American Heart Association Illinois
Get ready for National Wear Red Day® on Feb. 6
YWCA Chicago - Empowered to save lives
When a person has a cardiac emergency, survival depends on immediately receiving CPR from someone nearby. The community impact team is thrilled to be working with the YWCA on cardiac emergency response and Hands-Only CPR.
This work is ongoing. To date, over half of the Chicagoland-area YWCA locations have created and implemented a cardiac emergency response plan as a new policy. The American Heart Association also guided the YWCA in identifying a response team equipped to act in a cardiac emergency.
Know Your Numbers
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
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.
Target: BP
Target: BP was created by the American Heart Association and the American Medical Association in response to high rates of uncontrolled blood pressure in patients across the country. In Chicago, we work with nearly 80 health facilities to help care teams improve hypertension control rates through a quality improvement program, and we recognize organizations committed to improving blood pressure control.
Support that lifts you up
Dealing with a heart or stroke condition can be complex, but your recovery can be more manageable when you have the right kind of emotional support. Join our Support Network, a community of survivors and caregivers who’ve had similar experiences and can help you find your footing on the path to better health.
Indian-Spiced Pumpkin-Apple Soup
Garam masala, a blend of several dry-roasted ground spices often used in Indian cooking, adds warmth to this creamy soup — a perfect light lunch or side dish on a cold day.
Start 2026 Strong. Double Your Impact.
Events in Your Area
Chicago Go Red for Women
Location: Hyatt Regency Chicago
Date: Friday, February 13, 2026 - 10:30 AM
Learn MoreIn 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.
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.
Board Chair
Kimberly Bors
Retired Chief Human Resources Officer
Dover Corporation
Board President
Dr. Jairo Mejia, MD, FAHA, CPE
Chief Medical Officer
ACCESS Community Health Network
Members
Donnica Austin Cathey
Chief Hospital Executive
John H. Stroger Jr. Hospital of Cook County
Dr. Stuart Berger, MD
Division Head of Pediatric Cardiology
Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital
John Boschelli
Chief Investment Officer, EVP
Kemper Corporation
Monica Brown Moss
First Lady and Community of Faith Engagement
Strategist Trinity United Church of Christ
Dr. Mercedes Carnethon, PhD, FAHA
Chair and Professor, Department of Preventive Medicine
Feinberg School of Medicine Northwestern University
Sarah Casalan
President
UPS Store
Dr. Emily Chase, PhD, MS
Executive Vice President, Chief Operating Officer
UChicago Medicine
Joe Dant
Chief Growth Officer
Endeavor Health
Sean Gallagher
Executive Vice President, Regional
Busey Bank
Michael Gray
Partner
Jones Day
Joe Greskoviak
Vice-Chairman
Press Ganey Forsta
Dr. Robert S. Higgins, MD, MSHA
Chief Academic and Clinical Officer
Rush University Medical Center
Diana Kunz
Partner, Banking & Capital Markets Audit Sector Leader
KPMG, LLP
Sharon Langshur
Research Project Coordinator
Northwestern University
Dr. Tochukwu M. Okwuosa, DO, FACC
Physician, Cardiologist
Rush University Medical Center
Dr. Karen Orjuela, MD, MS, FAAN, FAHA
Associate Professor, Vice Chair of Health Equity and
Community Engagement
UChicago Medicine
Andrew A. Rauh, MD, FACC
Retired Cardiologist
Duly Health
Dr. Chet Robson, DO, MHCDS, FAAFP
CEO
SP2 Consulting
Joan and Paul Rubschlager
Former Owner
Rubschlager Bakery
Dr. Daniel Smith, DO, MHCDS, FAAFP
Healthcare Principle and Executive Medical Director
Huron Consulting Group
Dr. Andrew Wang, PhD, MPH, CPH
Population Health Director
Lawndale Christian Health 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
By Appointment Only:
300 South Riverside Plaza, Ste 1200
Chicago, IL 60606
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