American Heart Association Kentucky
2026 Carol Barr STEM Scholarship Application is Open!
The 2026 Carol Barr STEM Scholarship application is now open. Since 2021, the American Heart Association in Central & Eastern Kentucky has awarded more than $300,000 in scholarships to 16 young women pursuing STEM degrees. This year’s five awardees will receive a scholarship of $10,000 each to use for their post-secondary education. Application deadline is March 13, 2026.
Local Fire Departments Turn Bystanders into Lifesavers
Both the Lexington and Louisville fire departments have joined forces with the American Heart Association in campaigns to increase bystander Hands-Only CPR rates. Anyone can stop by a fire station in either city and ask to learn Hands-Only CPR. We are already seeing the effects, the #LEXSavesLives campaign just hit a milestone raising bystander performed CPR from 7% in 2023 to 18% as of June 2, 2025. #LEXSAVESLIVES & #HANDSONLOU
Cardiac Emergency Response Plans in Kentucky
The American Heart Association in Kentucky is leading a critical initiative to promote awareness of Cardiac Emergency Response Plans (CERPs) across the Commonwealth. Sponsored by the Kentucky Association of Health Plans (KAHP), the trade association representing Medicaid managed care organizations and commercial insurers in the Commonwealth.
Kentucky heart mom earns national recognition in American Heart Association’s Woman of Impact™ campaign
Sarah Michelle Boes of Louisville has been named the 2025 Woman of Impact winner in Kentuckiana. Sarah not only led the local campaign with passion and purpose but also earned national recognition, placing fourth in the country and being recognized in the Centennial Club for raising more than $100,000. Through her efforts, she raised critical funds and elevated awareness around heart disease, stroke and congenital heart disease (CHD), while improving overall well-being in the community.
Lexington Cardiologist Named American Heart Association® Central Kentucky Leaders of Impact™ Winner
Dr. Raymon Nelson, a cardiologist at Pikeville Medical Center, has been named the American Heart Association Central and Eastern Kentucky 2025 Leaders of Impact™ winner for his work supporting the Heart Association’s mission of creating a world of longer, healthier lives for all. Driven by his personal story and his career, Dr. Nelson led the Leaders of Impact campaign and helped make this campaign team #7 in the nation.
Mini Meatloaves with Low-Fat Creamed Spinach Recipe
Simple Cooking with Heart brings you this classic American comfort meal that is healthy and still full of flavor!
2025 Kentuckiana Go Red for Women Survivor Models
Meet our 2025 Kentuckiana Go Red for Women Survivor Models! Get to know each of these powerful individuals and their incredible stories on pages 98-107 of The Voice Tribune June publication.
New Moms Face the Highest Risk
Events in Your Area
Kentuckiana Hard Hats with Heart
Location: L&N Stadium - Angel's Envy Bourbon Club
Date: Thursday, April 23, 2026 - 04:00 PM
RegisterCentral Kentucky Heart Walk
Location: Keeneland Association
Date: Saturday, May 9, 2026 - 08:45 AM
RegisterKentuckiana Go Red for Women
Location: Muhammad Ali Center
Date: Wednesday, June 10, 2026 - 11:00 AM
RegisterKentuckiana Heart Walk
Location: University of Louisville Grawemeyer Lawn
Date: Saturday, September 12, 2026 - 08:00 AM
RegisterLexington Go Red for Women
Location: Central Bank Center
Date: Friday, October 16, 2026 - 11:00 AM
RegisterIn Your Community
The American Heart Association is committed to driving equitable health impact in Kentucky through five key priority areas: women, readiness, tobacco and vaping, patients, and healthy living. Equity is always at the center of our work, and it will continue to guide all that we do.
Through our focus on these key impact areas, and with collaboration among local organizations, sponsors, businesses, and others that serve the community, we are working to improve the health and well-being of Kentucky citizens while saving and improving countless lives.
Throughout the state of Kentucky, we’ve seen our community impact work grow, including efforts around creating avenues for greater access to care, expanding healthy food access and education, building a network of first responders through CPR kits in schools, supporting blood pressure screenings and education, and educating on the dangers of tobacco and vaping.
People are counting on us as never before. We at the American Heart Association, along with our supporters, will drive change, and we will be relentless. Thank you for your continued support.
For more than 40 years, Advocacy has had a mission-critical role in the American Heart Association's work. Our legislative and regulatory priorities help to mitigate risk factors and protect survivors in communities across the country. We support the enactment of evidence-based public policies that lead to longer, healthier lives.
Public policy advocacy is an essential strategy used by the Association to affect necessary and sustainable policy, system and environmental changes that help Kentucky citizens build healthier lives free of cardiovascular disease and stroke.
Our efforts in Kentucky and its communities are focused on the following policy areas: Tobacco and Vaping, Access to Care, Medicaid Expansion, and Hypertension Prevention and Control.
Board President
Leah Eggers
On Plane Consulting
Board Chair
Dr. Swannie Jett
Park DuValle Community Health Center Inc.
Leadership Development Chair
Rob Jay
Scion Health
Members
Richie Gimmel
Atlas Machine & Supply
Josh Heird
University of Louisville
Krista Hensel
UnitedHealth Group
Anne Marie Holas-Dryps
Norton Heart and Vascular Institute
John Huang
Fifth Third Bank
Carrie King
Homepage Realty
Mary Littrell
Mary Central Bank & Trust Co.
Ebbonny Page
Ebbonny Louisville Urban League
Dr. Chirag Patel
WellCare, Centene of Kentucky
Jonathan Velez
Baptist Health
John Walsh
UofL Health - Jewish Hospital
Dr. Derek Weyhrauch
Cincinnati Children’s Heart Institute – Kentucky
Dr. Leah Whitener
Bayer Pharmaceuticals
Chris Woosley
FORVIS
Board Chair
John Cioci
PNC
Board President
Dr. Callie Rzasa
UK HealthCare
Members
Carol Russell
Giving Society Ambassador
Kevin Avent
American Trust Wealth
Christina Booth-Jackson
RJ Corman
Kelly Ball Broadbent
Frost Brown Todd
Susan Carmical
Appalachian Regional Healthcare
Lesley Catron
Central Bank
Dr. Alan Daugherty
UK - Saha Cardiovascular Research Center
Morgan Dezarn, Kentucky Children’s Hospital
Kim Durrum, Commonwealth Credit Union
Billie Dollins, Community Trust Bank
Artie Ford, Whitaker Bank
Sheila Devine Griffeth
CHI Saint Joseph Health
Susan Hart
Cardinal Hill Rehabilitation Hospital
Timothy Johnson
United Way of the Bluegrass
Susan Lax
UK Athletics
Tom Stephens
Kentucky Association of Health Plans
Claire Sullivan
Tailor Made Compounding Pharmacy
Kim Thuringer
Lexmark
Dr. Kelly Waespe
Baptist Health Lexington
Chief Jason Wells
Lexington Fire Department
Cliff Wilson
Georgetown Community Hospital
Cecelia Yeary
Baptist Health Lexington
Board President
Deborah Hayes
The Christ Hospital Health Network
Board Chair
Mark Carter
Cintas Corporation
Leadership Development Chair
Tim Steigerwald
Messer Construction
Members
Evie Alessandrini, MD
Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center
Steve Berke
Jennifer Cloyd-Caldwell
AtriCure
Dr. Kristin Coppage
TriHealth
Jim Creeden
Forvis Mazars
Dr. Stacie Demel
UC Health
Beverly Grant
Vera Hall
St. Elizabeth Healthcare
Terri Hanlon-Bremer
TriHealth
Kevin C. Jones
Community Volunteer
Colleen Lindholz
Kroger Health
JoAnne Noyes
Noyes Knee Institute
Michele O'Rourke
Sam Privitera
Atricure
Kelly Soller
Fifth Third Bancorp
Mike Uhl
Creighton Wright, MD
Community Volunteer
Midwest Board Members
Delores Hargrove-Young
Brett Kissela, MD, MS
John Mongelluzzo
President
Mary Boylan, MD
President
St. Luke's Regional Heart & Vascular Center
Chair
Joseph Haas
SVP of Private Wealth
Associated Bank
Members
Heather Baker, EdD
Principal
Dorothy Simon Elementary School/Winnebago CUSD #323
Tasha Blackmon
President & CEO
Cherry Health
Kim Bors
Senior Vice President
Chief Human Resources Officer
Dover Corporation
Mercedes Carnethon, PhD
Vice Chair, Department of Preventive Medicine and Mary Harris Thompson Professor of Medicine
Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine
Gyasi Chisley
Managing Director
Head of Corporate Healthcare
PNC Bank
Monte Curnutt
Vice President, Corporate Development
Roche Diagnostics
Eileen Robertson Hamra
CEO
Fit Together, LLC
Karen Harbin
President & CEO
Commonwealth Credit Union
Delores Hargrove-Young
Vice Chairwoman
d.e. Foxx & Associates, Inc.
Linda Imonti
Managing Partner
KMPG LLP
Retired
Joshua J. Joseph, MD
Associate Professor of Internal Medicine
The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center
Cathy O’Malley Kearney, JD
Executive Vice President
Head of Institutional Services
KeyBank
Devray Kirkland
Vice President
Chief Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Officer
Cardinal Health
Brett Kissela, MD, MS
Executive Vice-Dean
Senior Associate Dean for Clinical Research
University of Cincinnati College of Medicine
Chief of Research Services
UC Health
Sharon Langshur
Research Project Coordinator
Northwestern Medicine
Karen Larimer, PhD ACNP-BC, FAHA, FPCNA
Director Clinical and Research Operations
Cardiosense
Keith Miller, MD, PhD, FACC
Cardiologist
Bryan Health
John Mongelluzzo
Managing Partner
Calfee, Halter & Griswold LLP
Howard O’Brien
Associate
Howard & O’Brien Executive Search
Karen Rieck
Vice President, Human Resources
Farm Bureau Financial Services
Lee Shapiro, JD
Managing Partner
7wire Ventures
John Walsh, DSc, MBA, FACHE
Louisville, Kentucky
Contact Us
Kentuckiana and Western Kentucky Office
By Appointment Only:
9901 Linn Station Rd, Ste. 910
Louisville, KY 40223
Phone: (502) 587-8641
Central and Eastern Kentucky Office
By Appointment Only:
354 Waller Avenue, Suite 110
Lexington, KY 40504
Phone: (859) 317-6880
Greater Cincinnati Office
By Appointment Only:
9825 Kenwood Road, Ste. 104
Blue Ash, OH 45242
Phone: (513) 699-4240
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