American Heart Association Honors Dr. Cheryl Anderson with 2026 Chairman’s Award

Cheryl A.M. Anderson, Ph.D., M.P.H., FAHA, founding dean of the Herbert Wertheim School of Public Health and Human Longevity Science at the University of California, San Diego, will receive the American Heart Association’s 2026 Chairman’s Award. The honor recognizes more than two decades of volunteer leadership advancing the Association’s mission through science, advocacy, community engagement and donor stewardship. She will be recognized during the Association’s Scientific Sessions 2026, Nov. 6-9 in Chicago, a premier global exchange of the latest scientific advancements, research and evidence-based clinical practice updates in cardiovascular science. The Chairman’s Award recognizes medical and science volunteers whose leadership advances the Association’s goals beyond their scientific contributions.

An internationally recognized nutrition and cardiovascular disease epidemiologist, Dr. Anderson has helped shape the Association’s strategy, strengthen its volunteer community and translate evidence into action in communities across the country. Lee A. Shapiro, J.D., 2025-27 volunteer chairperson of the Association’s National Board of Directors, praised her ability to bring people together around bold goals, mentor emerging leaders and turn evidence into action. Dr. Anderson’s commitment to community health was recently demonstrated through UC San Diego’s Revive and Survive initiative, developed in partnership with the American Heart Association’s San Diego team. The initiative reached its goal of training 1 million people in San Diego in bystander CPR, uniting 49 partners around the shared goal of creating a Nation of Lifesavers.

Dr. Anderson has also helped advance the emerging field of Food is Medicine, shaping a scientifically rigorous portfolio focused on how nutrition interventions can support engagement, adherence and lasting behavior change. She has championed nutrition-related public policy through the Association’s Council on Lifestyle and Cardiometabolic Health and influenced national and international policy through service on the National Academy of Medicine’s Food and Nutrition Board and the 2025 U.S. Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee. Most recently, she represented the Association on the writing committee for the 2026 multi-society Joint Guideline on the Management of Dyslipidemia and co-authored the Association’s 2026 scientific statement, “Dietary Guidance to Improve Cardiovascular Health.” A dedicated volunteer since 2004, she has served on the National Board of Directors and chaired several committees. Her research has deepened understanding of how sodium, nutrition and healthy eating patterns influence cardiovascular disease, chronic kidney disease, Type 2 diabetes and other chronic conditions. As founding dean, she has led significant growth in interdisciplinary education, research and innovation. Dr. Anderson expressed deep honor at receiving the award and gratitude for the opportunity to continue advancing the shared goal of making the healthy diet choice the default.