Dr. Toniya Farmer
Why I'm Fundraising
I'm excited to be nominated for Go Red for Women's Woman of Impact campaign. As part of this year's class of changemakers, I've brought together a team that's working to make the greatest impact possible on women's health. We will be raising much-needed funds for the American Heart Association and working to improve the health of our communities. I hope we can count on your support!
In 2004, Go Red For Women was born as a campaign to raise awareness among women about their greatest health threat — heart disease. Slowly, the campaign grew into a movement bringing together thousands of women. Go Red for Women is the trusted, passionate force for change. It provides a platform for women and their families to lead healthier lives and transform communities. It's not just about wearing red. It's not just about sharing heart-health facts. It's about:
- Providing opportunities for women to take charge of their health
- Building communities that support access to healthy choices
- Demanding equal access to health care for all women and their families
- Increasing women in STEM in upcoming generations
Our team is focused on preventing heart disease and stroke. We're promoting healthy lifestyles, building awareness and raising critically-needed funds to support research and education initiatives. Cardiovascular diseases, which include heart disease and stroke, claim the life of a woman about every 80 seconds. We hope you will join us on our mission because about 80% of these diseases may be prevented.
The time is now. Women are leaning into the idea that when we take a stand, commit, and work together, real change is possible. To support my campaign, click on the Donate to Nominee button below.
Atlanta Woman of Impact - Spring 2026
Dr. Toniya Farmer
I am Dr. Toniya Farmer, a proud American Heart Association Women of Impact Nominee (Atlanta) and native. Being on a team of changemakers making a real impact on the state of women’s heart health is exhilarating. The power of listening to my body is a true testament of survival as I experienced a SCAD (Spontaneous Coronary Artery Dissection) heart attack, coronary vasospasm and cardiac arrest all while driving on a busy Atlanta highway on the phone with my mom.
My cardiac event began with what I thought was heartburn then it intensified to labor like pain in my chest, jaw pain and pain in my left shoulder blade, difficulty breathing and intense sweating. I called 911 as advised by my mother and the operator advised me to stop my car but I felt like I was in imminent danger and if I stopped it would not end well. I pressed my way led by a blue sign with a white H in the middle literally too weak to type hospital in my GPS guided by my guardian angels and Jesus literally took the wheel. The way my day was orchestrated I was only 5 minutes away from a hospital, such a blessing considering how widespread Atlanta is.
When I stumbled into the emergency room and fell across the desk I told the staff I felt like I was having a heart attack and no one moved until a man in the emergency department said did you hear her. When I sought care, my symptoms were initially dismissed as a panic attack, a reality many women face when experiencing cardiovascular emergencies. Trusting my intuition, I made the life-saving decision to drive myself to the emergency room, where I coded and had to be placed on life support. Because of timely medical intervention, CPR, and an AED, my life was spared.
I was hospitalized for one week and had to be transferred to another hospital to for placement of a ICD (Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator). Following my discharge I could not drive for 2 months. I started Cardiac Rehab which gave me the endurance and confidence in my physical abilities again. Due to unclear cause of my sudden cardiac events my local cardiologist referred me to Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota where I was officially diagnosed with the SCAD. After a half a year off work I was ready to return to my patients as a physical therapist. Survival isn’t the end of the story, it’s the assignment.
After completing cardiac rehabilitation it was recommended that I get 300 minutes of cardiovascular training per week. My life has changed significantly I have lost almost 60 lbs since my cardiac event and I strive to eat a heart health diet. In 2024, the year after my heart attack I became a Heart Walk Coach with a team of 40 and increased to 63 in 2025! Turning my survival into service.I was honored as a Top Walker both years and I plan to champion the walks every year and set a goal of being a Top Walker. I also founded GOD’s Girl Divine Heart, Inc. a survivor-led nonprofit born from my testimony and dedicated to raising awareness around CPR and AED access, advocating for women’s heart health, and promoting sustainable lifestyle changes rooted in stress reduction, mindfulness, movement, and heart-healthy nutrition.
My mission is deeply personal. I advocate for health equity in women, because being misdiagnosed nearly cost me my life. I speak boldly about the signs and symptoms of heart attacks in women, so no one ignores what their body is trying to tell them. I stand as a Heart Victor, committed to ensuring that survival stories like mine become fewer and prevention stories become the norm. I lost a parent to a heart attack and an aunt in 2025 to heart disease.
I am asking you to stand with me.
Your support of my Women of Impact campaign helps fund lifesaving research, education, and advocacy through the American Heart Association work that ensures more women are heard, believed, and saved. Together, we can expand CPR and AED awareness, address inequities in women’s heart care, and empower communities to choose heart-healthy living.
It's not just about wearing red. It's not just about sharing heart health facts. It's about all women connecting and committing to stand together against our greatest health threat.
My heart stopped my purpose started.
Shocked by AED twice. Chosen by GOD once.
Heart Victor. Unapologetic Life Warrior.
Living proof that purpose survives.
Living boldly. Loving deeply.
Here to raise awareness, save lives, and live fully.
Every heartbeat has purpose.
Join my team! By joining, you can help me raise more awareness and critical funds for heart health. Scroll to the Team Roster and click "Join this Nominee".
The time is now! Starting February 6th at 9:00 AM, click the donate button to support my campaign with a tax-deductible donation. The competition concludes at 9:00 PM on April 9th.
With Heart Toniya ❤
