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American Heart Association

Northern California

A relentless force for longer, healthier lives in our community.

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Championing Maternal Health and Well-being

Learn about Vibhuti's journey with her daughter Ziva, who was diagnosed as an infant with a congenital heart defect (CHD). Most children with simple defects survive into adulthood, thanks to scientific research and the many medical advances made every year.

Conversations from the Heart patient stories are sponsored by Cytokinetics

Implementing a Self-Monitoring Blood Pressure Program

Two hundred blood pressure cuffs and educational resources were deployed in Family Healthcare Network’s Mooney location to launch a program where patients could check out equipment and monitor their numbers at home to support improved blood pressure control.

Find out about this program and more lifesaving work in the Central Valley

Access to Critical Resources Helps Alleviate Food Insecurity

To address food insecurity in Stanislaus County, we worked alongside the Food Initiative of Greater Stanislaus (FIGS) to introduce mobile food coolers, aiding in the distribution of fresh produce to homebound seniors and those who lack access to nutritious food.

Learn about the work we’re doing to end food insecurity in Northern California

Saving Lives Through CPR

Last year we trained more than 330,000 community members in Northern California in the life-saving skill of CPR.

Our goal is to train at least one lifesaver per household. Join the Nation of Lifesavers today!

Recipe: Avocado and Shrimp Spring Rolls

These Asian wrappers are bursting with goodness. Serve them as a party appetizer, a quick weeknight meal or at your next dim sum.

Try this delicious recipe!

Try our other recipes

Noticias en español

La tasa de mortalidad materna entre mujeres latinas subió bruscamente en el 2020, y la mayoría de los decesos fueron por problemas cardiovasculares.

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Give Today to DOUBLE to Help Save Lives

Lifesaving research funding is at risk. Donate now and DOUBLE your lifesaving impact - but only for a limited time! Your support today will allow us to help fund the next big, lifesaving breakthrough against heart disease and stroke, support lifesaving education and prevention, and so much more.

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JT Laybourne showing scar and smiling with his family

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In Your Community

California and Local Advocacy
Central Valley Community Impact
Central Valley Board of Directors
Greater Bay Area Calendar of Events
Greater Bay Area Community Impact
Greater Bay Area Board of Directors
Greater Valley (Sacramento, Stockton, Modesto) Community Impact
Greater Valley (Sacramento, Stockton, Modesto) Board of Directors

California and Local Advocacy

Advocacy for Healthier Californians

For over 40 years, advocacy has been at the heart of our mission. We’re committed to creating a healthier future for everyone. Here’s how we’re making a difference in California and in our local communities:

Prioritizing Public Health

Our legislative and regulatory efforts mitigate risk factors and protect survivors across the country. We champion evidence-based public policies that lead to longer, healthier lives.

In California, we focus on five major policy areas: Tobacco Free, Quality Systems of Care, Healthy Eating, Active Living, and Access to Care.

Thanks to advocacy efforts, Californians took a stand in November of 2022. You voted to uphold the law that ends the sale of flavored tobacco products – including menthol cigarettes. Studies consistently show the reason most young people start using e-cigarettes – and why they get hooked – is because they are sold in the candy, fruit and mint flavors kids like. California now has the nation's strongest protections against the tobacco industry’s business model that markets deadly tobacco products to kids, especially those who live in Black and brown communities.

A Landmark Win for Healthy School Meals

In the fall of 2023, California became the first state in the nation to ensure school meals are healthy by limiting added salt and sugar. Aligned with national and pediatrician recommended guidelines, this move will protect young people from diet-related conditions like heart disease, diabetes, and obesity. The American Heart Association was among the organizations that sponsored Senate Bill 348, championed by Sen. Nancy Skinner.

Standing Strong Against Secondhand Smoke

California Governor Gavin Newsom vetoed AB 374 which would have rolled back secondhand smoke protection in workplaces, including allowing cannabis lounges to become restaurants or venues with live music. This is a significant win to protect the health of California workers from being forced to endure a toxic environment to keep thei jobs.

Join our network of You’re the Cure advocates to continue to improve the health of all Californians.

Central Valley Community Impact

Our Central Valley division serves Fresno, Inyo, Kings, Madera, Mariposa, Merced, Mono and Tulare counties.

The American Heart Association in the Central Valley is working with community collaborators to make an impact in three key areas: supporting residents managing high blood pressure, working to ensure our community has access to the healthy and nutritious foods that sustain health and eliminating the use of tobacco and nicotine products.

By bringing together organizations, sponsors, companies and community partners across the Central Valley, we will save and improve lives. Equity is always at the center of our work, and it will continue to guide all that we do. Thank you for your continued support.

Central Valley Board of Directors

Chair
Steve Matejka
Executive Vice President/Chief Operating Officer
Valley Strong Credit Union

William F. Baker, MD, FACP
Internal Medicine
Centric Health

Didra Cantu, MPA-HCM
Director of Quality and Risk
Encompass Health
Rehabilitation Hospital of Bakersfield

Stacy Ferreira
Community Volunteer

Bonnie Her, MD
Family Medicine Physician
Community Medical Providers

Ken Keller
President and CEO
Bakersfield Memorial Hospital

Lisa Kreber, Ph D., CBIS
Director of Operations
Adventist Health Bakersfield

Felice Lin, MD
Cardiologist
University Cardiovascular Center

Luckvinder Malhi
VP of Operations
Fresno Heart and Surgical Hospital

Jared Salvo, DO
Cardiologist
Central Cardiology Medical Center

Sarabjeet Singh, MD
Interventional Cardiologist
Centric Health

Vivian Torio, DO
Adult and Family Medicine
Kaiser Permanente

Rachel Yankey, MD
Physician
Saint Agnes Center Physicians

Greater Bay Area Calendar of Events

2024 - 2025 Calendar of Events

Greater Bay Area 2024-2025 Calendar of Events (PDF)

Greater Bay Area Community Impact

Bringing Validated Blood Pressure Cuffs to Oakland Residents

In the heart of the Greater Bay Area, a powerful alliance is underway. The American Heart Association in collaboration with West Oakland Health, whose clinical sites include West Oakland Health Center, East Oakland Health Center, and AJ Thomas Medical Center are joining forces to make it easier for thousands of under-resourced Oakland residents to manage their high blood pressure.

A validated blood pressure device procurement policy was adopted and implemented by the Population Health Program Manager for West Oakland Health on October 14, 2022. This policy will ensure all blood pressure devices provided to patients, donated to, or purchased by West Oakland Health, are clinically validated according to a recognized validated device list such as the US Blood Pressure Validated Device Listing, the British and Irish Hypertension Society, or Stride BP.

Addressing hypertension in West and East Oakland is vital to the mission of the American Heart Association and West Oakland Health as residents of both neighborhoods have been highly impacted by divestment and gentrification over the years due to structural racism. Patients living in these neighborhoods face challenges including violence, lack of nutrition security, and poor public transit for accessing prescription medications, all of which impacts their ability to manage their hypertension.

Our Greater Bay Area division serves Alameda, Contra Costa, Del Norte, Humboldt, Lake, Marin, Monterey, Napa, San Benito, San Francisco, San Luis Obispo, San Mateo, Santa Clara, Santa Cruz, Solano and Sonoma counties.

Greater Bay Area Board of Directors

President
Nicole Rosendale, MD
Assistant Professor of Neurology
University of California, San Francisco

Immediate Past President
Sean Wu, MD
Professor of Medicine
Stanford School of Medicine

Chair
Stella Low
Retired Chief Corporate Affairs & Communications Officer
HP

Chair Elect
Jacqueline Shreibati , MD, MS, FACC
Senior Clinical Lead
Google

Huma Abbasi
General Manager Health and Medical
Chevron Corporation

Michelle A. Albert, MD MPH
Walter A. Haas-Lucie Stern Endowed Chair in Cardiology and Professor of Medicine / Director
NURTURE Center Admissions Dean
UCSF School of Medicine University of California, San Francisco

Katharine Sears Edwards, PhD
Clinical Assistant Professor
Medicine - Cardiovascular Medicine
Stanford University

Maarten Lansberg, MD, PhD
Professor of Neurology & Neurological Sciences
Stanford University School of Medicine

Justin C. Lee, MD, FACC
General Cardiologist
Stanford Medicine - University Medical Partners Global Faculty
Stanford Center for Asian Health Research and Education

John Maa, MD
General Surgeon
Marin General Hospital

Kenneth Mahaffey, MD
Professor of Medicine
Stanford University Medical Center

KT Moore
VP Corporate Marketing
Cadence Design Systems

Rita Ng MD FACC
Physician-in-Chief
The Permanente Medical Group

Henry Nutt
Preconstruction Executive
Southland Industries

Kristin L. O’Carroll
Litigation Associate
Greenberg Traurig LLP

Fatima Rodriguez, MD
Assistant Professor
Cardiovascular Medicine
Stanford University School of Medicine

Erika Simpson-Akpawu, MPH
Consultant, Health Scope Consulting
West Oakland Health Council

Roberto Ariel Vargas, MPH
Associate Director
Community Health Planning & Policy
UCSF CTSI Community Engagement & Health Policy Program

Greater Valley (Sacramento, Stockton, Modesto) Community Impact

Our Greater Valley division serves Alpine, Amador, Butte, Calaveras, Colusa, El Dorado, Glenn, Lassen, Modoc, Nevada, Placer, Plumas, Sacramento, San Joaquin, Shasta, Sierra, Siskiyou, Stanislaus, Sutter, Tehama, Trinity, Tuolumne, Yolo and Yuba counties.

The American Heart Association is committed to driving equitable health impact in the Sacramento Valley through five key priority areas: women, COVID19, tobacco and vaping, patients and healthy living through nutrition and mental well-being. 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, we can improve the health and well-being of our community while saving and improving countless lives.

People are counting on us as never before. Together, we will drive change, and we will be relentless. Thank you for your continued support.