Rural cardiologist and local volunteer funding lifesaving research and supporting community health
LEXINGTON, Ky., November 18, 2025 – Dr. Raymon Nelson, a cardiologist at Pikeville Medical Center, has been named the American Heart Association Central and Eastern Kentucky 2025 Leaders of Impact™ winner for his work supporting the Heart Association’s mission of creating a world of longer, healthier lives for all.
“Dr. Nelson and all of our Leaders of Impact nominees have done incredible work over the last seven weeks in the fight for a healthier Kentucky,” said John Cioci, Board Chair for the Central and Eastern Kentucky American Heart Association and Commercial Relationship Manager at PNC bank. “They have raised funds to support pioneering research that changes lives, spread awareness about the importance of Hands-Only CPR and advocated for health for everyone, everywhere. Their efforts, alongside those of the other nominees across the U.S., support the American Heart Association’s work to save the lives of the people we love within our community and around the word.”
In the fight against heart disease, the leading cause of death in the U.S.,[1] the American Heart Association trains and certifies millions in CPR, equipping everyday people with the skills to save lives. Through relationships with food banks and community organizations, the Heart Association connects people with healthy food to improve the health of families at home. Research funded through the Heart Association has helped countless people survive heart disease and stroke, while supporting the next generation of scientific talent.
None of this would be possible without the amazing work of volunteers like the Leaders of Impact, who raised over $160,000 in Central and Eastern Kentucky over the course of seven weeks, making this Leaders of Impact team #7 in the nation.
“Taking part in Leaders of Impact was personal for me because throughout my career I’ve witnessed the direct impact that the American Heart Association has had on saving lives of all people throughout the world,” said Dr. Nelson. “We are working to ensure everyone everywhere in our community has the opportunity to live a long, healthy life, full of special times with their loved ones.”
For more than 100 years, the American Heart Association has driven change by supporting health and access to health care for all, investing in groundbreaking research, educating health care professionals and patients and advocating for healthy policies. In Central and Eastern Kentucky, the Heart Association is specifically focused on funding cardiovascular research, CPR education and Cardiac Emergency Response Plans (CERPs) within our communities.
Leaders of Impact launched on Sept. 18 in hundreds of cities across the nation and culminated on Nov. 5. Each nominee’s participation was focused on opportunities to be a changemaker with a shared purpose to raise critical awareness and fund the mission of the American Heart Association.
Other local nominees included:
- Shelia Bayes, Founder & CEO, Shelia Bayes Jewelers
- Elizabeth Combs, In-House Counsel, Whitaker Bank Corporation of Kentucky
- Dr. Murali Kolikonda, Vascular Neurologist and System Medical Director of Teleneurology, Baptist Health Lexington
- Kathy Love, Chief Executive Officer, Family Practice Associates of Lexington, PSC
- Dr. Tom McLarney, Professor of Anesthesiology and Medical Director of the Anesthesiology Preoperative Assessment Clinic, UK HealthCare
- Mark Meade, Senior Vice President, Compliance & Licensing, NV5
- Abdul Muhammad, Market President & Regional Sales Manager, WesBanco
For more information about Leaders of Impact and a list of all the 2025 nominees, please visit leadersofimpact.heart.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.
Meredith Adkins: Meredith.Adkins@heart.org, 859-421-8400
Public Inquiries: 1-800-AHA-USA1 (242-8721)
heart.org and stroke.org
