Become a WomenHeart Champion
WomenHeart is currently looking for dynamic, driven women with heart disease to apply to become WomenHeart Champions at the 2024 WomenHeart Science & Leadership Symposium. This is the nation’s only volunteer program that trains women with heart disease to serve as educators, advocates, and support for women living with heart disease.
Watch this video to learn more about being a WomenHeart Champion and how to apply.
About the Science & Leadership Symposium
Since 2002, the nationally renowned WomenHeart Science & Leadership Symposium has brought together over 1,000 women living with heart disease. During this training, women gain the knowledge and skills to become volunteer leaders, community educators, national spokeswomen, patient advocates, and support network leaders that empower women to take charge of their own health. Through a comprehensive application process, WomenHeart selects women heart patients each year to attend this prestigious 3-day educational symposium at one of the nation’s leading women’s heart institutions – The Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN.
WomenHeart Champions are trained on the science of heart disease, how to share their story and message effectively, and how to become powerful patient advocates. They are also equipped with skills in leading support groups, presenting heart disease education, and conducting outreach in the community through local media, community health fairs, or other local events. All participants will receive training in the following areas
- One-to-one and group peer support
- Support group management and engagement
- Community education and outreach
- Storytelling
- Advocacy
The WomenHeart Science & Leadership Symposium training will help you develop an action plan for the work you do in your community. WomenHeart will also provide you with resources to aid you along the way.
This year’s symposium will be held in person on October 11 – 14, 2024, at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN. WomenHeart also offered a virtual symposium in the spring of 2024, which will be offered again in 2025.
Eligibility to Apply
Women interested in applying must meet the following criteria:
- Must be a woman, or person identifying as a woman, currently living with or previously diagnosed with heart disease
- Must be at least 6 months post most recent cardiovascular event (e.g., surgery, heart attack).
- Must be emotionally and physically ready to serve as a women’s heart health advocate.
Cost
WomenHeart covers the cost of double-occupancy accommodations and meals throughout the symposium. Attendees are responsible for all travel-related expenses, including travel to and from the airport or hotel. Limited need-based travel scholarships will be provided as funds are available.
Deadline to apply
All applications are due no later than August 1, 2024.
Application Materials
All applications must be submitted electronically using the online application form. In addition, the following must be submitted at the time of application submission to ensure that your application can be processed, and an interview can be scheduled in a timely fashion:
- Reference information and email address: All references will receive an email asking them to complete a brief questionnaire about the applicant.
- Application agreement: Please read the WomenHeart Champion Agreement. By completing and submitting the application, you understand and agree to the responsibilities outlined in this agreement if accepted as a WomenHeart Champion.
Additional Information
The Symposium curriculum and schedule are challenging and may bring up strong emotions related to your heart disease diagnosis. In order to benefit from this immersive educational program, we recommend that all attendees are in good physical and mental health.
- We recommend all applicants complete an anonymous Mental Health Screening utilizing the Depression and Anxiety Screening Tools to assess their mental and emotional readiness to provide peer support to women diagnosed with heart disease. While the results are anonymous, we encourage you to consider your results prior to submitting your application:
- If your Depression or Anxiety Test score is 10 or higher, we recommend discussing this with a member of your healthcare team as to their recommendations for managing your symptoms and advice regarding whether you should defer participation until your symptoms are improved.
- If on the Depression Test you indicated any response other than “Not at all” on Question #9 or responded “Very” or “Extremely” difficult on Question #10, we recommend you discuss these results with your healthcare team and defer your participation until your symptoms are improved.
If you have any questions, please contact applications@womenheart.org.