Local hospital executive to lead 2026 Boston Heart Walk and citywide push for CPR readiness
BOSTON, February 2, 2026 — The American Heart Association today announced that Lisa Abbott, executive vice president and chief human resources officer at Boston Children’s Hospital, will serve as chair of the 2026 Boston Heart Walk, leading a year-round effort to raise lifesaving funds and expand CPR education across Greater Boston.
The Boston Heart Walk brings together companies, community leaders and survivors to fight heart disease and stroke. As the American Heart Association’s largest community-facing initiative and part of its work as a relentless force changing the future of health for everyone everywhere, the Heart Walk engages senior executives across Greater Boston to build a community of lifesavers ready to act in a cardiac emergency.
Abbott brings deep experience to the role, having previously served on the American Heart Association’s Southern New England Board of Directors and chaired multiple Heart Walk and Go Red for Women campaigns in Rhode Island. Her commitment to the mission is also personal.
“Heart disease and brain health issues have touched my family across generations,” Abbott said. “Cardiac arrest can happen anywhere, at any time, and survival often depends on whether someone nearby knows what to do. We envision a community where at least one person in every household feels confident performing CPR. Through the Heart Walk, employers across Greater Boston can help make that vision a reality.”
Nearly 9 in 10 people who experience cardiac arrest outside of a hospital do not survive, often because no one nearby starts CPR. While confidence in CPR skills is improving, more than half of U.S. adults still do not feel confident they could act in a cardiac emergency, underscoring the need for continued education and training across Greater Boston.
“Lisa brings an extraordinary combination of professional leadership, personal passion and prior volunteer experience to this role,” said Allison M. Joyce, volunteer chair of the American Heart Association’s Boston Board of Directors. “Her vision for engaging employers and empowering everyday people to save lives makes her the ideal chair for the 2026 Boston Heart Walk.”
The American Heart Association is a global leader in resuscitation science, education and training and the official publisher of CPR guidelines. Through its Nation of Lifesavers movement, the organization is working to ensure more people are ready to perform CPR, supporting its goal of doubling survival rates from out-of-hospital cardiac arrest by 2030.
The 2026 Boston Heart Walk will take place on Saturday, Oct. 24, on Boston Common. Thousands of participants are expected to walk in celebration and memory of loved ones and the lifesaving progress being made to save lives. Companies interested in participating can contact Ieva Smidt at Ieva.Smidt@heart.org or visit BostonHeartWalk.org.
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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:
Chris Camire:
For Public Inquiries: 1-800-AHA-USA1 (242-8721)
heart.org and stroke.org
