About Us

ICHA is a 501(c)(3) organization comprised of a diverse group of doctors, medical students, educators, outreach workers, and other professionals dedicated to the elimination of preventable cardiovascular disease in the developing world.

Sustainable Cardiovascular Disease Prevention

The concept for ICHA originated in 2006 during ICHA founder Dr. Sujatha Sankaran’s tenure as a volunteer physician in a remote fishing village in West Africa. In addition to the expected cases of malaria and tuberculosis, she discovered that many patients suffered from the effects of untreated strokes, congestive heart failure and coronary artery disease. While clinic staff expertly cared for infectious illnesses, nurses had neither the training nor the supplies to implement the very simple measures that could have prevented cardiovascular-related illnesses. Concerned by what she saw, Dr. Sankaran did further research on cardiovascular disease, discovering that it had become a devastating crisis in impoverished communities around the globe. After discovering the absence of global organizations dedicated to responding to this epidemic, Dr. Sankaran joined with Bay Area attorney Nikka Rapkin to launch ICHA in January 2008. 

Since its inception, ICHA has become a thriving organization of over twenty-five passionate volunteers united to develop and implement sustainable, evidence-based cardiovascular disease prevention programs for under-resourced communities. Through community-based education and strategic alliances ICHA seeks to turn the tide on the crisis of preventable cardiovascular disease in the developing world. 

Mission, Vision, Values

Mission Statement

The mission of ICHA is to promote cardiovascular health by creating global alliances to share knowledge of effective cardiovascular disease prevention strategies in the developing world.

Vision Statement

We envision a world in which every community is empowered with the knowledge and tools to eliminate preventable cardiovascular disease.

Values

  1. We believe that the education of all individuals is essential for creating equality and that with education comes empowerment and the knowledge needed to make informed life choices.
  2. We operate as an alliance by respectfully collaborating with local communities and like-minded partners around the globe
  3. We are guided by principles of integrity, respect and humility, holding the benefit of those we serve as our primary concern and consideration.