Advocate Spotlight: Zahra Dhoondia

As a child, I grew accustomed to having my heart rate checked, often sitting in the waiting room of my doctor’s office or rushing to the school nurse every month. Growing up with Supraventricular Tachycardia (SVT), I spent much of my childhood hyperaware of my heartbeat, consumed with the fear that even the smallest moments would cause my heart to spiral out of control. For so long, this experience was isolating. However, as I attended the American Heart Association state advocacy day in Indianapolis, I found myself sharing my experience with SVT with representatives and senators. It became more than a childhood memory; it became a way for me to use my experience to make a change.

Beyond sharing my story, working with the American Heart Association’s advocacy team gave me an avenue to understand the intersection of health and legislation. As an individual deeply fascinated with science and medicine, I have come to understand that much of the work in the healthcare world relies on identifying and understanding complex diseases. I found that medicine is most effective when paired with advocacy for policies that support safe, healthy communities. My experience with Indiana’s advocacy team and working to create a Heart Club at Valparaiso University has helped clarify my academic goals, and I hope to learn more about health policy as I transfer to the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

I will continue to explore my passion in both science and advocacy as a volunteer for the American Heart Association and student researcher. Seeing the real-world effects of cardiovascular diseases encourages me to participate in research that works to understand the complex biological mechanisms behind the leading cause of death in the United States. This summer I have participated in cardiovascular research through Dr. Pablo Nakagawa’s lab at the Medical College of Wisconsin and will continue to advocate for heart-healthy legislation as I move to Wisconsin full-time. The American Heart Association has not only been transformative in my academic interests, but it has helped frame how I view my role in my community as a voice for those facing the complex intersection of medicine, research, and policy.