DOUGLAS, AZ, November 11, 2022 – Benson Family Health Center in Benson, AZ, and Ginger Ryan Clinic in Douglas, AZ, are each seeking to add one service-oriented member to their teams as part of the American Heart Association’s HeartCorps program that launched earlier this year.

Twenty-six states throughout the country are participating in the program, a joint venture between AmeriCorps and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The domestic service opportunity is intended to:

  • Help meet public health needs of local communities by providing needed capacity and support in state and local public health settings and advancing more equitable health outcomes for communities that are currently or historically underserved.
  • Provide pathways to good quality public health-related careers by providing exposure through onsite experience, training, and more, with a focus on recruiting AmeriCorps members who reflect the communities in which they will serve.

“We are excited to partner with the American Heart Association to help improve health in Southern Arizona.  We are determined to provide patients with more resources around healthy lifestyles and heart health, in addition to providing an opportunity for individuals to gain experience supporting community health and education,” said Randal Christensen, MD, MPH, chief clinical information officer at Chiricahua Community Health Centers Inc.

Benson Family Health Center and Ginger Ryan Clinic are both a part of Chiricahua Community Health Centers Inc.

“The health challenges in many rural communities are acute, but there are so many organizations and individuals committed to changing that. We’re excited for this program to help support those efforts,” said Tim Nikolai, Senior Rural Health Director at the American Heart Association.

As part of that effort, the Association began its own Public Health AmeriCorps program, HeartCorps. The program is designed for those interested in driving health equity in rural America. In total, 100 service members are being sought for 2022-23. Applicants must be 21 years old and will receive the following for their 1700 hours of service:

  • A living stipend of $25,500 (pre-tax)
  • Healthcare benefits and a childcare subsidy if eligible
  • A $6,495 educational award (pre-tax)
  • 200+ hours of professional development
  • Direct access to job opportunities upon successful completion of program

Please complete the general application for HeartCorps service members or simply email us your resume. Be sure to indicate which state(s) you are interested in serving and/or willing to relocate to for this service experience. All accepted applicants must successfully pass a national criminal background check to become HeartCorps service members. For questions related to HeartCorps, please email us.

More information about HeartCorps may be found at: heart.org/heartcorps.

Seeking more ways to help

The Association launched this effort because under-resourced communities and those who live in rural areas face the highest death rates due to hypertension. Those areas also face shortages in the number of available health care professionals, including public health care workers, which continues to negatively impact the care those in rural areas can receive.

Nearly half of all Americans have high blood pressure, and many don’t know they have it. Uncontrolled high blood pressure is a silent killer that causes unnecessary and inequitable disease, disability and death, robbing us of precious time with loved ones. It can cause heart attacks, heart failure, strokes and other devastating conditions.

For nearly 100 years, we've been fighting heart disease and stroke, striving to save and improve lives. A shared focus on cardiovascular health unites our more than 40 million volunteers and supporters as well as our more than 2,800 employees.

Heart disease is the No. 1 killer worldwide, and stroke ranks second globally.

About the American Heart Association

The American Heart Association is a relentless force for a world of longer, healthier lives. We are dedicated to ensuring equitable health in all communities. Through collaboration with numerous organizations, and powered by millions of volunteers, we fund innovative research, advocate for the public’s health and share lifesaving resources. The Dallas-based organization has been a leading source of health information for nearly a century. Connect with us on heart.orgFacebookTwitter or by calling 1-800-AHA-USA1.   

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For Media Inquiries:

Christopher Calloway, American Heart Association Marketing Communications Director, Nevada and Southern Arizona, 702.789.4379 or christopher.calloway@heart.org.