Hawaii Pacific Health President & CEO Ray Vara to lead American Heart Association as new national chair
Published July 1, 2021
Hawai‘i Pacific Health President & CEO Ray Vara has been named chairman of the American Heart Association, the world’s leading nonprofit organization focused on heart and brain health for all. He is the first person from Hawaiʻi to serve as the Association’s chair, and will serve for a two-year term, effective July 1, 2021.
“Health starts in our homes, schools, workplaces and neighborhoods,” said Vara. “Making a healthy impact on each of these and setting measurable goals to do so, will be crucial for me as chairman. I plan to play a pivotal role in the advancement of the Association’s mission by applying my knowledge of the American healthcare system to further our work in creating healthier communities through improved access to care and clinical quality, while eliminating disparities and inequities.”
Vara has a long history of service to the American Heart Association in key volunteer leadership roles. He served as treasurer of the Association from 2015-19 where he was responsible for the funds and securities of the Association. He has been the chairperson of the Association’s Corporate Operations Coordinating Committee, Business Solutions Oversight Committee and Budget Review Subcommittee, a member of the Audit Committee, and has been a member of the Board of Directors since 2012. He was the 2009-11 chairman of the association’s former Pacific Mountain Affiliate and served on the Western States board for five years beginning in 2010-2011.
The American Heart Association also named Donald M. Lloyd-Jones, MD, ScM, FAHA, as president of the organization for its 2021-2022 fiscal year. He is among the world’s most highly regarded experts in cardiovascular disease prevention and epidemiology. Lloyd-Jones is the chair of preventive medicine at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine. He is also the university’s Eileen M. Foell professor of heart research and professor of preventive medicine, medicine-cardiology and pediatrics.
Vara and Lloyd-Jones take the helm during an unprecedented time for the world and the organization as a global pandemic continues, as well as the continued need to address social and healthcare injustices with far reaching impacts on people of color and sexual minorities. Health equity, mental well-being, maternal health and brain health are just a few sectors of the organization’s mission they will be focused on.
“With the strong volunteer leadership of Ray Vara, Dr. Don Lloyd-Jones and the entire board, the American Heart Association will continue our strong trajectory toward equitable and accessible health for all,” said Nancy Brown, chief executive officer of the American Heart Association. “I am confident their experience and expertise will advance the organization as a global authority in overall health and well-being.” Together, the national volunteer leadership board will guide the Association to drive breakthroughs in science and technology, change systems and policies, address disparities and transform health care and the health of communities nationwide and around the world.
