The American Heart Association has named Sacramento-based attorney and community advocate Anh Phoong as the 2026 National Woman of Impact winner, recognizing her dedication to raising awareness about cardiovascular disease in women during a nine-week campaign.
Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in women, according to the American Heart Association. For Phoong, the mission is personal. She became a nominee for the association’s Go Red for Women Woman of Impact campaign after her mother survived a heart attack. “I went on this journey because my mom survived a heart attack,” Phoong said. “For so many women, that’s not the outcome. This campaign was my way of honoring her - and reminding women that we have to take care of ourselves if we want to keep showing up for everyone else.”
The Woman of Impact campaign, launched annually on National Wear Red Day, the first Friday in February, mobilizes changemakers across the country to lead grassroots efforts that improve heart health in their communities. Participants form Impact Teams to raise funds, educate others on cardiovascular risks, and inspire lifestyle changes. Phoong led a team-driven effort that pulled together more than 100 people from across Sacramento to raise awareness, encourage healthier habits, and support funding for research, education, and advocacy addressing the unique risks women face from cardiovascular disease.
“This is what women supporting women really looks like,” Phoong said. “When we show up for each other, our impact is bigger.”
Nominees across the country reached thousands of people, encouraging simple but powerful actions such as daily movement, healthier eating, and stress management. “It doesn’t have to be complicated,” Phoong said. “Go for a walk. Make better choices. Small habits add up. That’s how we take control of our health.”
As the 2026 National Woman of Impact winner, Phoong joins a growing network of advocates working to close gaps in awareness, research, and care for women. Despite progress, fewer than half of women recognize cardiovascular disease as their greatest health threat, and women remain underrepresented in research and underserved in care.
“The Woman of Impact campaign brings the mission of Go Red for Women to life in communities across the country,” said Lee A. Shapiro, J.D., volunteer chair of the American Heart Association and managing partner and co-founder at 7wireVentures. “Leaders like Phoong drive change by taking actions that help more women live longer, healthier lives.”
The American Heart Association’s Go Red for Women movement 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 claims the lives of 1 in 3 women. The movement is nationally sponsored by CVS Health, with additional support from national cause supporters. For more information, visit GoRedforWomen.org.
For Phoong, the recognition is a call to action for women everywhere. “Small habits add up,” she said. “That’s how we take control of our health.”
