American Heart Association logoAmerican Heart Association

Illinois

Help us ensure everyone in Illinois has the opportunity to live longer, healthier lives.

Illinois

A second chance at life

Elston

During a game of pickup basketball, retired Chicago Public Schools teacher Elston Harris went into cardiac arrest. Thanks to the quick thinking by one of his teammates – along with ten minutes of CPR – Elston got a second chance at life.

Know Your Numbers

Kiosk

Free, state-of-the-art blood pressure kiosks placed by the American Heart Association empower community residents to measure and track their blood pressure and take steps to prevent heart disease, stroke and dementia. The kiosks include referrals to clinics in the area, helping patients access medical care in their community.

CPR Saves Lives

CPR

Of the 350,000 cardiac arrests that happen outside the hospital every year, less than 12 percent of victims survive. Bystander CPR can double or triple the chances of survival. Our Illinois team is in the community conducting training sessions, supplying local schools with CPR training and equipment, and spreading the message that it only takes two steps to save a life: call 911 and push hard and fast in the center of the chest.

Give and GET MATCHED during the Fall Supporter Drive

Your lifesaving gift against heart disease DOUBLES — but only until October 10. Help protect the hearts you love from America’s No. 1 killer with a gift today.

Small child on grandfather's shoulders in Autumn

Events in Your Area

Chicago Heart Walk

Location: Soldier Field

Date: Friday, September 22, 2023 - 11:00 AM

Register

In Your Community

The American Heart Association is committed to driving equitable health impact in Illinois 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 Illinois citizens while saving and improving countless lives.

Throughout the state of Illinois, 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.

Community

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 Illinois citizens build healthier lives free of cardiovascular disease and stroke.

Our efforts in Illinois and its communities are focused on the following policy areas: Tobacco and Vaping, Access to Care, Medicaid Expansion, and Hypertension Prevention and Control, Paid Family and Medical Leave, and Healthy School Meals for All.

Advocacy

Board President
Mercedes R. Carnethon, Ph.D., FAHA 
Feinberg School of Medicine Northwestern University

Board Chair
Sharon Langshur
Abundant Venture Partners

Members

Aparna Abburi
Cigna

Kimberly Bors
Dover Corporation

Gyasi C. Chisley
PNC Bank

Virginia Friesen
Advocate Aurora Health Care

Wayne H. Giles, MD, MS
University of Illinois at Chicago

Joe Greskoviak
Press Ganey

Linda Imonti
KPMG LLP

Jason Keeler
University of Chicago Medical Center

Ranndy Kellogg
Omron

Jairo Mejia, MD, FAHA, CPE
ACCESS Community Health Network

Angela Odoms-Young, Ph.D 
Cornell University

Tochukwu M. Okwuosa, DO, FACC
Rush University Medical Center

Jeff Raider
CIBC Bank USA

Andy Rauh
Duly Health and Care

Chet Robson, DO, MHCDS, FAAFP
Walgreens

Joan Rubschlager
Rubschlager Bakery

Bryan Smith, MD
University of Chicago Medical Center

Dan Smith
Huron Consulting Group

Sarah Song MD, MPH, FAAN
Rush University Medical Center


Members

Dezimon Alicea
Sayles Creative Studios

Kristin Barrie
Walgreens Co.

Emily Bateman
CannonDesign

Katie Bigoness
Grant Thorton

Kathryn Bors
Kimberly Clark

Nazia Chowdbury
Polysign

Ciera Hester-Smith
Midwest Orthopedics at Rush

Ben Higgins
Northern Trust

Tiara Muse
Furst Group

Amanda Nieh
KPMG

Jaclyn Reider
Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago

John Wilkins
Northwestern University

Rachel Ziedman 
Community Volunteer

Sarah Zielinski
McGuireWoods LLP


Contact Us

Chicago, Illinois

300 South Riverside Plaza, Ste 1200 
Chicago, IL 60606

312-346-4675

Portrait of Asian woman using digital tablet computer at home outdoors

Heart and Stroke News

Find science-based stories about heart and brain health and inspiring survivor profiles from American Heart Association News.