Churchwell to lead Heart Association’s Nashville chapter
Keith Churchwell, M.D., executive director and chief medical officer of Vanderbilt Heart & Vascular Institute, has been named president of the board of directors for the Greater Nashville chapter of the American Heart Association for the 2010-2011 fiscal year.
Keith Churchwell, M.D.
“The AHA is pleased to welcome Dr. Churchwell to his new role and fortunate to have a leader of his expertise, commitment and vision to help guide the Greater Nashville chapter in its mission of creating lives free of cardiovascular disease,” said outgoing board president Dick Cowart.
“It was quite a surprise but a real honor to be asked to be president. The work of the American Heart Association is extremely important to promote the cardiovascular health of our community, and I am proud to be asked to play a part in shaping the message,” Churchwell said.
Churchwell served as a board member last year, during which time the AHA successfully implemented several goals including:
• Partnering with the Metro Nashville Health Department on the Communities Putting Prevention to Work grant. Through this grant the city of Nashville was awarded more than $7 million to focus on obesity, nutrition and physical activity in Nashville.
• Registering more than 2,800 Middle Tennessee women for the Go Red for Women movement. More than 90 percent of all women who join the free Go Red for Women movement will improve at least one of their heart health risk factors.
• Awarding 24 companies the Fit Friendly recognition, an award given by the American Heart Association's Start! Movement that celebrates companies' commitment to be a catalyst for positive change in the workplace. This is an increase from 18 last year and just six in 2008.
• Impacting more than 109 schools and 60,000 children in Williamson, Davidson, Rutherford and Sumner counties with heart healthy messages, education and activities during their participation in the American Heart Association's Hoops for Heart and Jump Rope for Heart programs.