Bridgewater Heart Failure Nurse To Strut Down Runway To Promote Healthy Hearts

BRIDGEWATER, NJ — Bridgewater resident and Heart Failure Nurse Navigator at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital(RWJUH) Somerset Elana Barkley will be strutting down the runway on Saturday to promote healthy hearts.

Barkley will be one of the models in Bridgewater Commons and RWJUH Somerset's Third Annual "Go Red Fashion Show and Health Fest," to be held on Feb. 22 from noon to 3 p.m. in the mall’s Center Court and Lower Level.

"I have always loved cardiology," said Barkley, who has been working with heart failure patients for about 10 years. "When your heart is healthy, you feel more healthy, and all the rest of your organs work better. It's just a really good place to start with overall health and help people with their quality of life overall."

The show is being held in observation of February’s Heart Month.

"February is Heart Awareness Month. It's also Heart Failure Awareness Month. And the more things we can do to get the word out, to help people think about heart failure, think about heart health, and hopefully get screened and get educated, the better that we're going to do for people," said Barkley. "The more people we can get thinking about cardiac health, the better for everybody."

Barkley said the number of people diagnosed with heart failure is projected to rise to more than 8 million people with heart failure by 2030, according to the American Heart Association.

Hosted by stylist Leslie Patrizio, the Fashion Show at 2 p.m. will feature heart survivors and health care practitioners modeling clothing provided by the mall’s shops including Athleta, Bloomingdale’s, Chico’s, lululemon and Macy’s, on a red runway.

Barkley said she had never done a runway or fashion show before but felt it was fitting for the cause.

"It's something out of my comfort zone. And I figure, patients go out of their comfort zones all the time when we ask them to change their lifestyle, to take their medications, undergo medical tests, change their diet, "said Barkley. "Doing something that's outside of mine may help me understand a little bit of what they're going through. So anything that I can do to help promote their health and help me to help them, is going to be something that I'm in for."

Guests will experience a special music performance by pop/rock artist Devon Marie, who shared the stage with music icon Debbie Gibson and other high-profile artists such as Paul Shaffer, Dee Snider and Bret Michaels. The show will be free, with seating first-come, first-served.

The fashion show will be a highlight of a free, health-focused family festival from noon to 3 p.m. on the center’s Lower Level that also will include kids’ fitness sessions, friendship bracelet workshops, heart healthy nutrition, blood pressure screenings, a Teddy Bear Clinic and face painting.

Sanjukta Sanyal, MD, a cardiologist at RWJUH Somerset and a member of RWJBarnabas Health Medical Group, will kick off the fashion show with important information for women about symptoms of a heart attack and strategies for good heart health.

"Heart disease has been the leading cause of death for men and women in the U.S. since 1950, but there is much we can do to lower our risk," said Tom Kovacic, Marketing and Business Development Director at Bridgewater Commons. "At Bridgewater Commons, we consider educating our guests about their heart health as a sacred duty to our community, and we are thrilled to once again partner with RWJUH Somerset."

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