Four years ago, Jennifer Dering was at the peak of her strength,  a professional athlete, engineer, wife, and mother, training for a racquetball tournament when she suddenly began struggling to breathe. Over the course of 14 medical visits, she was misdiagnosed repeatedly. Doctors told her it was hormones, asthma, even “vocal cord dysfunction.” But Jennifer knew something was deeply wrong.

When her symptoms worsened, she demanded a chest X-ray. That test revealed she had non-ischemic cardiomyopathy, a rare and severe heart condition that had reduced her heart’s pumping capacity to less than 15 percent. She was immediately referred to Westchester Medical Center where Alan Gass, MD and the hospital’s advanced cardiac team determined that her only chance of survival was a heart transplant.

Within weeks, a donor heart became available. The surgery was a success and so began a new chapter of Jennifer’s life. Today, she is not only a survivor but an advocate for women’s heart health, using her story to encourage other women to trust their instincts, seek answers, and demand the care they deserve. As a Leader of Impact nominee for the American Heart Association, Jennifer now partners with WMCHealth to share her story, helping to raise awareness about heart disease, the power of organ donation, and the lifesaving care that gave her a second chance.

Jennifer’s story reflects how WMCHealth is reimagining possible through breakthrough cardiac care, lifesaving transplants, and a relentless belief in what can be achieved when compassion and expertise come together. Her survival is a testament to innovation, teamwork, and trust: the same values that define WMCHealth’s mission to deliver the most advanced care in the region and change the way patients experience heart health.