American Heart Association Greater Washington Region Names New Board Chair, Welcomes New Directors
ARLINGTON, Va., July 15, 2025 — The American Heart Association, a global force for longer, healthier lives, has announced new leadership and appointments to its Greater Washington Region Board of Directors for the 2025–26 fiscal year.
The volunteer-led board supports the Association’s mission through fundraising and community initiatives focused on increasing access to affordable, healthy food; expanding CPR education and emergency preparedness; managing hypertension; and promoting environments that support physical and mental well-being.
Vishal Tulsian, president and chief operating officer of RELI Group Inc., has been named chair of the Greater Washington Region board and will serve a two-year term. A longtime supporter of the Association and two-time Heart Ball chair, Tulsian brings more than 25 years of experience in public sector services and solutions. He will lead alongside Ameya Kulkarni, M.D., FSCAI. board president and associate medical director at Kaiser Permanente.
Additional leadership appointments include:
-
Monica Shah, M.D., FACC, chief medical officer at CTI Clinical Trials & Consulting, named president-elect and continuing as leadership development chair.
-
Yolandra Hancock, M.D., MPH, a community physician and pediatrician, continuing as chair of the advocacy committee.
-
Lauren Sipple, senior audit manager at KPMG LLP, appointed Giving Society ambassador, focusing on individual donor engagement.
New Board Members
The Association welcomes five new members to the board:
-
Saira Aslam, , M.D., MHA, FACC, FACHE senior vice president and chief operating officer of MedStar Washington Hospital Center, a cardiologist and military veteran with expertise in healthcare operations.
-
Sabine Awad, principal at Deloitte & Touche LLP, with more than 30 years of experience in public health and strategic transformation.
-
Mike Policicchio, Americas assurance transformation leader and U.S. audit partner at Ernst & Young LLP, a CPA with a strong commitment to community leadership.
-
Rocky Thurston, CEO of DMI, a global technology firm, with expertise in digital transformation and public-private sector integration.
-
Sheila Woodhouse, M.D., MBA, FACC president and CEO of Sentikon Technologies & Consulting LLC, a physician-scientist focused on data-driven, patient-centered care.
Continuing Board Members
Six members will continue their service:
-
Bryan O. Buckley, DrPH, MPH, MBA head of public health, CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield.
-
Erin Henderson Moore, plan president and CEO, Fidelis Care of New Jersey at Centene Corp.
-
Michael Kirshbaum, chief financial officer, EAB.
-
Monique Sanfuentes, administrative director, community affairs and population health, Suburban Hospital, Johns Hopkins Medicine.
-
Vicki Schmanske, president, commercial and international sector, Leidos.
-
Hassan A. Tetteh, M.D., MBA, thoracic surgeon and vice president of operations, Vituity.
Thank You to Outgoing Leaders
The Association extends its gratitude to outgoing board members:
-
Kelly Epps-Anderson, M.D., MSHP, FACC immediate past president and interventional cardiologist at Inova Heart and Vascular Institute, who championed women’s heart health and community outreach since 2019.
-
Amry Junaideen, outgoing chair and managing principal at Deloitte & Touche LLP, who led the board to Gold Standard designation and advanced CPR training and food access initiatives.
-
Carmen C. Ramirez, PhD, RN executive director of Community Capital Corp., who advocated for immigrant health and education and helped launch a health academy at Carlos Rosario International Charter School.
###
About the American Heart Association
The American Heart Association is a relentless force for a world of longer, healthier lives. Dedicated to ensuring equitable health in all communities, the organization has been a leading source of health information for more than one hundred years. Supported by more than 35 million volunteers globally, we fund groundbreaking research, advocate for the public’s health, and provide critical resources to save and improve lives affected by cardiovascular disease and stroke. By driving breakthroughs and implementing proven solutions in science, policy, and care, we work tirelessly to advance health and transform lives every day. Connect with us on heart.org, Facebook, X or by calling 1-800-AHA-USA1.
