Five Questions With: Amanda Leite

Amanda Leite is the new executive director of the American Heart Association - Southern New England, after serving earlier as the organization’s senior Heart Walk director. / COURTESY STEPHANIE VEGLIANTE PHOTOGRAPHY
Amanda Leite is the new executive director of the American Heart Association - Southern New England, after serving earlier as the organization’s senior Heart Walk director. / COURTESY STEPHANIE VEGLIANTE PHOTOGRAPHY

In July 2016, Amanda Leite became executive director of the American Heart Association – Southern New England, after previously serving as senior Heart Walk director for the organization. She holds a bachelor’s degree in hospitality management from Kendall College in Chicago. Leite talked with Providence Business News about the AHA’s role in helping Rhode Islanders reduce their risks of heart attacks and cardiac disease and her new role with the AHA.

PBN: How do Rhode Island’s statistics compare with national statistics on cardiac-related illnesses and deaths?

LEITE: Rhode Island has the 33rd highest death rate from cardiovascular disease in the country. In Rhode Island in 2014 (the most recent year for which data is available) 2,341 people died of heart disease and 373 people died of stroke. Heart diseases and strokes remain the leading health threat to Rhode Islanders.

Since the early 1900s, heart disease has been the leading cause of death in the United States and cancer the second. A few weeks ago, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released the latest rankings of the leading causes of death in every state; Rhode Island is one of 22 states where cancer is now the leading cause of death and heart disease is second. Many of the major modifiable lifestyle factors that can help prevent heart disease are those that can also help prevent cancer: smoking, physical activity and diet. This shows how important it is that we continue to advocate for healthier communities and healthy lifestyles in Rhode Island that may help to prevent chronic diseases.

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PBN: Are Rhode Islanders getting more or less heart healthy over time? What do you attribute that to?

LEITE: Rhode Island has the 12th lowest adult obesity rate in the United States, according to “The State of Obesity: Better Policies for a Healthier America,” which was released earlier this month. According to that annual report, which is a project of the Trust for America’s Health and the Robert Johnson Wood Foundation, obesity rates in Rhode Island are still on the rise. In fact, Rhode Island’s adult obesity rate is currently 26 percent, up from 16.9 percent in 2000 and 10.1 percent in 1990. Obesity is linked to a higher risk of developing cardiovascular diseases and stroke, as well as arthritis, diabetes and cancer. If these rates continue in Rhode Island, it is projected that heart disease rates will increase from 64,087 cases in 2010 to 301,251 cases in 2030. This makes our work to help Rhode Islanders maintain a healthy weight incredibly important.

Since 1968, mortality rates from cardiovascular diseases and strokes have dramatically decreased – by 70 percent – in the United States. AHA-funded research programs have contributed to many important scientific advances to improve patient care, including the first artificial heart valve, techniques and standards for CPR, implantable pacemakers, cholesterol inhibitors, microsurgery and drug-coated stents. Since 1949, the AHA has funded more than $3.8 billion in scientific research, more than any other nongovernmental organization.

PBN: From your perspective, what are the greatest obstacles to expanding the number of people in Rhode Island who adopt heart-healthy practices, and how do you hope to overcome those obstacles?

LEITE: In Rhode Island and throughout the country, communities with low-income residents have shorter life expectancies, based on socioeconomic status. Heart disease and stroke remain a leading health threat in communities that lack access to healthy foods and safe places to play and be active. Health starts where we live, learn, work, play and worship. As an organization, we need to work to improve the health of those who need it most, and that starts with community education and policy, systems and environmental changes that make the healthy choice the default choice for individuals and families. Through a CDC grant that started in 2015, we have had the opportunity to do some targeted work in Providence, Pawtucket and Central Falls to improve the health of residents in these at-risk communities by educating and increasing access to healthy foods and beverages and promoting increased physical activity, especially for children in school settings. Lastly, to influence overall population health in Rhode Island, we are working to create a culture of health in workplaces, schools, communities and at home. Policy changes at the national, state and local levels will help us create an environment where the healthy choice is the easy choice for Rhode Islanders.

The AHA continues to advocate for public policies that focus on healthy eating, active living, quality systems of care and being tobacco-free. We will work to ensure that students in Rhode Island have access to healthy snacks and beverages in schools, and that only healthy foods and beverages are advertised and marketed to children on school property. We will advocate for healthy food and beverage choices in public places, including state and municipal buildings; support state funding for bike paths and recreational areas; work with partners to improve physical education in our schools and support policies that help smokers quit and prevent kids from ever starting this deadly habit. Finally, we’ll make sure that our CPR in Schools law [enacted in 2013, it requires all high school students to be trained in CPR before they graduate] is fully implemented. AHA and its advocates continue to seek secure state funding to purchase new CPR mannequins for all Rhode Island public schools to help implement the law and ensure students receive quality training.

PBN: Beyond the AHA Workplace Health Solutions and fundraising events like the Heart Walk, Go Red For Women Luncheon and Heart Ball, are there other opportunities for corporations or their employees to reinforce the mission of AHA?

LEITE: The AHA is committed to providing public health education in a variety of ways in order to help Rhode Islanders live healthier lives and reduce their risk of heart disease and stroke. Our programs, educational resources and advocacy initiatives are all targeted at helping people identify risk factors and adopt healthier lifestyles. We provide science-based treatment guidelines to health care professionals to help ensure the best treatment for every patient, every time, and educate lawmakers, policymakers and the public as we advocate for changes to protect and improve the health of our communities. Dollars raised through fundraising events and initiatives fund cutting-edge research and programs to make Americans healthier.

Corporations in Rhode Island can collaborate with the AHA to educate their employees on healthy lifestyle changes through annual icon days like National Eating Healthy Day (Nov. 2), National Wear Red Day (Feb. 3) and National Walking Day (April 5). Organizations can also offer CPR trainings and engage their employees in volunteering opportunities with the AHA. In addition, we encourage all workplaces to adopt healthy food and beverage policies to support the heart health of their employees. Companies can download our free Healthy Food and Beverage Toolkit at www.heart.org/workplacehealth.

PBN: What are your goals as executive director over the next 12 months?

LEITE: As executive director, I will collaborate with our team and the community to raise $1.5 million to fund research, education and fuel our mission in Southern New England. I will work closely with the Rhode Island board of directors to build a strong foundation with corporate and community leaders in the region. I will continue to work with my team on key AHA issues – working within the state’s most at-risk communities to prevent heart disease and stroke, influencing public policy and engaging large employers in wellness activities to improve the overall health of Rhode Islanders and educating youth and adults on CPR.

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