---
title: "Sutter Leaders 'Go Red' for Women's Heart Health Cause | Sutter Health"
description: "Sutter Health's Kat Ascencio-Holmes won the American Heart Association's national Women of Impact award and now passes the torch to two Sutter colleagues."
url: "https://vitals.sutterhealth.org/our-people/passing-the-torch-sutter-leaders-advance-womens-heart-health-nationwide"
---

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3.  Passing The Torch Sutter Leaders Advance Womens Heart Health Nationwide

# Passing the Torch: Sutter Leaders 'Go Red' for Heart Health

Sutter Health's Kat Ascencio-Holmes won the American Heart Association's national Women of Impact award and now passes the torch to two Sutter colleagues.

February 5, 2026 by Emma Dugas

![Passing the Torch: Sutter Leaders 'Go Red' for Heart Health](https://edge.sitecorecloud.io/sutterhealt962c-sutterhealt8fce-production57cc-4860/media/Project/SutterHealth/Vitals/our-people/Go-Red-photo-for-Vitals-e0effe43.png?h=492&iar=0&w=1031 "Passing the Torch: Sutter Leaders 'Go Red' for Heart Health")

As a longtime healthcare leader and former open-heart surgical nurse, Sutter Health Chief Nurse Officer, Katrina “Kat” Ascencio-Holmes is a passionate advocate for women’s heart health and a committed supporter of the American Heart Association. For Ascencio-Holmes, however, the cause is deeply personal.

After losing her sister-in-law to a heart attack at just 40 years old—and facing another family member’s serious heart disease diagnosis— Ascencio-Holmes saw firsthand how urgently women need greater awareness, early detection and stronger prevention efforts.

![Kat Holmes Go Red](https://edge.sitecorecloud.io/sutterhealt962c-sutterhealt8fce-production57cc-4860/media/Project/SutterHealth/Vitals/our-people/Kat-Holmes-AHA-resize-207x300-b3814411.png "Sutter Health Chief Nurse Officer, Katrina “Kat” Ascencio-Holmes")

In 2025, Ascencio-Holmes, channeled that passion into action, leading a powerful campaign to elevate awareness of heart disease—the No. 1 killer of women. Selected from more than 500 nominees nationwide, she was named the American Heart Association’s [2025 Women of Impact national winner](https://vitals.sutterhealth.org/sutters-kat-holmes-named-heart-associations-national-woman-of-impact/), recognized for her outstanding leadership, advocacy and dedication during the Association’s nine-week Women of Impact campaign, part of the Go Red for Women movement.

Throughout the past year, Ascencio-Holmes, who also [serves as chair](https://www.bizjournals.com/sacramento/potmsearch/detail/submission/6561232/Katrina_AscencioHolmes) of the American Heart Association’s 2026 Go Red for Women movement in the Sacramento region, led efforts to [raise awareness](https://www.audacy.com/podcast/sacramento-public-file-ee651/episodes/national-wear-red-day-cbc60) of cardiovascular disease, drive fundraising initiatives and engage the community in support of Go Red for Women. That work included the _Embracing Community Care Initiative_, which helped deliver blood pressure monitors and heart-health education to community partners across the Sacramento and Yolo region.

“I’m incredibly humbled to be part of this work,” Ascencio-Holmes said. “Sutter has proudly supported Sacramento’s Go Red for Women movement for more than two decades and being able to advocate alongside our community—while seeing the impact of that commitment firsthand—has been truly meaningful to me.”

Now, as her term as Women of Impact comes to a close, Ascencio-Holmes is turning her focus toward supporting two other Sutter leaders who will carry the mission forward. She is championing Laura Wilt, chief digital officer at Sutter Health, and Rachel Hagenbaugh, R.N., Chief Nurse Executive at Sutter Tracy Community Hospital, as they kick off the 2026 Women of Impact campaign on Feb. 6.

“Every woman has the power to make a difference and play a role in improving heart health,” Ascencio-Holmes said. “I’m honored to pass the torch and support Laura and Rachel as a Women of Impact nominees as they lead this critical work across our communities.”

[In this video](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OmLO7ar-vJw&t=111s) Ascencio-Holmes encourages all Women of Impact nominees to “say yes” to the opportunity to raise awareness and funds to fight cardiovascular disease.

![Laura Wilt Go Red](https://edge.sitecorecloud.io/sutterhealt962c-sutterhealt8fce-production57cc-4860/media/Project/SutterHealth/Vitals/our-people/Laura-Wilt-Go-Red-225x300-d346a572.png "Laura Wilt, chief digital officer at Sutter Health")

“I’m taking Kat’s advice to ‘say yes’ because I believe that we can all contribute in impactful ways,” said Wilt. “I am honored to represent Sutter Health as a 2026 Women of Impact nominee.”

Hagenbaugh echoed that sense of purpose as she steps into her role as a nominee.

![Rachel Hagenbaugh headshot](https://edge.sitecorecloud.io/sutterhealt962c-sutterhealt8fce-production57cc-4860/media/Project/SutterHealth/Vitals/our-people/Leadership-Academy-Headshot-2024-225x300-6d22406d.jpg "Rachel Hagenbaugh, R.N., Chief Nurse Executive at Sutter Tracy Community Hospital")

“This cause is deeply meaningful to me, both as a nurse and as a woman,” Hagenbaugh said. “I’m inspired by the impact Kat has made through Women of Impact and am honored to follow in her footsteps and help strengthen awareness, education and support for women across our communities.”

The national Go Red for Women movement encourages women to “[Know Your Numbers](https://www.goredforwomen.org/en/know-your-risk/know-your-numbers)” – including total cholesterol, blood pressure, blood sugar and body mass index – to reduce heart disease and stroke risk. Wilt’s local efforts will echo this message, drawing on her experience with preventative health programs, including Sutter Sync.

[Sutter Sync](https://www.sutterhealth.org/patient-resources/my-health-online/sync) is Sutter Health’s digital care program designed to integrate patient-generated health data with tailored education, virtual coaching and real-time insights to improve care for people with high blood pressure or dyslipidemia, which includes high cholesterol.

“Sutter Sync’s proactive approach helps patients track their numbers and receive the support they need for better health,” said Wilt. “My work on this program has shown me that everyone can take steps to lower their risk and I’m excited to share that information with my community.”

To learn more about American Heart Association Women of Impact, click [here](https://www2.heart.org/site/TR/?fr_id=12907&pg=entry).

## Topics

[Heart health](https://vitals.sutterhealth.org/search?facets=%5B%7B%22i%22%3A%22c_healthTopics.name%22%2C%22v%22%3A%5B%22Heart+health%22%5D%7D%5D&verticalKey=articles)[Heart Disease](https://vitals.sutterhealth.org/search?facets=%5B%7B%22i%22%3A%22c_healthTopics.name%22%2C%22v%22%3A%5B%22Heart+Disease%22%5D%7D%5D&verticalKey=articles)

## Heart and vascular

Your heart and blood vessels keep every part of your body working as it should. If you're dealing with high blood pressure or heart disease, our specialists can provide expert care and treatment.

[Learn more about Heart and vascular](https://www.sutterhealth.org/services/heart-and-vascular)

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### [National Honors for Heart Care That Saves Lives](https://vitals.sutterhealth.org/our-people/national-honors-for-heart-care-that-saves-lives)

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