American Heart Association Virginia
Support Healthy School Meals for All
Join our fight to provide healthy school meals to all students in Virginia by learning the facts, sharing your story or signing up to participate in the Healthy Schools Meals for All Coalition.
Blood Pressure Kiosk to Empower Thousands
The health resources available at the American Heart Association's new blood pressure kiosks will empower thousands of YMCA members and the surrounding communities throughout Central Virginia to know their numbers and take charge of their health.
Virginia Schools Now Required to Implement CERPs
On March 24, 2025, Virginia Governor Glen Youngkin signed SB817 and HB1695 into law. This new legislation requires schools to develop and implement cardiac emergency response plans (CERPs).
Local healthcare executive to lead 2026 Central Virginia Heart Walk and region-wide push for CPR readiness
Devin Tobin joins the American Heart Association in engaging companies in Central Virginia to create a community of lifesavers.New Moms Face the Highest Risk
Events in Your Area
Hampton Roads Heart Ball
Location: The Westin Virginia Beach Town Center
Date: Friday, May 15, 2026 - 06:00 PM
RegisterIn Your Community
The American Heart Association is committed to driving equitable health impact in Virginia through five key priority areas: women, readiness, tobacco and vaping, patients, and healthy living.
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 Virginia citizens while saving and improving countless lives.
Throughout the state of Virginia, 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. Thank you for your continued support.
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.
Our efforts in Virginia and its communities are focused on five major policy areas. These are: Tobacco Free, Quality Systems of Care, Healthy Eating, Active Living, and Access to Care.
Chair:
Rich Reinecke
Co-Managing Partner and Co-Founder
Fahrenheit Advisors
President:
Dr. Anika Hines
Assistant Professor of Health Behavior and Policy
Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine
Leadership Development Chair:
Gary Wallace
Managing Partner
Keiter
Sweeny Bansal
Chief Operating Officer
Molina Healthcare
Chip Cunningham
Partner
Williams Mullen
Xiomara Encarnacion
Regional Manager, Outreach & Compliance
Feed More
Dr. Chandra Hayes
Instructional Superintendent
Albemarle County Public Schools
Chandra Hurst
Vice President, Senior Business Consultant
Chase Business Banking
Linda Hines
VA Medicaid Regional President
Humana
Dr. Jennifer Jordan
Assistant Professor, Department of Biomedical Engineering & Pauley Heart Center
VCU Health System
Bryan Lee
President
Bon Secours St. Mary's Hospital and Richmond Community Hospital
Dr. John Murray
Superintendent
Chesterfield County Public Schools
Sherri Newman
Associate Vice President of Transplant Services and Mechanical Circulatory Support
VCU Health
Dr. Emily Robbins
Dr. Ashish Sethi
Chief Medical Officer
HCA Johnston-Willis Hospital
Brooks Smith
Managing Partner, Richmond Office
Troutman Pepper
Zack Smith
Chief Executive Officer
Partner MD
Dr. Chris Snyder
Chief of Pediatric Cardiology
Children's Hospital of Richmond
Mark Tenia
Public Relations and Media Manager
Richmond Ambulance Authority
Doug White
CEO
Gather Workspaces
Polly White
Chief Operating Officer
Gather Workspaces
Vivian White
CEO
Encompass Health
Paige Wilson
Owner
NaborForce
Chair:
Charlene Grabowski
Partner
Pathfinder Strategies
President:
Dr. Dena Krishnan
Director
Cardiac Rehab and Cardio-Oncology
Bon Secours
Leadership Development Chair:
Adam Luke
Associate Vice President of Cardiac, Critical Care
& Pulmonary Services
MEMBERS
Dr. Anca Dobrian
Vice-Dean for Faculty Affairs
and Professional Development
Eastern Virginia Medical School
Dr. Kia Dunbar-Harris
Vice President, Clinical Care Services
Sentara Health
Joshua Edwards
Director of Medical Student Research at Macon
& Joan Brock Virginia Health Sciences EVMS
at Old Dominion University
Chernelle Hill
Vice President, Operations
Sentara Health
Dr. Daniel Keever
Superintendent
Williamsburg – James City County Schools
Joseph Lee
CEO, JLGOV, LLC
Dr. Petra Lynch
Cardiologist
Sentara Health
Dr. Michele Mitchell
Superintendent
Newport News Public Schools
Dr. Deepak Talreja
Clinical Chief, Division of Cardiology
Sentara Health
Emily O’Hara Tchiblakian
Vice President Perioperative Service Lines
Sentara Health
Aaron Thompson
Executive Director
CEO
Olde Towne Medical & Dental Center
Pharmacist
Defense Health Agency
Contact Us
Hampton Roads
Phone: (540) 613-6014
Central Virginia
Phone: (804) 965-6500
Heart and Stroke News
