Amy Reed, Ph.D., CRNA, assistant director of the York College of Pennsylvania and WellSpan Health nurse anesthetist program, has been named the American Heart Association York 2024 Leaders of Impact™ winner for her work driving equitable cardiovascular health in the community. In York County, life expectancy varies by 22 years[1] which can often be caused by social drivers of health, deeply rooted inequities related to public policies, institutional practices, cultural representations and other norms which often reinforce inequities in health.
Over the course of seven weeks, Reed participated in a fundraising competition alongside fellow Leaders of Impact nominees Andrew Birk, practice manager at WellSpan Health, and Jenna Rembecki, unit director for the emergency department at UPMC Hanover. Collectively, the York Leaders of Impact nominees raised a total of $62,383. Reed was named the 2024 York Leaders of Impact winner after raising the most funds. She was also the top fundraiser among all Leaders of Impact nominees across Pennsylvania and the American Heart Association’s eastern states region, ranking ninth nationally.
“Being named the Leader of Impact for York County is a profound honor, but the real victory lies in the lives we change together,” said Reed. “This recognition is a reflection of the collective power of compassion, determination and a shared vision for a healthier future for all.”
Heart disease remains the leading cause of death in the U.S.1 In addition, an aging, more diverse population, along with a significant increase in heart disease and stroke risk factors among younger people are expected to nearly triple the nation’s price tag on cardiovascular disease (CVD) by 2050, according to new published projections from the American Heart Association.
For more than 100 years, the American Heart Association has driven change by removing barriers to health, investing in groundbreaking research, educating health care professionals and patients, and advocating for healthy policies. In York County, the Association is specifically focused on improving nutrition security, reducing uncontrolled hypertension and building our Nation of Lifesavers™ by providing more schools and community organizations with the tools they need to learn Hands-Only CPR.
Leaders of Impact launched on Oct. 17 in hundreds of cities across the nation and culminated on Dec. 4. Each nominee’s participation is focused on opportunities to be a changemaker with a shared purpose to raise critical awareness and fund the mission of the American Heart Association.
For more information about Leaders of Impact and a list of all the 2024 nominees, please visit leadersofimpact.heart.org.
[1] https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data-visualization/life-expectancy/