The Merck Foundation has announced the launch of the Collaborative for Equity in Cardiac Care, a five-year, $22 million initiative aimed at enhancing access to high-quality, person-centered healthcare for individuals living with cardiovascular disease across the United States.
The program will fund 11 organizations that are working to reduce barriers to timely and effective cardiac care, particularly in communities disproportionately affected by cardiovascular disease. The initiative aims to create evidence-informed, comprehensive programs that integrate both medical and social dimensions of care to enhance outcomes for people with heart conditions.
Through this collaborative approach, the Merck Foundation seeks to bridge gaps in the delivery of cardiac care and develop sustainable models that can be scaled nationally. The grants will support a diverse group of healthcare and public health organizations working alongside local community-based partners to address regional disparities in care.
The 11 grantees include Capital Health System (New Jersey), The Foundation for Black Women’s Wellness (Wisconsin), Gallup Community Health (New Mexico), Georgia State University Research Foundation/Atlanta Regional Collaborative for Health Improvement (Georgia), La Clínica del Pueblo (Washington, D.C.), MedNorth Health Center (North Carolina), Providence Medical Foundation (California), Public Health Institute/Population Health Innovation Lab (California), University of Chicago (Illinois), UPMC Center for High-Value Health Care (Pennsylvania), and Zufall Health Center (New Jersey).
The Johns Hopkins Center for Health Equity will serve as the Collaborative’s National Program Office, providing technical support and coordination. Its responsibilities will include assisting grantees in building partnerships, promoting cross-site learning, and evaluating the program’s impact.
This new initiative builds on the Merck Foundation’s decades-long commitment to advancing equitable access to care, following prior efforts such as the Alliance for Equity in Cancer Care, which operates across seven states. Established in 1957 and funded entirely by Merck, the Foundation has contributed over $1 billion to initiatives that align with the company’s mission to save and improve lives worldwide.
KEY QUOTES:
“Cardiovascular disease continues to be the number one cause of death for men and women living in the U.S., and its burden hits under-resourced communities the hardest. By addressing the medical and social needs of people living with heart conditions, the Collaborative for Equity in Cardiac Care will have a significant, lasting impact on the health and wellbeing of individuals and communities across the country.”
Kalahn Taylor-Clark, Vice President and Head, Social Impact & Sustainability, Merck
“Collaborative grantees serve a range of populations, and each one has firsthand experience in addressing the specific gaps in access to high-quality cardiac care in their communities. Bringing together these outstanding organizations to strengthen local partnerships and address the social and environmental factors that influence health will not only meet immediate patient need but also pave the way for sustained improvements in the delivery of cardiac care across the U.S.”
Lisa A. Cooper, MD, MPH, MACP, Director, Johns Hopkins Center for Health Equity; Director of the Collaborative National Program Office
