Equitable Health for All

The decline in U.S. cardiac deaths is slowing. Disparities are growing. But the AHA is standing as a relentless force for a world of longer, healthier lives. That’s our mission as we continue to work toward equitable health for all.

We’re focusing on health equity — what our world would look like if all people had the same opportunity to be healthy. The pursuit of health equity is crucial because social, historical and systemic factors have led to tragic disparities in under-resourced communities and among many Black, Hispanic, Indigenous and Asian people. Inequities are evident in urban, suburban and rural environments alike.

While the American Heart Association has long pushed for health equity, the crises that brought historical inequities to the forefront in 2020 prompted us to ramp up our already-aggressive approach. It’s why we established our 2024 Goal and our 10 Commitments — bold actions we are dedicated to in the drive for health equity.

Our 2024 goal is a rallying cry for staff and volunteers: Every person deserves the opportunity for a full, healthy life. As champions for health equity, by 2024, the American Heart Association will advance cardiovascular health for all, including identifying and removing barriers to health care access and quality.

We developed our 10 Commitments for a simple reason: Many people who already face health risks are becoming even more at risk because of inequitable opportunities to protect and promote their health.

The Commitments are major actions the AHA is taking to remove barriers to health equity in all areas of our work, including research, community engagement, advocacy and more.

Read detailed descriptions of the Commitments (PDF).