Virtua Health marked the 10th anniversary of its WomenHeart peer support group with a luncheon to honor the program’s impact and recognize the two WomenHeart Champions who have led it since its beginning.
For ten years, the WomenHeart group at Virtua has brought together women from across the region to share experiences, coping strategies, and mutual support as they manage heart disease. The group meets monthly, providing a community for those facing both emotional and physical challenges related to their condition.
WomenHeart: The National Coalition for Women with Heart Disease was established in 1999 by three women who experienced heart attacks in their 40s. Through collaboration with the Mayo Clinic, WomenHeart began training survivors as Champions—community educators equipped in heart disease science, advocacy, and outreach. These Champions lead support groups nationwide.
At Virtua Health, Lynn Niblick and Joan Wisniewski were recognized for their decade of service as local Champions. Both became involved while recovering from their own heart attacks. Each has survived two heart attacks, which has influenced their leadership roles within the group.
Lynn Niblick said, “WomenHeart has helped me as much as it has helped all of our members. I learn something every time we have experts come to speak with us, and I have learned so much from listening to women share their cardiac journeys with the group.”
Joan Wisniewski added, “Leading our WomenHeart support group has been such a meaningful experience in my life. The women who come to the meetings have taught me as much as I’ve ever offered them. I am especially grateful to have taken this journey with Lynn—her strength, compassion, and dedication make me a better leader and advocate. I feel so lucky to do this work together.”
Virtua cardiologist Dr. Maria Duca supported establishing WomenHeart at Virtua and encouraged both Lynn and Joan to pursue Champion training ten years ago.
Dr. Duca stated: “Women often carry the weight of caring for everyone else, and they put their own heart health last. A support group like this creates a safe space to be seen, heard, and understood. As WomenHeart Champions, both Lynn and Joan are adept at empowering members to share their stories, learn from one another, and manage their cardiac journey with less stress and more confidence. They have changed the lives of hundreds of women for the better.”
Virtua Health serves South Jersey through various programs aimed at promoting health equity—including initiatives like ‘Eat Well’ food access—and offers comprehensive care through five hospitals and over 400 locations across the region (https://www.virtua.org/Locations?keyword=&locationType=&zipCode=&distance=&specialty=&sort=asc&page=0). Its network includes more than 3,000 affiliated doctors (https://www.virtua.org/About), maintains academic ties with Rowan University along with partnerships involving Penn Medicine for cancer care and neuroscience services (https://www.virtua.org/About), as well as collaborations with Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia for pediatric care (https://www.virtua.org/About).
Virtua Health continues its commitment to supporting wellness throughout South Jersey by extending services beyond hospital settings into communities via mobile units and other outreach efforts (https://www.virtua.org/About).
