Tennessee
A relentless force for longer, healthier lives in Tennessee
New! 2023 Heart and Stroke Statistics
Each year, the American Heart Association, in conjunction with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Institutes of Health and other government agencies, compiles up-to-date statistics on heart disease, stroke and other vascular diseases in the Heart Disease and Stroke Statistical Update.
Change is a Mindset
You want to look better, feel better or improve your health. You feel it in your bones that it’s time for a change. Read more to translate goals into habits, and then build better health one habit at a time.
Featured Recipe: Air Fryer Fried Okra
Throughout the South, okra is a favorite ingredient in many dishes, including the ever-popular gumbo, but it’s also delicious as the main attraction in this side dish.
Being the Beat in Knoxville
Throughout American Heart Month, the Knoxville team worked with local companies and organizations to empower over 400 people to Be the Beat by learning hands-only CPR. Our Community Impact team also provided educational seminars highlighting Life’s Essential 8. At the American Heart Association, one of our guiding values is meeting people where they are at. This outreach shares this vision.
Learn how to save a life in 2 steps!
Learn more about Life’s Essential 8!
Memphis encourages community to #CheckIt
The #CheckItMemphis campaign is an initiative aimed at increasing awareness of high blood pressure and encouraging community members to monitor their blood pressure numbers regularly. Through screening events, education, and outreach, the campaign seeks to reduce the prevalence of high blood pressure and its associated health risks as the leading silent killer in Memphis.
Learn more about #CheckIt
Chattanooga Partnership Improves Blood Pressure Management in Local Community Centers
The Chattanooga American Heart Association began a partnership with the City of Chattanooga’s Office of Community Health to address the health needs of the residents in Hamilton County. In February 2023, the Association and CCOCH implemented a screen, educate, and refer blood pressure program for 5 local community centers, providing blood pressure loaner kits containing a take home blood pressure cuff, blood pressure log, and blood pressure resources. Strong scientific evidence shows that self-measured blood pressure monitoring, also known as home blood pressure monitoring, plus clinical support helps people with hypertension lower their blood pressure.
Learn the correct way to check your blood pressure
Smokefree Nashville
On October 24, Nashville Mayor John Cooper signed an ordinance that prohibits smoking inside most age restricted venues and finally gave Davidson County’s hospitality workers and musicians the same smoke-free workplace protection enjoyed by nearly all other Nashvillians. We are thrilled to say that this bill went into effect March 1, 2023.
Learn More About E-Cigarette use in TennesseeMedical 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
2023 Mid-South Hard Hats with Heart
Location: Memphis Sports & Events Center
Date: Friday, August 25, 2023 - 05:00 PM
Greater Knoxville Heart Walk
Location: Zoo Knoxville
Date: Saturday, August 26, 2023 - 08:15 AM
RegisterMid- South Go Red for Women Luncheon
Location: Hilton Memphis
Date: Thursday, September 28, 2023 - 10:30 AM
RegisterIn Your Community
The American Heart Association is committed to driving equitable health impact in Tennessee through local initiatives that encourage and support our next generation - like working with local clinics and community partners to check blood pressure, reducing tobacco vaping use, and increasing access to heart healthy food.
In 2021, we reached more than 850,000 people with our sustainable community changes. We worked with all area health systems on quality care, provided resources and engaged students at school, and funded more than $13 million in research and scholarships. In addition, we raise funds locally through events such as our annual Heart Walks, Go Red for Women Luncheons and Heart Balls in Nashville, Knoxville, Chattanooga and Memphis which gives donors and volunteers the opportunity to see, celebrate and be inspired by the stories that fuel our lifesaving mission.
Tennessee Lobby Day
On February 22 Tennessee had its first Lobby Day in several years, in partnership with the American College of Cardiology. The day was focused on educating lawmakers on a bill that criminalizes youth vaping. We had Board Members and volunteers from all over Tennessee join at the State Capitol for a full day of lobbying. Thank you to all who participated!
Chair
Renee Ford
Elliott Davis
President
Dr. Alison L. Bailey
Centennial Heart at Parkridge
Members
Gregg T. Gentry
Erlanger Health System
Corinne Henderson
Henderson + Gardner, PLLC
Chris Hopkins
Apogee Wealth Partners
Dr. Shewanee Howard-Baptiste
AHA Leadership Development Chair,
University of Tennessee at Chattanooga
Dr. Quincy Jenkins
Chattanooga State Community College
Dr. Mary Lambert
City of Chattanooga
Twila Layne
We R CPR
Dr. Chris LeSar
AHA Immediate Past President,
Vascular Institute of Chattanooga
Dr. Harish Manyam
Erlanger Health System
Glenn Morris
AHA Immediate Past Chair,
M&M Industries
D. Channing Muller
DCM Communications
Thomas H. Ozburn
FACHE, Parkridge Health System
Pastor Ernest Reid
Second Missionary Baptist Church
Scott Rowe, PT
Encompass Health
President
Dr. Brian Wiseman
The University of Tennessee Medical Center
Chair
Ken Parent
Pilot Company
Members
Andy Beam
Pinnacle Financial Partners
Tony Benton, Chair-Elect
Tennova Healthcare
Brett Foster
Knox County Schools
Eddie Jett
MBI Companies
Luke Johnson
Covenant Health
Charles F. Lomax, Jr.
City of Knoxville
Dr. Sumeet Sharma, President-Elect
East Tennessee Children’s Hospital
Cheryl Smith
CPR Choice
Marsha Spence, PhD, MPH, RDN, LDN
The University of Tennessee
Chair
Michael Wiechart
TeamHealth
President
Daniel Munoz, M.D.
Vanderbilt Heart & Vascular Center
Leadership Development Chair
Eric Evans
Surgery Partners
Immediate Past Chair
Ken Misch
MEDHOST
Incoming President
Herman Williams, M.D.
BDO Consulting
Members
Greg Allen
Scott Cihak
TriStar Centennial Medical Center
Terry Hardesty
Deloitte
Saletta Holloway, Ed. D
Meharry Medical College
Alfred Lumsdaine
Ardent Health
Thomas Nantais
Vanderbilt Adult Ambulatory Operations
Pal Narayanan
GEODIS
Evelio Rodriguez, M.D.
Ascension Saint Thomas Heart
Margaret Rush, M.D.
Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt
Saurabh Sinha
emids
Fahad Tahir
Ascension Saint Thomas
Joseph Webb, D.Sc., FACHE
Nashville Healthcare Center
A. Brian Wilcox, Jr., M.D.
Ascension Saint Thomas
John C. Witt, M.D.
Skyline Neuroscience Associates
Karey L. Witty
Valtrius
Beth Workman
United Derm Partners
President
Dr. John Jefferies
UT Methodist
Chair
Doug McGowen
City of Memphis
Dr. Andrei Alexandrov
UTHSC
Jenny Bartlett-Prescott
Church Health
Valerie Bearup
Morris Marketing Group
Andy Davis
Turner Construction Company
Dr. Cassandra Howard
Methodist Germantown Hospital
Dr. John Jefferies
UT Methodist
Dr. Asish Joshi
University of Memphis
Paaj Kurapati
University of Memphis
Roxanne McGonigal
Caesars Entertainment Corporation
Doug McGowen
City of Memphis
Angela Moss
First Horizon Bank
Robyn Sharp
International Paper
Jim Sweeney
Path AI Diagnositics
Dr. Michelle Taylor
Shelby Co Health Dept
Manoucheka Thermitus
Regional One Health
Dr. Benjamin “Rush” Waller
UTHSC/Le Bonheur
Brian Yoakum
Evans Petree PC
Marques Young
Edward Jones
Contact Us
Heart and Stroke News
Find science-based stories about heart and brain health and inspiring survivor profiles from American Heart Association News.
