American Heart Association announces inaugural Board of Directors
January 12, 2017
The Upstate American Heart Association (AHA) is pleased to announce the appointment of its first Board of Directors. The Board of Directors is responsible for implementing and initiating change that will help improve cardiovascular health in the Upstate. Board officers include, Ambassador David Wilkins who serves as Chairman and Ronald Gimble, PhD who serves as President.
“It is truly an honor to serve as Chairman of the Upstate Board of Directors for the American Heart Association” said Ambassador David Wilkins. “We have an incredible opportunity to make a positive impact on the health of our community. I look forward to working with fellow volunteers to help make a difference and further the mission of the American Heart Association.”
Ambassador Wilkins is a partner at Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough LLP and proudly served as U.S. ambassador to Canada from June 2005 to January 2009. Prior to his ambassadorship post, Wilkins served 25 years in the South Carolina House of Representatives and was elected speaker in 1994 – a position he held for 11 years. He is a long-time American Heart Association volunteer serving in roles such as Upstate Heart Ball Co-chair with his wife Susan and also serving on the Heart Ball Executive Leadership Team.
Dr. Ron Gimbel is Department Chair and Associate Professor of the Public Health Sciences Department at Clemson University. Prior to his position with Clemson, he was employed by the Uniformed Services University (USU) where he served as the interim chair of the biomedical informatics department and concurrently as the director of the Department of Defense Patient Safety and Quality Academic Collaborative. A U.S. Navy Veteran, Gimbel served in operational assignments and as a health care administrator. He also served as a senior health policy analyst on the clinical operations staff of the U.S. Navy Surgeon General. Gimbel’s research interests center on improving health care delivery and patient health.
Camilla Hertwig, Vice President of EDGEnterprises of SC, LLC, is serving as Leadership Development Chair.
Additional members of the Upstate Board of Directors include:
James Brown
General Manager, Fluor Corporation
Sean Dardeau
President and CEO, Mary Black Health System
Reverend Sean Dogan
Pastor, Long Branch Baptist Church
Bruce Holstien
President and CEO, Spartanburg Regional Healthcare System
Mark Nantz
EVP Strategy and Growth, Bon Secours Health System, Inc.
Thomas Nathaniel, PhD
Associate Professor, Neuroscience & Neuroanatomy, University of South Carolina School of Medicine, Greenville
Tim Reed
Owner, Margin Holdings
Joe Swann
President, Rockwell Automation Power Systems and Senior Vice President of Rockwell Automation, Retired
Chairman Integrated Power Services, Retired
Charles Villa
CEO, Jarden Process Solutions
“We are a volunteer-led organization, and are fortunate to have such strong, passionate leadership driving our mission across the upstate,” said Meg Gilmartin, Executive Director of the American Heart Association. “With cardiovascular diseases being the No. 1 killer in South Carolina, our Board of Directors will play a crucial role in improving the health of our community.”
For more information on the Upstate American Heart Association visit facebook.com/UpstateAHA or call 864.605.7221
