Supporting Women with Cardiomyopathy – with WomenHeart & DCM Foundation
Date: Wednesday, October 30th, 2024
6:00 – 7:00 PM ET*
Join us to learn more about WomenHeart, the amazing services they provide, and how DCMF/GCAC and WomenHeart are teaming up to help improve the lives of women with cardiomyopathy.
Topics include:
- Learn about WomenHeart’s efforts to support women with cardiomyopathy
– Support networks and online communities
– Educational resources and webinars
– Advocacy efforts to influence policy and research
– Training for healthcare professionals - Find out how the DCM Foundation/GCAC & WomenHeart are working together to help women with cardiomyopathy
- Live Q&A
Speakers:
Jodi Smith
Director of Strategic Partnerships, WomenHeart
Jodi Smith, Esq. has a vast history in patient advocacy leadership. Prior to her work at WomenHeart, she spent 16 years as the Program Director for The Mended Hearts, Inc. where she developed their Mended Little Hearts® program for families with children born with congenital heart disease and then led, developed and implemented programs for the Mended Hearts® and Young Mended Hearts® programs for adults living with heart disease as
well.
Jodi became involved in patient advocacy after her youngest son was born with a single ventricle heart condition requiring three open-heart surgeries. Before working in non-profit patient advocacy, Jodi worked as an adjunct professor teaching leadership and law at the University of Richmond for 11 years, as a litigation attorney, and as a corporate leadership training consultant, including for several Fortune 500 companies. Jodi uses her experience and background to improve the lives of people living with cardiovascular disease, as well as their caregivers and families.
Greg Ruf
Executive Director, DCM Foundation
In 2014, Greg was diagnosed with DCM and required an ICD. Through genetic testing, it was revealed he had three mutations responsible for his DCM. A number of his relatives carry genetic mutations that can cause DCM.
Greg retired from his work as a business entrepreneur and in 2017 he launched the DCM Foundation to bring education, hope, and resources to DCM patients and their family members. In 2023, Greg launched the Genetic Cardiomyopathy Awareness Consortium to increase awareness about the role genetics plays in cardiomyopathy and the need for more patients to get genetically tested. Greg’s hope is that by raising awareness and supporting DCM research, a means will be found to halt, reverse or even completely prevent DCM from developing in at-risk individuals.
After a period of worsening heart failure, on July 15, 2021, Greg had a successful heart transplant. Greg lives in Dublin, Ohio with his wife Brenda of over 35 years, and together they have three grown children and many wonderful grandchildren.
We hope you will join us for this event!
Click HERE to register.