The American Heart Association, a global force changing the future of health for all, has named its volunteer leadership for fiscal year 2026-27. Beginning July 1, Manesh R. Patel, M.D., FAHA, a North Carolina-based interventional cardiologist, 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 volunteer officers include Linda Gooden, M.B.A., as volunteer chairperson-elect, a retired executive from the aerospace and defense industry, and Robert H. (Bob) Swan, M.B.A., as volunteer treasurer, a venture capital and operations executive, 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 leaders bring deep experience in medicine, research, business strategy, and governance as the organization continues its mission.
Patel, of Durham, North Carolina, is chief of cardiology, chief of clinical pharmacology, and vice president of heart and vascular services for Duke Health. 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, he previously served as chair of the Committee on Scientific Sessions Program. In 2023, Patel was named the American Heart Association Physician of the Year. 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.
Shapiro, of Sarasota, Florida, is a managing partner at 7wire Ventures, an investment firm he co-founded. He continues a two-year term as volunteer chairperson of the national board of directors, responsible for governance of the Association’s business affairs. He and his wife, Valerie, served as chairs for the Heart of Chicago Heart Ball, which grew to become the No. 1 Heart Ball in the U.S. Their matching gifts have inspired donors through the American Heart Association's Millions Honoring Moms campaign, making Mother’s Day month a focal point in fundraising for women’s heart health.
Gooden, of Annapolis, Maryland, is a retired executive vice president of Lockheed Martin Corporation. She previously served as treasurer of the American Heart Association from 2023-25 and chaired the Association’s audit committee. As volunteer chairperson-elect, she will work closely with the board chairperson and national board to support business affairs, preparing to assume the chairperson role on July 1, 2027. Swan, of Menlo Park, California, is an operating partner at Andreessen Horowitz, advising growth-stage companies. As volunteer treasurer, he governs the Association’s funds and securities. Shah, of Durham, North Carolina, is the Ursula Geller Distinguished Professor of Research in Cardiovascular Diseases and associate dean for translational research at Duke University School of Medicine. She has served as chair of the Association’s Research Committee and the Genomic and Precision Medicine Council. As volunteer president-elect, she will support volunteer leadership and strengthen the organization’s focus on 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 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, 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 Association’s fiscal year runs July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2027. The American Heart Association is a relentless force for a world of longer, healthier lives. More than 8 in 10 (82%) U.S. adults say they are confident in the American Heart Association to provide trustworthy information related to public health, according to a recent Annenberg Policy Center poll. The Association ranked second only to an individual’s personal health care provider. Supported by more than 35 million volunteers globally, the organization funds groundbreaking research, advocates for public health, and provides critical resources to save and improve lives affected by cardiovascular disease and stroke.
