The American Heart Association has announced Jeri Jones, of Phoenix, as incoming chair of the Western States region board of directors and Dr. Mary Ann Bauman of Seattle, Washington, as the incoming president.

Both leaders have long histories of volunteer service with the American Heart Association and will serve two-year terms beginning July 1, according to a press release.

Ms. Jones, a retired health care executive, has been involved with the American Heart Association since 2012, when she served as chair for the Phoenix Go Red for Women campaign, which focuses on women’s heart health.

She joined the Greater Phoenix board of directors in 2014, increasing awareness about heart disease and stroke throughout the community, while focusing on women’s health, the release said.

“I am honored to take on this leadership role. Throughout my health care career, I have seen first-hand the effectiveness of the American Heart Association. Now our work is needed more than ever, as we work to address COVID-19, which has the potential to drastically change the health and well-being of our country for years to come,” said Ms. Jones in a prepared statement.

In 2019, Ms. Jones joined the board for the 10-state Western region, bringing her expertise in health care as former West Region CEO of UnitedHealthcare Community and State. She gained 35 years of leadership experience in health care before retiring in 2018.

She worked for two national insurance carriers, held leadership roles in physician organizations and was a health care consultant. She held several executive roles within UnitedHealthcare at the local market, regional and national levels.

Ms. Jones has a bachelor’s degree in accounting from Northern Arizona University and is a certified public accountant., the release noted, adding she has served on several nonprofit boards along with her work with the American Heart Association, including Downtown Phoenix Inc., and the YMCA.

Dr. Bauman, a primary care physician, is a longtime volunteer and advocate for the American Heart Association who first served as the Oklahoma City AHA board president in 2001, the release said, detailing her local, regional and national roles.

A member of the Western States board of directors since 2018 and the national board of directors since 2014, she has been a member of several national AHA committees including Diversity Leadership; Research; and Governance and is the immediate past chair of the Communications and Marketing Coordinating Committee.

Honored as the 2012 American Heart Association Physician of the Year, the first time this honor was awarded to a physician not specializing in cardiology or neurology, she received the Chairman’s Award at Scientific Sessions in November 2018.

“I am energized by the American Heart Association’s 2024 goal of advancing cardiovascular health for all, including identifying and removing barriers to health faced by far too many in our society,” said Dr. Bauman in a prepared statement.

“Though we have made incredible progress in the fight against heart disease and stroke over the last several decades, we have much work ahead.”

Completing a two-year term as Western States Board Chair is Chris Tsaklakis, a technology CEO and adviser in the San Francisco Bay Area. Completing her term as president is Dr. Kathy Magliato, director of women’s cardiac services at Saint John’s Medical Center in Santa Monica, California. Both will remain on the board, the release added.

The American Heart Association’s Western States region serves Alaska, Arizona, California, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, Utah and Washington.

To get involved with the American Heart Association: heart.org/volunteer.