Salinas Valley Health Celebrates Heart Month

Salinas, CA -  Salinas Valley Health is known for exceptional cardiac care and during February, the health care system and staff celebrate heart health with a month of engaging activities for the community. There is an inspiring calendar full of free events, programs and suggestions for people of all age levels. 

Exercise Challenge: This free 4-week exercise program kicks off today and runs through March 1. This community-wide wellness initiative encourages active participation in fitness classes, groups hikes and physical activity events offered throughout the community. It is free and open to all. You can find more information and register here.

National Wear Red Day: Celebrate National Wear Red Day® with Go Red For Women on Friday, February 6, 2026 to help fight women’s No. 1 killer, heart disease. Join the movement nationwide and learn how you can honor women at  to www.goredforwomen.org.

Walk with a Doc: Our monthly Walk with a Doc program always has a heart theme in February this month, the inspiring and informative walking discussion takes place Saturday, February 7 at 9:00am at Fort Ord National Monument, Badger Hills Trailhead.  Cardiologist Tim Albert, MD, MHCM, Chief Clinical Officer, along with our cardiology care team will be on hand to talk and walk. Register here. 

Mended Hearts: Mended Hearts is the country's longest running peer-to-peer cardiac support group, offering unique physician endorsed support model to help heart patients, families and caregivers. The February meeting features Christopher Oh, MD speaking on Life – Quantity vs. Quality, Why can’t I have them both. The meeting is Tuesday, February 17 at 6:00pm held at Salinas Valley Health Downing Resource Center (located below the parking structure)in Conference Rooms A&B at 450 East Romie Lane, Salinas. Call 831-755-0772.

Ask the Experts: This signature Salinas Valley Health event is titled Innovations in Cardiac Care is an engaging presentation to gain insightful knowledge that empowers people to live well and prioritize heart’s health. This year’s Heart Month panel features Tim Albert, MD, MHCM, Harland Grogin, MD and Rikin Kadakia, MD covering topics that include AI in heart care, treating Afib with Pulsed Field Ablation and minimally invasive valvular intervention. Ask the Experts takes place on Wednesday, February 25 at Hartnell College, Steinbeck Hall located at 411 Central Avenue in Salinas. An hour long reception begins at 5pm with community health and resource tables, appetizers and beverages with the presentation starting at 6pm. Seating is limited and the public can register here.

February Red Hat Campaign

Every baby born at Salinas Valley Health during the month of February goes home with a handmade red hat, courtesy of dedicated hat making volunteers and the American Heart Association‘s Little Hats, Big Hearts campaign. The campaign supports an effort to raise awareness of heart disease as the number one killer of Americans, and congenital heart defects, the most common type of birth defect in the country.

In addition to these specific Heart Month events, Salinas Valley Health shares an array of heart healthy recipes and educational podcasts. A full line-up of free resources is located here.

Media Contact: Karina Rusk
831-759-1843