The American Heart Association (AHA) announced the reappointment of Adrian Hernandez, M.D., M.H.S. to the Southeast Board of Directors for the 2026–2027 fiscal year. The organization cited his continued leadership and ongoing commitment to advancing the AHA’s mission of building a world of longer, healthier lives. The reappointment recognizes Dr. Hernandez’s sustained contributions to cardiovascular research, patient care improvements, and regional initiatives addressing leading causes of death.
The AHA’s Southeast region covers Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee and Puerto Rico. The region’s priorities, as reflected in the announcement, include improving cardiovascular health, reducing the impact of stroke, and building healthier communities across these states and territories. The reappointment positions Dr. Hernandez to contribute to regional strategy and help align board activities with the AHA’s broader goals in the Southeast.
Dr. Hernandez is identified in the release as a professor of cardiology and medicine at the Duke University School of Medicine. He also serves as vice dean and executive director of the Duke Clinical Research Institute, and is a nationally recognized leader in cardiovascular research. The release notes more than two decades of Dr. Hernandez’s involvement with the AHA, during which he has supported scientific discovery, improvements in clinical care, and initiatives targeting the leading causes of death in the Southeast.
Alex Price, executive director of the American Heart Association – Triangle, is quoted in the announcement praising Dr. Hernandez’s dedication to improving patients’ lives through research, innovation and compassionate care. Price stated the AHA is grateful for Dr. Hernandez’s continued leadership and commitment to the mission, and noted that his expertise will inform heart and brain health initiatives across the region.
Dr. Hernandez is also quoted, expressing that the AHA has played a pivotal role in advancing science that transformed cardiovascular care. He said he is honored to continue serving on the Southeast Board as the organization works to accelerate research, foster innovation and help ensure lifesaving advances reach every community across the region.
As a member of the Southeast Board of Directors, Dr. Hernandez will help guide regional strategies and support initiatives aimed at reducing the burden of cardiovascular disease and stroke. The announcement emphasizes the board role in advancing health and hope for all communities within the Southeast region, and in shaping programs that translate scientific progress into improved patient outcomes and equitable access to lifesaving advances.
The release includes the AHA’s organizational description, noting that the AHA is committed to ensuring equitable health in all communities and has been a leading source of health information for more than one hundred years. The statement highlights that the AHA is supported by more than 35 million volunteers globally, funds groundbreaking research, advocates for public health, and provides resources to save and improve lives affected by cardiovascular disease and stroke. The organization’s work spans science, policy and care to drive breakthroughs and implement proven solutions.
The announcement provides contacts for media and public inquiries. For media inquiries, the release lists Dawn Hall with an email address of dawn.hall@heart.org. For public inquiries, the release provides the AHA contact number 1-800-AHA-USA1 (1-800-242-8721) and directs readers to heart.org and stroke.org for additional information.
Notes on multimedia: the release references available images of Dr. Hernandez and the AHA logo and directs users to the AHA/ASA Multimedia Materials Usage Policy for terms of use. Specific multimedia file details and downloads were included in the source but are not restated here beyond their availability and usage guidance.
This summary reproduces the facts and quotations reported in the AHA news release regarding the reappointment. No additional recommendations or external information are included beyond the source content.