The American Heart Association, a global force for longer, healthier lives, proudly announces new leadership and appointments to its Greater Washington Region (GWR) Board of Directors for the 2025–2026 fiscal year. Made up of volunteer leaders, the Board supports the mission of the Association through fundraising and addresses important community priorities, including increasing access to affordable and healthy food, expanding CPR education and emergency plans, hypertension management, and ensuring residents live in a healthy environment that supports physical and mental well-being.
Vishal Tulsian, President and Chief Operating Officer for RELI Group, Inc., has been named Chair of the GWR Board of Directors and will serve a two-year term. A longtime supporter of the Association and two-time Heart Ball Chair, Tulsian brings more than 25 years of expertise in public sector services and solutions. He will lead in partnership with Board President and Associate Medical Director for Kaiser Permanente, Ameya Kulkarni, M.D., FSCAI.
Monica Shah, M.D., FACC, Chief Medical Officer at CTI Clinical Trials & Consulting, has been named President-Elect and remains as the Leadership Development Chair. Yolandra Hancock, M.D., MPH, a community physician and pediatrician, remains as Chair of the Advocacy Committee. Lauren Sipple, CPA, CGFM, Senior Audit Manager at KPMG, LLP, has been named for a new role as Giving Society Ambassador, which focuses on individual donors.
New Board Members Welcomed
The Association is excited to welcome five new members to its Board of Directors:
- Saira Aslam, M.D., MHA, FACC, FACHE, Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of MedStar Washington Hospital Center, is a cardiologist and military veteran with deep expertise in healthcare operations and leadership.
- Sabine Awad, Principal at Deloitte & Touche LLP, brings over 30 years of experience in public health and strategic transformation across federal health agencies and non-profit sectors.
- Mike Policicchio, Americas Assurance Transformation Leader and US Audit Partner at Ernst & Young LLP, is a seasoned CPA and audit expert with a strong commitment to community leadership and education.
- Rocky Thurston, Chief Executive Officer of DMI, leads a global technology firm and brings a wealth of experience in digital transformation and public-private sector integration.
- Sheila Woodhouse, M.D., MBA, FACC, President and CEO, Sentikon Technologies & Consulting LLC, is a physician-scientist and healthcare innovator focused on data-driven, patient-centered care.
Continuing Board Members
The following members continue their service on the Board of Directors:
- Bryan O. Buckley, DrPH, MPH, MBA, Head of Public Health, CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield
- Erin Henderson Moore, Plan President & Chief Executive Officer, Fidelis Care of New Jersey at the Centene Corporation
- Michael Kirshbaum, Chief Financial Officer, EAB
- Monique Sanfuentes, Administrative Director, Community Affairs and Population Health, Suburban Hospital, Johns Hopkins Medicine
- Vicki Schmanske, President, Commercial & International Sector, Leidos
- Hassan A. Tetteh, M.D., MBA, Thoracic Surgeon and VP of Operations, Vituity
Thank You to our Outgoing Leaders
The Association extends heartfelt gratitude to several outgoing Board members whose service has left a lasting legacy:
- Dr. Kelly Epps-Anderson, M.D., MSHP, FACC, is the Immediate Past President and an Interventional Cardiologist at Inova Heart and Vascular Institute. Serving since 2019, she championed women’s heart health, blood pressure education, and community outreach. Her leadership elevated the AHA’s visibility and impact across the region.
- Amry Junaideen is the outgoing Chair and Managing Principal at Deloitte & Touche LLP. He has served since 2021 and under his leadership, the GWR achieved Gold Standard Board designation, meeting all of its fundraising and community health targets. He championed CPR training, hypertension awareness, and food access initiatives, leaving a legacy of strategic excellence and inclusive leadership.
- Dr. Carmen C. Ramirez, PhD, RN, the Executive Director of Community Capital Corporation, has also served since 2019. She brought vital insights from her work in immigrant health and education, helping launch a health academy at Carlos Rosario International Charter School and advocating for health equity.
To learn more about the American Heart Association Greater Washington Region and how to get involved, visit www.heart.org/dc.