This American Heart Month, as we focus on the physical health of our hearts, I also want to pause and recognize something equally important. Caring for our “hearts” means making space for resilience, connection, and compassion—for ourselves and for one another. Many of us are carrying a great deal right now, and it’s worth acknowledging that weight. At the same time, this moment invites us to celebrate how our hearts continue to lead us—toward service, toward community, and toward doing extraordinary things even in challenging times.

My heart is filled with deep gratitude and genuine joy when I see public health professionals coming together to support communities and make real strides toward health for all. That sense of purpose and connection has been especially present over the past few weeks as NACDD leadership traveled to meet with several of our Member communities.

In January, we spent time with leaders in Guam and met with partners from ASTHO and territorial health departments in St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands to share insights, identify gaps and technical assistance needs, and find opportunities for collaboration rooted in local priorities. We joined New York State Department of Health staff and other partners to collaborate on a diabetes prevention campaign. Coming together to listen, learn, and align in these spaces was a powerful reminder of the strength that comes from partnership—and the importance of meeting communities where they are.

Partnerships have long been central to NACDD’s work advancing cardiovascular health. For more than four decades, and with support from CDC’s Division for Heart Disease and Stroke Prevention, our efforts have focused on strengthening peer networks, sharing timely resources, and turning evidence into action. We’re especially excited about upcoming Million Hearts® projects that will support health departments and hospitals in enhancing and expanding cardiac rehabilitation—critical work that improves recovery and saves lives. We look forward to announcing grant recipients soon and invite you to learn more about our longstanding partnership with Million Hearts^®.

We’re also proud of our partnership with the Children’s Environmental Health Initiative at the University of Illinois Chicago, who leads the Geographic Information Systems (GIS) Training for Surveillance of Heart Disease, Stroke, and Other Chronic Diseases. Nine state health departments were recently selected to participate in the training, which equips teams with powerful tools to visualize data, identify disparities, and guide smarter, more targeted prevention strategies. Congratulations to Arizona, California, Connecticut, Maine, Michigan, Mississippi, North Carolina, Oregon, and Wyoming—we look forward to seeing the impact of your work!

None of this would be possible without the expertise and dedication of NACDD’s subject matter experts. If you missed it, I encourage you to watch our recent Chronic Disease Connect webinar featuring three of our Cardiovascular Health SMEs—Julia Schneider, MPH; Miriam Patanian, MPH; and Laura Warner, MD, MPH—who shared how NACDD supports Members through initiatives like the Member-led Cardiovascular Health Council and the Off the Cuff newsletter.

As we move through this month, I hope you’re able to care for your heart in all its forms—by leaning on your colleagues and friends at NACDD, celebrating progress, and remembering the impact of the work you do every day. Your dedication, collaboration, and care continue to move this work forward.

Thank you for your perseverance and for leading with both expertise and heart in service of healthier communities.