Heart disease, stroke, and other cardiovascular diseases cause one in three deaths in the United States – that’s more than 860,000 people each year. The American Heart Association Los Angeles (AHA Los Angeles) is holding the Heart of Los Angeles 2021 Heart & Stroke Ball this weekend, an annual event to raise critical funding to support awareness efforts and cutting-edge research related to cardiovascular health and stroke. John Baackes, CEO of L.A. Care Health Plan, will be introduced as a 2021 Heart of LA Honoree at the virtual event.
The theme of this year’s Heart & Stroke Ball is Ensuring Equitable Health for All. AHA Los Angeles says the event is celebrating community leaders who are fostering diversity, equity and inclusion to create a world of longer, healthier lives. Baackes is being recognized for leading L.A. Care’s commitment to health equity.
Under the leadership of Baackes, the L.A. Care Board of Governors approved a Statement of Principles on Social Justice and Systemic Racism. A goal of the statement was to establish an Equity Council to focus on equity issues related to L.A. Care members, employees, providers and vendors. It also called for advocacy work on social justice, and L.A. Care has been supportive of the Black Lives Matter movement and anti-Asian hate crime efforts. The health plan also is a partner of the Los Angeles County Commission on Human Relations and an inaugural member of its LA vs Hate coalition.
L.A. Care recognizes that social determinants of health play a critical role in health equity. The health plan has committed millions of dollars to organizations that work on food security and housing stability. L.A. Care Community Link, a web-based search tool, also connects members to food, housing and other resources.
Baackes is being honored along with Richard Allen William, MD, the founder of the Association for Black Cardiologists.
The Heart & Stroke Ball is tomorrow, June 12 at 6:00 pm. You can register for the ball here.