Quarterly Lecture Series/Priority Special Events
The lecture series and other special events are designed to bring our community the latest research developments in the areas of heart and vascular disease and its impact on women. 

Current literature highlights the many challenges that women face as they begin to take responsibility for their own cardiac health.  Heart disease has traditionally been thought of and treated as a "man's disease," leaving women vulnerable to lack of information, misdiagnosis and an eventual disease process that may have otherwise been prevented or treated in an optimal fashion with a more favorable outcome. 

With this in mind, our lecture series and events focus on dissolving the myths surrounding women and heart disease, thereby giving women the best opportunity to reduce their risk factors and obtain optimal treatment.  In an effort to realize our mission, to reach as many women in our community as possible of all ethnic and cultural backgrounds, we focus our attention on three core issues that are pertinent to the prevention and treatment of heart and vascular disease, and are of the utmost interest to women:  Weight Management, Nutrition and Exercise. 

Our guest speakers include experts and specialists in one or all of these three fields who present the information in an atmosphere that is conducive not only to learning, but to having fun and camaraderie as well.  Our lectures are both didactic and motivational, with an appeal to women of all ages, ethnicities and cultural backgrounds.

Quarterly Fitness Challenge
An exercise program, while only one of many components needed for successful weight management, is one of the most difficult to begin and maintain.  In fact, nearly two-thirds of the population does not meet their daily exercise goals.  As a result, recent years have seen an increase in obesity, as well as a growing number of men and woman affected by heart disease. 

Seizing this opportunity, the Stead Heart and Vascular Center designed its first Fitness Challenge for hospital employees, physicians and volunteers.  Intended to help participants set and reach measurable, realistic and attainable goals, the program challenged employees to walk 100 miles in 100 days.

Today, the Fitness Challenges are available to the general public. Participants receive a Fitness Challenge Packet including information about the Stead Heart and Vascular Center, the Fitness Challenge Program, a Walking Club Membership and T-shirt, a pedometer, a heart awareness red band bracelet, a daily weight log, inspirational and motivational e-mails, and an optional consultation at the Stead Health and Fitness Center. All participants completing each of the Fitness Challenges will also be entered into our quarterly grand prize drawing.

Walking Club
According the American Heart Association, scientific evidence supports the notion that even moderate-intensity activities, when performed daily, can have long-term health benefits. They help lower the risk of cardiovascular diseases. Examples of moderate-intensity activities are walking for pleasure, gardening, yard work, housework, dancing and prescribed home exercise.

The Walking Club was established to help individuals in the community comfortably start an exercise program and to provide a support group atmosphere for its members. The club currently meets Saturday mornings at the Thomson Creek Trail in Claremont and will soon be rotating locations to include Chino Hills, San Dimas and Upland.