The American Heart Association (AHA) has announced its volunteer leadership for fiscal year 2026-27, effective July 1, 2026. Dr. Manesh R. Patel, an interventional cardiologist from Duke Health, will serve as the new volunteer president, while Lee A. Shapiro, a health technology financial expert and managing partner at 7wire Ventures, continues as volunteer chairperson of the board for the second year of a two-year term. The announcement underscores the organization's commitment to advancing cardiovascular and brain health through experienced leadership.
Dr. Patel, of Durham, North Carolina, is chief of cardiology and chief of clinical pharmacology at Duke Health, and vice president of heart and vascular services. He holds the Richard Stack Distinguished Professorship at Duke University School of Medicine and serves as a senior investigator at the Duke Clinical Research Institute. A longtime AHA volunteer, Dr. Patel previously chaired the Committee on Scientific Sessions Program and was named the AHA Physician of the Year in 2023. As volunteer president, he will act as the lead volunteer scientific and medical officer, representing the organization's volunteer leadership to advance priorities in research, science, and patient care.
Shapiro, of Sarasota, Florida, co-founded 7wire Ventures and continues his role as volunteer chairperson of the national board of directors, overseeing governance of the Association's business affairs. He and his wife, Valerie, have been instrumental in the Heart of Chicago Heart Ball, which became the top Heart Ball in the U.S. under their leadership. Their matching gifts have supported the Millions Honoring Moms campaign, focusing on women's heart health during Mother's Day month.
Other volunteer officers include Linda Gooden, a retired Lockheed Martin executive, as chairperson-elect; Robert H. Swan, a venture capital and operations executive at Andreessen Horowitz, as treasurer; and Dr. Svati H. Shah, a physician-scientist specializing in cardiometabolic genetics, as president-elect. Gooden previously served as AHA treasurer from 2023-25 and chaired the audit committee. Swan is responsible for governance of the Association's funds and securities. Dr. Shah, also from Duke, will support the volunteer leadership and strengthen innovation and scientific discovery.
“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 AHA. “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, along with the other dedicated members of our volunteer board of directors. Together, these leaders will help us build on our momentum to advance health and hope for everyone, everywhere.”
The AHA's fiscal year runs from July 1, 2026, to June 30, 2027. The organization, supported by more than 35 million volunteers globally, funds groundbreaking research and advocates for public health. According to a recent Annenberg Policy Center poll, more than 8 in 10 U.S. adults (82%) express confidence in the AHA to provide trustworthy public health information, ranking second only to personal health care providers. This leadership team is poised to continue the AHA's mission of ensuring equitable health in all communities and reducing cardiovascular disease and stroke.
