The American Heart Association has announced its volunteer leadership for the 2026-27 fiscal year, effective July 1, 2026. The new leaders include Manesh R. Patel, M.D., FAHA, an interventional cardiologist from North Carolina, who will serve as the Association’s 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 his two-year term.
Other volunteer officers include Linda Gooden, M.B.A., as chairperson-elect, Robert H. (Bob) Swan, M.B.A., as treasurer, and Svati H. Shah, M.D., M.H.S., FAHA, as president-elect. These leaders bring extensive experience in medicine, research, business strategy, and governance, which will be critical as the organization continues its work to improve cardiovascular and brain health globally.
Dr. Patel, of Durham, North Carolina, is chief of cardiology and clinical pharmacology at Duke Health, where he also serves as vice president of heart and vascular services. He is the Richard Stack Distinguished Professor of Medicine at Duke University School of Medicine and a senior investigator at the Duke Clinical Research Institute. A longtime American Heart Association volunteer, Patel previously chaired the Committee on Scientific Sessions Program and was named the Association’s Physician of the Year in 2023. As volunteer president, he will serve as the lead volunteer scientific and medical officer, representing the organization’s volunteer leadership to advance priorities in research, science, and patient care.
Lee Shapiro, managing partner at 7wire Ventures, continues his term as volunteer chairperson of the national board of directors. In this role, he oversees governance of the Association’s business affairs and presides over board meetings. Shapiro and his wife, Valerie, have been instrumental in fundraising, serving as chairs for 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 American Heart Association's Millions Honoring Moms campaign, focusing on women’s heart health.
Linda Gooden, a retired executive vice president of Lockheed Martin Corporation, will serve as chairperson-elect, working closely with the board chairperson and national board to support business affairs before assuming the chairperson role on July 1, 2027. Robert Swan, an operating partner at Andreessen Horowitz, will continue as treasurer, responsible for governance of the Association’s funds and securities. Svati Shah, a physician-scientist at Duke University School of Medicine, will serve as president-elect, supporting volunteer leadership and strengthening the organization’s focus on innovation and scientific discovery.
Nancy Brown, chief executive officer of the American Heart Association, expressed gratitude for the volunteer leaders, 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. Together, these leaders will help us build on our momentum to advance health and hope for everyone, everywhere.”
The American Heart Association, which has been a leading source of health information for over 100 years, is dedicated to ensuring equitable health in all communities. According to a recent Annenberg Policy Center poll, more than 8 in 10 U.S. adults (82%) say they are confident in the American Heart Association to provide trustworthy public health information, ranking second only to an individual’s personal health care provider.
The new leadership team will guide the Association through its fiscal year from July 1, 2026, to June 30, 2027, as it continues to fund groundbreaking research, advocate for public health, and provide critical resources to save and improve lives affected by cardiovascular disease and stroke.
