Nancy Brown
Chief Executive Officer
American Heart Association
Dallas, TX
Nancy Brown has been chief executive officer of the American Heart Association (AHA) since October 2008. The AHA is widely known and highly respected as the world’s largest voluntary health organization dedicated to preventing, treating and defeating cardiovascular diseases and stroke.
During her tenure as CEO, the AHA has become a global leader in the discovery and dissemination of heart disease and stroke science. Notably, under Nancy’s leadership, the AHA established the first-ever definition of “cardiovascular health” and announced its bold 2020 health impact goal: to improve the cardiovascular health of all Americans by 20 percent while reducing deaths from cardiovascular diseases and stroke by 20 percent. This goal has provided a rallying point for AHA’s volunteers, scientists, staff, and donors.
Nancy has led the organization to significant advances during her tenure, including:
- Creating MyResearchLegacy™ which puts patients and their needs at the center of scientific research;
- Launching the AHA’s Institute for Precision Cardiovascular Medicine, a ground-breaking research enterprise focused on fulfilling the promise of personalized medicine;
- Cultivating a strategic business relationship with Amazon Web Services centered on the precision medicine data marketplace;
- Developing One Brave Idea™, an unprecedented $75 million/5-year research collaboration with Verily and AstraZeneca which aims to end coronary heart disease and its consequences;
- Convening the AHA’s CEO Roundtable, comprised of CEOs from the largest and most influential corporations in America driving new workplace health solutions;
- Advancing a number of critical new mission-aligned and revenue business enterprises for the AHA; and
- Evolving the AHA’s first-ever integrated global strategy which has expanded the organization’s international presence and impact.
In addition to her tireless efforts for the AHA, Nancy shares her passion for improving the health of individuals in the U.S. and globally by serving as a member of the boards of directors of the Coalition to Transform Advanced Care, Research!America, the Alliance for a Healthier Generation, the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, the Truth Initiative, and the Valentin Fuster-Mount Sinai Foundation for Science, Health and Empowerment. Nancy also serves as a member of the Health Governors Community of the World Economic Forum, the Qualcomm Life advisory board, the FasterCures Patients Count Leadership Council and Leadership18. She previously served as chairman of the board of the National Health Council.
Prior to being named CEO, Nancy served as AHA's chief operating officer for eight years. In this role she managed the AHA's mission, science and operations functions and led the AHA's integrated strategy to achieve its 2010 Impact Goal to reduce coronary heart disease, stroke and risk by 25 percent. Notable accomplishments also included the creation of the AHA’s Go Red for Women cause to advance women’s cardiovascular health and the development of a suite of quality improvement programs including Get With The Guidelines. She has held multiple leadership positions at the AHA since her start in 1986 leading fundraising initiatives in the Michigan Affiliate, including serving as the executive director in Metro Detroit, as well as executive vice president of the former Massachusetts and former New England Affiliates. Prior to joining the AHA, Nancy served her home state of Michigan as director of development/deputy director of the endowment campaign for the Michigan Cancer Foundation and as special events director for Mount Carmel Mercy Hospital in Detroit.