BALTIMORE, July 8 2025 — William Ashley, MD, PhD, MBA, FAANS, has assumed the role of president of the board of directors for the Eastern States region of the American Heart Association, the world’s leading voluntary health organization dedicated to building longer, healthier lives free of cardiovascular diseases and stroke.

Dr. Ashley will serve a two-year-term as president through June 30, 2027. Dr. Ashley is the first neurosurgeon to serve as president for this regional board.

Dr. Ashley is the Director of Cerebrovascular and Endovascular Neurosurgery for The Sandra and Malcolm Berman Brain & Spine Institute at Sinai Hospital in Baltimore, part of the LifeBridge Health System. In 2018, Dr. Ashley joined the Baltimore and Greater Maryland Division of the American Heart Association Board of Directors, and served as its president from 2021-2023. He also joined the Eastern States Regional Board of Directors in 2020. He has also served on the National American Heart Association Scientific Publication Committee since 2021.

Additionally, Dr. Ashley is a past Chair of the Maryland Institute for Emergency Medical Services Systems (MIEMSS) Stroke Quality Improvement Committee and past president of the American Society of Black Neurosurgeons. He has authored more than 100 peer-reviewed articles, book chapters, and abstracts and acts as an editor for several national and international scientific journals. He is actively involved in clinical and translational research and is currently co-principal investigator for the Multidisciplinary Approach to Reduce Cardiovascular Health Disparities in Baltimore Racial Minority Communities trial (M-BRACE trial) which investigates potential differences in thrombogenicity between Black and White patients admitted with atherothrombotic events including acute coronary syndrome, multi-vessel coronary disease, and ischemic stroke.

“It is a profound honor to begin my term as President of the Eastern States Board of Directors,” said Dr. Ashley. “As the first neurosurgeon to serve in this role, I am deeply aware of the interconnectedness of brain and heart health, and the critical importance of prevention, education, and access to care. I look forward to working alongside our dedicated volunteers, healthcare professionals, and community leaders to drive innovation, promote equitable health, and ensure that every individual — regardless of background or zip code — has the opportunity to live a longer, healthier life. Together, we will continue to build stronger, more resilient communities where every heartbeat truly counts.”

American Heart Association - Eastern States volunteers and staff serve more than 75 million people who live on the eastern seaboard of the United States. The Eastern States region includes 13 states and Washington, D.C., and five of the top 25 metropolitan areas in the U.S. In support of the AHA’s mission to be a relentless force for a world of longer, healthier lives, the Eastern States region raises revenue to transform the health and well-being of local communities by providing science-based information, health resources, community programs and patient support. As the second-largest funder of cardiovascular research next to the federal government, the Association is also a driver of change through its advocacy efforts, public and professional education and community services like CPR training.

In his role as president, Dr. Ashley will work alongside new Board Chair David Chubak, an executive from Edward Jones in New York, and other volunteer leaders to advance critical mission and fundraising priorities for the Heart Association. Areas of focus will build on existing efforts around removing barriers to health care access and quality, addressing issues of nutrition and food security, hypertension reduction and more.

“We are honored to welcome Dr. William Ashley as President of the Eastern States Board of Directors,” said Kelly Grose, Executive Vice President of the American Heart Association’s Eastern States Region. “His leadership and commitment to brain and heart health have already made a lasting impact across Maryland and beyond. As a passionate advocate for equitable health, he helped lead 49 high-priority advocacy actions in just one year — an extraordinary achievement. We’re excited to see how his expertise and vision will shape the future of our work across the region.”

Dr. Ashley graduated from Stanford University with a degree in biology and earned a medical degree as well as a doctoral degree in physiology and biophysics at the University of Illinois College of Medicine. He also completed an M.B.A. in health care administration from the Loyola University of Chicago. He then completed a neurosurgical residency at Barnes Jewish Hospital/Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, followed by a dual fellowship in cerebrovascular and endovascular neurosurgery at the University of Illinois at Chicago Medical Center.

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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, on Facebook, X or by calling 1-800-AHA-USA1.

For Media Inquiries:

Wayne Carter: wayne.carter@heart.org

For Public Inquiries: 1-800-AHA-USA1 (242-8721)

heart.org and stroke.org