Senior Vice President and Chief Wealth Client Services Officer of Washington Trust, Kim McCarthy joins mission to save lives from heart disease and stroke.
Cardiovascular disease is a leading cause of death in Rhode Island, and Kim McCarthy, Senior Vice President and Chief Wealth Client Services Officer of Washington Trust, is working with the American Heart Association, a global force for healthier lives for all, to change that.
McCarthy is the chair of the 2024 Southern New England Heart Walk, a campaign focused on engaging local companies, their employees, and members of the community to join the fight against heart disease and stroke.
“My grandfather and my uncle both died suddenly and without warning of a heart attack,” shared McCarthy. “My uncle died in his early thirties when I was a young child. It was clear then that heart disease was a major issue for men in my dad’s family. And from that point on I worried that my dad might die without warning at any moment. But because heart disease was now on our radar, we paid attention and acted. My dad stopped smoking and got a cardiologist. I support the American Heart Association for the forty-five extra birthdays (and counting!) I have gotten with my dad.”
For one hundred years the American Heart Association has saved and improved lives, pioneered scientific discovery and advocated for healthy communities. Heart Walk saves lives by bringing friends, families, coworkers, and neighbors together. Heart Walk helps raise critical funds, so more people can celebrate more birthdays with their loved ones, just like McCarthy.
“I am incredibly excited to be working with an organization as well-regarded as the American Heart Association,” said McCarthy. “As someone who has family who has personally benefited from the research and treatments the Association has supported, I am committed to helping them positively impact so many people’s lives in Rhode Island, with particular focus on health equity, and improving disproportionately adverse outcomes for BIPOC, Latinx, and LGBTQIA+ communities in our state.”
As chair of the Southern New England Heart Walk, McCarthy is leading a team of executives from companies and organizations across Rhode Island and Southeastern Massachusetts to take part in the walk, which will be held at Rhode Island College, Rhode Island College, 600 Mt Pleasant Avenue in Providence, on Saturday, June 8th. Check-in starts at 9:00 AM and the walk kicks off at 10:00 AM. You can register for the walk by clicking here.
Also serving in leadership roles on the Southern New England Heart Walk Executive Leadership Team are:
- Shannon Broadbent, Vice President Human Resources, Beacon Mutual Insurance
- Michael Carrol, Sr. Vice President, Marketing and Communications Officer, Dean Bank
- Ron Contreras, CFO, Children’s Friend and Family Services
- Ellis Cooper, Director of Operations, Boys & Girls Club of Northern RI
- Andrea Dwyer, Vice President, Controller, AAA Northeast
- Jay Mollo, Sr. Manager, Global Talent Acquisition Operations & Corporate Recruitment, IGT
- Trish Ginnetti Poulin, Organizational Effectiveness Specialist, Ocean State Job Lot
- Stephanie Santoro, Manager Specialty Products and Services, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Rhode Island
“We are incredibly grateful for these leaders who are stepping up to move the needle when it comes to heart disease and stroke” said Gretta Jacobs, Heart Walk Director for the American Heart Association in Southern New England. “Through the various Heart Challenge initiatives, we can drive maximum impact through employee engagement and corporate fundraising. Together, we can save lives right here in Rhode Island and Southeastern Massachusetts.”
With 6 years at Washington Trust after 25 years in private law practice, McCarthy has served in numerous senior leadership positions. A graduate of Brown University and the Wheeler School, McCarthy is known for her dedication towards improving the health and wellbeing of the community she calls home.
Heart disease and stroke are preventable and how you eat, move and manage stress impacts your well-being, physically and mentally. Heart Walk provides resources, tools and activities to support both mental and physical well-being for employers and employees.
For more information about the 2024 Southern New England Heart Walk or to get your company involved, contact Gretta.Jacobs@heart.org or click this link here.