UH Harrington Heart & Vascular Institute to Enhance Outreach, Education Program
African-Americans are 30 percent more likely to die from heart disease compared to non-Hispanic, white individuals. UH Harrington Heart & Vascular Institute is working with individuals throughout Northeast Ohio's most vulnerable populations to reduce that number and improve our community's cardiovascular health by establishing a targeted community development program focused on:
- Research to understand why medical literacy disparities exist among African-American and other high-risk populations and how to address and overcome them through collaboration, education, and meaningfully constructed community partnerships.
- Outreach to strengthen connections to community hubs and gathering centers, becoming a trusted partner to those seeking out cardiovascular care and meeting them where they gather, socialize, and find community close to home.
- Education tailored to each community, empowering individuals to have confidence in navigating their own cardiovascular health care and that of their loved ones.
“Providing education and knowledge about cardiovascular health will help empower the African American community to navigate the health system, improving health and reducing disparities,” said Mehdi Shishehbor, DO, MPH, PhD, President, UH Harrington Heart & Vascular Institute, and Angela and James Hambrick Chair in Innovation.
This program was established through the generosity of Denzel Ward and his family’s Make Them Know Your Name (MTKYN) Foundation. Ward, cornerback for the Cleveland Browns, created MTKYN in memory of his father who passed away in 2016 due to cardiac arrest. The foundation’s mission is to positively impact the heart disease epidemic, in part through teaching CPR and spreading awareness about its importance.
How You Can Help
As we celebrate American Heart Month, join us in supporting this important program by bringing the expertise of the UH Harrington Heart & Vascular Institute to each community in Northeast Ohio. Your support will help to grow and enhance this vital program. Make a gift online today.
Make a gift to support UH Harrington Heart & Vascular Institute.>