Announcements

Providence Health Plan’s Shannon Drotning to Chair 2025 Heart and Stroke Walk, Expanding Community Health Impact

03 February 2025

Providence Health Plan's Shannon Drotning is taking bold steps to build a community of lifesavers across Oregon and Southwest Washington. As the newly appointed 2025 American Heart Association Heart and Stroke Walk Chairperson, Drotning will rally corporate leaders throughout Portland and Vancouver in a unified mission to fight cardiovascular disease while equipping community members with life-saving CPR skills and resources.

Drawing from deeply personal connections to heart health, Drotning brings passionate leadership to this critical role. "My grandfather had a quadruple bypass surgery and my father had three heart attacks," said Drotning. "These and other family connections to heart disease highlighted the importance of prevention for me. I tell people, 'Get checked early and often.'" As consumer and specialty market president at Providence Health Plan, Drotning sees this leadership role as an opportunity to expand access to vital cardiovascular care across all communities.

The stakes couldn't be higher for our region. Heart disease remains the leading cause of death in Oregon and southwest Washington, with cardiovascular conditions disproportionately affecting historically underserved communities. Nearly half of adults in the region live with high blood pressure, with Black and Hispanic individuals facing twice the risk of developing hypertension. As a health plan focused on improving the health of all community members, Providence Health Plan recognizes the urgent need to address these disparities through both community leadership and concrete action.

Under Drotning's leadership, the Heart and Stroke Walk campaign will mobilize thousands of community members in the fight against heart disease and stroke. The campaign, culminating with events on May 17 in Vancouver and June 7 in Portland, aims to bring together more than 2,000 participants who will walk to save lives while raising essential funds for research and community health initiatives.

This appointment strengthens Providence Health Plan's comprehensive collaboration with the American Heart Association, which includes the "Embracing Community Care" initiative which launched in September 2024 and continues to grow with multiple sites already running in Oregon and new sites launching in Washington later this year. This ongoing program reflects PHP's broader goal of removing barriers to care and create health equity for all, particularly in communities facing the greatest health challenges. Through targeted programs like the self-measured blood pressure monitoring and nutrition security initiatives, PHP works to ensure that quality healthcare is accessible to everyone, regardless of their background or circumstances.

"The Heart and Stroke Walk gives our community residents and employees an extraordinary opportunity to address a critical issue in our community," said Meredith Collett, executive director of the American Heart Association in Oregon and southwest Washington. "Cardiac arrest can strike anyone, anywhere, and the difference between life and death often hinges on the quick actions of a bystander. Through the Heart and Stroke Walk, we are not just raising funds; we are raising awareness, enhancing CPR training, and building a network of lifesavers throughout our region. With Shannon at the helm, we are confident this year's campaign will have an even greater impact in saving lives."

As a healthcare leader in the Pacific Northwest, Providence Health Plan understands that building truly healthy communities requires more than just providing insurance coverage—it demands active engagement in community health initiatives, strong connections with organizations like the American Heart Association, and a commitment to addressing social determinants of health. The Oregon and Southwest Washington Heart and Stroke Walk represents another step forward in this ongoing commitment to community wellness and health equity.

For more information about the Portland and Vancouver Heart and Stroke Walks, visit pdxheartwalk.org.