American Heart Association Woman of Impact Amy Van Kleunen BS ’02, MPT ’02, MS ’09, Shares Heart Health Advice
Van Kleunen talks about her own cardiovascular health journey and gives her best tips to stay healthy this American Heart Month.
As a physical therapist, Amy Van Kleunen BS ’02, MPT ’02, MS ’09, helps people make the best decisions for their health. Her area of expertise, though, is heart health — a cause that hits close to home.
At 35, the former director of clinical education at the University of the Sciences (now Saint Joseph's University) started experiencing symptoms of a heart condition: dilated cardiomyopathy, a diagnosis she shares with her father and late grandfather. This has led to several surgeries and other procedures throughout the last decade, including an ablation procedure for a persistent arrhythmia that resulted in bilateral massive pulmonary emboli that landed her in the ICU.
While working with geriatric patients to help them manage chronic conditions, find proper exercise regimes and take appropriate precautions with medication, Van Kleunen is using her experience and expertise to shine a light on an under researched topic: heart disease in women.
“Cardiovascular diseases are the number one killer of women, more than all cancers combined, and it’s sad because a lot of it is preventable,” she says. “Women represent less than 40% of participation in research studies, so we’re still finding out how this might look differently for us.”
Van Kleunen’s advocacy work earned her recognition from the American Heart Association, who named her a 2025 Woman of Impact. The nomination is part of a nine-week fundraising campaign kicking off on Go Red for Women Day on Feb. 7, 2025, with a dual purpose of raising money and awareness for women’s heart health.
“I want to get the message out there as much as possible so women can learn about things specific to their cardiovascular health,” she says. “For instance, how is heart health different in women during pregnancy, during perimenopause and during menopause.”
Women represent less than 40% of participation in research studies, so we’re still finding out how this might look differently for us.
Amy Van Kleunen BS ’02, MPT ’02, MS ’09
To hear her full story and support Amy Van Kleunen in her efforts against heart disease, visit her Women of Impact campaign donation page.
Van Kleunen’s Quick Tips for Cardiovascular Health
1. Add color to your diet
A colorful diet ensures a range of nutrients like antioxidants, vitamins and minerals for decreasing inflammation and preventing heart disease and high blood pressure.
2. Eat lean proteins
Proteins like fish, chicken and plant-based options are lower in saturated fats than other red meat options, which make them better choices for controlling cholesterol.
3. Get adequate sleep
More than seven hours of sleep each night helps the body repair itself and keeps blood pressure down.
4. Focus on stress reduction
In addition to contributing to poor behaviors that can negatively impact one’s heart, the bodily responses to stress are linked to poor heart health.
5. Exercise each day
Aim for at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic activity, such as brisk walking, or 75 minutes of vigorous activity spread throughout the week. Try to include moderate to high-intensity resistance or weight training at least twice a week.
