Donor Impact Report, 2025
Inova Schar Heart and Vascular
Women’s Heart Health: Community Engagement Led by Donors
A donor-partnered initiative advancing awareness, education and agency for women across our region
2025
A gathering focused on protecting women’s hearts — powered by donor leadership
In March 2025, Inova Health Foundation Trustee and longtime supporter Barbara McDuffie graciously hosted an intimate luncheon featuring Dr. Garima Sharma, Director, Preventive Cardiology and Women’s Cardiovascular Health, Inova Schar Heart and Vascular, who is now also the Martha Schar Chair, Women’s Cardiovascular Health, for a candid and energizing conversation on women’s heart health.
Fellow board members Annette Kerlin (now Emeritus), Mary Ann Best and Jeff Grass also helped drive engagement and participation in the event.
The event brought together women from across the community who care deeply about advancing prevention, education and women’s cardiovascular wellbeing, and demonstrated the extraordinary impact of donor-led engagement.
Event Overview
A meaningful and engaged conversation
Guests described the luncheon as energizing, eye-opening, and urgently needed. The room was deeply engaged, with thoughtful questions continuing well beyond the program’s end.
This sentiment captures the heart of the gathering: creating space for women to learn, ask questions, compare experiences, and understand their cardiovascular risk in a supportive community environment.
Why this matters:
Heart disease remains the #1 cause of death for women.
- Nearly 44% of women in the U.S. live with some form of heart disease, yet many have never been screened or evaluated by a cardiologist.
- Up to 80% of cases are preventable with education, early detection and proactive care, which makes donor-supported events like this not only valuable, but lifesaving.
Events like this help spark the conversations that lead to earlier action and healthier lives.
Donor support fuels
Women’s Heart Health is also a core priority of Inova’s Do. More. Together. campaign — advancing prevention, early diagnosis and equitable access to care.
