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

‘We are incredibly grateful’: A Wichita child’s story of survival

A Wichita family is paying it forward by sharing their daughter, Molly’s story of survival after being born with a complex congenital heart defect.
Interest in CPR Soars

After Buffalo Bills player Damar Hamlin received life-saving CPR on the football field, many have pledged to learn CPR.
Second opinion helped Kansas City nurse practitioner

As a nurse practitioner who is passionate about helping patients make better lifestyle choices, Ashley Breaux admits she may be a bit more anxious about her own health than most people. So when her chest started to hurt two years ago, Breaux – then 34 – was mystified and concerned.
Kansas Tribal Impact
The American Heart Association is focusing efforts on growing the relationship with the four land tribes in Kansas to create a sustainable infrastructure to address structural health inequities. Those tribes include the Fox Nation of Missouri in Kansas and Nebraska, Iowa Tribe of Kansas and Nebraska, Kickapoo Tribe in Kansas, and the Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation.
We aim to deepen and improve their tribal member’s health and well-being while empowering local capacity and community change grounded in culture and community values.
City of Wichita approves new tobacco ordinance
The Wichita City Council approved changes to its tobacco ordinance, shifting the penalty from underage youth tobacco license holders.
Read more about the new tobacco ordinanceFor 11-year-old hockey player, breathlessness signaled a struggling heart
While running laps during physical education class at his school in St. Joseph, Missouri, Jake Burnam passed out. After several tests and an abnormal electrocardiogram, it was discovered the then-11-year-old son had hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM), an inherited condition in which his heart muscle became abnormally thick, making it harder to efficiently pump blood.
Read more about JakeMedical Breakthrough Match!
Make your gift now to DOUBLE your impact to support unfunded research that could lead to the next lifesaving breakthrough against heart disease, and support prevention education and more.

Events in Your Area
Kansas City Heart Walk
Location: Kansas City Power & Light District
Date: Saturday, October 7, 2023 - 08:00 AM
RegisterIn Your Community
The American Heart Association is committed to driving equitable health impact in Kansas through five key priority areas: women, COVID-19, tobacco and vaping, patients and healthy living. Equity is 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 all Kansans while saving and improving lives.

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 Kansans build healthier lives free of cardiovascular disease and stroke.
Our efforts in Kansas communities are focused on ensuring access to health care coverage through Medicaid Expansion, protecting comprehensive insurance and equitable enforcement of tobacco retail licensure.

Board Chair
Shawn Jiwanlal
Simmons Bank
Board President
Vallerie Gleason, MBA, RN
Newton Medical Center
Leadership Development Chair
Alex Melugin, MBA
Phoenix Home Care & Hospice
Midwest Regional Board Chair
Pat Gearhart
Simmons Bank
Members
Laura Barnes
FORVIS
Nicole Castleberry
Wesley Health Care
Don D. Gribble
Hite, Fanning & Honeyman L.L.P.
Clayton Kaiser
Foulston Siefkin L.L.P.
Brian Pate, MD
KU School of Medicine- Wichita
Christopher Rea
Foundation Properties
Debbie Reilly, BSN, RN
Kansas Heart Hospital
Board Chair
Tom O’Grady
HNTB
Board President
Heath Wilt, MD
AdventHealth
Members
Dave Barber
JE Dunn Construction
Scott Hall
Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce
Steven Kaster, MD
Chen Med
Keri Mathew
Central Bank of the Midwest
Rhea Pimentel, MD
University of Kansas Health System
Marvin Szneler
community member
Mindy Brissey
MRB Strategies, LLC
Tim Castaneda
Amazon Web Services
Carla Duryee
C. Duryee Consulting
Dipika Aggarwal, MD
University of Kansas Medical Center
Anezi Uzendu, MD
Saint Luke’s Health System, Mid-America Heart Institute
Matt Sogard
HCA Midwest Health - Overland Park Regional Medical Center
Contact Us
Kansas City
5800 Foxridge Drive #108,
Mission, KS 66202
Phone: (316) 768-3830
Media Requests: (515) 250-8392

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