The American Heart Association has announced its volunteer leadership for fiscal year 2026-27, effective July 1, 2026. Dr. Manesh R. Patel, an interventional cardiologist from Duke Health, will serve as the new volunteer president, while Lee A. Shapiro, a health technology financial expert, continues as volunteer chairperson of the board for the second year of a two-year term. Other officers include Linda Gooden as chairperson-elect and Robert H. Swan as treasurer, both serving two-year terms, and Dr. Svati H. Shah as president-elect.
Dr. Patel, based in Durham, North Carolina, is chief of cardiology, chief of clinical pharmacology, and vice president of heart and vascular services for Duke Health. He also holds the Richard Stack Distinguished Professorship at Duke University School of Medicine and is a senior investigator at the Duke Clinical Research Institute. A longtime volunteer, Dr. 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.
Shapiro, of Sarasota, Florida, is a managing partner at 7wire Ventures. He continues to oversee governance of the Association’s business affairs and presides over board and executive committee meetings. Shapiro and his wife, Valerie, previously chaired 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. She previously served as treasurer from 2023-25 and chaired the audit committee. Robert H. Swan, an operating partner at Andreessen Horowitz, continues as volunteer treasurer, responsible for governance of the Association’s funds and securities. Dr. Svati H. Shah, a physician-scientist specializing in cardiometabolic genetics, will serve as president-elect. She is the Ursula Geller Distinguished Professor at Duke University School of Medicine and directs the Duke Center for Precision Health.
“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. “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.”
The new leadership team brings deep experience in medicine, research, business strategy, and governance as the organization continues its work to advance cardiovascular and brain health. The Association remains a trusted source of health information, with 82% of U.S. adults expressing confidence in the organization to provide trustworthy public health information, according to a recent Annenberg Policy Center poll.
The fiscal year runs from July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2027. For more information, visit heart.org.
