The Johns Hopkins Health System

Jennifer Nickoles has seen the way heart disease can impact people’s lives, especially women, both personally and professionally. Nickoles and Nicki McCann, who both work at The Johns Hopkins Health System, are the co-chairs of the 2022 American Heart Association Go Red for Women campaign in Maryland, which this special section supports.

“The heart of a woman must be strong—for her family and friends, co-workers and her community—but most importantly for herself,” Nickoles said. “I’m honored to be part of a campaign that inspires and empowers women to take charge of their heart health.”

Nickoles’ grandmother died of congestive heart failure, her mother has a congenital heart defect, and her mother-in-law suffers from high blood pressure. That, and her work at Hopkins, inspired her to become a member of the Go Red for Women Executive Leadership Team. McCann became involved with Go Red this past year at Nickoles’ request.

“Before that, I think I had an underappreciation for the impact that heart disease has on women,” McCann said. McCann recalls that when she was in high school, the mother of a close friend who was in otherwise good health needed a heart transplant.

“That was really hard on my friend and his family,” McCann said. “She received a transplant and now, 30-some years later, is the picture of health.”

Nickoles said she is fortunate to work at an academic medical center like Hopkins that is the recipient of some of the research dollars that come from AHA campaigns like Go Red. “I have a front-row seat to the discoveries and benefits that get passed along directly to our patients,” Nickoles said.

McCann is focused on addressing disparities related to heart disease around women and women of color, and bringing those issues to elected officials.

Both are excited about working with other members of the Go Red leadership team to advance the AHA’s mission of being a relentless force for a world of longer, healthier lives. “When you get a lot of really talented, smart, powerful women together and they are all fighting for the same cause, we have an opportunity to make a lasting difference,” Nickoles said.