2023 Heart to Heart Grant Finalists
Alpha Phi Foundation is proud to introduce the 2023 finalists for the $100,000 Heart to Heart Grant to fund innovative, state of the art projects that address the need for specialized care and education to advance women’s heart health. Alpha Phi Foundation is excited to announce the Top 4 Finalists for the 2023 Heart to Heart Grant. With the specialized expertise of our volunteer Medical Readers and the Heart to Heart Advisory Council, we have carefully reviewed all research and program proposals for this grant cycle. The 2023 Heart to Heart Grant Recipient will be announced in late-February 2023 during Heart Month. Thanks to the generosity of Alpha Phi Foundation donors, we continue our commitment to impacting the landscape of women’s heart health. Meet our finalists below! Meet the 2023 Heart to Heart Grant Finalists University of Florida College of Medicine Mission: To improve health care in Florida, the nation, and the world through excellence, groundbreaking research, and consistently superior leadership in education, clinical care, discovery, and service. University of Florida College of Medicine strives to improve the understanding of human health and disease through groundbreaking research and to translate these discoveries into new solutions that promote health, and improve health outcomes and quality of care. Learn more here. University of Missouri School of Medicine Mission: To save and improve lives – through exemplary education, research and patient care. Our researchers focus on lifesaving discoveries that address the most prevalent health problems. The school is nationally ranked in such areas as family and community medicine, primary care, pharmacology and physiology, and health management and informatics. Learn more here. The Ohio State University College of Medicine Mission: To improve people’s lives through innovation in research, education and patient care. The Ohio State University College of Medicine has combined innovative medical education with cutting-edge research and science-based patient care. Their leaders have charted a course for the future as we continually evolve to meet ever-changing demands in medicine. Learn more here. Yale University School of Medicine Mission: To educate and nurture creative leaders in medicine and science, and promote curiosity and critical inquiry in an inclusive environment enriched by diversity. Yale University School of Medicine advances discovery and innovation fostered by partnerships across the university, their local community, and the world. Learn more here. To learn more about past Heart to Heart Grant recipients, click here. Women’s Heart Health Program Through donors’ generosity and the Leading With Heart endowment campaign, Alpha Phi Foundation has granted over $1.4M to heart health-focused projects and organizations through the Heart to Heart Grant. Heart disease is the leading cause of death for women in North America. For 30 years, Alpha Phi Foundation has invested in female-focused cardiovascular research and educational initiatives through its annual Heart to Heart Grant. Learn more about our Women’s Heart Health Program.
January 18, 2023 10:47 am
Celebrating the Future of Women’s Cardiovascular Care through the Heart to Heart Grant
Alpha Phi Foundation celebrates our 2022 Heart to Heart Grant recipient and their project focused on cornering cardiovascular disease in women. This year, Alpha Phi Foundation was honored to award the Heart to Heart Grant to the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania. Awarded annually, the Heart to Heart Grant funds research and educational programs that support the advancement of women’s heart health and cardiac care. Last month, Alpha Phi Foundation hosted the 2022 Heart to Heart Grant Celebration to honor Perelman School of Medicine and project investigators Dr. Marie Guerraty and Dr. Shefali Verma, while learning about how they plan on using the $100,000 grant to fund their vital medical research. The Heart to Heart Celebration began with an introduction from the director of the Penn Cardiovascular Institute, Dan Kelly, MD,. Dr. Kelly shared his pride in the faculty members at Penn Med and their important research focused on cornering coronary microvascular disease. He expressed how appreciative he is of Alpha Phi Foundation’s continued commitment to female-focused cardiovascular research. Kelly even mentioned how Alpha Phi holds special meaning to him, as both his mother and aunt are Alpha Phi alumna from the University of Wisconsin. Connections like this are a heartfelt reminder of how Alpha Phi brings so many people together. Next, guests were introduced to Colleen Sirhal, the chair of the Alpha Phi Foundation Heart to Heart Grant Advisory Council. Women’s heart health research is a true passion for Colleen, as she began her professional career as a cardiac nurse. She recognized early on that women have vastly different effects and experiences relating to cardiovascular health. Because of this, Alpha Phi’s mission to fund clinical research and educational programs that support women’s heart health is of the utmost importance. “Women’s heart health is top of mind and Alpha Phi Foundation is dedicated to being part of the solution” – Colleen Sirhal. Finally, project investigators Dr. Marie Guerraty and Dr. Shefali Verma gave an insightful presentation on their newly funded research. They began by expressing their deep gratitude for receiving this impactful Heart to Heart grant. Drs. Guerraty and Verma plan on using the $100,000 grant for their research project, Genetic Determinants of Coronary Microvascular Disease in Women. By leveraging the Penn Medicine BioBank (PMBB) and studying genetic variants that correlate with the diagnosis of Coronary Microvascular Disease (CMVD), Drs. Guerraty and Verma are hopeful that targeted treatments will be identified. It was inspiring and motivational to see the important work that Dr. Marie Guerraty and Dr. Shefali Verma are doing in the area of women’s heart health. The way they are utilizing the BioBank at Penn to further their research is impressive and guests walked away from the celebration knowing that the work they are doing will impact generations of women to come. The Heart to Heart Grant would not be possible without the continued generosity of Alpha Phi Foundation donors and volunteers. Interested in investing in Alpha Phi Foundation’s Women’s Heart Health Program? Consider making a donation today! To watch the entire Heart to Heart Celebration, click here.
December 15, 2022 11:24 am
Leading with Heart from the Happiest Place on Earth
Disney World is known for being the “Happiest place on Earth”, but for many Alpha Phis, The Magic Kingdom holds a much deeper meaning. Alpha Phi International Fraternity is honored to partner with Disney Institute, funded by Alpha Phi Foundation donors, to offer the Alpha Phi Leadership Institute, a three-day leadership development experience for our collegiate sisters. Abi Morton (Iota Rho — Clemson) is one of the 164 members who had the opportunity to attend the Alpha Phi Leadership Institute this year. “Attending the Alpha Phi Leadership Institute was a way for me to expand my knowledge of leadership and learn what it really means to be a leader.” – Abi Morton (Iota Rho — Clemson) Abi was initially drawn to the Institute because she had yet to hold a position in her chapter at Clemson and was eager to expand her leadership knowledge. Throughout her time at Leadership Institute, Abi and her fellow Alpha Phi’s participated in engaging and interactive lessons that focused on trust, teamwork, communication and risk-taking. “The biggest impact this experience had on me was my newfound passion to become a leader” – Abi Morton (Iota Rho — Clemson) Not only did the Alpha Phi Leadership Institute provide Abi with the tools to grow as a leader, but it introduced her to lifelong friends that inspire her to be the best version of herself. “It takes strong, motivated women to be leaders, and this experience showed me that Alpha Phis are fit for that role.” – Abi Morton (Iota Rho —Clemson) As Abi reflects on her time at the Institute, she can’t help but feel grateful for the incredible lessons she learned, people she met, and the Alpha Phi Foundation donors who made it all possible. Abi has truly emerged from this experience as a leader ready to take on the world around her! In fact, since attending the Alpha Phi Leadership Institute, Abi has proudly applied for graduate school as well as a Panhellenic position at Clemson. We are so proud of Abi’s accomplishments and we cannot wait to see how she continues to lead with her heart in the future. Thank You! We are so appreciative of our generous donors who help fund these incredible leadership experiences. Are you interested in supporting opportunities like Alpha Phi Leadership Institute? Consider making a gift today!
November 17, 2022 6:44 am