State:
Louisiana
Candice A. Battiste, JD
In Shreveport, Louisiana, most businesses are preparing to go smoke-free by August 8th thanks to a local ordinance passed earlier this summer.
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Lauren Kearley, Baton Rouge
Our 2018-19 Louisiana Advocacy Committee is composed of individuals from across the state, who have a great interest in advocating for policy change for heart-health issues. Throughout the year, we will introduce some of our members. Today, we'd like you to meet Lauren Kearley of Baton Rouge.
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Crystal Pichon, Baton Rouge
Our 2018-19 Louisiana Advocacy Committee is composed of individuals from across the state with different occupations, who have a great interest in advocating for policy change for heart-health issues. Throughout the year, we will introduce some of our members. Today, meet Crystal Pichon of Baton Rouge.
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Atley Sonnier, Louisiana
Atley Sonnier was born on May 26, 2009 to Dusty and Heather Sonnier. He was born with Tetralogy of Fallot, a 4 part congenital heart defect. The main concern was an obstruction of flow through the pulmonary value causing oxygen-poor blood to be distributed through the body (commonly called Blue Baby Syndrome). We praise God that he didn’t have any other physical problems that are commonly associated with this heart defect!
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Dr. Mitchell Lirtzman, Lafayette
Dr. Mitchell Lirtzman's background and experience as a cardiothoracic surgeon in Lafayette, Louisiana, makes him well aware of the fight against heart disease and stroke. He is especially interested in reducing tobacco use and obesity rates among youth, making him a perfect fit to serve on the state advocacy committee.
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Tiffany Dickerson, Baton Rouge
Our state advocacy committee is composed of individuals from across the state with different occupations, and a great interest in advocating for policy change for heart health issues. Today, we'd like you to meet Tiffany Dickerson of Baton Rouge. She has been an active volunteer for the American Heart Association since 2003 and looks forward to continuing in this leadership role for policy change in Louisiana.
hero_image_alt_text===Tiffany Dickerson of Baton Rouge, Louisiana (Photo)
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Kay Eddleman, New Orleans
Kay was our 2014- 2015 chair of the American Heart Association's Louisiana Advocacy Committee, and is still serving on our state advocacy committee. The committee serves as the advisory body to Louisiana volunteers and staff and establishes the state’s public advocacy priorities each year. Kay serves on the committee by participating in grassroots and lobbying activities to advance the public policy priorities of the American Heart Association.
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Kristen Cobb Simpson, Louisiana
On July 19, 2012, my nephew, Burke Cobb, died on the floor of his high school gym at the age of 14. His death was caused by sudden cardiac arrest due to an unknown heart condition called Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy or HCM. Burke was playing a pick-up game of basketball and there were approximately 25 students in the gym with him that day, ranging from grades 9-12. He was running down the court, felt dizzy, collapsed and was immediately unresponsive. Several students ran to his aid, but were unsure what to do for him.
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Sheron Lee, Hammond
I am a second generation American Heart Association volunteer; you could say it’s in my genes. In the early 1980s, my dad had open heart surgery in Houston, Texas with Dr. DeBakey from Lake Charles looking on. My parents began a Mended Hearts Chapter in Lake Charles, La. after his surgery. My dad would speak to the patients and my mother would speak to the caregivers. They were active volunteers until their age and health prevented them from their weekly visits to the hospital. I cannot even begin to count the number of lives they touched or the research they may have assisted in from the 1980’s through 2001.
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Coletta Barrett
Coletta Barrett is a name that is heard often when American Heart Association Advocacy staff get together to talk about the happenings of policy-related work in Louisiana. That’s because she is involved in it all! Whether it is contacting councilmembers to ask for their vote for smoke-free East Baton Rouge or serving on the board, Coletta is there to help. Given her level of AHA “fame” and because I had not yet had the opportunity to talk with her, I was excited to have the chance to learn about her passion for passing heart-healthy policies.
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