Honoree is a longtime AHA volunteer with a heart for service

A few years into his career in the U.S. Army, Ray Vara was commissioned as an officer in the Medical Service Corps. Young and altruistic, "and maybe a bit naïve," Vara says he drafted a leadership philosophy that still guides his work to this day — one he shares only with himself.

"I've certainly grown and learned, but I've also found that one of the most important pieces is staying true to who you want to be as a leader," he said.

In his nearly two decades as a volunteer for the American Heart Association, Vara's leadership has been invaluable in shaping the $1.2 billion organization's operations and finances. He has also seen the organization's resilience firsthand as it has grown to meet emerging public health needs.

"As our communities evolve, so does the mission and impact of the AHA," Vara said. "So, it's easy to stay engaged once you get connected."

Vara is the 2025 recipient of the Morgan Stark Memorial Award, which recognizes volunteers who have been exceptional stewards of American Heart Association resources. He will be honored June 17 during the association's National Volunteer Awards ceremony in Plano, Texas. The award is named for a highly respected investor, philanthropist and AHA volunteer who worked diligently to optimize the organization's finances, ensuring every possible dollar was directed toward the mission. Stark also helped establish the association's iconic Wall Street Run.

Vara, president and CEO of Hawai'i Pacific Health, was the 2021-23 chairperson of the American Heart Association national board of directors and currently serves on the board. He is also the chairperson of the association's Compensation, Benefits, and Human Resources Committee and a member of the Business Solutions Oversight Committee, among other national committees.

Additionally, Vara is chairperson of the Operating Models Task Force, which he describes as the group that builds the chassis on which all the association's programs and operations run. As the association forges ahead in its second century of impact, reimagining this core framework will allow the organization to seize opportunities for growth long into the future.

"Ray's superpower is his vision. Few executives can see both the big picture and the detailed foundational work that transforms organizations for the better," said Nancy Brown, CEO of the American Heart Association. "He keeps us grounded while elevating the ways we deliver on our mission, and we are tremendously fortunate to benefit from his knowledge and passion."

Noting the talent and commitment of his fellow volunteers, the association's staff and leadership, Vara said he has always felt supported in setting bold goals for the organization. "One of the greatest joys of my life professionally and personally is my service to the American Heart Association," he said.

Vara lives in Honolulu with his wife, Tiffany, but they make frequent trips to the continent to visit their four adult sons and 2-year-old twin granddaughters. "They are the light of our lives. They remind me why it's so important to make time to stay healthy and stay engaged — to watch who they become as individuals."

Vara was first connected with the AHA while serving as CEO of Straub Medical Center (now known as Straub Benioff Medical Center) in Honolulu, when he was asked to chair the Hawaii Heart Walk. Over the years, his roles with both organizations have grown, thanks to his commitment to creating healthier communities.

In 2002, Vara joined the newly formed Hawai'i Pacific Health, where he helped merge three long-time health systems – Straub Clinic & Hospital, Kapi'olani Health and Wilcox Health – under one umbrella.

The American Heart Association underwent a similar organizational shift during this time, as it began to consolidate its affiliates across the country into a regional structure. Vara's expertise became critical to integrating the association's former Pacific Mountain affiliate into the current Western States and Southwest regions. Then, in 2011, on the heels of the Great Recession, Vara was asked to join the association's national board of directors.

"I saw firsthand how that could affect organizations," Vara said of the financial crisis. "None of us are able to see what the future holds, but we certainly do need to be looking around corners at every opportunity and make sure that we have the durability to survive whatever confronts us."

A few years later, he was selected as treasurer of the national board, a role he held for four years as he worked to consolidate the AHA's financial systems into a unified model with a focus on stability, clarity and long-term viability.

Those efforts would serve him well when he became chairperson of the board in 2021 amid a global pandemic.

"Leaning on my colleagues on the board and the leadership of the association, we worked to understand our core strengths as well as our greatest opportunities to condition the organization to be as successful as possible during a time of uncertainty," Vara said. "That took a very different view once the pandemic happened: to understand how we wanted to reemerge from that time stronger, in many respects, than we were going into it."

Despite the inherent challenges of the pandemic, Vara said it provided an opportunity for rapid innovation. Serving alongside two American Heart Association presidents, Dr. Donald M. Lloyd-Jones and Dr. Michelle A. Albert, Vara worked to reimagine the organization's infrastructure with the future in mind. He helped design new staffing models to attract and retain talent and mapped out an organizational structure that enabled accelerated global growth.

Vara was also a key member of the team that wrote the AHA's Second Century Vision, "Advancing health and hope for everyone, everywhere." His hope for the association's second century is that it becomes the most impactful health organization around the globe.

Being part of the organization's centennial celebration last June was an emotional experience, he said. "Not only did that represent all that had been accomplished in the history of the association, but also what is possible looking forward. The AHA mission stands strong."