Meet Heart Attack Ethiopia
We are a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded by two Ethiopian-American physicians that are dedicated to combating the alarming increase in the premature death rates resulting from heart attacks and strokes in Ethiopia and other African countries. With a mission to save lives and improve cardiovascular health, we are committed to making a lasting impact on the communities we serve. We aspire to inspire and catalyze positive changes focused on cardiovascular health and timely care delivery throughout Africa. We are paving the way for a healthier Ethiopia by saving one heart at a time and leaving no heart behind.
Our Approach
We believe in a holistic approach to cardiovascular health. Through community outreach programs, we raise awareness about heart disease risk factors, promote healthy lifestyles, and provide education on early warning signs. We collaborate with local healthcare providers and organizations to enhance medical infrastructure, improve access to diagnostic tools, and deliver life-saving interventions in a timely manner.
Mission
Heart Attack Ethiopia is dedicated to saving lives and improving cardiovascular health in Ethiopia and beyond. Our mission is to establish a comprehensive and sustainable emergency cardiovascular service line that provides state-of-the-art management and care for cardiovascular conditions…
Vision
We aspire to inspire and catalyze positive change in cardiovascular health throughout Africa. We are paving the way for a healthier Ethiopia by saving one heart at a time and leaving no heart behind.
HAE Founders
Tesfaye Telila, MD, FACC, FSCAI
Founder and Executive Director
Dr. Tesfaye Telila is a renowned Ethiopian American interventional cardiologist who brings a wealth of experience in treating patients with heart attacks and other cardiovascular conditions. With his expertise and dedication, he has built a successful cardiology practice in the USA and has saved numerous lives and improved the quality of life for countless Americans. However, the unfortunate reality of lack of sustainable basic emergency cardiovascular services in his home country of Ethiopia has been a constant bane and frustration. Dr. Telila’s passion for cardiovascular medicine and his personal ties to his home country of Ethiopia fuels his unwavering commitment to catalyze positive changes focused on cardiovascular health and timely care delivery throughout Ethiopia and Africa.
OBSINET MERID, MD
Co-Founder & CEO
Dr. Obsinet Merid is an experienced Ethiopian American internist and assistant professor of medicine at Morehouse School of Medicine in Atlanta Georgia. She has a deep understanding of the importance of preventive care and early intervention. Her expertise in managing chronic diseases, including cardiovascular conditions and her deeply personal ties to the Ethiopian healthcare system where her older sister died due to lack of basic surgical care makes this nonprofit her passion project. She aspires to create a future where heart attacks and strokes no longer claim lives prematurely and envisions that no child should become an orphan due to a treatable medical condition. She currently serves as a president of a US based nonprofit organization, Making the Grade, Hope for African Youth. She Co-founded Heart attack Ethiopia along with her husband and excited to serve and share her experiences as a president and CEO to our nonprofit organization.
Executive Board Members
JACK CARLSON
Chairman of the Board
Jack Carlson is a seasoned professional with a wealth of experience in leadership roles at top global companies. Jack’s career has been marked by success, having held key positions such as President and CEO at Sullair, a prominent industrial air compressor manufacturer under the Hitachi Group, and Chairman of the Board for the IHI-Sullair joint venture in China.
Prior to his impressive tenure at Sullair, Jack served as President of North America at Southwire Company, a renowned leader in copper rod production and the design, manufacturing, and sales of utility, OEM, and electrical wire and cable. His diverse background also includes executive roles at Yale Security Group, Schneider Electric, and Square D Company, where he demonstrated his expertise in sales, marketing, and product management.
Jack’s commitment to innovation and excellence is further exemplified by his Chairmanship of the Board for the electrical industry’s IDEA organization and his extensive portfolio of over 15 patents in the United States. His deep-rooted passion for addressing healthcare disparities and advancing humanity sets him apart as a leader dedicated to making a positive impact.
TARESSA WILLS, MD
Vice President
Dr. TaRessa Wills earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Biomedical Engineering from the Georgia Institute of Technology in Atlanta, GA followed by her Doctorate of Medicine degree from Howard University College of Medicine in Washington, DC. She is currently a board-certified Internal Medicine physician who joined Emory University School of Medicine faculty as an Assistant Professor of Medicine in the Emory Division of Hospital Medicine at Grady Memorial Hospital in 2019. Clinically, she fervently delivers compassionate, direct care to Atlanta’s most vulnerable populations and strives to educate internal medicine residents, medical students and physician assistant students on how to integrate cultural competence and empathetic kindness into patient care. Dr. Wills also holds interests in global health rendering her zealous journey with Heart Attack Ethiopia.
JON-ALAN MANNING, MBA
Director of Philanthropy
Jon-Alan Manning is a highly accomplished individual with a strong background in business and education. He graduated from the University of Oregon in 1966 with a Bachelor of Science degree. Later, in 1970, he completed his Master of Business Administration (MBA) from Emory University. With his wealth of experience in the corporate world, Jon-Alan has held various leadership positions throughout his career. His expertise lies in strategic planning, financial management, and organizational development in small business and real estate. He has successfully spearheaded numerous projects and initiatives, driving growth and profitability in the real estate industry.
In addition to his professional accomplishments, Jon-Alan is passionate about giving back to the community. He supports several nonprofits, dedicating his hard earned money to making a positive impact in the world. His commitment to social causes is also influenced by what he witnessed firsthand traveling to over 54 countries in the world.
As a board member and champion of philanthropy for Heart Attack Ethiopia, Inc., Jon-Alan Manning brings a wealth of knowledge and experience that will greatly contribute to our mission. We are privileged to have him on board and look forward to the valuable insights and guidance he will provide.
JAMES KAUTEN, MD
Director of Cardiac Surgery Training
Dr. Jim Kauten is a celebrated cardiac surgeon joining our nonprofit team as Co-Director of Philanthropy. Dr. Kauten’s remarkable expertise and dedication to the field of cardiothoracic surgery will significantly enhance our mission and efforts.
Dr. Jim Kauten has been a practicing cardiothoracic surgeon since 1986. Together with Ellis L. Jones, M.D., he co-founded the Cardiac Surgery program at Piedmont Hospital. He is a distinguished fellow of the American College of Surgeons, the American College of Cardiology, and the American College of Chest Physicians. Dr. Kauten is board-certified by the American Board of Thoracic Surgery.
Dr. Kauten earned his medical degree from the University of Health Sciences of the Chicago Medical School in Illinois. He completed his General Surgery residency at Southern Illinois University School of Medicine in 1983 and his cardiac surgery fellowship at Emory University in 1986. In 2011, he furthered his expertise by obtaining a master’s degree in medical informatics from Northwestern University.
Since 1988, Dr. Kauten has been a valued member of the medical staff at Piedmont Hospital and, since 2009, at the Piedmont Heart Institute. Throughout his distinguished career, he has performed over 11,000 open-heart surgical procedures and more than 2,000 minimally invasive transcatheter valve replacements (TAVRs). He is an integral member of the Marcus Heart Valve Center’s Transcatheter Valve Replacement team. His clinical interests include valvular replacement surgery, transcatheter procedures for all types of cardiac valves, aorta and aortic root replacement, and mitral repair. Additionally, he is deeply involved in coronary revascularization (CABG) procedures. Dr. Kauten has also served as the principal investigator for multiple TAVR trials and an aortic valve trial, among others.
Beyond his professional achievements, Dr. Kauten enjoys traveling the world with his wife, engaging in amateur radio (ham radio), building and designing computers and networks, bird hunting, sporting clays shooting, and photography.
We are honored to have Dr. Jim Kauten join our team and look forward to the significant contributions he will make to our organization and the communities we serve.
WESLEY HOWARD
Chief Financial Officer
Wesley Howard recently joined the Heart Attack Ethiopia board as CFO, bringing with him over 36 years of experience from his career with Atlanta-based global apparel manufacturer Lanier Apparel, where he served the last 10 years as Chief Executive. A Georgia Tech graduate, Wesley has traveled to over 35 countries—including Ethiopia—which deepened his appreciation for the needs in developing regions and the importance of offering support. His professional background includes expertise in strategic planning, financial management, business development, logistics, and marketing. In addition to his corporate experience, Wesley has been actively involved in several non-profits, serving in both leadership and financial roles for church boards, private schools, and the Boy Scouts.
Advisory Board Members
VIRGINIA FIELDS, FNP-C
Secretary
Virginia Fields is an outstanding Family Nurse Practitioner that provides direct care to patients with heart attacks at Piedmont Heart Institute.
She earned a Bachelor’s of Science in Nursing from LaGrange College in 2007 and earned a Master’s of Science in Nursing from University of Alabama at Birmingham in 2016. Virginia has experience in the fields of pediatrics, oncology, emergency medicine, and cardiology. She found her career passion when she took a role as a Cardiology NP, with a particular interest in Acute Care and Interventional Cardiology.
Since childhood, Virginia has known she would grow up to help people through a career in healthcare. At age 15, she decided to become a nurse after she saw the stellar care and personal connection that her sister received from her nurses during a critical illness. She feels very fortunate to have a career that has allowed her to meet thousands of patients from all walks of life and from all over the world. She enjoys learning about each person’s journeys and finding creative ways to help them meet their needs. The opportunity to serve others is a privilege and she is eager to expand her understanding of the world by serving others in communities even further from home. She developed interest for Africa after she heard and read about the lack of very basic cardiovascular services that we take for granted here at home. She is so excited to be part of this great cause.
On a more personal note, Virginia lives in Newnan, Georgia. She has one daughter, Ellise, who is currently a student at Georgia Institute of Technology. She is engaged to be married to her fiancé, David, in October 2024. She enjoys spending her free time with her family, often finding hiking or camping trips or traveling to find the best local coffee shops or bookstores.
TRACEY ROGERS
Media and Marketing Advisor
Tracey Rogers is an award-winning media and marketing expert with extensive experience in video content production, digital strategy, earned media, social media, and executive communications. Her background includes 20+ years in broadcast journalism and interactive content creation. Recently, she was appointed to the Board of Governors of the National Academy of Television, Arts & Sciences’ Southeast chapter. Tracey has been honored with 18 awards, including eight Emmy Awards, two Edward R. Murrow awards, a Bronze and Gold Telly award, and the Target Gold Award for social media marketing.
ARTHUR J. POOLE, MSIS
Cybersecurity & Social Media Advisor
Arthur J. Poole, Jr. is a native of Montgomery, Alabama and currently resides in Atlanta, Georgia where he is currently employed with a major retail organization while consulting independently within the cybersecurity space.
Arthur finished a Bachelor of Science degree in Management of Information Systems and is currently completing a Master of Science in Information Systems with a focus in Business Analytics and Cybersecurity Management both from Auburn University.
He is the owner of Poole Technology Solutions, LLC.
Arthur is a skilled cyber security engineer specializing in risk management and messaging security and authentication. His 18 years of experience in the information technology and cybersecurity industry have improved his skills significantly, making him a noteworthy asset for the cyber community. He is married to his wife of 6 years, Erica Poole. They have a 5-year-old son. He is excited to serve as a Social media campaign and Security advisor for Heart Attack Ethiopia, Inc.
Odalys Sanchez
Bookkeeper
Odalys Sanchez is a junior at the University of North Florida, where she is pursuing a degree in Finance. She holds an associate’s degree in Business Administration and has a strong interest in investments and personal finance, shaped by the economic challenges she observed in her native Ecuador. This experience fuels her passion for understanding how effective resource management can enhance personal and organizational stability. At Heart Attack Ethiopia, Inc., Odalys leverages her financial expertise to optimize accounting operations, playing a vital role in strengthening the organization’s financial health and advancing its life-saving mission.
Stephanie Robbins
Chief Legal Officer
Stephanie Robbins is a partner at Harmon, Curran, Spielberg and Eisenberg. She advises the firm’s clients on the complex tax laws and processes that regulate their day-to-day activities, as well as state law, corporate law, intellectual property law, and governance issues. Ms. Robbins specializes in advising charities on setting up and operating complex corporate structures and the requirements under federal and state law regarding lobbying and political activities. Ms. Robbins also advises on domestic and international grantmaking, fiscal sponsorship, and other issues unique to charities.
Prior to joining Harmon Curran in 2021, Ms. Robbins spent ten years with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). She began her legal career in 2011 as a Presidential Management Fellow with an appointment as a tax law specialist in the business unit devoted to tax-exempt and government entities (TE/GE). In this position, Ms. Robbins reviewed complex applications for recognition for various types of charities, including public charities, private foundations, title-holding companies, social welfare organizations, and business leagues. She also authored rulings in response to taxpayer requests, responded to taxpayer correspondence, and served as a subject matter expert for specific types of charities.
In 2014, Ms. Robbins joined the IRS Office of Associate Chief Counsel (Employee Benefits, Exempt Organizations, and Employment Taxes (EEE)) as an Honors Attorney. As an attorney advisor, Ms. Robbins authored significant guidance and letter rulings affecting different types of charities, including hospitals. Ms. Robbins also regularly supported IRS field attorneys with examinations and the Department of Justice with litigation. Ms. Robbins served as a subject matter expert for issues such as unrelated business income earned by charities and the political and lobbying activities of charities.
Before joining the IRS, Ms. Robbins earned Juris Doctor from Temple University in 2011. Ms. Robbins then earned a Master of Laws in Taxation from Georgetown University Law Center in 2013.