American Heart Association CEO awarded prestigious recognition for her work advancing health, equity and hope
Nancy Brown, Chief Executive Officer of the American Heart Association, a global force for healthier lives for all and celebrating one hundred years of lifesaving service, has been recognized by Modern Healthcare as one of the Top Women Leaders for 2024.
The publication’s recognition program acknowledges and honors women executives from all sectors of the healthcare industry for their contributions to care delivery improvement, health equity, policy and gender equity in healthcare leadership.
Since 2008, Brown has served as CEO of the Association, which is celebrating its 100th birthday in 2024. Awardees were selected based on their measurable impact on their company and/or in the healthcare industry during the past 12 months.
“I am deeply honored to receive this recognition from Modern Healthcare and be recognized alongside the rest of the class of 2024 Top Women Leaders. The lifesaving work of the American Heart Association has always been a team effort. The volunteers, supporters, partners, patient, survivors and staff of the American Heart Association power our mission forward – I am humbled to accept this award in recognition of their impact,” says Brown. “I can’t wait to see the impact we will have together in our second century.”
Brown’s recent accomplishments highlight her visionary leadership. In June 2023, the Association launched the “Nation of Lifesavers”, a CPR education movement in response to NFL player Damar Hamlin’s cardiac arrest in January 2023 and the strong interest in the lifesaving technique. The new “Health Care by Food” initiative emphasizes the scientific link between nutrition and well-being. The Association has also been focused on health equity, rural health, food insecurity and other social determinants that affect overall health and well-being. The Association’s strategic successes led to remarkable financial achievements in fiscal year 2022-23, surpassing $1.2 billion in revenue reinforcing its global health leadership position.
As the American Heart Association’s inaugural female CEO, Brown has also been a champion for women and women’s issues, driving global awareness through equitable health movements such as “Go Red for Women®” and “Research Goes Red®”, while also elevating female leaders, volunteers and scientists across all levels of the organization.
“Nancy’s visionary leadership has further strengthened the Association as a global authority on cardiovascular disease and brain health,” said Joseph C. Wu, M.D., Ph.D., FAHA, current volunteer president of the American Heart Association and director of the Stanford Cardiovascular Institute and the Simon H. Stertzer Professor of Medicine and Radiology at Stanford School of Medicine and who nominated her for the award. “Her ability to forge collaborative partnerships across organizations and industries has created a powerful community focused on improving health outcomes. Her compassion, integrity and resilience set a high standard for leadership, leaving a lasting mark on the industry. I look forward to the ways she will continue to shape the healthcare industry and the Association for many years to come.”
Source & Image Credit: The American Heart Association
