Local Health Care Operations VP to lead 2026 Heart Walk and citywide push for CPR readiness

Karas joins the American Heart Association to bring Heart Walk back to Buffalo According to the American Heart Association, 9 in 10 people who suffer cardiac arrest outside of the hospital die, and more than half don’t receive bystander CPR. CPR — especially if performed immediately — can double or triple a person’s chance of … Read more

Meet Jeff “Coldstream” Roth: runner, survivor, local executive – and recovery myth buster 

At a May 2019 ceremony, Jeff had a chance to thank the first responders who saved his life

Seven years ago, local executive Jeff Roth survived a near-death experience during a workday run. In the days after, he and his family pieced together what happened. In the years since, he’s been rewriting the story of what recovery really looks like.  Jeff, now director of games at Booz Allen Hamilton, was on a routine … Read more

A former athlete and sudden cardiac arrest survivor turns pain into purpose

Former basketball player and sudden cardiac arrest survivor, Omar Carter

On February 1, 2023, nearly one month after suffering a sudden cardiac arrest during Monday Night Football, Damar Hamlin and the American Heart Association launched his #3forHeart CPR Challenge. Yet, 600 miles away, the number 3, held a much different meaning to another athlete. Former basketball star Omar Carter suffered a sudden cardiac arrest on … Read more