American Heart Association North Carolina
More CPR and AED education and resources for Greater Charlotte region made possible by The David and Nicole Tepper Foundation
The American Heart Association and The David & Nicole Tepper Foundation (DNTF) have teamed up to increase bystander cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and automated external defibrillator (AED) education through the Association’s Nation of Lifesavers™ movement. DNTF’s $600,000 commitment to support training in Charlotte youth sports will help prepare coaches, athletes and sports leagues officials to respond immediately and appropriately in a cardiac emergency situation. DNTF’s gift will also support CPR education within the Mecklenburg County Sheriff’s Department as well as affordable housing communities.
MEDIA COVERAGE:
CPR, AED training held for employees at Bank of America Stadium
David & Nicole Tepper Foundation invests in CPR, AED training
Cardiovascular Emergency Response Plans
The Greater Charlotte Community Impact Team has been busy engaging regional school systems and companies with resources to build Cardiovascular Emergency Response Plans. Irini McCarthy represented the AHA at the Iredell SHAC (School Health Advisory Committee) and shared our focus on building a Nation of Lifesavers. With input from the AHA, Iredell School System recently completed a Cardiac Emergency Response Plan (CERP) for five school district buildings, as well as tailored a plan for each of the 40 schools.
Empowering Families with Lifesaving Skills
Novant Health is thrilled and grateful to receive their Infant CPR Anytime Kits from the American Heart Association of the Triad, thanks to the support of Piedmont Triad Anesthesia. This gifting aims to empower our community, particularly families in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), by providing them with essential tools to be better prepared in the event of a cardiac emergency.
NC Hypertension Summit Scheduled for May 15th
Join healthcare leaders, clinicians, and community stakeholders to discuss many facets of one of the most pressing issues in public health - high blood pressure.
Featured Recipe: Cherry Tomato Pasta with Avocado Sauce
Looking for an easy, balanced dinner to make this summer? Look no further! This pasta dish is packed with protein, vegetables, and healthy fats. It is light but hearty - the perfect dish to cook for your family and friends this summer.
Statewide health initiative set to improve chronic disease risk factors
The American Heart Association and Novant Health announce a three-year health equity initiative to reduce heart disease and stroke risk factors by improving blood pressure and nutrition security in communities spanning the Charlotte, Piedmont, Triad and Cape Fear regions.
NC Companies Receive National Recognition for Employee Wellness
The American Heart Association's Well-being Works Better™ Scorecard recognizes companies which implement practices that focus on the health and overall well-being of their employees. We are excited to recognize these North Carolina companies and their efforts to build a culture of health for their employees.
Help create a heart-healthy future
Events in Your Area
Greater Charlotte Heart Walk
Location: Romare Bearden Park
Date: Saturday, September 27, 2025 - 07:30 AM
RegisterTwin Counties Heart Walk
Location: North Carolina Wesleyan University - Southern Bank Green
Date: Saturday, September 27, 2025 - 10:00 AM
Register HereTriangle Heart Walk
Location: Coastal Credit Union Music Park at Walnut Creek
Date: Saturday, October 11, 2025 - 07:30 AM
RegisterCape Fear Heart Walk
Location: University of North Carolina Wilmington
Date: Saturday, October 18, 2025 - 09:00 AM
Register HereGreenville NC Heart Walk
Location: East Carolina University - Student Center Lawn
Date: Saturday, October 18, 2025 - 10:00 AM
Register HereIn Your Community
The American Heart Association is committed to driving equitable health impact in North Carolina 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 North Carolina citizens while saving and improving countless lives.
Throughout the state of North Carolina, 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.
Advocacy has had a mission-critical role in the Association's work for more than 40 years. 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 American Heart Association and American Stroke Association to affect necessary and sustainable policy, system and environmental changes that help Americans build healthier lives free of cardiovascular disease and stroke.
Chair
Dan Soto
Chief Compliance Officer, Ally Financial
President
Raynard Washington, Ph.D.
Public Health Director, Mecklenburg County
Leadership Development Chair
Stacy Gray
Weisiger Group
Immediate Past Chair
Gary Michel
Independent Director, Author & Former CEO
Immediate Past President
Sherry Saxonhouse, MD
Sanger Heart & Vascular Institute, Atrium Health
Leadership Development Chair
Angela Yochem
Global Chief Information Officer, Krispy Kreme
Cor Vitae Society Ambassador
Jamie Ergle
Executive Managing Director, Cushman & Wakefield
Board Members
Sandy Charles, MD
Sanger Heart & Vascular Institute, Atrium Health
Denise Coleman
Norsan Media
Mike Desmond
Grant Thornton
Erika Duncan
Bank of America
Jamie Ergle
Cushman & Wakefield
Stacy Gray
Weisiger Group
Shaina Hall
Belk
Lynn Hansen
Crowder Constructors
David Legrand
Charlotte Mecklenburg Schools
Chuck Munn
Harris Teeter
Raynard Washington, Ph.D.
Mecklenburg County
Brian Weisker
Duke Energy
2025 - 2026 Campaign Chairs
2025 Greater Charlotte Heart Challenge
Campaign Co-Chairs
Tim Clinkenbeard
Charlotte Pipe & Foundry
John Waldron
2025 - 2026 Heart of Charlotte Heart Ball
Campaign Chair
Hope Mehlman
Ally Financial
2025 - 2026 Go Red for Women
Campaign Co-Chairs
Julie Harris
Bank of America
Kaycee Kalpin
Premier Inc.
Chairman
Brad Roehrenbeck
Kilpatrick Townsend & Stockton
Past Chairman
Vern Hawkins
Syngenta North America Crop Protection
President
Cynthia Williams Brown, Ph.D.
Winston-Salem State University
Leadership Development Chair
David Daggett
Daggett Shuler, Attorneys at Law
Board Members
Suzie Burrow
Piedmont Federal Bank
Alison Ashe-Card
Duke University School of Law
Debra Diz, Ph.D.
Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist,
Hypertension & Vascular Research
Ruth Fisher
Cone Health System
Julia Hyett
Novant Health
Sandy & Lafayette Jones
SMSi Urban Call Marketing,
SMSi Healthy Living Solutions, Inc.
Stephen Powell, M.D.
Wake Forest School of Medicine
Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist
Forsyth County Emergency Services
Richard Spangler
Alex Brown, a Division of Raymond James
Sherita Eastmon Sutton, MPH, MSW, CHESM.D., MPH
Forsyth County Department of Public Health
Iulia VannM.D., MPH
Guilford County
P. Kevin Williamson
Kinetic
2024 - 2025 Campaign Chairs
Heart of the Triad / Triad Heart Ball Chair
Matthew Belford, M.D.
Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist
Triad Heart Challenge Chair
Preston Hammock
Cone Health
Triad Executives with Heart Chair
Robert Braiman
Cogent Analytics
Triad Go Red for Women Chair
Sowmya Lakshminarayanan, M.D.
Novant Health
Chairperson
Tiffany Gholston
Gholston Consulting Group LLC
President
Christopher Kelly, M.D, MS, FACC.
North Carolina Heart & Vascular
Leadership Development Chairperson
Katelyn Petti Hokenberg
Board Members
Maria Acton
Joy Clark
Worldwide Clinical Trials
Calvin Crosslin
Lenovo and Lenovo Foundation
Wayne Feng, M.D., FAHA
Duke Health
Deana Labriola
Fox Rothschild, LLP
Bob Myer
SKANSKA USA Building
Neha Pagidipati, M.D., MPH
Duke Heart/Duke Clinical Research Institute
Terri L. Phillips, M.D.
Merz Aesthetics
Kristen Soler
Advance Auto Parts
Trevor Upham, M.D.
WakeMed Heart & Vascular
2025 Campaign Chairpersons
2025 Triangle Heart Ball Chairperson
Antwan Lofton
Duke University
2025 Heart Walk Chairperson
Mike McGann
Xylem
2025 Go Red for Women Chairperson
Katelyn Petti Hokenberg
Contact Us
Charlotte
Mail-Only
5445 77 Center Drive, Suite 60
Charlotte, NC 28217
Triad
Mail-Only
5001 S. Miami Blvd.,
Suite 300
Durham, NC 27703
Triangle
By appointment only
5001 South Miami Blvd, Suite 300
Durham, NC 27703
Eastern NC
Mail-Only
5001 South Miami Blvd, Suite 300
Durham, NC 27703
Heart and Stroke News
