Local hospital CEO to lead 2026 Coastal Bend Heart Walk and citywide push for CPR readiness

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas, June 26, 2026 - 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 survival.

To help improve cardiac arrest outcomes in the Coastal Bend, David Irizarry, chief executive officer at Corpus Christi Medical Center, will chair the 2026 Coastal Bend Heart Walk, leading a year-round effort to rally companies and community members to raise critical funds and expand CPR education. Heart Walk is the largest community-facing initiative of the American Heart Association, a relentless force changing the future of health for everyone everywhere.

Through fundraising, community education and corporate engagement, Heart Walk aims to make CPR education and training more accessible, fund vital research and drive equitable health for all. Under Irizarry's leadership, top executives in the Coastal Bend will work to recruit other organizations to join the local Heart Walk campaign and help build a community of lifesavers.