--- description: Breaking news and analysis from time.com. Politics, world news, photos, video, tech reviews, health, science, and entertainment news. title: Meet the 26 Year-Old National Woman of Impact Winner: Hana Hooper image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltde093bcdab65f2d0/6988d9b9bc6cfc69913e2a3c/time-logo.jpg?branch=production --- # Meet the 26 Year-Old National Woman of Impact Winner: Hana Hooper Communities hold the power to make change. We support each other. We inspire each other. Woman of Impact™️ helps make that connection nationwide. 2024 is a historic year for the campaign as part of the American Heart Association’s Go Red for Women®​ movement, the Association’s signature initiative dedicated to women’s health. In just nine weeks, nearly 400 nominees mobilized 3,000 team members in 90 cities around the country to educate their communities about the risks, warning signs, and prevention of heart disease and stroke, while raising $6 million to fund Go Red for Women’s life-saving work. In the fight against heart disease, every woman holds the power to make a difference. The Go Red for Women®​ movement, powered by the American Heart Association, is fostering a community where awareness, education, support and connection lead to a healthier future for every woman. Please join us in celebrating these passionate nominees and fearless teams who are dedicated to the American Heart Association’s mission to be a relentless force for a world of longer, healthier lives. --- ## ## Celebrating our 2024 Woman of Impact National Winner: Hana Hooper  Meet Hana Hooper, the definition of resilience at just 26 years old, and the American Heart Association’s 2024 Woman of Impact National Winner. Hana's story began with dreams of college and a passion for veterinary medicine. In 2016, during her first month at school, she faced a stroke and was diagnosed with dilated cardiomyopathy. Transported home on a medical flight, her life took an unexpected turn as she was swiftly placed on the heart transplant list. Amidst the challenges, Hana's spirit remained unwavering. During surgery to implant a left ventricular assist device (LVAD), she encountered another stroke, leading to a prolonged period of semi-consciousness. Yet, facing profound adversity, Hana emerged with a newfound determination to rebuild her life. She embarked on a journey of relearning—walking, talking, and navigating the world as a visually impaired individual. Through perseverance, she received the precious gift of a new heart in 2018, marking a turning point in her uphill struggle. Today, Hana embraces life with an energy that inspires and is dedicated to spreading the mission of the American Heart Association. Building a supportive network of women can be empowering; Hana encourages her community to prioritize their health. “After I got sick at the age of 18, I encouraged family members and friends to advocate for themselves and inspired them to take control of their heart health and know their risk factors,” said Hana. “My community has supported my family so much, and my team used that support to not only raise money for the American Heart Association through Woman of Impact, but also to amplify the mission and help spread awareness,” said Hana. Despite ongoing therapy and overcoming obstacles, she immerses herself in a myriad of activities—from taking classes to rock climbing, skiing, and throwing pottery. For Hana, each day is a cherished gift, proof of the resilience of the human spirit and the power of community connection. Hana's heart is filled with gratitude, especially for the American Heart Association, whose support played a pivotal role in her journey. From valuable resources to vital research and a sense of community, the Association stood by her side every step of the way. “The American Heart Association is part of what saved Hana's life when she got sick seven years ago. We see how the Association has improved outcomes for people, including improvements in medications, devices, and medical research,” said Ali Hooper, Hana’s mother. As she commemorates the 5th anniversary of her heart transplant and celebrates 7 years as a stroke survivor, Hana's dedication remains relentless. In honoring these milestones, she is committed to advancing the American Heart Association’s mission to end heart disease, and through Go Red for Women, help ensure a healthy future for the next generation of women. “Being recognized as the Woman of Impact National Winner is incredible. I'm so grateful for this opportunity to spread awareness about women's heart health and help other women understand the risk factors that they face for heart disease. I am most proud of how we brought our whole community together,” said Hana. Hana Hooper's journey is not just a testament to her strength and resilience, but an ongoing dedication to improving the lives of the more than one in three women currently living with some form of cardiovascular disease1. Thank you, Hana, for your inspiration, bravery, and dedication to saving lives across the country. --- Meet the 2024 Woman of Impact Centennial Club Join us in celebrating our 2024 Woman of Impact Centennial Club nominees! These historic leaders epitomize what it means to be a Woman of Impact: empowerment, tenacity, and dedication to improving the health of their communities. They play a pivotal role in advancing the well-being of their families and communities, empowering women to prioritize their own heart health, and mobilizing life-saving research and resources to drive the mission of the American Heart Association’s Go Red for Women movement.  1. Heart disease and stroke statistics—2022 update: a report from the American Heart Association \[published online ahead of print Wednesday, January 26, 2022\]. Circulation. doi: 10.1161/CIR.0000000000001052 [](http://goredforwomen.org/) The American Heart Association’s signature initiative, Go Red for Women®, 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. [Find Out More](http://goredforwomen.org/) ```json [{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","@id":"https://time.com/branded-content/american-heart-association/woman-of-impact-winner-is-on-a-mission-to-combat-heart-disease-and-ensure-a/","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://time.com/branded-content/american-heart-association/woman-of-impact-winner-is-on-a-mission-to-combat-heart-disease-and-ensure-a/"},"headline":"Meet the 26 Year-Old National Woman of Impact Winner: Hana Hooper","datePublished":"2026-07-20T09:47:16.430Z","dateModified":"2026-07-20T09:47:09.675Z","description":"","url":"https://time.com/branded-content/american-heart-association/woman-of-impact-winner-is-on-a-mission-to-combat-heart-disease-and-ensure-a/","keywords":[],"thumbnailUrl":"","author":[],"articleSection":"","image":[],"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Time","url":"https://time.com/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://time.com/images/logo.png","width":528,"height":156},"foundingDate":"March 3, 1923","sameAs":["https://www.facebook.com/time","https://www.instagram.com/time/?hl=en","https://twitter.com/time","https://www.pinterest.com/timemagazine"]}},{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"item":{"@id":"https://time.com/branded-content/american-heart-association/woman-of-impact-winner-is-on-a-mission-to-combat-heart-disease-and-ensure-a/","name":"Meet the 26 Year-Old National Woman of Impact Winner: Hana Hooper"}}]},{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"VideoObject","name":"AHA Woman Of Impact- 2024","description":"","thumbnailUrl":"https://cdn.jwplayer.com/v2/media/Ppvnh4QK/poster.jpg?width=720","uploadDate":"2024-01-22T16:44:57.000Z","contentUrl":"https://cdn.jwplayer.com/manifests/Ppvnh4QK.m3u8","embedUrl":"https://time.com/branded-content/american-heart-association/woman-of-impact-winner-is-on-a-mission-to-combat-heart-disease-and-ensure-a/","duration":"PT3M4S","potentialAction":{"@type":"SeekToAction","target":"https://time.com/branded-content/american-heart-association/woman-of-impact-winner-is-on-a-mission-to-combat-heart-disease-and-ensure-a/?jw_start={seek_to_second_number}","startOffset-input":"required name=seek_to_second_number"}}] ```