American Heart Association Iowa
CPR & AED
90 percent of people who suffer out-of-hospital cardiac arrests die. CPR, especially if performed immediately, can double or triple a cardiac arrest victim’s chance of survival. We want to double the survival rate of cardiac arrest by 2030 through increased Cardiac Emergency Response Plans, training more people in CPR and increased AED training and accessibility in our community.
Find Local Blood Pressure Support Locations
The American Heart Association has made blood pressure hubs available at various community locations and libraries across Iowa.
Healthy Food Access
Right now, more than 385,000 Iowans are facing food insecurity. That’s enough people to fill Jack Trice Stadium more than six times. And with all 99 counties seeing increases, it’s clear this is a statewide challenge. That’s why the American Heart Association is teaming up with local food pantries to make heart-healthy options more accessible.
Survivor Story: A miracle in a blizzard
At five years old, Charlotte Leinhart has already undergone two open-heart surgeries. After the second surgery, she experienced a serious complication that left her hospitalized. She needed to return to Omaha, where the surgery was performed, but a blizzard made that impossible. It took three hospital teams—and a miracle—to get Charlotte back to Omaha.
Today is a Gift
Reegan Lueken was excited for her first day of 7th grade track practice. Then she got dizzy. And her excitement turned into panic. Watch how knowing the stroke warning signs can save a life.
Featured Recipe: Steamed Pumpkin Bread
Pumpkin, dried cranberries, walnuts, and spices update a traditional steamed brown bread recipe. The result is moist and delicious.
Focus on Quality
When medical professionals apply the most up-to-date evidence-based treatment guidelines, patient outcomes improve. That's the simple truth behind the drive for continuous quality improvement. Our comprehensive suite of programs can help you advance farther and faster in the quest for ever-better care.
Life’s Essential 8
Life’s Essential 8 are the key measures for improving and maintaining cardiovascular health, as defined by the American Heart Association. Better cardiovascular health helps lower the risk for heart disease, stroke and other major health problems.
New Moms Face the Highest Risk
Events in Your Area
Ames Go Red for Women
Location: Gateway Hotel and Conference Center
Date: Tuesday, April 28, 2026 - 05:00 PM
RegisterDubuque Area Heart Walk
Location: Dubuque Arboretum & Botanical Gardens
Date: Saturday, May 2, 2026 - 08:00 AM
RegisterQuad Cities Heart Walk
Location: Veterans Memorial Park
Date: Saturday, September 19, 2026 - 08:00 AM
Register2026 Cedar Rapids CycleNation
Location: Location: TBD
Date: Thursday, September 24, 2026 - 01:33 PM
RegisterDes Moines Go Red for Women
Location: Ron Pearson Center
Date: Friday, October 16, 2026 - 11:00 AM
RegisterIn Your Community
The American Heart Association is committed to driving equitable health impact in Iowa 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 Iowa citizens while saving and improving countless lives.
Throughout the state of Iowa, 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.
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 Iowa citizens build healthier lives free of cardiovascular disease and stroke.
Our efforts in Iowa and its communities are focused on the following policy areas: Maternal health, Access to Care Funding and Coverage, Nutrition Security, Health Equity Community Plans, Healthy Early Childhood Policies, Cardiac Emergency Response Plans and CPR implementation in schools.
Board Chair
Kris A. DeGraff
Wellmark Blue Cross Blue Shield
Board President
Dr. Wanakee Carr
The Iowa Clinic
Members
Robert Gavora
MercyOne Iowa Heart
John Irving
Tri-City Electric Co.
Matt Meendering
Dowling Catholic High School
Cameron Nicholson
YMCA of Greater Des Moines
Tim Pearson, D.C.
Mercy College of Health Sciences
Karen Rieck
FBL Financial Group, Inc.
Marcus Pitts
JLL Des Moines
Brooke Quinn
Carrot Fertility
Dr. Denise M. Sorrentino, MD, FHRS, FACC
MercyOne Iowa Heart
Amanda Vander Ley
Homes Murphy
Sarah P. Zeidler
UnityPoint Health
Dr. Jessica Zuzga-Reed
MercyOne
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
Des Moines, Iowa
9203 Northpark Drive
Johnston, Iowa 50131
Phone: (515) 414-3200
Eastern Iowa
By Appointment Only:
1035 N. Center Point Rd., Ste B
Hiawatha, IA 52233
Phone: (319) 536-3900
Heart and Stroke News
