American Heart Association Names 15 Youth Heart Ambassadors to Combat Rising Health Challenges
TL;DR
The American Heart Association's Youth Heart Ambassadors program offers students leadership opportunities to build resumes and gain advocacy experience while promoting health.
The American Heart Association selected 15 students with personal heart health connections to promote physical activity, CPR training, and healthy habits in schools.
Youth Heart Ambassadors create healthier communities by sharing personal stories and advocating for heart disease prevention and emergency response training.
Fifteen students nationwide became Youth Heart Ambassadors, each with unique heart health stories, to inspire peers through the American Heart Association's programs.
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The American Heart Association has appointed 15 students from first through 12th grade as national Youth Heart Ambassadors for the 2025-26 school year, addressing growing mental and physical health challenges among young Americans. These ambassadors, representing the Association's Kids Heart Challenge and American Heart Challenge initiatives, will leverage their personal experiences with heart disease and stroke to encourage healthy habits and support children with heart conditions nationwide.
Each ambassador brings a unique connection to cardiovascular health, whether as survivors or advocates. Their roles include promoting physical and mental well-being, raising awareness of heart disease and stroke prevention, and advocating for Hands-Only CPR and automated external defibrillators (AEDs) in schools. Lee Shapiro, American Heart Association volunteer board chair, emphasized their impact, stating these motivated ambassadors engage peers to build a culture of health for future generations.
The ambassadors' personal stories highlight the program's significance. Ava, a third grader from West Virginia born with Tetralogy of Fallot, had open-heart surgery at three days old and now stays active with a positive outlook. Heather, a 10th grader from California, survived cardiac arrest at school due to CPR and an AED, driving her advocacy for stronger cardiac emergency response plans. Ridge, a fourth grader from Texas, received a heart transplant in 2023 and shares his experience to support the Association's mission.
Other ambassadors include Dylan from Oklahoma, born with Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome; Julianna from Florida, who had Wolff-Parkinson-White Syndrome; and Diya from Kentucky, born with Transposition of the Great Arteries. Their efforts align with research indicating rising youth health issues, as noted in a recent JAMA study by Forrest et al. (2025) on trends in children's mortality and chronic conditions.
The Association's in-school programs, grounded in science, aim to improve emotional and physical well-being, support academic success, and empower students. Schools can register for the 2025-26 year at heart.org/getstarted, while prospective ambassadors can learn more at heart.org/youthambassador. This initiative underscores the critical need for youth-led health advocacy in combating pervasive health challenges.
Curated from NewMediaWire
