Durham, North Carolina, USA: Indian-American cardiologists Dr. Manesh R. Patel and Dr. Svati H. Shah of Duke Health have been appointed as the volunteer president and volunteer president-elect, respectively, of the American Heart Association (AHA) for the 2026-27 fiscal year beginning July 1. Their appointments place two Indian-origin physicians in the top volunteer leadership positions of one of the world's leading cardiovascular health organizations.

Dr. Patel became the first South Asian to serve as the Association's volunteer president and described the achievement as a reflection of his family's journey and values. A senior leader at Duke Health, he has held several national AHA leadership roles and was named the Association's Physician of the Year in 2023. In his new role, he will serve as the AHA's lead volunteer scientific and medical officer.

Dr. Shah, a renowned cardiovascular researcher and precision medicine expert at Duke Health, credited her immigrant parents and her mother's perseverance for inspiring her career. As volunteer president-elect, she will help lead the American Heart Association's scientific research and innovation initiatives during the 2026-27 fiscal year, which runs through June 30, 2027.