Sioux Falls Community Unites for Women's Heart Health at Annual Go Red Event

MED’s Steffanie Holtrop (third from left) with Dr. Anand Dayama, Dr. Thekla Bacharach , Dr. Richard Clark, Dr. Maria Stys, Dr. Adam Stys, Dr. Marian Petrasko, Fellows: Dr. Whitnee Otto, Dr. Mahmoud Alsaiqali, Dr. Usman Naseer of Sanford Health

By Alex Strauss

The American Heart Association's 2025 Sioux Falls Go Red for Women Experience transformed the Sioux Falls Convention Center into a sea of red on January 31st, as approximately 400 community leaders and healthcare professionals gathered to support women's cardiovascular health. The event, which aimed to raise $160,000 for critical research and education, showcased both the progress made and challenges ahead in addressing women's heart health.

MED’s Steffanie Holtrop with stroke coordinator Lucinda Nelson, RN, and Dr Caitlin Hof of Avera Medical Group Neurology

Local singer-songwriter Elizabeth Hunstad provided musical entertainment for the evening, setting an uplifting tone for an event that balanced sobering statistics with messages of hope and resilience. The highlight of the program came from featured survivor Johanna Lippert, who shared her powerful post-stroke journey, offering fellow survivors and healthcare providers alike a testament to the importance of comprehensive stroke care and rehabilitation.

Regional healthcare sponsors of the event included Sanford Health, Avera Health, Dakota Vascular, and Encompass Health. MED was proud to continue it’s tradition of table sponsorship and MED’s own Steffanie Holtrop sits on the Go Red board.

Recent data presented at this year’s Go Red event underscores the urgency of its mission. Despite being the leading cause of death among women, cardiovascular disease awareness remains critically low, with only 44% of women recognizing this threat to their health. Even more concerning for healthcare providers is the persistent gender gap in clinical research – as of 2020, women represented only 38% of cardiovascular clinical trial participants, despite facing unique cardiovascular challenges throughout their lives.

Dakota Vascular’s table attendees pose for a photo booth picture.

The maternal health crisis adds particular urgency to these efforts, as cardiovascular disease currently stands as the leading cause of maternal mortality in the United States. Additionally, stroke, which will affect one in five women during their lifetime, ranks as the third leading cause of death among women.

The event also highlighted a troubling disparity in emergency response situations. A 2017 study revealed that women in cardiac arrest are significantly less likely to receive bystander CPR in public settings – 39% compared to 45% for men – resulting in 23% lower survival odds for women.

As the Go Red for Women movement enters its second decade, particular emphasis is being placed on reaching younger generations. Both Gen Z and Millennial women show concerning gaps in awareness of cardiovascular disease risks and warning signs, making education and outreach critical components of the campaign.

The success of this year's Sioux Falls event reflects the region's growing commitment to addressing these challenges through education, research, and community engagement. Healthcare professionals interested in learning more about the initiative or getting involved can visit www.heart.org/SiouxFallsGoRed for additional information and resources.

Steffanie Holtrop with daughter Khloe and people from MED Sponsored table.