Tara Comer appointed executive director of AHA Southern New England

PROVIDENCE – Tara Comer has been appointed the executive director of development for the American Heart Association of Southern New England, the AHA announced Friday.

Comer, whose new position will be the head of the Providence office that oversees Rhode Island and southern Massachusetts, rejoins the AHA from the University of Rhode Island Foundation, where she was development director. Comer had also worked for the AHA in 2015 through 2016 as Go For Red Luncheon director.

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Comer is is replacing David Bodah, who left the position in December to seek other opportunities, according to an AHA spokesman Monday, who also said that Comer started in the position two weeks ago.

“I am very excited to rejoin the AHA team here in Rhode Island and continue our efforts to educate the public about heart health, support groundbreaking research and innovation in treatment of heart disease and stroke, and advocate for evidence-based public policy to improve health outcomes for all members of our community,” said Comer in a statement. “It is a great privilege to work with our immensely talented staff, our dedicated volunteers and our many AHA donors, whose generosity enables all of the work we do.”

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Comer’s position will see her leading a staff of development directors who head up the Heart Walk, Heart Ball and Go Red for Women Luncheon.

“I’m thrilled to welcome Tara back to the AHA and am confident her leadership, fundraising and networking skills will help position the AHA for continued growth and sustained community impact,” said board member and former Go Red For Women Chair Melissa Cummings, executive vice president and chief customer officer at Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Rhode Island in a statement.

Chris Bergenheim is the PBN web editor.