Macon & Joan Brock Virginia Health Sciences at Old Dominion University hosted its inaugural Cardiovascular Research Symposium with support from the American Heart Association Hampton Roads
NORFOLK, Va., September 18, 2025 — Bringing science to life is a core value of the American Heart Association, and Anca Dobrian, PhD, a longtime supporter, Association-funded researcher, and American Heart Association Hampton Roads board member, is helping make that vision a reality for the Hampton Roads community.
On Thursday, September 11, 2025, the newly renovated Waitzer Hall at Macon & Joan Brock Virginia Health Sciences at Old Dominion University (ODU) welcomed esteemed investigators, medical students, and faculty for the inaugural Cardiovascular Research Symposium: Bridging Gaps and Advancing Care. The event served as a regional hub for cardiovascular science, featuring a dynamic lineup of speakers, panels and presentations.
Highlights included a welcome address from Alfred Abuhamad, MD, Executive Vice President of Macon & Joan Brock Virginia Health Sciences, and MeShall Simmons, Executive Director of the American Heart Association Hampton Roads. The keynote was delivered by Raymond Benza, MD, FACC, FAHA, FACP, Inaugural George and Linda Kaufman Academic Chair of Cardiology at Sentara Health and Professor at ODU. The symposium also showcased four local Association-funded researchers, along with poster sessions, expert panels, and awards.
“This collaboration with Macon & Joan Brock Virginia Health Sciences at ODU reflects our shared commitment to advancing cardiovascular research and innovation,” said MeShall Simmons. “We’re especially grateful to Dr. Dobrian and the university leadership for their vision. Their work is helping shape the future of heart and brain health—not just locally, but nationally.”
Panels focused on women’s cardiovascular health, lifestyle interventions, and emerging technologies in heart care. The American Heart Association Hampton Roads played a vital role in supporting the event, helping connect researchers with the broader community.
“This inaugural symposium exceeded our expectations, with Dr. Benza’s keynote sparking discussions that continued throughout the poster session and panels,” shared Dr. Dobrian. “As someone whose career was shaped by AHA funding since my training years, organizing this symposium felt like coming full circle—creating for others the opportunities that transformed my own trajectory. As both a Hampton Roads Board member and SAVP overseeing faculty development, I saw a unique chance to build bridges between our talented researchers and AHA’s vast network. The energy in the room confirmed what we hoped: Hampton Roads is ready to be a hub for cardiovascular innovation.”
Among the distinguished guests was Dr. Tiffany M. Powell-Wiley, MD, MPH, Stadtman Senior Investigator at the National Institutes of Health. She leads the Social Determinants of Obesity and Cardiovascular Risk Laboratory and holds joint appointments with the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute and the National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities. Dr. Powell-Wiley’s groundbreaking work in population health earned her the Association’s Population Research Prize in 2021.
As the nation’s largest private funder of heart disease and stroke research—with more than $6 billion invested to date—the American Heart Association continues to accelerate lifesaving discoveries. Through donor support, the Association not only funds research but also fosters scientific dialogue, publishes findings, and supports early-career investigators whose work is vital to the future of cardiovascular medicine.
For more information on the inaugural Cardiovascular Research Symposium and how the American Heart Association Hampton Roads is Bridging Gaps and Advancing Care collaboratively across the region, email HamptonRoads@heart.org.
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About the American Heart Association
The American Heart Association is a relentless force for a world of longer, healthier lives. Dedicated to ensuring equitable health in all communities, the organization has been a leading source of health information for more than one hundred years. Supported by more than 35 million volunteers globally, we fund groundbreaking research, advocate for the public’s health, and provide critical resources to save and improve lives affected by cardiovascular disease and stroke. By driving breakthroughs and implementing proven solutions in science, policy, and care, we work tirelessly to advance health and transform lives every day. Connect with us on heart.org, Facebook, X or by calling 1-800-AHA-USA1.
For Media Inquiries:
Jaylyn Brown: 443-866-7733; jaylyn.brown@heart.org
For Public Inquiries: 1-800-AHA-USA1 (242-8721)
heart.org and stroke.org