RELENTLESSLY BOLD
Empowering Hearts & Celebrating Progress
WomenHeart’s Wenger Awards celebration is one of WomenHeart’s signature events created to honor and recognize extraordinary contributions of individuals and organizations to women’s heart health. This annual event, set in our nation’s capital, is attended by influential and esteemed individuals in the nation working in women’s health, science, medical research, and policy.
WomenHeart’s Wenger Awards celebration was created in honor of Dr. Nanette Wenger, a pioneer and strong advocate for women living with heart disease. At this prestigious event, WomenHeart will recognize those leading the way in medical leadership, research, patient advocacy, and more.
2025 HONOREES
Rekha Mankad, MD: Excellence in Medical Leadership
Dr. Rekha Mankad is an assistant professor of medicine in the Division of Cardiovascular Diseases and the Director of The Women’s Heart Clinic and The Cardio Rheumatology Clinic at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN. Her primary focus is on the diagnosis...
Ann de Velasco: Dr. Sharonne N. Hayes Award for Champion Excellence
Ann de Velasco, R.N. has enjoyed a 50+ year career in nursing, education, management, and community outreach. Upon graduation from the WomenHeart Science & Leadership Symposium in 2003, she founded WomenHeart of Miami in partnership with Miami...
Alicia Chong: Excellence in Innovation
Alicia Chong Rodriguez is the Founder & CEO of Bloomer Tech, revolutionizing women’s cardiovascular care through patented, textile-sensor intelligence. An MIT graduate in EECS, her research focused on sex-specific, digital cardiac biomarkers....
Dr. Hayder Hashim: Excellence in Clinical Practice
Dr. Hayder Hashim is an assistant professor of cardiology at Georgetown University and a full-time faculty in the division of interventional cardiology at MedStar Washington Hospital Center. After receiving his medical degree from the Baghdad...
Kathryn Schubert: Excellence in Public Service
Kathryn Schubert has served as President & CEO of the Society for Women’s Health Research (SWHR) since April 2020. She is a trusted leaders and consensus builder among women’s health stakeholders, and previously served as chief advocacy officer...
2024 HONOREES
Cathy Porter: Dr. Sharonne N. Hayes Award for Champion Excellence
Cathy Porter is an advocate for women living with heart disease; she attended WomenHeart’s Science and Leadership Symposium in 2004, volunteers at Saint Luke’s Health System’s Muriel I. Kauffman Women’s Heart Center, American Heart Association and...
Dr. Maribel Hernandez: Excellence in Clinical Practice
Dr. Hernández was born and raised in Puerto Rico. She was awarded a scholarship to attend Yale University where she received her bachelor’s degree in science. She received her Medical Degree at Stanford University School of Medicine. She did her...
Dr. Erin Michos: Excellence in Medical Leadership
Erin D. Michos, MD, MHS, FACC, FAHA, FASE, FASPC is an Associate Professor of Medicine within the Division of Cardiology at Johns Hopkins University and also holds a joint appointment in the Department of Epidemiology at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg...
Pam R. Taub: Excellence in Medical Leadership
Pam R. Taub, MD, FACC, FASPC is a board-certified cardiologist and internationally recognized expert in cardiometabolic disease. She is the founding director of the Step Family Foundation Cardiac Rehabilitation and Wellness Center and Professor of...
Dr. Jeanne Poole: Excellence in Medical Research
Dr. Poole is a Professor of Medicine at the University of Washington, Division of Cardiology, Section of Electrophysiology. She received her medical degree from the University of Washington and went on to complete the majority of her post graduate...
Jennifer Forsyth: Excellence in Media
Jennifer Forsyth is the Director of Human Pharma Communications and Corporate Affairs at Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc. and has more than 20 years of diverse healthcare public relations experience. In her current role, Jennifer advances...