In this panel discussion, Ora Williams shared her story of losing many members of her family to early and aggressive heart disease. She is determined to fight and get the care she deserves.

We also heard from Dr. Daphne Ferdinand about the importance of community advocacy, not just from a physician standpoint, but as a member of disenfranchised communities. Her organization, CHERISH, uses implementation science to reach out to African Americans from 42 New Orleans churches, ages 40 and over, with multiple cardiovascular risk factors, and educate them on nutrition, physical activity, and available medications.

“We're hoping by the end of this study our participants and our churches and our communities will have less than a 10% risk of developing a heart attack or a stroke.”

– Dr. Daphne Ferdinand