The American Heart Association announced today that Eric Green, a local biotechnology executive, will chair the 2024 The Heart of Boston campaign, which culminates in a celebration at the Boston Heart and Stroke Ball in May of next year.
Green is senior vice president and head of development programs at Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, a biotechnology company based in Cambridge, Mass.
The Heart and Stroke Ball will take place on Saturday, May 4, 2024, at the Omni Boston Hotel at the Seaport. The annual event celebrates progress made through the dedication and passion of all who support the American Heart Association’s The Heart of Boston campaign, a year-round effort aimed at saving lives from heart disease and stroke.
Green brings more than 20 years of experience leading teams in the development and commercialization of treatments for rare genetic diseases, as well as more prevalent diseases, including hypertension, to this volunteer role. As The Heart of Boston chair, he will lead a team of area corporate executives and medical professionals working to recruit companies to support the lifesaving work of the American Heart Association.
“Eric embodies what it means to be a leader in Greater Boston. He’s the perfect choice to ensure The Heart of Boston campaign has a positive impact on the health of our community,” said Thomas Lee, chair of the American Heart Association’s local Board of Directors. “In addition to being a well-respected member of our community, Eric truly appreciates how the American Heart Association’s mission can make a difference in people’s lives. We’re excited to have him on board for this initiative, which is about tackling the important issues that will make our community healthier.”
Green began his career in the biopharmaceutical industry at Pfizer after earning a chemical engineering degree from the University of Michigan. He moved to the Boston area for graduate school, where he earned a master’s in chemical engineering and an MBA, both from MIT. Green has worked at leading biotech companies in Cambridge since graduate school, beginning with Genzyme Corporation and currently at Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, an RNAi therapeutics company working to create a new class of medicines to treat people afflicted with rare and prevalent diseases with unmet need.
Green’s personal connection to heart disease was established at an early age. Shortly after he graduated from college, his father had a major heart attack. His father was fortunate to have access to great health care and rapid intervention and survived the event. At that time, his father’s doctor told Green that he had to be watchful with his own health, given an extensive family history of heart disease. Green strives to maintain a healthy lifestyle to be around for many more years for his wife, Jessica, and his two teenage daughters, Sofia and Sabina.
Green is motivated to raise awareness of heart disease and stroke risks in patients, increase education to recognize the signs and symptoms of an event, and deliver training for early interventions that can help increase the odds of survival. After working in the biopharmaceutical industry for over two decades, he also recognizes the importance of basic and applied research that is supported by the American Heart Association.
“I am excited to be working with a group of accomplished individuals on the Executive Leadership Team, along with the support of the entire American Heart Association team in Greater Boston, to continue to build on the many past successes in the Boston area,” said Green. “I am honored to be the chair for this year’s campaign as the American Heart Association celebrates its centennial year and enters its second century.”
Joining Green on the Heart and Stroke Ball Executive Leadership Team are Dr. Nicholas Downing, partner, Bain Capital Life Sciences; Rich Glenn, head of commercial, care delivery, Verily; Barry Greene, CEO, Sage Therapeutics; Dr. Naomi Hamburg, professor of cardiovascular medicine, Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine; Dr. Marvin Konstam, chief physician executive at the CardioVascular Center, Tufts Medical Center; Peter Lawrence, CEO, Cardurion; and Dr. Gerald Marx, director, ultrasound imaging research, Boston Children’s Hospital.
The Heart of Boston is sponsored by Alnylam Pharmaceuticals and Sage Therapeutics. This year’s campaign is focused on helping people control their blood pressure, training individuals to perform CPR and use a defibrillator, and increasing access to healthy food in areas where it’s hard to find. This will ensure more people have the chance to live a full and healthy life.
For more information on how to support The Heart of Boston or attend the Heart and Stroke Ball, click here, or contact Rachel Adjemian, associate vice president of development, at [email protected].