The American Heart Association has named its volunteer leadership for fiscal year 2026-27, effective July 1. Manesh R. Patel, M.D., FAHA, an interventional cardiologist from North Carolina, will serve as the Association’s new volunteer president. Lee A. Shapiro, J.D., a Florida-based financial expert in health technology, will continue as volunteer chairperson of the board for the second year of a two-year term. Other officers include Linda Gooden, M.B.A., as volunteer chairperson-elect, and Robert H. (Bob) Swan, M.B.A., as volunteer treasurer, both continuing two-year terms. Svati H. Shah, M.D., M.H.S., FAHA, a physician-scientist specializing in cardiometabolic genetics, will serve as volunteer president-elect.
These volunteer leaders bring deep experience in medicine, research, business strategy and governance as the organization continues to advance cardiovascular and brain health for everyone, everywhere. Patel, of Durham, North Carolina, is chief of cardiology and vice president of heart and vascular services for Duke Health. He previously served as chair of the Committee on Scientific Sessions Program and was named the American Heart Association Physician of the Year in 2023. As volunteer president, he will serve as the lead volunteer scientific and medical officer. Shapiro, of Sarasota, Florida, is a managing partner at 7wire Ventures and continues his role as volunteer chairperson, responsible for governance of the Association’s business affairs.
Gooden, a retired executive vice president of Lockheed Martin Corporation, previously served as treasurer and chaired the audit committee. Swan, an operating partner at Andreessen Horowitz, will oversee the Association’s funds and securities. Shah, also from Duke University, is the Ursula Geller Distinguished Professor of Research in Cardiovascular Diseases and has chaired the Association’s Research Committee and the Genomic and Precision Medicine Council.
“The American Heart Association’s strength has always come from extraordinary volunteer leaders who bring vision, expertise and a deep commitment to our mission,” said Nancy Brown, chief executive officer of the American Heart Association. “We are grateful to continue to benefit from Lee Shapiro’s leadership as volunteer chairperson and welcome Dr. Manesh Patel as our new volunteer president.” The Association’s fiscal year runs July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2027.
The American Heart Association has been a leading source of health information for more than 100 years. According to a recent Annenberg Policy Center poll, more than 8 in 10 U.S. adults say they are confident in the Association to provide trustworthy public health information. The organization is supported by more than 35 million volunteers globally and funds groundbreaking research, advocates for public health, and provides critical resources to save lives affected by cardiovascular disease and stroke.
