From the OR to the Community: Dr. Alexandra Kharazi Becomes San Diego’s Go Red ‘Woman of Impact

“Cardiovascular disease is already the number one killer in this country … The Woman of Impact campaign was about getting ahead of the crisis by raising awareness … and making sure more lives are saved before they ever need surgery.”

— Dr. Alexandra Kharazi 

A Victory Beyond the Operating Room

In May 2025, Dr. Alexandra Kharazi, a cardiothoracic surgeon based in San Diego, was named Go Red for Women’s San Diego Woman of Impact.  This prestigious recognition is awarded to a local female leader who orchestrates the most compelling campaign in awareness, education, and fundraising for women’s heart health. The title is more than symbolic — it marks a turning point: moving her influence beyond the surgical suite into community transformation.

The 9-Week Campaign: Strategy + Heart

To win the title, Dr. Kharazi:

• Launched a nine-week challenge competing against other nominated women leaders in San Diego. 

• Organized public health events — one notable effort was a community CPR training session. 

• Mobilized a team of advocates — family, friends, colleagues, donors — to spread education, awareness, and fundraising reach. 

• Raised significant funds and awareness: the 2025 San Diego Go Red nominees collectively raised $111,845 and taught Hands-Only CPR to more than 400 people. 

Through these efforts, Dr. Kharazi not only won the local title but cemented her role as a bridge-builder between medicine and public health.

Why This Matters — Her “Folks First” Moment in Focus

This achievement provides strong grounding for the “folks first” narrative:

• Rather than keeping all her efforts confined to hospital wards and ORs, she stepped into neighborhoods, community centers, and public arenas.

• Her approach was rooted in education, prevention, and empowerment — centering real people rather than abstract statistics.

• As a surgeon, she often treats late-stage disease; by becoming a “Woman of Impact,” she shifted toward catching disease before it escalates.

• The Go Red campaign allowed her to marry her clinical expertise with systemic change, speaking to both heart health in individuals and structural disparities in care.