State:
California
Advocate Spotlight: Matthew Zubiller
It was a bright and sunny morning at my children’s elementary school here in San Diego, California. As was the custom, many parents, myself included, were rushing to drop off their kids, give them a hug and a kiss, and wish them a great day. I revel in embarrassing my son and daughter, as any good dad would, and yelled to them as they entered the gate “Make good choices!”. They acted as if they didn’t know who I was and proceeded on their way, but I know that they knew what that meant.
As I was walking back to my car, most of the parking lot had cleared out. Ben, an older gentleman, chronic smoker, and grandfather to my daughter’s friend, was ambling back to his grey pickup and began to stumble. Within a few short seconds, he collapsed. I ran over and caught him as he fell. He looked pale and grey, and was unresponsive to my questions. His breathing was erratic and shallow.
hero_image_alt_text===Matthew Zubiller
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thumbnail_alt_text===Matthew Zubiller
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Advocate Spotlight: Pariswi Tewari
The Tangible Impacts of Virtual Health Advocacy: Making Health Policy More Accessible Among Youth Through Virtual Interventions.
hero_image_alt_text===Picture of Pariswi
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thumbnail_alt_text===Picture of Pariswi
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Advocate Spotlight: Agamroop Kaur
Moving from elementary school to middle school was a big jump for me. Feeling like a small fish in the big pond made everything new and intimidating. Though, I was especially confused at the prevalence of the thin rectangle-shaped products that I would soon find out to be Juul pods.
hero_image_alt_text===Agamroop Kaur
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thumbnail_alt_text===Agamroop Kaur
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Advocate Spotlight: Debra Meyerson
My husband Steve and I recently returned from 3 days in Washington DC with the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association.
hero_image_alt_text===Debra Meyerson, Steve Zuckerman and Nancy Brown at 2019 Federal Lobby Day
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thumbnail_alt_text===Debra Meyerson, Steve Zuckerman and Nancy Brown at 2019 Federal Lobby Day
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bottom_action===Debra Meyerson, Steve Zuckerman and Nancy Brown at 2019 Federal Lobby Day
Advocate Spotlight: Why I Support Prop. E
My involvement in the San Francisco campaign to restrict the sale of flavored tobacco products (#YesOnE) has opened my eyes to what smoking looks like today for youth in the US. I was appalled by the amount of smoking that still occurs in middle schools and high schools today despite all the progress we have made to keep tobacco products out of the hands of kids in the last several decades. As I learned, however, most of this “smoking” occurs in the form of vaping rather than traditional cigarette smoking. Although 86% of middle and high school students believe that all tobacco products are dangerous, this has not prevented approximately 20% of them from trying cigarettes, and another 23% from trying e-cigarettes.
hero_image_alt_text===Zachary
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thumbnail_alt_text===Zachary
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Advocate Spotlight: Kristin O'Carroll
The morning of October 1, 2011 started as an average one; I smoked a cigarette, had a cup of coffee, and headed out for the day. However, it quickly took a turn for the worse. As I sat down for lunch, my heart rate shot up and I felt a sudden rush of adrenaline. I assumed it was anxiety and tried to forget the discomfort. I went about my day until a friend placed his hand on my chest to feel my heart rate. After feeling what felt like “a thousand grenades going off” in my chest, he convinced me to go to the hospital. There I was told that an aneurysm in my heart ruptured and I would probably need open-heart surgery.
hero_image_alt_text===Photo of woman
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thumbnail_alt_text===Photo of woman
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Advocate Spotlight: Nicole Pereira
When I was first introduced to the Healthy Drinks for Kids initiative for the city of Long Beach, I knew this policy would have great potential to influence childhood food consumption patterns and alter the course of the childhood obesity epidemic. If passed, this measure would offer water, low fat milk or 100% juice with kid’s meals as opposed to soda, unless otherwise requested by the consumer. A simple modification with promising impact.
hero_image_alt_text===Image of City Council vote
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thumbnail_alt_text===Image of City Council vote
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My Advocacy Involvement
As a mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother, I have learned that the best way to highlight the healthcare disparities that affect our communities of color is to get involved in advocacy.
hero_image_alt_text===Beatrice with volunteer award
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thumbnail_alt_text===Beatrice with volunteer award
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Jocelyn Gomez
August 7th, 2015 was the start of the most life-changing event of our lives. My father, mother, and I were sitting in the emergency room that night waiting to be called on.
Why I Intern for the American Heart Association
Guest Blogger: Lyudmila Chernenko- Intern, AHA Sacramento California Office
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