Donnette Smith, Patient, Chair of the Board
Sue Peschin, Secretary
President & CEO at Alliance for Aging Research
Learn More
Norm Linsky, Treasurer
Executive Director at the Pediatric and Congenital Interventional Cardiovascular Society
Candace DeMatteis, Board Member
Policy Director at Partnership to Fight Chronic Disease
Learn More
Marilyn Serafini, Board Member/Care Partner
Director, Health Project, Bipartisan Policy Center
Learn More
David Andelman, Patient
Journalist
Learn More
Dr. Mark Russo, Board Member
Chief of Cardiac Surgery, Professor of Surgery, Director, Structural Heart Disease, Associate Professor of Surgery Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School
Dr. Vinod Thourani, Board Member
Cardiovascular Surgeon Piedmont Healthcare, Professor of Cardiac Surgery Emory University School of Medicine
Dr. Wayne Batchelor, Board Member
Director of Interventional Heart Program, Research, and Innovation at Inova
Elizabeth Perpetua, DNP, FACC, Board Member
Founder, Empath Health, Associate Editor Structural Heart, Adjunct Professor Seattle Pacific University
STAFF
John Lewis, Executive Director
John joined Heart Valve Voice US in August 2019 with an extensive background in communications, patient advocacy, alliance development and non-profit management. Most recently, he headed his own health communications and advocacy consultancy, Intersect Strategies, LLC. Prior to this, for eight years he served in senior positions with the Association of Clinical Research Organizations where he led policy development, public affairs and government relations. Earlier in his career, he: was partner in a successful boutique public relations and advertising agency; directed marketing, public relations and investor relations for a technology start-up; and was marketing leader for a global clinical research organization.
He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Duquesne University and a Master of Arts in Communication from American University.
Susan Strong, HVV Director of Communications and Patient Engagement
susan@HeartValveVoice-US.org
Susan Strong is the founding President and current Director of Patient Engagement for Heart Valve Voice US, the only patient-lead organization in the country that exclusively focuses on improving the diagnosis, treatment and management of heart valve disease.
A champion of patient advocacy and engagement, Susan serves as an AHA Heart Valve Ambassador, a member of the NQF Cardiology Standing Committee, and as a PCORI Ambassador. She has presented the patient perspective on panels at numerous professional conferences including ACC, TCT, TVT, SMDM, and NIH. With a keen focus on meaningful inclusion of patient stakeholders, Susan is passionate about improving patient experience and outcomes through collaborative partnerships in research, healthcare systems and industry.
With an extensive network of patient advocates and non-profit organizations, she collaborates with a wide range of stakeholders to help improve processes and policies that impact patient care.