The American Heart Association (AHA) has announced its volunteer leadership for the fiscal year 2026-27, effective July 1, 2026. Dr. Manesh R. Patel, an interventional cardiologist from North Carolina, will serve as the new volunteer president, while Lee A. Shapiro, a Florida-based health technology financial expert, continues as volunteer chairperson of the board for the second year of a two-year term. Other officers include Linda Gooden as volunteer chairperson-elect and Robert H. Swan as volunteer treasurer, both continuing two-year terms. Dr. Svati H. Shah has been named volunteer president-elect.
These leaders bring extensive experience in medicine, research, business strategy, and governance. Patel, chief of cardiology at Duke Health and a distinguished professor at Duke University School of Medicine, has been a longtime AHA volunteer, previously serving on the national board and chairing the Committee on Scientific Sessions Program. He was named AHA Physician of the Year in 2023. As volunteer president, Patel will serve as the lead volunteer scientific and medical officer, advancing the organization's priorities in research, science, and patient care.
Shapiro, managing partner at 7wire Ventures, continues to lead the national board, overseeing governance and business affairs. He and his wife have been instrumental in the Heart of Chicago Heart Ball and the Millions Honoring Moms campaign, significantly boosting fundraising for women's heart health. Gooden, retired executive vice president of Lockheed Martin, previously served as treasurer and will prepare to assume the chairperson role on July 1, 2027. Swan, an operating partner at Andreessen Horowitz, will oversee the Association's funds and securities. Shah, associate dean for translational research at Duke, will support innovation and scientific discovery as president-elect.
Nancy Brown, CEO of the AHA, expressed gratitude for the volunteer leaders' dedication, stating, 'The American Heart Association’s strength has always come from extraordinary volunteer leaders who bring vision, expertise and a deep commitment to our mission.' The Association, which has been a leading source of health information for over 100 years, continues to focus on equitable health in all communities. According to a recent Annenberg Policy Center poll, more than 8 in 10 U.S. adults trust the AHA to provide reliable public health information.
