Five-Year Collaborative to Improve Heart Health in Underserved Communities
The Merck Foundation has launched the Collaborative for Equity in Cardiac Care, a five-year, $22 million initiative designed to improve access to high-quality, person-centered care for people living with heart conditions in the United States. Eleven leading health and public health organizations will receive grants to implement evidence-based, community-driven programs that enhance cardiovascular health outcomes, especially in regions with limited access to timely care.
Addressing Gaps in Cardiac Health Access
“Cardiovascular disease remains the number one cause of death for men and women in the U.S., and its burden is greatest in under-resourced communities,” said Kalahn Taylor-Clark, Vice President and Head of Social Impact & Sustainability at Merck. “By addressing both the medical and social needs of people with heart conditions, this Collaborative will create a lasting impact on individual and community wellbeing.”
Building a Network of Community-Focused Programs
The Foundation is funding non-profit health and public health organizations that work closely with local community partners. Together, they aim to close care gaps, promote sustainable solutions, and develop scalable models for improving cardiac health nationwide.
Grantee Organizations Include:
- Capital Health System – Trenton, New Jersey
- The Foundation for Black Women’s Wellness – Madison, Wisconsin
- Gallup Community Health – Gallup, New Mexico
- Georgia State University Research Foundation / Atlanta Regional Collaborative for Health Improvement – Atlanta, Georgia
- La Clínica del Pueblo – Washington, D.C.
- MedNorth Health Center – New Hanover, North Carolina
- Providence Medical Foundation – Sonoma County, California
- Public Health Institute / Population Health Innovation Lab – Lake County, California
- University of Chicago – Chicago, Illinois
- UPMC Center for High-Value Health Care – McKeesport, Pennsylvania
- Zufall Health Center – Morris County, New Jersey
Johns Hopkins Center for Health Equity to Serve as National Program Office
The Johns Hopkins Center for Health Equity will serve as the Collaborative’s National Program Office (NPO). The NPO will provide technical assistance, support peer learning among grantees, coordinate cross-site evaluations, and disseminate key findings and best practices.
“Each grantee brings deep local expertise in addressing barriers to high-quality cardiac care,” said Dr. Lisa A. Cooper, Director of the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Equity and the Collaborative’s NPO. “By uniting these organizations, we can strengthen community partnerships and address the broader social and environmental factors influencing heart health. This collaboration will drive lasting improvements in cardiac care delivery across the country.”
Building on a Legacy of Community Health Investments
As per the Merck Press release, the Collaborative for Equity in Cardiac Care continues the Merck Foundation’s longstanding commitment to improving access to quality healthcare in underserved communities. It follows the success of the Alliance for Equity in Cancer Care, which is currently active in seven states.
Through this new initiative, Merck Foundation reaffirms its mission to reduce health disparities, strengthen community health systems, and advance equitable cardiac care for all.