About Us

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Sheryl Martin is a survivor of Spontaneous Coronary Artery Dissection (SCAD), an experience that inspired her to spearhead a research study now in collaboration with the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Gillings School of Global Public Health. She holds an academic background in psychology including work as a Research Assistant and has experience in the medical field, Sheryl is certified in Patient Advocacy and Medical Technology Assessment by the Bocconi School of Management in Rome and holds additional certifications in Psychological First Aid, Mental Health First Aid, and Resiliency through the University of Pennsylvania's Positive Psychology program. She has also earned the Canadian Women’s Heart Health Education Certificate. Driven by a deep commitment to improving quality of life and health outcomes, Sheryl is dedicated to supporting women recovering from cardiac events.

sherylmartin@herheartsounds.org

Sonali Sehgal is a motivated and collaborative fourth-year undergraduate student at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Public Health (BSPH) in Nutrition, Health, and Society through the UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health. She is also completing minors in Chemistry and Spanish for the Medical Profession.. On the pre-medical track with a strong interest in cardiology, Sonali is known for her optimism, dedication, and commitment to teamwork.

Through Gillings, Sonali conducts research on Spontaneous Coronary Artery Dissection (SCAD) under the mentorship of Dr. Martin and Dr. Meyer. She applies this research to support SCAD survivors through the advocacy group Her Heart Sounds. Beyond research, Sonali serves on the executive board of Camp Kesem at Chapel Hill as a Development Coordinator, helping lead fundraising initiatives for children impacted by a parent’s cancer. She also volunteers as a Spanish medical interpreter at the SHAC clinic in Carrboro, providing clinical support to underserved populations.

In her free time, Sonali enjoys traveling, cooking, watching soccer, and going on walks.

 Missy is a school occupational therapist who co-leads a combined OT/PT department in central Connecticut and serves as an adjunct faculty member at Quinnipiac University. Through her doctoral work, she gained experience in research, and she has a particular interest in training and mentoring others in the field.

In October 2024, while training for a half marathon, Missy experienced Spontaneous Coronary Artery Dissection (SCAD), an event that profoundly changed the course of her life. Her recovery was made possible by a strong network of support: a dedicated healthcare team, family, friends, and community who carried her through the hardest parts of healing. That experience showed her firsthand how vital connection and information are to surviving and thriving after a SCAD event, and it's what drew her to Her Heart Sounds.

As a board member and ambassador for the organization, Missy is honored to bring together her clinical background and her lived experience as a SCAD survivor. She is passionate about raising awareness of SCAD and advancing equitable healthcare for women navigating similar circumstances, blending professional insight with personal understanding to advocate for those still finding their way through recovery.

Missy has always been passionate about health and wellness. Outside of her work, she treasures time with her son, family, and friends, and can most often be found outdoors.

  Cindy-Anne as a SCAD patient fully understands the challenges that female SCAD patients face in obtaining the best possible medical care. Cindy-Anne would like to use her certificates in Counseling and Mindfulness to assist with co-hosting the Stress Management Programs and teaching medical advocacy.   Cindy-Anne brings a valuable global perspective to the Board of Directors, drawing on her experience and residence in Adelaide, Australia. 

Meghan Hokom Stapleton offers a strategic and analytical perspective to the Her Heart Sounds Board of Directors, grounded in more than 15 years of experience navigating complex, high-stakes systems. Her work centers on aligning programs with measurable outcomes, strengthening accountability, and ensuring equitable access to services—skills that directly support Her Heart Sounds’ mission to improve recovery and quality of life for women following cardiac events. Meghan’s ability to translate data into meaningful action enhances the organization’s capacity to evaluate impact and expand effective, patient-centered programs.

Professionally, Meghan serves as a Special Education Manager, where she leads large teams, ensures regulatory compliance, and drives measurable improvements in outcomes through data-informed practices. As a Special Education Advocate and Consultant, she works directly with families navigating complex systems, advocating for equitable access to services and fostering long-term solutions—an approach that aligns closely with Her Heart Sounds’ focus on patient advocacy, education, and support. Her background in research and policy, including leadership roles in large-scale program evaluation and national consulting projects, further enhances the organization’s ability to assess impact and expand effective programs.

Deeply committed to advocacy and community leadership, Meghan has served in governance and advisory roles, including school-based leadership positions and participation in national initiatives. Her personal commitment to supporting individuals facing complex medical challenges, including those impacted by Spontaneous Coronary Artery Dissection (SCAD), informs her thoughtful and mission-driven perspective. Meghan’s combined strengths in research, advocacy, and governance elevate Her Heart Sounds’ ability to advance equitable, high-quality care and support for women worldwide. Meghan experienced SCAD and is a heart transplant survivor.

Aisha enhances strong skills in client advocacy, communication, and service coordination to the Her Heart Sounds Board of Directors, directly supporting the organization’s mission to improve recovery outcomes for women after cardiac events. With a background in retirement benefits and customer service, she has extensive experience guiding individuals through complex systems, helping them understand critical information, and empowering informed decision-making—skills that translate seamlessly to patient education and medical self-advocacy.

Her strength in relationship-building and compassionate support fosters trust and connection, essential to the success of Her Heart Sounds’ programs. Aisha’s experience navigating healthcare services, coordinating care, and managing sensitive situations enhances her ability to contribute to patient-centered initiatives, outreach, and advocacy efforts, advancing both the physical and emotional recovery of the women the organization serves.

Samantha, as a SCAD survivor brings a strong combination of communication, organizational leadership, and client-centered service to the Her Heart Sounds Board of Directors, directly supporting the organization’s mission to improve recovery outcomes for women after cardiac events. She is skilled in translating complex information into clear, approachable guidance, helping individuals feel informed, supported, and confident in navigating challenging situations—an ability that aligns closely with patient education and medical self-advocacy initiatives.

Her commitment to building meaningful relationships and delivering compassionate support strengthens Her Heart Sounds’ programs by fostering trust and engagement among participants. Samantha’s strengths in coordination, attention to detail, and responsiveness enhance program delivery, outreach, and advocacy efforts, helping ensure that women receive accessible, high-quality support throughout their cardiac recovery journey.

Julie Weatherington brings to Her Heart Sounds, both a deeply personal understanding of cardiac recovery and a lifetime of experience helping people navigate difficult transitions, build resilience, and find their way forward.

As a survivor of SCAD and other significant vascular events, Julie understands firsthand that surviving a life-threatening cardiac event is only the beginning. She knows the fear and uncertainty that can continue long after the immediate medical crisis has passed—the challenge of trusting your body again, navigating a healthcare system that can sometimes feel overwhelming, and figuring out how to move forward while carrying the knowledge that life can change in an instant. Those experiences have given Julie a deep passion for helping women feel heard, supported, informed, and empowered throughout recovery.

Julie’s professional life has been centered around people. For more than 25 years, she has worked in nonprofit leadership, healthcare, education, and community outreach, developing programs, building partnerships, training professionals, and helping individuals and organizations navigate complex challenges. Her work has frequently placed her alongside people experiencing grief, crisis, loss, and significant life transitions.

She has a particular gift for listening, understanding the human side of a problem, identifying what is getting in the way, and bringing people together to find practical solutions. Her career has included leading large community programs, providing national training and consultation, supporting organizational leadership, and helping teams strengthen the way they serve the people who depend on them.

At this stage of her life, Julie is especially drawn to work that gives meaning to what she has experienced. She sees her journey not simply as something she has survived, but as an opportunity to help others feel less alone and better equipped for their own journey.

Julie is honored to bring her perspective as a survivor, her experience working with people in times of crisis and transition, and her background in leadership, communication, and program development to Her Heart Sounds. She believes women recovering from SCAD and other cardiac events deserve more than excellent medical care—they deserve to be understood as whole people, supported in the difficult middle of recovery, and encouraged to reclaim a full and meaningful life.

  Barbara Franzino is a Connecticut-licensed physical therapist with more than 30 years of experience supporting individuals in achieving lasting physical and emotional well-being. She earned her B.S. in Physical Therapy from New York University in 1988—where she received the Founders Day Award for academic excellence—and later completed her M.S. in Orthopedic Biomechanics at NYU in 1994.

Barbara is the founder and owner of SoulCare Physical Therapy,LLC an integrative private practice she has led for the past 12 years. Her work there centers on personalized, trauma-informed care that supports patients in restoring mobility, building resilience, and improving long-term function.

Committed to whole-person healing, Barbara has trained extensively in integrative manual and somatic therapies. She has completed advanced coursework in the John Barnes Myofascial Release Method, craniosacral therapy, muscle energy techniques, soft tissue mobilization, and biomechanical movement analysis. Since 2010, she has focused exclusively on myofascial release and is active in educating healthcare providers and patients in self-care strategies that enhance clinical outcomes.

Barbara also completed a 250-hour Anusara Yoga Teacher Training in 2009 and continues advanced studies in restorative and therapeutic yoga, meditation, mindfulness, and embodied movement practices.

As a Certified Integrative Women’s Health Coach, Barbara specializes in supporting women through key life transitions. By integrating evidence-based physical therapy with myofascial release, yoga therapeutics, breathwork, and nervous system regulation, she offers care that is compassionate, restorative, and often transformative.

Currently along with four other women in the healthcare field she is creating a community based organization , Let’s Talk Death,to educate ,support and empower people on death and dying .