Keith Churchwell, M.D., FAHA

Dr. Keith Churchwell is president of the American Heart Association (AHA) for 2024-25. As president, Dr. Churchwell is the chief volunteer scientific and medical officer of the AHA providing oversight of medical, scientific and public health matters and related public policy. In this role, he presides over the Association’s Science Advisory & Coordinating Committee.

Born and raised in Nashville, Tennessee Dr. Churchwell obtained his undergraduate degree from Harvard University and medical degree from Washington University School of Medicine. He spent his residency and cardiovascular training years at Emory University Medical School and Affiliated Hospitals with Chief Residency year at Grady Memorial Hospital. He spent time in private cardiology practice after his fellowship with the Page-Campbell Cardiology Group before joining Vanderbilt Medical School as full-time academic faculty in 2006. At Vanderbilt he was an Associate Professor of Medicine and Radiology and the Executive Director/Chief Medical Officer of the Vanderbilt Heart and Vascular Institute from 2009-14.

Most recently, Dr. Churchwell served as President of Yale New Haven Hospital and Associate Clinical Professor of Medicine at Yale School of Medicine. Previous positions at Yale included Executive Vice President and Chief Operations Officer and Senior Vice President and Executive Director for Heart & Vascular Services, Transplantation Services and Clinical Service Coordinator for the Department of Medicine at Yale New Haven Hospital. His clinical interest in cardiovascular medicine has concentrated on cardiovascular imaging with a subspecialty fellowship in Nuclear Cardiology at Emory.

His work as a volunteer with the American Heart Association spans leadership roles including President of the Southeast Region and former Founders Affiliate, four years as Chair of the Advocacy Coordinating Committee and a member of Executive Committee and Board of Directors of the AHA. In these positions with the AHA he has had the great opportunity to be part of concentrated efforts within the Association addressing issues of health equity and social disparities and helping to coordinate AHA’s role in identifying and working on solutions, not only within the organization but in collaboration with other organizations, that have a national scope and impact.