DALLAS, September 1, 2026 — Eli Smith has a clear goal this year: help the American Heart Association reach more people across North Texas so they feel prepared to act in a cardiac emergency.
Smith, president of Baylor Scott & White The Heart Hospital campuses in Dallas, Fort Worth and Waxahachie, will serve as chair of the 2026 Dallas Heart Walk. He leads a major cardiovascular care system serving patients across North Texas and is working with the American Heart Association to bring companies and the community together around CPR awareness and education, fundraising, and building confidence to act in those first critical moments of a cardiac emergency.
When someone goes into cardiac arrest, it’s rarely a hospital that saves them first. It’s the person nearby. And most people don’t feel prepared to act.
Nine out of 10 people who experience cardiac arrest outside of a hospital do not survive, and more than half do not receive CPR from a bystander. When CPR is started right away, it can double or even triple a person’s chance of survival.
The Dallas Heart Walk is one of the largest charity walks and community events in North Texas. The event brings together companies, schools, and families to raise funds, support research, and expand access to CPR awareness and education across the community.
Under Smith’s leadership, business leaders across Dallas are coming together to help ensure more families are prepared to act and save lives.
“Cardiac arrest can happen anywhere. At work, at home, or out in the community,” Smith said. “We want more people to feel prepared to act in those first few minutes. That’s what can make the difference.”
There are signs of progress. According to the American Heart Association’s CPR Perceptions Survey, 39% of adults say they feel confident they could perform CPR. While that number has grown, most people still do not feel prepared to respond in a cardiac emergency.
In North Texas, more than 1.5 million people have already been reached through the Association’s CPR awareness and education efforts, and AEDs have been placed in community spaces across the region to help strengthen survival rates.
“We’re seeing real momentum across North Texas, but there’s still more work to do,” said Danielle Chelf, associate vice president of development in Dallas for the American Heart Association. “The Dallas Heart Walk helps bring people together to keep building that awareness and make sure more people feel prepared to act and help save a life.”
The Heart Association is a global leader in resuscitation science, education and training, and the official publisher of CPR guidelines. Through the Nation of Lifesavers™ movement, the Association is working to ensure that more people are ready to perform CPR and be a vital link in the chain of survival, supporting its goal of doubling the survival rate from out-of-hospital cardiac arrests by 2030.
The Dallas Heart Walk will take place on Saturday, October 17, 2026, at Levy Event Plaza in Irving. The event has both 1-mile and 5k route options, is open to the public, and participation is free with fundraising encouraged. Thousands of people are expected to attend, including survivors, families, and teams from companies across North Texas.
Companies and community members can learn more or register at DallasHeartWalk.org or contact the Dallas Heart Walk Team at DallasHeartWalk@Heart.org.
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About the American Heart Association
The American Heart Association is a relentless force for a world of longer, healthier lives. Dedicated to ensuring equitable health in all communities, the organization has been a leading source of health information for more than one hundred years. Supported by more than 35 million volunteers globally, we fund groundbreaking research, advocate for the public’s health, and provide critical resources to save and improve lives affected by cardiovascular disease and stroke. By driving breakthroughs and implementing proven solutions in science, policy, and care, we work tirelessly to advance health and transform lives every day. Connect with us on heart.org, Facebook, X or by calling 1-800-AHA-USA1.
For Media Inquiries:
Lindsey Lyons Jones
Phone:
Public Inquiries: 1-800-AHA-USA1 (242-8721)
heart.org and stroke.org
