American Heart Association Announces Florida Advocacy Committee

The American Heart Association, a relentless force for a world of longer, healthier lives, this week announced its 2023-2024 Florida Advocacy Committee. The focus of the action-oriented group will be on developing, supporting and promoting state and local policy priorities within the framework of the American Heart Association as well as Voices for Healthy Kids.

Among the several returning and new members are longtime advocates of the American Heart Association, doctors, government relations professionals, community leaders, survivors of stroke, retired law enforcement, firefighters and caregivers.

Members of the 2023-2024 Florida Advocacy Committee include:

• Chair Yvette Lowery, DNP, MSN/Ed., FNP-c, CCRN, CEN, PCCN (Jacksonville), nurse practitioner (emergency room), North Florida Regional Medical Center; Norfolk State University alumni and member of NCNW Jacksonville Section and Chi Eta Phi Sorority Inc
• Vice Chair Crystal Collins Spencer, Esq. (Pensacola), Spencer Law
• Past Chair Marsha Kiner (Gainesville), Executive Director, Children’s Trust of Alachua County
• Frank G. Fernandez (Miami), chief of police (Ret.), director of public safety/assistant, city manager (Frm.)
• John Mouw (South Florida), director, Interprofessional and Allied Health Education Center for the Advancement of Learning, Baptist Health South Florida
• Dr. Robert Sanchez, M.D. (St. Petersburg), medical director, The Heart Institute
• Emily Allinder Scott (Clearwater), Senior Vice President, Chief Transformation and Service Line Officer, BayCare Health System 

“I have served on the State Advocacy Committee for a number of years and I feel personally connected to work of the American Heart Association,” said Chair Dr.Yvette Lowery. “I am proud to serve alongside my fellow committee members and will be dedicated in our work to develop equitable health policies in Florida.”

The Florida Advocacy Committee serves as the advisory body to volunteers and staff on public policy issues -- the committee works with the government relations director to establish policy priorities each year. Recent policy successes of the committee include passing telecommunicator CPR (T-CPR), Medicaid postpartum coverage and increasing Florida KidCare eligibility. Policy priorities for 2024 include self-measured blood pressure Medicaid coverage, cardiovascular program funding, and cardiac emergency response plans (CERPs), as well as policies relating to health equity, stroke and tobacco cessation. Committee members will meet regularly to discuss advocacy and grassroots strategies and tactics, and they will engage in campaign activities to drive public policy success.

“I am honored to work with the State Advocacy Committee and I know their expertise, experiences and passion will be valuable in supporting the American Heart Association’s policy work in Florida throughout the year,” said Tiffany McCaskill Henderson, Florida government relations director for the American Heart Association.