World Heart Federation Honors American Heart Association CEO with Lifetime Achievement Award

The World Heart Federation (WHF) will honor Nancy Brown, chief executive officer of the American Heart Association, with its prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award at the opening ceremony of the European Society of Cardiology Congress together with the World Congress of Cardiology in Madrid. The award recognizes her extraordinary leadership and lifelong commitment to transforming cardiovascular health on a global scale. The World Heart Federation is a leader and convener in global cardiovascular health, with members consisting of more than 200 heart foundations, scientific societies and patient organizations spanning more than 100 countries.

Brown has served as CEO of the American Heart Association since 2008, advancing lifesaving science, innovation and advocacy across more than 100 countries through groundbreaking quality improvement initiatives, scientific collaboration and community-based interventions. The World Heart Federation cited Brown's visionary leadership, global partnerships and unwavering commitment to improving the future of health as transformative in the fight against cardiovascular disease—the world's leading cause of death. Jagat Narula, M.D., Ph.D., president of the World Heart Federation, stated that Nancy embodies the organization's mission to be a relentless force for longer, healthier lives and personally shows that she believes everyone, everywhere deserves access to quality health care.

Among her many accomplishments, Brown launched global quality improvement programs from a concept in the late 1990s to the robust Get With The Guidelines and American Heart Association certification program in the United States, Mexico, Latin America, India and part of Asia. These programs help measure and ensure consistent, evidence-based care in time-sensitive medical situations like heart attack, stroke and cardiac arrest. She also accelerated research and innovation, including the Go Red for Women Venture Fund®, investing $75 million in companies that address gaps in women's heart and brain health, while the Heart Association has invested $6.1 billion in research since 1949.

Brown mobilized lifesaving campaigns, including the Association's CPR education effort known as the Nation of Lifesavers™, which aims to double survival rates from sudden cardiac arrest by 2030. The Heart Association trains approximately 22 million people annually in CPR and develops first aid and resuscitation guidelines that are used globally. The recognition highlights the critical importance of global collaboration and leadership in addressing cardiovascular disease, which remains the world's leading cause of mortality, and underscores the impact of sustained commitment to improving health outcomes through evidence-based programs and innovative solutions.