about the HEART for Women Act.  This friendly outreach resulted in interaction at the national level and a renewed commitment to work together on mutual interests.

At home in Springfield, Maxine is working to facilitate a meeting of the women's health coordinator at a local hospital and Suzanne Banfield, WomenHeart's local Support Network Coordinator, to discuss ways to maximize resources and to educate and support women with heart disease.

Effective advocacy takes many hands and we applaud Maxine for seeking opportunities and leveraging existing relationships in an effort to gain ground in the fight against heart disease.