New York
Syracuse Saving Lives Through CPR
The American Heart Association and St. Joseph’s Health are adding lifesavers to the chain of survival by providing Hands-Only CPR education resources in the community through CPR & First Aid in Youth Sports™ Training Kits.
The “Damar Effect” in Buffalo
Over a year ago, the world watched as CPR and AED use saved the life of Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin. Today, that incident is still creating a ripple effect through Western New York and beyond.
Long Island Executive for Equitable Health
As plans are underway for the 2024 Hamptons Heart Ball, James Prinzivalli, President of Executive Fliteways, has been named centennial chair of this year’s community-wide campaign.
Emmie Wilson: Syracuse Heart Challenge Inspirational Honoree
Gina Vaughn-Wilson is a “mom on a mission.” She and her family have been on a medical journey since her daughter, Emmie Wilson, was about 7-months-old. In April of 2023, just two months before Emmie turned two, she was finally diagnosed with an extremely rare genetic disorder. A few months later, she was in heart failure.
HeartCorps Member Working with Y to Improve Health in Hudson Valley
Wappingers Falls native Natasha Fowler-Varon is the Hudson Valley’s first HeartCorps member, working to improve health in the Kingston area in affiliation with the YMCA of Kingston & Ulster County.
HeartCorps is the American Heart Association’s new Public Health AmeriCorps service opportunity. Most of the programs operate in rural areas, or smaller population areas like Kingston. Public Health AmeriCorps is a program of AmeriCorps and the CDC, and will provide a pathway to public health-related careers while helping to meet the public health needs of local communities.
After Two Strokes and Heart Surgery, Mom of Two Wants to Inspire Others
When Kelly Naab had a mini-stroke while in the car, her first thought was for her kids. After two strokes and heart surgery, mom of two wants to inspire others. “I had to calm my kids down before I did anything else,” Kelly, of Buffalo, NY, said. Her three-year-old and her six-year-old were in the backseat and could tell something was wrong.
Wegmans and the American Heart Association Teaming up to Save Lives Through CPR
With nearly 3 out of 4 cardiac arrests outside of the hospital occurring in homes, knowing how to perform CPR is critically important. CPR, especially if performed immediately, could double or triple a cardiac arrest victim’s chance of survival. That is why the American Heart Association, the worldwide leader in resuscitation science and education, and Wegmans are adding lifesavers to the chain of survival by providing Hands-Only CPR education resources in the community through CPR & First Aid in Youth Sports™ Training Kits.
Sudden Cardiac Arrest Survivor; Woman with Congenital Heart Defect to Share Their Stories
Mary Jo Cipollini and Karina Gonzabay shared their stories at the Hudson Valley Heart Walk, which took place on both sides of the Walkway Over the Hudson on April 27.
Hospital CEO leads Hudson Valley Heart Walk
In January, heart disease became personal for Steven Kelley, president and CEO of Ellenville Regional Hospital, and past three-term chair of the American Heart Association Board of Directors in the Poughkeepsie area.
Give once more in 2024 for 2X the lifesaving impact
Events in Your Area
Healthy for Good Expo
Location: Clark Athletic Center, Utica University
Date: Friday, March 7, 2025 - 06:00 AM
RegisterAmerica's Greatest Heart Run & Walk
Location: Clark Athletic Center, Utica University
Date: Saturday, March 8, 2025 - 07:30 AM
RegisterMohawk Valley Go Red for Women Luncheon
Location: Delta Hotels by Marriott Utica
Date: Thursday, May 1, 2025 - 11:00 AM
RegisterIn Your Community
The American Heart Association is committed to driving equitable health impact in New York State through five key priority areas: women, COVID-19, 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 New York residents while saving and improving countless lives.
Throughout New York State, we’ve seen our community impact work grow, including efforts around creating avenues for greater access to care, healthy food access and education, sharing Hands-Only CPR kits with clinicians to improve awareness for families, blood pressure screenings and education, and tobacco and e-cigarette education and prevention.
People are counting on us as never before. The American Heart Association, along with our supporters, will drive change, and 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 New York State 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.
Board President
Dr. Cynthia Jones
Chief Medical Officer
Mosaic Health
Members
Tanya Bristol, RN
Watchman Therapy Awareness Representative
Boston Scientific – North Atlantic Region
Dr. Jennifer Carbone Zuccaro
Pediatric Cardiologist
Upstate Golisano Children’s Hospital
Amy DeMetri
Executive Vice President
First Source Federal Credit Union
Dr. Jon Henderson
Pediatric Physician
Utica Pediatrics
Jennifer Keida
CEO
Standard Insulating
Mike McGraw
Financial Advisor
Strategic Financial Services
Albert Pylinski
Emeritus Board Member, Retired Executive VP/CFO/CRO/Treasurer
NYCM
Lori Sharpe
VP, Sales & Distribution
Preferred Mutual
Kim Allen
CEO
Dixon Schwabl + Co
Dr. Ann Leonhardt-Caprio
Board President
Coordinator - Stoke Center
UR Medicine
Dr. Mehmet Aktas
Cardiologist
UR Medicine
Gary Bonadonna
Manager
Workers United – RRJB
Christina Deats
Counsel
Harter, Secrest & Emery
Dr. Scott Feitell
Cardiologist
Rochester Regional Health
Lashay Harris
City Council Member
City of Rochester
Dr. Uzma Iqbal
Cardiologist - Dir. Womens Health
Rochester Regional Health
Tom O'Gara
Chief Counsel
LeChase Construction
Steve Ostrander
Fund Manager
UA Local 13
Erich Postler
Executive Vice President
Postler & Jaeckle
Sharon Samjitsingh
Founder
Health Care Originals
Salley Thornton
Board Chairwoman
Director – Field Marketing and Events
Toshiba America Business Solutions
Jimmy Wilmot
Vice President
Wilmorite
David Borkholder
Chief Research Officer
Casana Care
Tim Meehan
Project Manager
Crosby Brownlie
Brian A. Howard
Board Chairperson
Retired
Ronald Belle
Chief Executive Officer
AmeriCU Credit Union
Diane Benedetto
Leadership Development Committee Chairwoman
Manager, Customer and Community Management
National Grid
Nakeia Chambers, MS Ed
Director of Multicultural, Disability, and Veteran's Affairs
Upstate Medical University
Pavi Chigateri
VP and Chief Technology Officer
KPH HealthCare-Kinney Drugs
Michael Cominolli
Executive Director
Salt City Senior Care Advantage
Shanelle R. Dawson, Ed.D
Chairwoman, Community Action Committee
Global Family of Companies
Grahame Gould, MD
Neurosurgeon
Upstate Medical University
Brain & Spine Center
Amy Grover, MS, ATC
Sports Medicine Coordinator and Wellness Program Coordinator
Syracuse Orthopedic Specialists
Josh Harrison, MD
Crouse Health
LaToya M. Jones
Healthcare Eduction Project
Nelly Kazzaz, MD, FACC
SJH Cariology Associates
Jim McKenney, CPA
Principal
The Bonadio Group
Derrick L. Murry, MPH, CHES
CEO
Retina-Vitreous Surgeons of CNY
Dara Penny
Vice President, Director of Marketing
Community Bank
Meredith Price
Sr. Vice President, Operations
St. Joseph’s Health
Lynne Shopiro, RN
Board President
Chief Nursing Officer
Crouse Health
Kelly Springer, MS, RD, CDN
Owner and Founder
Kelly’s Choice, LLC
Randy Tuthill
Chief Financial Officer
C&S Companies
Deborah Welch
Kaweeda G. Adams
Chair
Mandeep Sidhu, MD, MBA
Board president
Albany Medical Center
The Albany Med Health System
Haven Brown
Mount Olive Baptist Church
Joan Clifford
Peter Connolly
The Mercedes-Benz Center
at Keeler Motor Car Company
Michael T. Colon, MD
Capital District Pediatric Cardiology Associates
Maria Decker
Kristin Mathews
KeyBank
Disha Mookherjee, MD
Saratoga Hospital,
a member of the Albany Med Health System
Sulagna Mookherjee, MD
Albany Medical Center,
a member of the Albany Med Health System
Glenn Rockwood
Neil Yager, DO
Albany Medical Center, the Albany Med Health System
Alex DiCicco
Board Chair
Johnson & Wales University
Benoit Bewley, MD
Nuvance Health
Karen Burchell
Rondout Savings Bank
John Gavaris
Ellenville Regional Hospital
Sunny Intwala, MD
Nuvance Health
Vincent Oppedisano
M & T Bank
Valerie Ponder
Central Hudson Gas & Electric
Falak Shah, MD
WMCHealth | HealthAlliance Hospital
Cara Whalen
Mackey, Butts and Whalen
Paul Wright, MD
Nuvance Health
Patrick Thomas, MD, MBA, FACC, FAHA
Board President
Cardiologist
NYPMG Hudson Valley Cardiology
Gary Sastow
Board Chair,
Leadership Development Chair
Attorney
Danziger & Markhoff LLP
Dawn French
Board Chair-Elect
Senior Vice President,
Marketing and Community Outreach
White Plains Hospital
Carolin Dohle, MD, MPH
Section Chief, Impatient Neurology
Director of Quality,
Department of Nuerology
Assistant Professor of Nuerology &
PMR at NYMC
WMCHealth
Nancy Dowling
Vice President, General Counsel,
Public & Scientific Affairs North America
Danone
Dana A. Gorelik, CFTA
Senior Vice President,
Senior Trust Officer
Bank of America Private Bank
John Glenn Grau
President & CEO
InvestorCom
Damara Gutnick, MD
Immediate-Past Board President
Senior Director
Office of Community and Population Health
Montefiore Health System
Howard Klein, CPA, MS
Immediate-Past Chair
Tax Partner
Citrin Cooperman
Marla Koroly, MD, FACP, MBA
Associate Physician Executive, Northern Sub-Region
Northwell Health Physician Partners
Northern Westchester Hospital
Dr. Bettye Perkins, Ed.D
President & CEO
Today's Students, Tomorrow's Teachers
Rori Sagal
2023-2024 Leadership Development Chair
Cash Management/Business Development Officer
Connect One Bank
Daren Wu, MD, FAAFP, LCDR, MC, USNR
Chief Medical Officer
Open Door Family Medical Centers
Joseph R. Catapano, CPA
Vice President and Chief Accounting Officer
Pitney Bowes
Joonun (Chris) Choi, MD
Director of Resident Cardiology Education
Stamford Health
Sherlita Amler, MD, MS, FAAP
Commissioner of Health
Westchester County Department of Health
Joseph Perry, CPA
Board Chair
Leader Tax & Business Services
Marcum LLP
Evelina Grayver, MD
Board President
Director of Cardiology
Northwell Health
Lisa Benz Scott, PhD
Director Program, Public Health
Stony Brook University
John Burke
Managing Director, Global Head of Business & Professional Services
Citi Commercial Bank
Samantha Clark
Associate Managing Partner
Center for Wealth Preservation
Ryan Coco, PE
Wells Fargo Design and Construction Operations Head
Wells Fargo
Peter Fromm, MPH, RN, FACHE, FAHA
Administrator - Cardiovascular Service Lines
Mount Sinai South Nassau
Jason Hudson
Managing Principal / Chief Executive Officer
Cornerstone Land Abstract
John Mast
Executive Vice President, Sr. Group Manager
M&T Bank
Louis Mastrianni
Market Executive
Capital One, N.A., Northeast Regional
Loriann Shelton
Senior Vice President, Chief Operating Officer
Voxx International
Kathleen Stanley
Executive Managing Director
Webster Bank
Pilar Stevens-Haynes, MD, FACC
Director of Echocardiology
Mount Sinai South Nassau
Avni Thakore, MD, FACC
PresidentCatholic Health Physician Partners Medical Group
Live Fierce City Champions
Contact Us
Capital Region/Upper Hudson Valley
American Heart Association
ATTN: Capital Region/Upper Hudson Valley
Four Gateway Center
444 Liberty St. Suite 1300
Pittsburgh, PA 15222
Phone: 518.626.8750
Mohawk Valley/Utica
(mailing address only)
American Heart Association
ATTN: Utica
Four Gateway Center
444 Liberty St. Suite 1300
Pittsburgh, PA 15222
Phone: 315.580.3950
Syracuse
(mailing address only)
American Heart Association
ATTN: Syracuse
Four Gateway Center
444 Liberty St. Suite 1300
Pittsburgh, PA 15222
Phone: 315.728.7540
Watertown
(mailing address only)
American Heart Association
ATTN: Watertown
Four Gateway Center
444 Liberty St. Suite 1300
Pittsburgh, PA 15222
Phone: 315.728.7540
Binghamton
(mailing address only)
American Heart Association
ATTN: Binghamton
Four Gateway Center
444 Liberty St. Suite 1300
Pittsburgh, PA 15222
Phone: 585.371.3227
Rochester
(mailing address only)
American Heart Association
ATTN: Rochester
Four Gateway Center
444 Liberty St. Suite 1300
Pittsburgh, PA 15222
Phone: 585.371.3227
Buffalo
American Heart Association
ATTN: Buffalo
Four Gateway Center
444 Liberty St. Suite 1300
Pittsburgh, PA 15222
Phone: 716.243.4600
Long Island
American Heart Association
ATTN: Long Island
145 Pinelawn Road, Suite 240 N
Melville, NY 11747
Phone: 516.962.0800
Westchester
American Heart Association
ATTN: Westchester
Four Gateway Center
444 Liberty St. Suite 1300
Pittsburgh, PA 15222
Phone: 201.403.2670