Palisadian-Founded Nonprofit Hosts 10th Annual Women’s Heart Symposium

By SARAH SHMERLING| Editor-in-Chief

The 10th Annual Women’s Heart Symposium, hosted by Have a Heart, Save a Heart and The Women’s Heart Center at Pacific Heart Institute, took place in February at Hotel Casa Del Mar in Santa Monica.

Have a Heart, Save a Heart was founded by Highlands resident Dr. Nicole Weinberg, as well as Dr. Sarina van der Zee and Dr. Alexandra Lajoie, who “set out on a journey to educate more women about the dangers of heart disease.”

Attendees were invited to learn more about women’s heart disease, risk prevention, health lifestyle habits, medical advances and more. This year also included a virtual component.

“Thank you to all those who joined us at our 10th Annual Women’s Heart Symposium on February 4—both in-person and online,” organizers shared afterward. “The event was a tremendous success … Not only was the day filled with informative talks and stimulating panels, but we had so much fun during our anniversary celebration.”

The event, which included “bubbles, treats and raffles abound,” also featured keynote speaker Dr. Dipti Itchhaporia—a past president of the American College of Cardiology.

Santa Monica Mayor Pro Tempore Lana Negrete presented a special proclamation during the symposium, declaring February as Women’s Heart Health Month in Santa Monica.

“The proclamation was made official on Valentine’s Day, at the Santa Monica City Council meeting,” according to the organizers.

Part of the symposium was a donation to Project Angel Food to help the organization further its mission of “preparing and delivering healthy meals to feed people impacted by serious illness.”

“This past summer, when a grant that they had to supply meals to congestive heart failure patients in need throughout the Los Angeles community ran out, we were able to donate, and they were able to continue their programming to keep these people healthy and out of the hospital,” according to organizers. “Project Angel Food is a wonderful organization, and we’re so proud to be able to partner with them again and make another donation at the Symposium.”

Those who want to watch the symposium online can do so at haveaheartsaveaheart.org.