Abbott a global leader in heart health, announced the Abbott HeartMates program, a new initiative that will kick off with professional football player Damar Hamlin as its first ambassador.
Experiencing a major heart-related incident can cause emotional distress and be an incredibly isolating experience.2 A group of individuals working together as a team can make all the difference to those affected and help them make a full comeback and live their fullest lives. The Abbott HeartMates program aims to create a community of support for people and caregivers impacted by heart conditions. The program will enable participants to share stories and receive emotional support as well as connect with others going through similar heart health journeys.
Hamlin said.
"After experiencing a cardiovascular event that changed my life, I know the power and importance of having an engaged team to lean on for mental and physical recovery. I'm partnering with Abbott to launch HeartMates because we share a vision to offer the support and encouragement I received after my incident, so others feel empowered to achieve their own comeback stories."
[Source: PR Newswire]
Building the HeartMates Team
Abbott is inviting people who are committed to inspiring others through their heart health stories to join Hamlin on our HeartMates team. The team will be comprised of people directly or indirectly affected by a heart condition including cardiovascular patients, their caregivers, health care providers, friends and family. Team members will collaborate directly with Abbott and Hamlin as program ambassadors and promote the HeartMates community-building tenants to those impacted by heart conditions.
Individuals who would like to nominate someone they know or submit themselves to be considered for the HeartMates team are encouraged to share their heart stories with Abbott and Hamlin via email at HeartMates@abbott.com. The inaugural HeartMates team will be drafted in early 2024.
"At Abbott, we pour our hearts into developing innovative medical devices that empower people to come back from cardiovascular events," said Nadim Geloo, M.D., senior director of medical affairs in Abbott's Structural Heart business. "However, nobody makes a comeback alone. Our HeartMates program creates a community of support and resources for those navigating their heart health and embodies our unwavering commitment to ensuring that no one faces these challenges alone."
Abbott and Hamlin are collaborating closely to further build the HeartMates community by meeting and hearing from people around the country impacted by cardiovascular events, as well as their caregivers. Hamlin and the Abbott team recently visited Maria Fareri Children's Hospital in Westchester, N.Y., to learn from caregivers and hear comeback stories directly from people who have experienced cardiac events.