Embargoed Until 12 p.m. CT/1 p.m. ET, Monday, February 23, 2026

DALLAS - February 23, 2026 (NEWMEDIAWIRE) - The American Heart Association today announced a bold new initiative designed to transform how clinicians identify and treat cardiovascular risk in midlife women. The initiative will be powered by a landmark $1 million philanthropic gift from Jennifer Ashton, M.D., M.S., FACOG, ABOM, a nationally trusted women’s health authority, Emmy Award–winning medical journalist and devoted Association volunteer and board member, and her husband Tom Werner, acclaimed television producer and chairman/co-owner of Fenway Sports Group. Their extraordinary generosity reflects a deep personal commitment to women’s health and will help accelerate the creation of a new professional educational program uniting cardiologists and OB-GYNs to ensure women navigating the menopause transition receive proactive, evidence based cardiovascular care.

Menopause transition is a life stage marked by sharp, independent increases in cardiometabolic risk that often go unrecognized in clinical care. Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death for women, responsible for 1 in 3 female deaths each year, and it is projected to increase over the next few decades, according to the Association, making the need for coordinated, evidence‑based guidance for women in this life stage more urgent than ever before. Propelled by Dr. Ashton and Mr. Werner’s visionary investment, the American Heart Association’s planned educational initiative will equip cardiologists and OB‑GYNs with practical, interdisciplinary tools and education to better identify and treat cardiovascular risk in midlife women and close treatment gaps.

“We are profoundly grateful for Jen and Tom’s remarkable vision and generosity,” said Nancy Brown, chief executive officer of the American Heart Association, a global force changing the future of health for all. “Their leadership sets a new standard for philanthropy in women’s health. This commitment will accelerate the development of interdisciplinary education, but it will also redefine how cardiovascular and gynecologic health are connected across a woman’s life course ensuring women receive the proactive, integrated care they urgently need at one of life’s most pivotal stages.”

About the new cardio-OB-GYN CE

The vision for a new continuing education (CE) program is a collaborative one. The Heart Association is working with other professional medical societies and organizations focused on women’s health care on this initiative. The overall goal is to increase healthcare professional knowledge, competence and performance around women’s heart health with a focus on menopause and other OB-GYN issues. By fostering strong interdisciplinary collaboration, the education can enhance patient outcomes and reduce the burden of CVD among women.

“Menopause represents a period when women’s cardiovascular risks intensify, underscoring the need for truly coordinated, evidence‑informed care,” said Amy Young M.D., CEO of the American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology. "As the OB-GYN medical community seeks to do more to advance care for woman in menopause, we hope that as a certifying body, we can contribute to the collaborative conversations and the work to ensure women navigating this life stage receive safe, proactive, and connected care."

Early intervention at midlife remains one of the most powerful opportunities to prevent cardiovascular disease in women.

“As an OB-GYN, the daughter of a cardiologist and a woman, I know women’s cardiovascular risks are too often overlooked in midlife, which happens because OB-GYNs often don’t know the latest cardiology information, and cardiologists often are unaware of the most current aspects of menopause medicine. This program seeks to connect the dots between these two specialties with tailored curricula… it’s what doctors need to know.,” said Dr. Ashton, who is also the founder and president of Ajenda, a women’s health platform with a focus on midlife. “Coordinated, evidence‑based education that empowers clinicians across specialties is urgently needed to recognize and treat risks to women’s heart and brain health earlier. Tom and I are honored to support this initiative that we believe will change - and save - countless women’s lives.”

Initial courses will launch in Fall 2026, with additional modules released through Spring 2027. 

Women’s rising cardiovascular risk at menopause

Cardiovascular disease remains the leading cause of death among women, responsible for 1 in 3 female deaths each year, far exceeding deaths from all cancers combined, according to the Association, a global force changing the future of health for all.

For many women, the menopause transition marks the period when cardiovascular risk accelerates due to declining estrogen, increased abdominal fat, worsening lipid profiles, vascular stiffening, and rising blood pressure. This is a critical phase in a woman’s life that warrants collaborative care between the medical specialties that take care of these women.

According to the American Heart Association:

• Hot flashes and night sweats, the most common menopause-related symptoms, are associated with worse cardiovascular disease risk factor levels.
• Cholesterol levels and metabolic syndrome risk, cardiovascular risk factors, appear to increase with menopause beyond the effects of normal aging.
• Only 7.2% of women transitioning to menopause meet physical activity guidelines, and fewer than 20% maintain a healthy diet, compounding midlife risk.
• After menopause, 1 in 4 women may develop irregular heart rhythms, such as atrial fibrillation (AFIB). AFib an increase stroke risk.

Additional Resources:

• Available multimedia is on right column of release link
• Go Red For Women: Menopause and cardiovascular risk
• American Heart Association Scientific Statement: “Menopause Transition and Cardiovascular Disease Risk: Implications for Timing for Early Prevention”
• American Heart Association News Release: Non-biological factors and social determinants of health important in women’s CVD risk assessment
• American Heart Association Health Information: Go Red for Women
• Follow American Heart Association/American Stroke Association news on X @HeartNews

About the American Heart Association

The American Heart Association is a relentless force for a world of longer, healthier lives. Dedicated to ensuring equitable health in all communities, the organization has been a leading source of health information for more than one hundred years. Supported by more than 35 million volunteers globally, we fund groundbreaking research, advocate for the public’s health, and provide critical resources to save and improve lives affected by cardiovascular disease and stroke. By driving breakthroughs and implementing proven solutions in science, policy, and care, we work tirelessly to advance health and transform lives every day. Connect with us on heart.org, Facebook, X or by calling 1-800-AHA-USA1.

For Media Inquiries: 214-706-1173

Suzanne Grant: suzanne.grant@heart.org  

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

heart.org and stroke.org

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