Unleashing Prevention’s Power: Hypertension Takedown^™

Program Book – Agenda, Bios and Resources

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Full Transcript 

May 7, 2026

11:30 AM – 2:30 PM EDT

• Hypertension is the U.S.’s most pervasive cause of debilitating and deadly health conditions.
• Hypertension costs the U.S. over $200 billion. Every year.
• Nearly half of American adults have hypertension. Only about 3 in 10 people have it controlled.
• Preventing hypertension and improving blood pressure management would prevent heart attacks, strokes, kidney disease, cognitive impairment, and Alzheimer’s disease—it would make America healthier.
• We have proven clinical practices, tools, and public health interventions to manage high blood pressure and reduce hypertension. But these proven solutions are not being used widely.

Together, we can take down hypertension.

Agenda

Welcome

Bernadette Mazurek Melnyk, PhD, APR-CNP @BernMelnyk

Chair, National Forum for Heart Disease and Stroke Prevention

Watch the Welcome Address

Opening Keynote – National Forum Inaugural Hypertension Award

We unveiled a new award from our organization—the Hypertension Impact Award—presented each May at our Mid-Year Hypertension Meeting to recognize outstanding impact on blood pressure management and exceptional leadership in advancing hypertension control.

The inaugural Hypertension Impact Award was presented to Dr. Keith C. Ferdinand in 2026, after which the award will be renamed the Keith C. Ferdinand Hypertension Impact Award.

Dr. Ferdinand’s career exemplifies a steadfast commitment to improving hypertension outcomes across diverse communities. This award reflects his dedication to evidence-based care, strong partnerships, and equitable health improvement—core principles essential to preventing heart disease and stroke.

John M. Clymer @JohnClymer

Executive Director

National Forum for Heart Disease & Stroke Prevention

Keith C. Ferdinand, MD

Gerald S. Berenson Endowed Chair in Preventative Cardiology

Professor of Medicine,

Tulane University School of Medicine

Watch the Opening Keynote – National Forum Inaugural Hypertension Award

Session 1: Leveraging Innovation – Using AI, EHRs, standardized protocols, and new treatments to improve hypertension control 

This session will highlight how innovation can move hypertension control from fragmented efforts to scalable, system-wide success. Your leadership and expertise would bring critical insight into this discussion.

Facilitator: John M. Clymer @JohnClymer

Executive Director

National Forum for Heart Disease & Stroke Prevention

Panelists:

How AI and data-driven tools can improve the identification and management of hypertension

Dr. Paul Leeson, PhD, FRCP, FESC 

Professor of Cardiovascular Medicine 

University of Oxford

The role of EHR integration and clinical decision support in closing care gaps 

Daniel T. Lackland, DrPH

Professor of Epidemiology and Neurology

Medical University of South Carolina

Standardized protocols and emerging treatments that improve outcomes at scale

Modele O. Ogunniyi, MD, MPH @modeldoc

Prof. of Medicine and Master Physician, Division of Cardiology, Emory University

Associate Medical Director, Grady Heart Failure Program

Watch Session 1 – Leveraging Innovation 

Session 2: Leveraging All of the Players – Empowering healthcare teams to implement evidence-based care and enable patients to participate in controlling their blood pressure

This session will focus on how we fully activate the care team and better engage patients to move from isolated efforts to coordinated, team-based hypertension control.

How to leverage pharmacists and the broader care team to expand access and improve hypertension control

Krystalyn K. Weaver, PharmD, JD

Chief Executive Officer

The National Alliance of State Pharmacy Associations

Health system strategies that integrate multidisciplinary approaches and drive scalable, team-based care models

Erica S Spatz, MD, MHS

Associate Professor, Section of Cardiovascular Medicine

Yale School of Medicine

How to engage patients and advance population health strategies to reduce disparities in hypertension control

Yvonne Commodore-Mensah, PhD, MHS, BSN, RN

Associate Professor, Associate Dean

Research, Johns Hopkins School of Nursing

Watch Session 2 – Leverage All the Players

Mayor Interview

Honorable Mayor Nathaniel George Booker 

Mayor of Maywood, Illinois

Watch Interview with Mayor Booker

Session 3

Connecting the Pieces – Bringing health systems, payers, employers, innovators, clinicians, patients, and community leaders, together to end fragmentation

John D. Bisognano, MD, PhD

Clinical Professor, Cardiovascular Medicine

Associate Vice-Chair, Internal Medicine

University of Michigan

Taking Action – Meeting Participants Share Impactful Initiatives That Are Taking Down Hypertension

Marissa Smith, MDPCP
Cardiovascular Disease Prevention Coordinator
Office of Advanced Primary Care
Maryland Dept of Health

Qwamel Hanks, MPH, NDTR
Senior Director, Strategic Partnerships
Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics

Neicey Johnson
SVP of Research & Global Strategies Akeia Blue,
VP of Communications
Association of Black Cardiologists

Brenda Chitindi
Founder and Executive Secretary
Zambia Heart and Stroke Foundation

Celina Gorre
Chief Executive Officer
WomenHeart

Kinetra Joseph, MMC, Sr. Advisor
Social and Behavior Change Programs
Hypertension Bites, CDC Foundation

Watch Taking Action – Meeting Participants Share Impactful Initiatives That Are Taking Down Hypertension

Taking Down Hypertension: From Knowledge to Action

Tom Frieden, MD @DrTomFrieden

President and CEO

Resolve to Save Lives

Hypertension Control to Make America Healthier

John M. Clymer @JohnClymer

Executive Director

Interviews

RADM Paul Jung, USPHS

Acting Deputy Surgeon General

Watch Hypertension Control to Make America Healthier

Closing & Adjourn