Orange County cardiologist combats cardiovascular disease – No. 1 women’s health threat

IRVINE, Calif., April 25, 2025 — Shaista Malik, MD, PhD, MPH, the founding executive director of the UC Irvine Susan Samueli Integrative Health Institute, is the American Heart Association’s Go Red for Women Orange County Woman of Impact Winner for 2025. She won the local competition by raising funds and increasing awareness to combat heart disease and stroke in women while improving overall well-being in the community. According to the American Heart Association, a global force for longer, healthier lives, cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of death among women in the U.S. It claims the lives of 1 in 3 women disproportionately affecting women of color.

“Thanks to the efforts of incredible leaders like Dr. Malik and all of our nominees, we’re making strides to ensure all women in Orange County are seen, heard and counted when it comes to their health,” said Tatyana Popkova, Chair of the Orange County Go Red for Women Movement and Chief Strategy Officer and Senior Vice President, Ambulatory for UCI Health. “Together, we have the power to help ensure more women are represented in research, have the information they need for heart health through every stage of life and receive quality and timely care. The power of our community coming together creates better health outcomes for all of us.”

Over the course of nine weeks, Malik, along with a team of family, friends and colleagues, competed for the Woman of Impact title by participating in various community awareness and fundraising activities. After raising critical funds and driving women’s health education initiatives, Malik was named this year’s winner. The Woman of Impact campaign is part of the American Heart Association’s signature Go Red for Women movement, a comprehensive platform that has been increasing women’s heart health awareness and improving the lives of women globally for more than two decades.

“It was important for me to participate in Woman of Impact because every woman deserves a heart-healthy future, which is why it’s critical to prioritize preventing heart disease and stroke for the women in our communities,” said Malik. “I am honored to have received this recognition and am excited to continue working alongside the American Heart Association and its Go Red for Women initiative to help ensure all women know their risk factors and have the information they need to live longer, healthier lives.”

The Woman of Impact campaign launched in over 100 cities on National Wear Red Day®, February 7. In Orange County, 7 community leaders were nominated to participate. Collectively, this year’s Orange County nominees raised $224,165 for the Orange County American Heart Association’s Go Red for Women movement.

Other local nominees included:

• Angel Jones, Director of Business Development at J Squared GC
• Cailyn Bugbee, Engineering Director, Research & Development at Medtronic
• Claire Carloss, Marketing Analyst at Leonid Capital Partners
• Dana Lush, Fundraiser and Activist
• Eden Vold, Alpha Phi, Neurobiology Student at UC Irvine
• LuAnna Jauregui, Advocate, Visionary, Mission focused, Passionate Leader and Master Storyteller

While the large majority of cardiac events can be prevented, CVD continues to be a woman’s greatest health threat, as nearly 45% of women over age 20 are living with some form of CVD.[1]  Women also experience unique life stages, like pregnancy and menopause, that can increase their risk of developing CVD. Community leaders involved in Woman of Impact are paving the way for the future of women’s heart health and enabling more women to live longer and healthier lives.

This year’s Go Red for Women movement and its local achievements will be celebrated on May 9, 2025, at VEA, located at 900 Newport Center Dr, Newport Beach. The 2025 Orange County Go Red for Women Luncheon is Nationally sponsored by CVS Health and locally by Edwards Lifesciences, UCI Health and CoreLogic.

For more information about Go Red for Women visit www.heart.org/ocgored. 

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About the American Heart Association
The American Heart Association is a relentless force for a world of longer, healthier lives. Dedicated to ensuring equitable health in all communities, the organization has been a leading source of health information for more than one hundred years. Supported by more than 35 million volunteers globally, we fund groundbreaking research, advocate for the public’s health, and provide critical resources to save and improve lives affected by cardiovascular disease and stroke. By driving breakthroughs and implementing proven solutions in science, policy, and care, we work tirelessly to advance health and transform lives every day. Connect with us on heart.org/southerncalifornia, Facebook, Instagram and Xor by calling 1-800-AHA-USA1.

About Go Red for Women® 
The American Heart Association’s signature initiative, Go Red for Women®, is a comprehensive platform designed to increase women’s heart health awareness and serve as a catalyst for change to improve the lives of women globally. While the majority of cardiac events can be prevented, cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in women, claiming the lives of 1 in 3 women. For more than two decades, Go Red for Women has encouraged awareness. The movement harnesses the energy, passion and power of women to band together and collectively wipe out heart disease. It challenges them to know their risk for heart disease and take action to reduce their personal risk. It also gives them tools they need to lead a heart-healthy life. The Go Red for Women movement is nationally sponsored by CVS Health, with additional support from national cause supporters. For more information, please visit GoRedforWomen.org or call 1-800-AHA-USA1 (242-8721). 

For Media Inquiries:

Daniel Ruacho 480-773-2355 or daniel.ruacho@heart.org

For Public Inquiries: 1-800-AHA-USA1 (242-8721)

heart.org and stroke.org