Skip to main content
  • English
American Heart Association Go Red for Women
American Heart Association Go Red For Women
  • Heart Attack and Stroke Symptoms in Women
  • Volunteer
  • ShopHeart
  • Donate
  • Donate
  • site search Search
    Search
  • Heart Disease in Women
  • Know Your Risk
  • Healthy Living
  • Stages of Life
  • Get Involved
  • About Us
  • In Your Community
  • Warning Signs
  • Volunteer
  • ShopHeart
    • English
    • Español
  1. Home
  2. Get Involved
  3. Give to Go Red for Women
  4. Woman of Impact and Teen of Impact
  5. Ruth Rohs

2021 Woman of Impact Winner Denver - Ruth Rohs

Go Red for Women's Woman / Teen of Impact nominee Ruth Rohs Family history of heart disease inspired her to make a difference.

Heart disease was always a part of Ruth Rohs’ life.

Her maternal grandmother had open heart surgery. Her mother and father had heart bypass surgery on the same day when Ruth was 10 years old.

But it wasn’t until she was 36 that Ruth started to pay attention to her heart health. During her mother’s Christmas visit that year, she had a heart attack at Ruth’s house.

“It’s been a lifetime of watching and being a part of it,” Ruth said. “It was a wake-up call. Before, I felt like I was young enough to change course.”

Sadly, Ruth’s mom passed away in October 2020 from congestive heart failure.

Knowing her family history, one of Ruth’s good friends who was a long time supporter of the American Heart Association in Denver nominated Ruth as a Woman of Impact. Although her mom had volunteered with the Heart Ball in her hometown of Lake Charles, Louisiana, it was Ruth’s first time to get involved with the AHA.

Ruth built her impact team of more than 20 active participants including childhood friends, her sisters, colleagues and sorority sisters.

As Ruth shared her story, others shared their experiences with heart disease.

“In the beginning, on the initial team call, I cried,” she said. “People were sharing their stories. I didn’t know how heart disease affected them.”

Her experience increased her awareness of the impact of heart disease on women. Ruth and her mom survived breast cancer — making the disease a bigger concern for her. But through her work with the American Heart Association, her perspective changed.

“Heart disease is the No. 1 killer of women,” Ruth said. “It is a scary statistic. It’s worse than the breast cancer statistic. The ridiculous thing is that it’s mostly preventable.”

That awareness, coupled with her history, has helped her instill heart-healthy lifestyle habits in her two children.

“I want them to see it in action,” Ruth said. “Exercise is a huge thing. Modeling is the way to go. It’s a daily routine to stay heart healthy.”

Ruth encourages future Women of Impact nominees to stay true to their experiences.

“You have to be passionate for the cause,” she said. “Having a story is the key. Don’t underestimate what you can achieve.”


Last Reviewed: Feb 2, 2022

X formerly known as Twitter Facebook LinkedIn Email Print

Give to Go Red for Women

Give to Go Red for Women
  • Circle of Red
  • Woman of Impact and Teen of Impact
    • Jessica Staggs
    • Ruth Rohs
    • Barbara Peace
  • Wear Red and Give
    • Celebrate American Heart Month

Related Articles

a family of generational women research heart disease on laptop GettyImages-123167749

Facts

Circle of Red 2019 member group

Circle of Red

Three happy women taking selfie.

Sign up for the Go Red for Women newsletter and connect to the world of women’s health. Put yourself at the top of your to-do list with our resources tailored to women’s unique health and wellness needs.

 

Go Red for health, Go Red for life, Go Red for good, Go Red for Women.

NOTE: All fields required unless indicated as optional.

CVS Health is a proud national sponsor of the American Heart Association's Go Red for Women movement.
Goredforwomen.org/es is made possible through the generous support of the Adriana Gallardo Legacy Fund for Women's Health.

*All health/medical information on this website has been reviewed and approved by the American Heart Association, based on scientific research and American Heart Association guidelines. Find more information on our content editorial process.

American Heart Association

National Center
7272 Greenville Ave.
Dallas, TX 75231

Customer Service
1-800-AHA-USA-1
1-800-242-8721

Contact Us

Hours
Monday - Friday: 7 a.m. – 7 p.m. CT 
Saturday: 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. CT
Closed on Sundays

Tax Identification Number
13-5613797

About Us

  • About the AHA/ASA
  • Annual Report
  • AHA Financial Information
  • Careers
  • International Programs
  • Latest Heart and Stroke News
  • AHA/ASA Media Newsroom

Get Involved

  • Donate Now
  • Make a Memorial Gift
  • Advocate
  • Ways to Give
  • Volunteer
  • ShopHeart
  • ShopCPR

Our Sites

  • American Heart Association
  • American Stroke Association
  • CPR & ECC
  • Professional Heart Daily
  • More Sites
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Threads
  • X formerly known as Twitter
  • YouTube
  • Tik Tok
  • LinkedIn
  • Pinterest
  • National Health Council Standards of Excellence Certification Program page for Standards of Excellence
  • Better Business Bureau page for American Heart Association
  • Charity Navigator Home
  • Secured by Sectigo page for SSL certificates
×
American Heart Association

This link is provided for convenience only and is not an endorsement of either the linked-to entity or any product or service.

Proceed
  • AHA Careers
  • Privacy Policy
  • Medical Advice Disclaimer
  • Accessibility Statement
  • Copyright Policy
  • Ethics Policy
  • Conflict of Interest Policy
  • Linking Policy
  • Whistleblower Policy
  • Content Editorial Guidelines
  • Suppliers & Providers
  • State Fundraising Notices


©2025 American Heart Association, Inc. All rights reserved. Unauthorized use prohibited.
The American Heart Association is a qualified 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization.
*Red Dress ™ DHHS, Go Red ™ AHA ; National Wear Red Day® is a registered trademark.