Macon Magazine

Macon Magazine: What is your mission and why is it important? Julie Ann Hamilton: Our mission is to be a relentless force for a world of longer, healthier lives. And so, our goal is to educate, raise awareness, fund research and work in clinical settings, all related to heart and brain health. And it's important because heart disease is the number one cause of death in our country. So, we need to change that. MM: How does cardiovascular disease affect people in Central Georgia? Dr. Kendra Russell: I believe one of the things that we see in this area, and I think especially with the African-American population, that our students report on WHAT THE AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION WANTS YOU TO KNOW ABOUT HEART HEALTH BY HANNAH ELMORE F ebruary is American Heart Month, and with heart disease being the leading cause of death in the United States, it's important to be educated and take preventative steps to avoid cardiovascular disease in your own life. According to their website, the American Heart Association (AHA) is the "nation's oldest and largest voluntary organization dedicated to fighting heart disease and stroke" with over 40 million volunteers and supporters, and 2,800 employees. At such a large scale, the AHA makes a huge impact, but there is still personal responsibility to be had. The AHA increases awareness and teaches people how to make heart healthy choices at the individual level. Macon Magazine sat down with Kelly M. Mitchell, AHA vice president of Georgia and Florida communities; Doug Rohme, AHA regional director for Central Georgia; Julie Ann Hamilton, AHA regional director for Northeast Georgia; Phyllis Kitchens Thurmond, chair of the Heart Initiative at The Links Inc. and lead for the Middle Georgia Women's Heart Coalition; and Dr. Kendra Russell, professor and director of program innovation and evaluation in the Department of Nursing at Middle Georgia State University, to learn about the organization and its impact. 26 maconmagazine.com | FEBRUARY/MARCH 2022

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