Advocate Spotlight - Ann Dodge

Meet a great volunteer & State Advocacy Committee Member!

What brought you to be an advocate for the American Heart Association?

I was invited to be an advocate by Dr. Carter Ralphe MD, chief of the Division of Pediatric Cardiology within the UW School of Medicine and Nicole Hudzinski, Government Relations Director from American Heart Association, Wisconsin chapter. My passion for preventing cardiac disease in the pediatric population is why I wanted to serve on this committee. I work as a pediatric nurse practitioner in cardiology at American Family Children’s Hospital in Madison, and helped to implement the Pediatric Preventive Cardiology Clinic.

What issues or policies are you most passionate about and why?

My interests include promoting lifelong heart health through CPR training for all high school students, tobacco cessation, improving nutrition and exercise, and treating lipid disorders in children. Risk factors for heart disease begin in childhood, and if treated at a young age can significantly reduce risks for early heart attacks.

What is your favorite advocacy memory or experience so far and what made it great?

My favorite advocacy memory was when the bill passed for CPR training for all high school students in Wisconsin by the time they graduate.

What is your favorite way to be active?

My favorite activity is flamenco dance with all the bells and whistles!

What is your favorite fruit or vegetable?

I love any vegetable that is roasted with some olive oil and seasoning, as it really brings out the flavor in the vegetables.

I also love the salad bar at the University Hospital and eat it for lunch most of the time.