The American Heart Association–Northeast Ohio announced on July 14, 2026 the appointment of three new members to its board of directors. The additions are intended to strengthen the Association’s efforts to advance cardiovascular and brain health across Northeast Ohio by combining clinical expertise, community relationships and fundraising experience.
The three new board members are:
Shelley Webber, executive director of the American Heart Association–Northeast Ohio, noted that the volunteers have deep community roots and prior engagement with the Association, and expressed enthusiasm for their contributions as board members.
Dr. Brianna French practices as a cardiologist at Summa Health with a focus on preventive cardiology, nutrition and heart disease in women. The release highlights her recent recognition as a 2026 American Heart Association Woman of Impact nominee, a role in which she helped raise funds and awareness about cardiovascular disease as the leading cause of death among women.
Dr. Myttle Mayuga is a general and interventional cardiologist at University Hospitals Portage. She treats adults presenting with a range of cardiac complaints and works to prevent future cardiovascular events. The announcement also notes her prior role as a media spokesperson for the American Heart Association, where she helped educate the Northeast Ohio public on issues such as holiday heart syndrome.
Molly Marhofer serves as community outreach director at Ron Marhofer Auto Family, where her role centers on building relationships with residents and businesses in the greater Akron region. As volunteer chairwoman of the Association’s 2026 Akron/Canton Go Red for Women movement, Marhofer helped lead the campaign to its best year for Open Your Heart giving.
In addition to the three new members, the Northeast Ohio board of directors includes clinical leaders, corporate representatives and community advocates. Named members in the announcement are:
The board represents a cross-section of health care, business and community perspectives intended to support the local implementation of the Association’s programs and fundraising initiatives.
Board members serve terms ranging from two to six years and have responsibilities tied to advancing public health priorities in Northeast Ohio. The release identifies several focus areas for the board, including:
The announcement frames these responsibilities within the Association’s broader goal of promoting equitable health and improving cardiovascular health for all residents of the region.
The release restates the American Heart Association’s mission and role: it is a longstanding organization dedicated to advancing longer, healthier lives and ensuring equitable health in communities. The AHA funds research, advocates for public health policies, and provides resources to prevent and treat cardiovascular disease and stroke. The organization is supported by millions of volunteers globally and emphasizes translating scientific breakthroughs into practical solutions in policy, care and community programs.
For media inquiries the announcement lists Chelsea Caldwell with an email contact (chelsea.caldwell@heart.org). For public inquiries, the release directs people to call 1-800-AHA-USA1. The release also points to the organization’s websites, heart.org and stroke.org, for additional information.
(End of release content. Image attributions and multimedia download links were included in the original announcement but are not reproduced here beyond noting that a group photograph and caption accompany the release.)