Manesh Patel / American Heart Association

Indian American cardiologist Manesh R. Patel was named volunteer president of the American Heart Association for 2026-27, becoming the first South Asian person to hold the position.

An interventional cardiologist based in Durham, North Carolina, Patel began his one-year term July 1. As volunteer president, he will serve as the association’s lead volunteer scientific and medical officer, providing oversight of medical, scientific and public health matters and related public policy.

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Patel said he was “honored and humbled” to take on the role, describing it as a reflection of his family’s journey and the values they instilled in him.

“This opportunity also reflects something larger than any one person,” Patel said in a LinkedIn post. “It is a testament to the culture of science and teamwork I have been fortunate to be part of at Duke.”

Patel has spent nearly three decades at Duke, where he is chief of cardiology, vice president of heart and vascular services for Duke Health, the Richard Stack Distinguished Professor of Medicine at Duke University School of Medicine and a senior investigator at the Duke Clinical Research Institute.

His research focuses on cardiovascular disease, including antithrombotic therapies, the imaging and physiological assessment of coronary artery disease and improving the conduct of clinical trials. He has led several clinical trials and published more than 500 peer-reviewed articles, reviews and editorials. He has also been named among the top 1% of highly cited researchers by Web of Science.

In 2023, the American Heart Association named Patel its Physician of the Year. He is a longtime association volunteer and medical expert and previously chaired its Committee on Scientific Sessions Program.

As president, Patel said he plans to focus on translating scientific discoveries into proven treatments that can reach patients more broadly.

“Science saves lives,” Patel wrote. “My focus as president will be making sure the discoveries we make are proven, and that proven therapies reach everyone, everywhere.”

Patel also highlighted the growing global burden of cardiovascular disease and urged people to pay attention to their cardiovascular health.

“If you've been putting off seeing a physician, let this be your sign,” he wrote. “Know your numbers. Understand your risk.”

Svati Shah named president-elect

Duke physician-scientist Svati H. Shah was named volunteer president-elect of the American Heart Association for 2026-27 and will support the organization’s volunteer leadership before assuming the presidency.

Shah is the Ursula Geller Distinguished Professor of Research in Cardiovascular Diseases, associate dean for translational research and director of the Duke Center for Precision Health and Precision Genomics Collaboratory at Duke University School of Medicine.

She also serves as vice-chief of research in the Division of Cardiology, director of the Adult Cardiovascular Genetics Clinic and co-director of translational research at the Duke Molecular Physiology Institute. She is a faculty member of the Duke Clinical Research Institute.

Shah’s research focuses on the genetic and metabolic pathways involved in cardiometabolic diseases. Her work integrates genomic, metabolomic and proteomic approaches to identify disease mechanisms and biomarkers, using large biorepositories and subsequent functional studies.

She has held several leadership positions with the American Heart Association, including chair of its Research Committee and Genomic and Precision Medicine Council, and serves on the association’s National Board of Directors.

As president-elect, Shah will work with the organization’s volunteer leadership on scientific discovery, innovation and efforts to improve health outcomes.

Patel and Shah are both based at Duke University and have held leadership roles in cardiovascular research and medicine while contributing to the American Heart Association’s scientific and volunteer work.

Other volunteer leaders for the 2026-27 fiscal year include Lee A. Shapiro, who will continue as volunteer chairperson of the National Board of Directors; Linda Gooden, who will serve as chairperson-elect; and Robert H. “Bob” Swan, who will continue as volunteer treasurer.

“The American Heart Association’s strength has always come from extraordinary volunteer leaders who bring vision, expertise and a deep commitment to our mission,” AHA CEO Nancy Brown said. 

“We are grateful to continue to benefit from Lee Shapiro’s leadership as volunteer chairperson and welcome Manesh Patel as our new volunteer president, along with the other dedicated members of our volunteer board of directors,” 

The American Heart Association’s 2026-27 fiscal year runs from July 1, through June 30, 2027.

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