Laurence Sperling 

World Heart Federation Colleagues,

Sincere thanks for supporting my consideration to serve as a member-at-large on the board of WHF. The vision of WHF is cardiovascular health for everyone. I have dedicated the past three decades to this vision serving in significant leadership positions related to WHF priorities. The World Heart Federation connects, leads, and inspires the global cardiovascular community to action. For the past fifteen years I have served WHF in many roles including as a delegate to the Global Alliance for CVD Prevention, advisor to the Global COVID-19 Study and Use Heart for Diabetes Project, and as a key opinion leader for the World Heart Vision 2030. As Chair of the WHF Roadmap on the Prevention of CVD in People Living with Diabetes we convened a writing committee represented members from 4 continents. Importantly, this roadmap was released at a highlighted session at the 2019 ESC meeting in Paris, and was also presented during a session at the 72nd WHO World Health Assembly. Implementation of this roadmap involved my participation in roundtables across the world including Geneva, Sweden, Mexico, and Japan. Currently, I serve as co-Chair of the WHF Roadmap on Integrated Care among People Living with or at Risk for CVD and Longterm Conditions which will be featured during a session at the upcoming 81st Brazilian Congress of Cardiology / WCC in Rio. Beyond my involvement with WHF Roadmaps I have been involved in communications and initiatives related to utilization of influenza vaccination as a strategy for CVD prevention, a World Economic Forum publication regarding healthcare silos, in addition to serving as faculty of the Emerging Leaders Program. I have significant experience in WHF platforms and priorities including driving policy change for CV heath equity, improving hypertension control, leveraging innovation and technology, as well as climate change policies and CV health. Service to the cardiovascular disease prevention community and WHF is a high priority. I would be grateful for the opportunity to serve the World Heart Federation as a Member-at-Large.

My academic roles are serving as the Katz Professor in Preventive Cardiology at Emory University School of Medicine, and Professor of Global Health in the Rollins School of Public Health. For five years (2019-2024) I served in a National Leadership role in the U.S. as Executive Director of the Million Hearts Initiative for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services. Million Hearts aspires to prevent at least one million heart attacks, strokes, and cardiovascular events by focusing on building healthy communities, optimizing care, and focusing on health equity. Million Hearts works across all 50 U.S. states with several hundred Federal and private partners. During my time with Million Hearts Initiative I served as Chair of the Federal Hypertension Control Leadership Council for the Department of Health and Human Services in the U.S.

I have attached my CV and bio for review. Again, heartfelt appreciation for the valued work of WHF, for your support, and for our ongoing partnership in improving cardiovascular health for all.

Laurence S. Sperling, MD, FACC, FACP, FAHA, MASPC
Katz Professor in Preventive Cardiology
Founder of the Heart Disease Prevention Center
Emory University School of Medicine