American Heart Association logoAmerican Heart Association

Florida

A relentless force for longer, healthier lives in Florida.
Florida summer with children playing with bubbles

Nation of Lifesavers

Thanks to an anonymous gift, The American Heart Association successfully equipped all 46 Hillsborough County parks that have youth sports leagues with the opportunity to save lives by providing CPR training and automated external defibrillators (AEDs). This critical donation not only enhances safety but ensures that in the face of a cardiac emergency, timely intervention is possible.

Libraries with Heart

Libraries with Heart

The American Heart Association has launched Libraries with Heart with the Orange County Library System. Through this program, patrons can check out a blood pressure kit containing a blood pressure monitor, basic heart health literature, blood pressure logs to track measurements, and information about local healthcare providers that serve underinsured and uninsured individuals. 

Making nutritious food accessible in Riviera Beach

Produce Rx in Palm Beach

Families in Riviera Beach, Fla. have new access to the fruits and vegetables that can help fight chronic disease thanks to our Food Farmacy. Residents who go to either the Foundcare or Integrated Health Care System clinic and are at risk for heart disease can get FREE healthy meal kit deliveries. Just ask about the American Heart Association’s “Food Farmacy” when you go in for your check-up.

Give Thanks Today with 2X Impact

Thanks to medical breakthroughs funded by the American Heart Association – and donors like you – many families have a lot to be thankful for this Thanksgiving season.

Many more families still need your help – heart disease is our nation’s leading cause of death. Give today and your donation will be DOUBLED to support pioneering research, education and prevention programs and more.

Events in Your Area

Big Bend Heart Walk

Location: Walk Where You Are

Date: Saturday, November 9, 2024 - 08:00 AM

Register

Orlando Heart Walk

Location: University of Central Florida-Memory Mall

Date: Saturday, November 9, 2024 - 08:00 AM

Learn More

Palm Beach County Heart Walk

Location: Meyer Amphitheatre

Date: Saturday, November 9, 2024 - 08:00 AM

Learn More

Tampa Bay Heart Walk 

Location: Raymond James Stadium

Date: Saturday, November 16, 2024 - 08:00 AM

Register

Suncoast Heart Walk

Location: Rossi Park at Bradenton Riverwalk

Date: Saturday, November 16, 2024 - 08:00 AM

Register

Northwest Florida Heart Walk

Location: Florida Power and Light

Date: Saturday, November 16, 2024 - 08:00 AM

Register

Miami Dade Heart Walk

Location: Florida International University

Date: Saturday, November 23, 2024 - 08:00 AM

Register

Lee County Heart Walk

Location: Centennial Park

Date: Saturday, December 14, 2024 - 08:00 AM

Learn More

Broward Heart Walk

Location: Nova Southeastern University

Date: Sunday, March 9, 2025 - 08:00 AM

Register

South Florida Go Red for Women Luncheon

Location: The Diplomat Beach Resort

Date: Friday, April 11, 2025 - 11:00 AM

Learn More

South Florida Heart Ball

Location: The Diplomat Beach Resort Hollywood

Date: Saturday, May 17, 2025 - 06:00 PM

Learn More

In Your Community

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

Throughout the state of Florida, 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 Impact

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

Our efforts in Florida and its communities are focused on the following policy areas: Tobacco and Vaping, Access to Care, Medicaid Expansion, and Hypertension Prevention and Control.

Advocacy

Board Chairperson
Lawrence Franchetti

One Beat Medical

Board President
Farzanna S. Haffizulla, M.D., FACP FAMWA

Nova Southeastern University

Leadership Development Chair
Dr. Andrea Iglesias

Urban Health Partnerships

Members:

Sohail Azeem, MBA, MPH, FACHE
MedSys Health

Deborah Deioma Danto, MBA, LEED AP, CGC
Danto Builders

Melanie Evans, MHA, BSN, RN
Kindred Hospitals

Frank Fernandez
BluePrints 4 Safety

Gregory Holness
Broward Sherriff’s Office Department of Fire Rescue

Francesco Iacona, MD
Schiller Americas Inc.

Cindy Jackson
Florida Blue

Amrit Kapai
Goldstein & McClintock LLLP

Andrew Koenig
CITY Furniture

Veronica McCloskey, MD
HCA Florida Kendall Hospital

Jenna Merlucci, FACHE
Broward Health

Dionne Polite
AARP

Ana Viamonte Ros, MD
Florida International University

Dr. Scott Ross
Cleveland Clinic Florida

Svetlana B. Shugh, MD, FAAP
Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital Heart Institute

Caitlin Stella, MPH
Joe DiMaggio Children's Hospital and Pediatric Services

Isis Zambrana
Jackson Health System

Greater Miami - Ft. Lauderdale Event Chairs

2024 Miami-Dade Heart Walk Chairs

Alex Almazan
Almazan Law

Frank Fernandez
Blue Prints 4 Safety

Jose Romano
Miami Zoo Foundation

2025 South Florida Heart Ball Chairs

Dr. Harry K. and Ann Marie Moon
Nova Southeastern University

 


Board Chairperson
Elana Schrader, MD
Guidewell/Florida Blue

Board President
Fred Kusumoto, MD

Mayo Clinic Florida

Members

Ricardo A. Hanel, MD, PhD
Baptist Health System

Douglas M. Baer
Brooks Rehabilitation Center

Mark Bennett
Bank of America

Tom Van Berkel
The Main Street America Group

Christina Clohecy
Newfold Digital

Yazan Khatib
First Coast Cardiovascular Institute

Dana Kriznar, PhD
Duval County Public Schools

Mark Lamping
Jacksonville Jaguars

Dr. Moez Limayem
University of North Florida

Amy Pollak, M.D.
Mayo Clinic Florida

Charu Raheja, PhD
TriageLogic

Christine “Chris” Smith
Baptist Health

Elizabeth Thompson
Intuitive Quest, LLC

Grace Martin Wooten
The Women's Board of Wolfson Children's Hospital

Jacksonville Event Chairs

Bruce Lowthers
Chief Executive Officer and Executive Director
Paysafe
2023 First Coast Heart Ball

Christina Clohecy
Chief Financial Officer
NewFold Digital
2023 First Coast Go Red for Women


Board Chairperson
Jon Reitz

Walgreens

Board President
Linus Wodi, MD

AdventHealth 

Immediate Past Chair
Jayne Willis

University of Central Florida

Immediate Past President
Ankur Garg, MD

Orlando Neurosurgery

David Dominato
WKMG News 6

Vanessa Garner
CVS

Jake Kirchner
HCA Healthcare Florida

Dr. Swathy Kolli
Orlando Health Heart Institute

Giorgina Pinedo-Rolon
GIO Communications

Samuel Stamps
C & S Companies

Michael Armbruster, PhD
Orange County Public Schools

Andrew Shunk
Orlando Health Heart & Vascular Institute

Jewel Calub
Orlando Regional Medical Center

Peace Madueme, MD
Nemours Children’s Health

Orlando Event Chairs

Amenah Ebadi & Jennifer Nelson
Nemours Children's Hospital
2025 Orlando Go Red for Women Chairs

Tom Langer
Brooks Rehabilitation
2024 Greater Orlando Heart Walk Chair

Andrew Shunk & Kalei Walker
Stockworth Realty
2025 Orlando Heart Ball Chairs


Board Chairperson
John A. Domenico

Bank of America – Private Bank

Board President
Roger Duncan, MD

Palms West Hospital

Immediate Past Board Chairperson
Grasford W. Smith

Akerman LLP

Immediate Past Board President
Fontaine Timmer, DNP

Palm Beach Atlantic University

Members

Alina Alonso, MD
Retired, Florida Department of Health - Palm Beach County

Teresita Casanova, MD
Medical Specialists of the Palm Beaches

Rebecca Doane, J.D., CPA
Doane & Doane, P.A.

Hilda Gonzalez
Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office

Michele Jacobs
Economic Council of Palm Beach County

Trey Mahoney
UBS Financial Services 

Dawn Nichols
NextEra Energy, Inc.

Erica Whitfield
School District of Palm Beach County

Anita Wilborn, MD
Tenet Physician Services

Palm Beach Event Chairs

2024 Palm Beach County Heart Walk Co-Chairs:
Thomas Bean
NextEra Energy

Megan Filoon
TBC Corporation

Bill Perry
Gunster

2025 Go Red for Women Chairperson:
Iliana Rentz
Pike Electric

2025 Palm Beach Heart Ball Co-Chairs:
Marie Unanue

Tara Vecellio


Board Chairperson
PJ Bimonte
Arthrex

Board President
Eric Eason, MD.
Lee Health

Members

Dr. Mazen Albaghdadi
NCH Healthcare System 

Soren T. Christensen
Advanced Wealth Advisors

Skyler Wanberg
GS Holdings

Commander Jamie Cunningham
Collier County Sheriff

Tracy Duhaney
The Amboseli Group

Jason Grabowski
B&I Contractors

Margo Kidd
Discovery Senior Living

Phil Loiacano
Key Private Bank 

Shadreka McIntosh
Sozo Wellness Pharmacy

Floyd “Tag” Yarnell
Yarnell & Peterson, P.A.

Southwest Florida Event Chairs

Wilfredo Emanuel and Pamela Calligaro
2025 Southwest FL Heart Ball Co-Chairs

Dr. Larry Antonucci
2024 Lee County Heart Walk Chair

Dr. Mazen Albaghdadi
2024 Collier Heart Walk Chair


Board Chairperson
Danny Persaud
MidFlorida Armored

Board President
Guilherme Oliveira, MD, MBA
Tampa General Hospital 

Leadership Development Chair
Artemis Emslie

Cadence Rx

Health Equity Committee Chair
Dr. Kevin Sneed

USF Health Taneja College of Pharmacy 

President-Elect
Debbie Rinde-Hoffman, MD, FACC, FACP, FHFSA

Tampa General Medical Group

Members

Amer Z. Aldeen, MD, FACEP
Acute Care Solutions

Van Ayres
Superintendent Hillsborough County Public Schools

Kevin Edmonson
Edmonson Electric, LLC

Sami Noujaim, PhD
University of South Florida

Lucila Ramiro, MD, FACP, MBA
Community Leader

Robert Sanchez, MD, FACC
West Florida Cardiology Network | HCA Physician Services Group

Alexandra Schaffrath
Ultimate Medical Academy

Stacie Schaible
WFLA-News Channel

Emily Allinder Scott, MHA, LSSBB, FACHE
BayCare Health System

Amanda Stevens
Raymond James Bank

Chuck Sykes
Skykes

Jim Thompson, MD
Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital

Trey Traviesa
Fort Brooke Merchant Partners, LLC

Tampa Bay Event Chairs

Alexandra Schaffrath
Ultimate Medical Academy
2025 Tampa Go Red for Women Chair

Brett Morgan
Morgan Auto Group
2025 Tampa Heart Ball Chair

Lance Zingale
Community Leader
2024 Tampa Heart Walk Chair


Live Fierce City Champions

We’re calling on everyone everywhere to help us address the continuing threat of heart disease and stroke by helping our communities to Live Fierce! Live Fierce is the American Heart Association’s bold approach to driving equitable health impact in our communities.

Live Fierce

Contact Us

Greater Miami/Fort Lauderdale

By appointment only:
4000 Hollywood Boulevard, Suite 170N
Hollywood, FL 33021

954-364-5000

Jacksonville (First Coast)

By appointment only:
7751 Baymeadows Rd East, Suite 106E/F
Jacksonville, FL 32256

904-903-5205

Orlando

Mail-Only
5224 W State Road 46 #403
Sanford, FL 32771-9230

407-481-6300

Palm Beach

By appointment only:
2300 Centrepark W Drive
West Palm Beach, FL 33409

(561) 697-6600

Southwest Florida

By appointment only:
9200 Estero Park Commons Boulevard, Suite. 7
Estero, FL 33928

239-317-3464

Tampa Bay

By appointment only:
11207 Blue Heron Boulevard North
St. Petersburg, FL 33716

727-563-8000

Florida Communities (Alachua County, Brevard County, Charlotte County, Marion County, Polk County, Suncoast, Volusia County)

Mail-Only
110 Veterans Memorial Boulevard #160
Metairie, LA 70005

North Florida Communities (Northwest Florida, Okaloosa County, Tallahassee)

Mail-Only
10 Veterans Memorial
Metairie, LA 70005

Heart and Stroke News

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