When it comes to making an impact, Tracey Hall, Ph.D., and her therapy dog, Willow, are leading the pack
Tracey, product strategy advisor at Cigna Healthcare, and Willow have been named the American Heart Association’s Eastern Pennsylvania 2025 Leaders of Impact™ winner for their incredible work in raising awareness and supporting lifesaving research.
Over the past seven weeks, Tracey and Willow have championed the fight against cardiovascular disease—the No. 1 cause of death in the U.S.—in the Leaders of Impact competition by fundraising, educating their community and advocating for equitable health. Their efforts contributed to more than $41,000 raised in Eastern Pennsylvania, fueling the American Heart Association’s mission to create a world of longer, healthier lives.
Taking part in Leaders of Impact was personal for me because my father is living with heart failure, and I’ve seen firsthand the toll this disease takes, not only on the diagnosed person, but on their loved ones as well. It has shown me how critical the American Heart Association’s mission is in advancing research, education and support for those impacted. At the same time, Willow and I volunteer to visit patients who are facing these same battles. Willow has a gift for bringing comfort and joy, reminding people they are not alone on their journey. Every smile she pulls is a reminder of the importance of compassion and hope alongside science and care.
Why This Work Matters
For more than 100 years, the American Heart Association has driven change by supporting health and access to care for all, investing in groundbreaking research, educating medical professionals and patients, and advocating for healthy policies. These efforts save lives every day, but they rely on volunteers like Tracey and Willow to keep the momentum going.
In Eastern Pennsylvania, the American Heart Association is focused on:
- Hands-Only CPR education to raise awareness about this lifesaving skill and create a Nation of Lifesavers
- Food insecurity initiatives to improve community health
- Cardiac Emergency Response Plan (CERP), a written document that establishes specific steps to reduce death from cardiac arrest for out-of-hospital settings.
A Community of Change Makers
Tracey and Willow were among several inspiring nominees committed to making a difference. Other local nominees included:
- Laura Blackman, training programs supervisor at Ball Corporation;
- Katie Lykon-Bond, director of the SHINE After School Program at Wilkes University;
- Kayla Rodriguez, owner of Calm and Clear Cleaning;
- Hannah Ryan, senior specialist of corporate communications for Olympus Corporation of the Americas;
- Josh Sigley, owner of ABC Lawn Care;
- Julia Wilhide, coordinator of promotions and events at the Lehigh Valley Zoo; and
- April Wozniak, senior HCM enterprise consultant at Paycor.
Together, these changemakers are proving that united communities have the power to save lives.
Want to learn more or get involved? Visit https://leadersofimpact.heart.org or email Courtney Deignan, American Heart Association development director for Northeast PA, at Courtney.Deignan@heart.org.
