ACC Georgia Chapter

News

GA/ACC Member Dr. Heval Kelli Profiled as Refugee that Shaped America

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REFUGEES SHAPE AMERICA

How those who have fled turmoil in their homelands have contributed to the United States

Dr. Heval Kelli

GA ACC member, Dr. Heval Kelli is profiled for World Refugee Day from the Voices of America News as a notable refugee. He is among a notable and impressive list of American refugees, including Madeline Albright, Albert Einstein, and Gloria Estefan.

A refugee from Syria, Kelli came to the United States in 2001, starting work as a dishwasher and later becoming a doctor. Refugees from the Middle East and South Asia sharply increased in 2008 with more than 20,000 from the region arriving during each of the 10 years beginning in 2008, according to U.S. State Department data.

Kelli is the founder of the Young Physicians Initiative, a nonprofit that provides a positive and engaging mentorship experience to prepare middle school, high school and undergraduate students in their journey toward becoming a doctor in the future. The participants will be provided with the necessary support and guidance to develop a structured plan and direction to achieve their goals.

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GA ACC Statement on Diversity, Equality and Inclusion

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The Georgia Chapter of the American College of Cardiology (GA ACC) is an unwavering supporter of diversity, inclusion and equity for our members, our cardiovascular teams and most notably, our patients. Georgia is the proud home of equal rights founders and leaders such as the Reverend Martin Luther King Jr, Ambassador Andrew Young and US Representative John Lewis. Our state has prevailed over social injustice, achieving progress at times when other locales were unsuccessful in finding solutions for racial and social inequality. History proves that non-violent, peaceful means can and will move us closer to a more open, mutually respectful and equal society. A strong and adamant stand must be taken by those with the duty of leadership to rectify the current conditions for those who are oppressed.

The GA ACC is committed to diversity, equity and inclusion for all our members regardless of skin color, race, ethnicity, gender, education, faith, or sexual preference. We provide the best care for our community of diverse patients when we achieve diversity among our teams, members and leaders. We will not tolerate any injustice, hate, violence or disregard for the rights of the patients and communities we serve. We acknowledge that our Black community has suffered in society and has been disproportionately affected by the health inequities of cardiovascular disease and more recently, COVID-19. Additionally, our Black patients have suffered violent and unconscionable treatment at the hands of some law enforcement officers, and others, evident by the most recent and heinous homicides of George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery, and Breonna Taylor. We lament all other victims who have gone unreported, unpublicized, or undiscovered. We are dedicated to fighting injustices that effect any of our patients! We empathize and are deeply saddened by these recent, senseless and heartbreaking deaths. As physicians, and other healthcare team members of the GA ACC, we have vowed to “Do No Harm” and we will continue to speak up stridently and confidently to protect the victims of racism and inequality so that the next person who utters “I can’t breathe” will be heard and protected.

J. Jeffrey Marshall, MD, FACC
President/Governor

Gina Lundberg, MD, FACC
Chair, Committee of Diversity and Inclusion