Eleven prominent Georgia leaders have been appointed to the American Heart Association’s 2024-2025 Statewide Advocacy Committee. The Association is the world’s leading nonprofit organization focused on heart and brain health for all.

Throughout the year, committee members will play an instrumental role in advancing health equity and guiding efforts to reduce the prevalence of heart disease and stroke in Georgia. Together, these volunteers will guide the Association’s efforts to change systems and policies, address disparities and transform health care and health equity across the state.

Paula Kreissler, executive director of Healthy Savannah, will serve as chairperson of the committee. 

“I am honored to help lead the American Heart Association’s advocacy work to improve the health of our state,” said Kreissler. “By making strides in science, policy, and care, we can help people live longer, healthier lives. I’m excited to work with this committee to bring positive change for all Georgians.”

The committee will advise the Association’s policy efforts in the areas of increasing access to care through Medicaid expansion to over 400,000 uninsured Georgians; increasing access to healthy foods through a summer EBT initiative and produce prescription funding that could provide thousands of Georgians in lower-income areas the opportunity to purchase locally grown produce to help manage chronic diseases; and implementing quality systems of care to remove barriers for tobacco cessation, strengthen laws to reduce the risks of secondhand smoke and provide clean indoor air quality.  

Other state advocacy committee leaders include:

Samir Belagaje, M.D., Emory University School of Medicine 

Jack Bernard, Fayette County Board of Health 

Kimberly Goodloe, Heart Survivor

Damian Francis, Georgia College & State University

Nettie Jackson, Community Volunteer

Allen Jernigan, Southern Companions 

Donna S. Martin, EdS, RDN, LD, SNS, FAND, Burke County Public Schools 

Tina Marie Marsden, Heart Survivor 

Latonja Richardson, Emory Healthcare

Laura Searcy MN, APRN, PPCNP-BC, FAANP, Georgia Tobacco-Free Youth Project 

“We look forward to all we’ll accomplish with this incredible group of leaders whose expertise, experiences and passion will be valuable in supporting the Association’s policy work in Georgia throughout the year,” said Carla Smith, region senior vice president and executive director of the Metro Atlanta American Heart Association.

For additional information on the American Heart Association’s advocacy priorities in Georgia, visit www.heart.org/Georgia.