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Iowa

Help us ensure everyone in Iowa has the opportunity to live longer, healthier lives.
Iowa

CPR Saves Lives

CPR

Bystander CPR can double or triple a cardiac arrest victim’s chance of survival. By conducting training sessions, working with groups like the Quad Cities Heart Safe Coalition and Rotary-Kerber HeartSafe in Iowa City and providing educational resources, our Iowa team is in the community spreading the message that it only takes two steps to save a life.

Know Your Numbers

Know Your Numbers

Accurate blood pressure measurement is critical for timely diagnosis and treatment of individuals with high blood pressure. That’s why we work closely with community gathering spaces such as barber shops, thrift stores and fitness centers to empower Iowans to measure and track their blood pressure and take steps to prevent heart disease and stroke. We’ve also launched Check. Change. Control.® to help Iowans fight the ‘silent killer.’

Iowa Mission: Lifeline Stroke

Iowa Mission

Iowa Mission: Lifeline Stroke’s innovative regional collaboration is working to ensure compatibility, consistent training and uniform protocols for both transporting and treating stroke patients across the state.

Don't miss the MILLION DOLLAR MATCH

Heart disease is the leading cause of death in America. Thankfully, a group of donors is generously matching every donation through the end of the year, up to ONE MILLION DOLLARS. This is your chance to DOUBLE your impact, and help save more lives through scientific research, prevention services, CPR training and more. Give today before it's gone!

Events in Your Area

Greater Des Moines Heart Ball

Location: Community Choice Credit Union Convention Center

Date: Saturday, February 15, 2025 - 05:00 PM

Register

Cedar Rapids Heart Ball

Location: Doubletree by Hilton Cedar Rapids Convention Complex

Date: Friday, February 21, 2025 - 05:00 PM

Register

In Your Community

The American Heart Association is committed to driving equitable health impact in Iowa 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 Iowa citizens while saving and improving countless lives.

Throughout the state of Iowa, 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.

Community

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 Iowa citizens build healthier lives free of cardiovascular disease and stroke.

Our efforts in Iowa and its communities are focused on the following policy areas: Maternal health, Access to Care Funding and Coverage, Nutrition Security, Health Equity Community Plans, Healthy Early Childhood Policies, Cardiac Emergency Response Plans and CPR implementation in schools.

Advocacy

Board Chair
Karen Rieck
Farm Bureau Financial Services

Board President
Lena Rydberg, DO
The Iowa Clinic

Leadership Development Chair
Sarah Borchers
ITA Group Inc.

Members 

Kris A. DeGraff
Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield

Robert Gavora
MercyOne Iowa Heart

Jill Greiner 
Johnson Greiner Financial
Consulting Group of Wells Fargo Advisors

Angel Grubb
Community Volunteer 

John Irving
Tri-City Electric Co. 

Izaah Knox
Urban Dreams 

Matt Meendering 
Dowling Catholic High School

Thomas Mulrooney
UnityPoint Health – Des Moines

Janet Naset-Payne, RN, BS, MHA
Broadlawns Medical Center

Cameron Nicholson
YMCA of Greater Des Moines

Tim Pearson
Mercy College of Health Sciences

Elisa Sloss, RD, LD
Hy-Vee Food Stores, Inc. 

Jodi Schweiger, RDN, LD, CDCES
The Iowa Clinic

Dr. Denise M. Sorrentino, MD, FHRS, FACC
MercyOne Iowa Heart

Amanda Vander Ley
Homes Murphy

Kevin Waetke
Sammons Financial Group


Contact Us

Des Moines, Iowa

(MAIL ONLY)
8805 Chambery Blvd, 
Ste 300, PMB 126
Johnston, IA 50131

Phone: (515) 414-3200

Eastern Iowa

By Appointment Only:
1035 N. Center Point Rd., Ste B
Hiawatha, IA 52233

Phone: (319) 536-3900

Heart and Stroke News

Find science-based stories about heart and brain health and inspiring survivor profiles from American Heart Association News.