Association of Black Cardiologists Names Five 2026 Spirit of the Heart Honorees

The Association of Black Cardiologists will recognize leaders and organizations advancing cardiovascular health, research, mentorship and health equity

NEW YORK — The Association of Black Cardiologists has named five leaders and organizations as its 2026 Spirit of the Heart honorees ahead of the organization’s 16th Annual Spirit of the Heart Awards Program & Fundraiser.

The honorees are Dr. Anekwe E. Onwuanyi, Dr. Tiffany M. Powell-Wiley, Georgia Arrhythmia Consultants & Research Institute, Flourish Research and Merck.

Recognizing Leadership in Cardiovascular Health

Onwuanyi, chief of cardiology at Morehouse School of Medicine, and Powell-Wiley, an Earl Stadtman Investigator and chief of the Social Determinants of Obesity and Cardiovascular Risk Laboratory at the National Institutes of Health, will receive the Distinguished Leadership Award.

“The contributions of the honorees demonstrate that advancing heart health requires more than scientific discovery alone,” said Dr. Icilma Fergus, awards program co-chair and ABC board chair. “It requires leaders who teach and mentor, organizations that bring research closer to the communities it is meant to serve, and partners willing to invest in better health outcomes.”

Awards Highlight Research, Health Promotion and Equity

Georgia Arrhythmia Consultants & Research Institute will receive the Dr. Walter M. Booker Sr. Health Promotion Award for work that includes public education, CPR and AED training and AED placement.

Flourish Research will receive the Health Equity Award for its work expanding access to clinical research, while Merck will receive the Spirit of the Heart Award, reflecting a relationship with ABC spanning more than four decades.

Supporting ABC’s Wider Mission

The awards program and fundraiser supports ABC’s work in cardiovascular education, research, advocacy, community outreach and prevention. The organization also plans to announce recipients of its medical student scholarships and EP Fellowship Support Awards.

The 2026 theme is “Honoring Our Legacy, Shaping the Future of Health.”

Awards Program Set for October 3

The Spirit of the Heart Awards Program & Fundraiser will take place October 3 at Cipriani Wall Street in New York City.

ABC was founded with a mission centered on preventing and treating cardiovascular disease and eliminating health disparities through education, advocacy, research, outreach and leadership development.

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