American Heart Association welcomes five to Central Indiana Board
(INDIANAPOLIS, July 8, 2025) – The American Heart Association, a global force changing the future of health for all, welcomes five community leaders to its board of directors in Central Indiana. The board drives the local impact of the organization as it strives to build a world of longer, healthier lives.
Dr. Amna Ahmed, Carl Dennin, Dr. Marc Gerdisch, Stacy Walton Long and Nick Schellinger will serve two-year terms through June 30, 2027 with the option to serve two additional two-year terms through June 30, 2031.
“The past several years have been our best ever in terms of driving local health impact and for raising funds to support heart and brain health,” said Haley Rudolph, executive director of the American Heart Association in Central Indiana. “I’m looking forward to the leadership of these five individuals who have a passion for bettering the health of everyone in our community.”
Dr. Ahmed has been practicing cardiology since 2005. Her practice includes providing adult cardiac care to patients with a wide variety of cardiac problems, including coronary artery disease, structural heart disease, valvular heart disease and heart rhythm disorders. Her special focus is on women’s cardiovascular health, which has blossomed into the Cardio-Obstetrics Program at Indiana University Health.
Dennin is the Indianapolis Region Operations Vice President and Messer Health Care Segment Leader for Messer Construction. A graduate of Purdue University, Dennin has more than 20 years of experience leading construction projects across various sectors, including health care facilities, data centers, parking structures, and complex commercial and infrastructure developments. He served as the 2023 co-chair for the American Heart Association’s Hard Hats with Heart event and currently serves on the Hard Hats with Heart executive leadership team.
Dr. Gerdisch returns for his second stint on the American Heart Association board (2014-2020). Gerdisch is the chief of cardiovascular and thoracic surgery, co-director of the Heart Valve Center and Atrial Fibrillation Program at Franciscan St. Francis Health. He is a senior partner with Cardiac Surgery Associates and specializes in complex heart valve surgery and is a clinical assistant professor of thoracic and cardiovascular surgery at the Loyola University Medical Center in Chicago.
During the last 21 years, Dr. Gerdisch has performed more than 5,000 innovative surgical procedures, of which 3,500 involved heart valve operations. He is an innovator in heart surgery and presents internationally on novel heart valve repair techniques and participates in ongoing landmark research in next-generation heart valves and heart tissue regeneration. He will also serve as the chairman of the 2026 American Heart Association Heart of Indianapolis.
Long is an attorney with Krieg DeVault who advises healthcare clients regarding many significant legal issues, including security breach incidents and risk assessments involving Protected Health Information and other personal information under HIPAA/HITECH and other federal and state laws governing the privacy and security of such information, as well as corporate compliance and regulatory matters. She also counsels clients on a variety of medical staff issues, including peer review matters and medical staff bylaws. Long has served as a member of the firm’s Diversity Committee since its inception.
Schellinger is director of business development for Garmong Construction with a personal focus in K12, higher education, municipality, and civic projects throughout the state. Committed to giving back to the community, he serves on several local boards and is also the co-chair for the 2026 NCAA Read to the Final Four initiative in conjunction with the 2026 NCAA Men's Final Four as a part of the local organizing committee.
Schellinger survived a stroke in 2023 caused by undiagnosed high blood pressure. He shared his story throughout his participation in the American Heart Association’s Leaders of Impact campaign and raised more than $250,000, placing first in Indiana and runner-up nationally. He will serve as the chairman of the 2027 American Heart Association Heart of Indianapolis campaign.
“As excited as I am to welcome these five to our board, it’s very bittersweet to say goodbye to some very committed and faithful board members who served us and our community over the past several years,” Rudolph said. “We will be forever grateful for the work of Mark Jacob, our immediate past chair; Dr. William Gill, our immediate past president; Henry Hummel, Phil Kenney, Buu Lien and Dr. Jerry Smartt. They led us to new heights while making a lasting impact on the lives of thousands of Hoosiers.”
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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.
For Media Inquiries:
Tim Harms – Sr. Marketing Communications Director, Indianapolis
Tim.Harms@heart.org
