The American Heart Association has announced its volunteer leadership for the fiscal year 2026-27, effective July 1, 2026. Dr. Manesh R. Patel, an interventional cardiologist from Durham, North Carolina, will serve as the new volunteer president, while Lee A. Shapiro continues as volunteer chairperson of the board for the second year of a two-year term. Other officers include Linda Gooden as volunteer chairperson-elect and Robert H. Swan as volunteer treasurer, both continuing two-year terms, and Dr. Svati H. Shah as volunteer president-elect.
Dr. Patel is chief of cardiology, chief of clinical pharmacology, and vice president of heart and vascular services for Duke Health, as well as 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 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.
Lee A. Shapiro, of Sarasota, Florida, is a managing partner at 7wire Ventures. In his role as volunteer chairperson, he remains the lead volunteer officer responsible for governance of the Association's business affairs. He and his wife, Valerie, have been active in fundraising, including the Heart of Chicago Heart Ball and the Millions Honoring Moms campaign.
Linda Gooden, a retired executive vice president of Lockheed Martin Corporation, previously served as treasurer from 2023-25. As chairperson-elect, she will prepare to assume the chairperson role on July 1, 2027. Robert H. Swan, an operating partner at Andreessen Horowitz, serves as treasurer, overseeing the Association's funds and securities.
Dr. Svati H. Shah, of Durham, North Carolina, is the Ursula Geller Distinguished Professor of Research in Cardiovascular Diseases at Duke University School of Medicine and holds multiple leadership roles in precision health and genomics. As president-elect, she will support volunteer leadership and 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, dedicated to ensuring equitable health in all communities. More than 8 in 10 U.S. adults express confidence in the Association to provide trustworthy health information, according to a recent Annenberg Policy Center poll, ranking second only to personal health care providers.
For more information, visit heart.org or stroke.org.
