Honoring Champions for Health and Hope

June 2025

Pictured from left to right: Mitchell S. V. Elkind, MD, MS, FAHA; Jim Postl; Melanie Turner, MPH, FAHA; Johanna Contreras, MD, MSc, FACC, FAHA, FASE, FHFSA; Dhruv S. Kazi, MD, MSc, MS, FAHA; and Mariell Jessup, MD, FAHA, at the Association's National Volunteer Awards where Dr. Kazi accepted the Ron Haddock International Impact Award. (American Heart Association)

On 17 June in Plano, Texas, USA, the Association recognized 12 remarkable volunteers whose dedication to advancing cardiovascular health is making a global difference. Among the awardees were two who have made an exceptional impact:

 

  • Dhruv S. Kazi, MD, MSc, MS, FAHA, was awarded the Ron Haddock International Impact Award. Dr. Kazi serves as co-chair of the Association’s International Committee. A dual-trained cardiovascular physician and health economist from Harvard Medical School, he pioneered Stanford’s heartMAP, which used low-cost digital tools to monitor blood thinners for low-literacy post-op patients. “Of what use are scientific breakthroughs if they cannot reach everyone who could benefit? Affordability is at the heart of public health,” Dr. Kazi shared. His global initiatives — grounded in scientific collaboration, professional education, quality improvement and equitable care — are shaping the Association’s Second Century international agenda and extending its reach to more than 100 countries.

  • Sarah “Sally” Ross Soter was honored with the Woman Changing the World Award. Soter has been a champion of women’s cardiovascular research for many years, helping to fund the Strategically Focused Research Network (2015), as well as its renewal in 2020. In 2025, she’s continuing her commitment with a $15 million cornerstone gift to the Association’s Go Red for Women Venture Fund® to seed innovative startups focused on women’s health around the world.

The Association is proud to recognize these incredible leaders and so many more who share in its mission of turning science into innovation and promoting healthy hearts in communities across the globe.

Learn more about the 2025 National Volunteer Awards: 2025 National Volunteer Awards(link opens in new window)