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Missed this month’s Innovation @Heart? Check out the replay. |
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Dr. Carlos J. Rodriguez and Dr. Eduardo Sanchez serve NHLCA as chair and executive sponsor, respectively.
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| AHA debuts National Hispanic Latino Cardiology Association |
Latino people make up 19% of the U.S. population but comprise less than 7% of the health care provider workforce, and half ages 20 and older have some form of cardiovascular disease. Those stark realities gave rise to the National Hispanic Latino Cardiology Association (NHLCA) — founded by the American Heart Association as a consultive body to guide health equity work in Latino populations.
With eight founding physicians comprising the Board of Advisors, NHLCA aims to advance Latino cardiovascular health and to grow the pipeline of Latino health professionals among volunteers and members of the AHA.
The idea was introduced by Latino physicians attending Scientific Sessions in 2008. Among them were Dr. Carlos J. Rodriguez and Dr. Eduardo Sanchez, who now serve as chair and executive sponsor, respectively. As first-generation Americans born of Dominican immigrants, both said the opportunity to uplift Latino culture is deeply meaningful.
“It’s hard to put in words the responsibility I feel to be a voice,” said Sanchez, AHA chief medical officer for prevention.
Rodriguez — a physician-leader at Albert Einstein College of Medicine who co-authored the AHA’s Presidential Advisory on Structural Racism — echoed that sentiment.
“I never forgot the environment I grew up in, the stress that it carries, and how that impacts health,” he said. “I’m humbled to be able to make a difference.”
NHLCA is supported through the AHA Latinx Employee Resource Group and the Office of Health Equity. For details, contact NHLCA@heart.org.
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Rachel Joy and Jason Bell exchanged vows at the Greater Maryland Heart Walk.
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| Couple marries at Maryland Heart Walk to raise awareness |
When Rachel Joy Craven’s dad died of heart disease at age 51, she vowed to honor his memory as she mourned the milestone moments they would never share. So, when her boyfriend Jason proposed marriage, the couple chose the Greater Maryland Heart Walk as the perfect backdrop to celebrate the biggest day of their lives.
“My dad is not here to walk me down the aisle, but I’m going to use this joining of my family to bring awareness to heart disease so other families may have a chance to celebrate with each other,” Rachel said.
The event took place October 16 at the Camden Yards Sports Complex in Baltimore, raising more than $1,568,000 — a local record — and delivering on a Heart Challenge campaign that increased awareness, impact and engagement. Approximately 3,650 registered walkers came out to Camden Yards and even more participated remotely.
Heart Walk has enabled the American Heart Association’s Maryland division to align with the four major health systems in the region to address access to care and the state’s leading causes of death: heart disease, stroke and diabetes. Thank you, Maryland, for making an extraordinary impact.
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| Relentless together: 40 years of advocacy impact |
When the American Heart Association’s advocacy office opened in Washington, D.C., four decades ago, its focus was enacting tobacco-control policies and increasing federal research funding at the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Today, the arc of AHA advocacy extends to policies expanding access to care, prohibiting surprise medical billing, upholding patient protections in the Affordable Care Act and more — with more than 100 wins last year, alone.
On October 26 at 7 p.m. Central, the AHA will celebrate 40 years of advocacy impact during a virtual celebration hosted by CBS medical correspondent, Dr. Tara Narula. RSVP here.
Check out a compilation of legislative achievements online at www.heart.org/40.
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AHA president, Dr. Donald Lloyd-Jones, testifies during a House hearing on legislation to protect children and families.
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| AHA president champions cardiac rehab and research bills on the Hill |
After a heart event, cardiac rehabilitation lowers the risk of death by 26% and hospital readmission by 18%. But only one-third of patients eligible for rehab ever enroll. American Heart Association president, Dr. Donald Lloyd-Jones, explained why as he testified before the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
“The elderly, women, people of color, those living in rural areas and patients with lower socioeconomic position are all less likely to be referred to cardiac rehab,” he said. “They also are less likely to take that first critical step to enroll after referral … often due to transportation barriers.”
A cardiologist and epidemiologist, Lloyd-Jones spoke in support of the Increasing Access to Quality Cardiac Rehabilitation Care Act of 2021 (H.R. 1956) and the Cardiovascular Advances in Research and Opportunities Legacy (CAROL) Act.
H.R. 1956 would authorize physician assistants, nurse practitioners and clinical nurse specialists to supervise cardiac rehab under Medicare and make referrals, benefiting more patients sooner.
The CAROL Act would authorize research funding for heart valve diseases, including mitral valve prolapse — which disproportionately kills women — and aid national expansion of the Cardiac Arrest Registry to Enhance Survival.
Watch the hearing replay.
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| Supportive discipline helps Austin-area students kick the tobacco habit |
As the first independent school district in Texas to adopt the American Heart Association’s Tobacco-Free Schools framework, Hutto ISD in Greater Austin is embracing a no-judgment approach to enforcing the policy.
Instead of suspending or expelling students caught smoking, Hutto schools provide the AHA’s Tobacco-Free Schools Toolkit and other resources to help them quit. Though just adopted by Hutto in July, officials say the program is already in effect among the district’s more than 9,000 students.
“This has changed the perspective and dialogue for a lot of staff members as they see the value of being more supportive and wanting to understand and build relationships with students,” said AHA community impact director, Catalina Berry, who helped Hutto implement the framework.
Supportive discipline creates a community of trust but does not absolve violators of personal responsibility.
“The intended result was to show them we recognize they need help and to help them,” said Kendra Estes, Hutto ISD director of health, safety and risk management.
Estes endorsed the Tobacco-Free Schools framework in a presentation to 50 school districts across Texas.
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Marsha Jones, AHA chairman-elect
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| Marsha Jones, AHA chairman-elect, named Woman of Influence |
American Heart Association chairman-elect, Marsha Jones, has been named a 2021 Woman of Influence by the Pittsburgh Business Times. Jones is executive vice president and chief diversity officer for The PNC Financial Services Group Inc., where she leads the development and implementation of strategies and programs that help build and sustain a talented, diverse workforce and a culture of inclusion.
She isn’t just ensuring historically excluded people have a seat at the table, she’s empowering them to have a voice.
Jones brings that same energy and influence to the AHA National Board of Directors as chairman-elect. She formerly served as treasurer in 2019-21.
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Dr. Michelle A. Albert,
AHA president-elect
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| Dr. Michelle A. Albert, AHA president-elect, earns two high-profile appointments |
The American Heart Association salutes president-elect, Dr. Michelle A. Albert, on dual appointments to the National Academy of Medicine (NAM) and the Advisory Committee to the Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Albert is a professor of medicine at the University of California at San Francisco (UCSF) and associate dean for admissions for UCSF Medical School.
A trailblazing clinician-scientist, she is director of the CeNter for the StUdy of AdveRsiTy and CardiovascUlaR DiseasE (NURTURE Center), where she leads discoveries on heart disease and COVID-19 in diverse and vulnerable populations.
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Janice Murphy
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| Remembering Janice Murphy |
The American Heart Association mourns the passing of Janice Murphy, a volunteer leader who joined the East Bay board in the San Francisco Bay Area in 2006, and most recently served as Western States board chairman in 2012-14.
Despite the demands of her role as vice president of pensions and investments at Kaiser Permanente, she devoted her whole heart to the AHA’s lifesaving mission. She was treasurer and chairman of the Western States Budget and Finance Committee from 2009-12 and formerly was board chairman of the East Bay division. She also served on the East Bay Heart Ball Executive Leadership Team.
We send condolences to Janice's husband, Dan, and the entire Murphy family.
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