September 24, 2004

Media Advisory
University of Pennsylvania Health System Employees
Walking to Cure Cardiovascular Diseases

WHAT: 2004 American Heart Walk

There are 250,000 sudden cardiac deaths each year in the United States, according to the American Heart Association (AHA). Cardiovascular diseases rank as America’s number one killer. More Americans die of cardiovascular disease than all forms of cancer, AIDS, and accidents combined. Every 33 seconds, someone dies from heart disease.

The 2004 Philadelphia Heart Walk seeks to raise $1 million for AHA research, treatment and education programs. Last year, walkers raised $620,000 and attracted more than 4,000 participants, including representatives from 100 different corporations and organizations throughout the five-county area.

The University of Pennsylvania Health System (UPHS) is once again supporting the AHA and its goal of reducing heart disease by participating in the 2004 American Heart Walk. From 2000 to 2003, UPHS contributions increased from $794 to over $83,000. The goal this year is $100,000.

WHO: UPHS employees walking the 6.2 miles together to battle cardiovascular diseases.

Look for UPHS team members wearing long-sleeve, blue T-shirts with the Penn logo on the back and our slogan, “We See Life Ahead.”

WHEN: Sunday, September 26, 2004 – rain or shine!
Registration begins at 8:00 AM.
Walking begins at 9:00 AM.

WHERE: Memorial Hall, Fairmont Park, Philadelphia, PA 19131

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PENN Medicine is a $2.7 billion enterprise dedicated to the related missions of medical education, biomedical research, and high-quality patient care. PENN Medicine consists of the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine (founded in 1765 as the nation’s first medical school) and the University of Pennsylvania Health System (created in 1993 as the nation’s first integrated academic health system).

Penn’s School of Medicine is ranked #3 in the nation for receipt of NIH research funds; and ranked #4 in the nation in U.S. News & World Report’s most recent ranking of top research-oriented medical schools. Supporting 1,400 fulltime faculty and 700 students, the School of Medicine is recognized worldwide for its superior education and training of the next generation of physician-scientists and leaders of academic medicine.

Penn Health System is comprised of: its flagship hospital, the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, consistently rated one of the nation’s “Honor Roll” hospitals by U.S. News & World Report; Pennsylvania Hospital, the nation's first hospital; Presbyterian Medical Center; a faculty practice plan; a primary-care provider network; two multispecialty satellite facilities; and home health care and hospice.

This release is available online at http://www.uphs.upenn.edu/news/News_Releases/sep04/2004AHAWalk.htm