Meet the Team!
Anisha Bobra
Anisha Bobra is the Co-President of Guardians of the Heart. Inspired by the female cardiologists in her family, she is dedicated to making a difference in raising heart disease awareness. She is passionate about empowering youth to make informed decisions about their health and overall make way for a healthier future. Beyond involvement with Guardians of the Heart, Anisha is an active member of Varsity Tennis and debate. She is also dedicated to advancing cancer research.
Co-President
Maria Lopez
Maria Lopez is the Co-President of Guardians of the Heart. Driven by a deep interest in medicine and a future goal of becoming a pediatrician, she is dedicated to the belief that heart health advocacy must begin at an early age. Maria is passionate about working with younger generations to instill healthy habits early on, aiming to empower youth to take proactive control of their well-being for a lifelong impact. Beyond her work with the organization, Maria serves as her School’s Vice President. In her free time, Maria is a dedicated swimmer, an avid reader, and enjoys exploring various cuisines.
Co-President
Lilah Altman
Lilah Altman is a junior at Byram Hills High School and serves as the Marketing Director of Guardians of the Heart. Inspired by her medical research in angiology, she aims to help bring awareness to the impacts of cardiovascular disease through community outreach and education. Outside of this work, Lilah plays soccer, babysits, and runs.
Marketing Director
Evelyn Wu
Evelyn Wu is the Program Manager of Guardians of the Heart. Inspired by a passion for health advocacy and preventative care, she is dedicated to raising awareness and teaching others about cardiovascular health alongside other important public health issues. Through her work, she hopes to educate youth to begin developing lifelong healthy habits that will create lasting positive change in their lives and communities. Outside of Guardians of the Heart, Evelyn enjoys playing the piano, swimming, and reading.
Program Manager
Dalia Latzman
Dalia Latzman is the Treasurer of Guardians of the Heart, and understands that the power to continue generations of healthy lifestyles lies in the educational resources provided, and through the team’s work, has helped communities to understand what it means to live a healthy life. Dalia has competed competitively in track & field and cross country from an early age and has continued to immerse herself in science, mathematics, and computer science - particularly interested in innovations in cardiology and medicine, like TAVR (Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement). Dalia is focused on educating communities to understand the importance of strong cardiovascular health.
Treasurer
Kaoruko Daito
Kaoruko Daito is the Secretary of Guardians of the Heart. As she self-researches about the heart as an organ, she recognizes the lethality of CVDs but also the ability for some to be preventable by lifestyle changes. Today, driven by her advocacy for CVD prevention and a big believer in a healthy lifestyle, she contributes to this organization to further spread CVD awareness and prevention methods in youth. During her free time, she enjoys art, volleyball, volunteering, and cooking.
Secretary
Pittsburgh Chapter
Samantha (Sam) Schork
Samantha (Sam) Schork is the Co-President of Guardians of the Heart, Pittsburgh. Her passion for heart disease prevention comes from her own personal and familial experiences. She wishes to spread awareness about heart disease, ways to prevent it, and ways to maintain heart health. She is also involved in varsity swimming, volunteer work, playing the guitar, reading, and learning nail art.
Co-president
Julia Tuite
Julia Tuite serves as the Co-President for Guardians of the Heart, Pittsburgh Chapter. Inspired by her family’s history of heart issues, Julia is dedicated to raising awareness about heart health. Her aspirations to pursue a career in the medical field fuel her mission to educate students, teachers, and families. Outside of her work with the organization, Julia is a dedicated athlete, participating in varsity Cross Country and varsity Track & Field. In her free time, she enjoys reading and cooking.
Co-president
Chelsea Wilkerson
Chelsea Wilkerson is a junior at Oakland Catholic High School and the Marketing Director at Guardians of the Heart, Pittsburgh Chapter. Through her work at Guardians of the Heart, she aims to use social media to spread awareness about heart health and educate her community. Beyond the organization, she enjoys expressing herself through writing, reading, choreographing, and cooking.
Marketing Director
Brian Lemon is the Treasurer of Guardians of the Heart, Pittsburgh Chapter. Moved by a passion to serve others, he seeks to make a broad impact through the program by helping millions of people suffering from chronic heart conditions around the world. He hopes that his research and contributions to the organization will warn people of the risks they face and how they can mitigate them through preventative measures. Outside of working with the nonprofit, Brian enjoys competing in tournaments for speech & debate and science fairs, hanging out with friends, and basketball.
Treasurer
Brian Lemon
Ainsley Cook-Balduaf
Ainsley Cook-Baldauf is the Secretary of Guardians of the Heart, Pittsburgh Chapter, and has a strong passion for both the arts and community service. Ainsley’s interest in promoting heart health stems from her desire to make a meaningful impact on the lives of others, especially through education and awareness. Ainsley brings strong organizational skills and a creative spirit to her role as Secretary. Outside of her work with Guardians of the Heart, Ainsley enjoys participating in theater productions, singing, dancing, and volunteering.
Secretary
Chicago Chapter
Rudra Trivedi
Rudra Trivedi is the President of Guardians of the Heart, Chicago Chapter. With a strong interest in medicine and biology, he is passionate about raising awareness of cardiovascular health and encouraging young people to learn about preventative care. Through the Chicago Chapter, Rudra works to support the organization’s mission by promoting education, outreach, and community engagement around heart health to help inspire others to take proactive steps toward healthier lifestyles and a greater understanding of cardiovascular wellness. Beyond his involvement with Guardians of the Heart, Rudra enjoys debate, cross country, and hanging out with friends.
President
Joshua Yoo
Joshua Yoo is the Vice President of Guardians of the Heart, Chicago Chapter. Joshua’s passion for public health and desire to bridge the gap in medical accessibility have led him to focus on growing the organization’s presence in the community. Joshua’s interest in heart health comes from the realization that education and preventative care are the most effective ways of tackling heart disease. His role is to lead community outreach programs and develop strategic partnerships with health organizations. In addition to Joshua’s work with the nonprofit organization, Joshua is an avid participant in Scholastic Bowl and golf. Joshua also enjoys scientific research.
Vice President
Ichiha Iwaoka
Ichiha Iwaoka is a junior at William Fremd High School and the Creative Director at Guardians of the Heart, Chicago Chapter. She enjoys using creativity and art to help spread awareness about heart health and support the organization’s mission. Ichiha has a strong passion for art and creative expression. She enjoys exploring different forms of creativity and using her ideas to inspire others. Outside of the organization, she enjoys fashion, art, and spending time developing her creative skills.
Creative Director
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Meet Our Founder
Alina Yang
Alina Yang is the Founder of Guardians of the Heart. With a significant history of cardiovascular disease in her family and aspirations of pursuing a career in cardiology, her mission is to address heart disease at the community, medical, and legislative levels to create a healthier future for all populations. Her work with Guardians of the Heart is the foundation of this vision, as she seeks to educate and inspire youth to take proactive steps toward lifelong heart health and to empower adolescents to take part in the fight against the leading cause of death and truly become guardians of their hearts. Beyond her involvement with Guardians of the Heart, Alina enjoys dance, soccer, journalism, and cardiovascular research.
Founder
Partners
American Heart Association
