Advocate Spotlight! Dr. David Goff

Dr. David Goff, a You’re the Cure advocate from North Carolina, knows the importance of fighting heart disease and stroke on a professional level and a personal one. Having watched both his father and grandfather suffer from major disabling strokes, Dr. Goff, as a young medical professional, committed his career to research focused on prevention of heart disease and stroke.

Dr. Goff has also used that commitment and passion to drive his volunteer work with the American Heart Association over the years. As an advocate, he has contributed his expertise and leadership to advance policy changes that create heart-healthy and stroke-smart communities, including passage of the Smoke-Free in NC bill through the State Assembly. “Working with other AHA volunteers, including our survivors, and the dedicated staff, especially Betsy Vetter, to get Smoke-Free in NC through the legislative process has been a high point in my advocacy work with the AHA. I am looking forward to other successes in the years ahead,” he said.

In addition to his outstanding advocacy work, Dr. Goff has served on local, state, and national AHA boards, committees, and science councils, all in addition to his job as the Chair of the Department of Epidemiology and Prevention and Professor of Public Health Sciences and Internal Medicine at Wake Forest University School of Medicine.

When asked about why he feels being a You’re the Cure advocate is important, Dr. Goff said, “Participation in You're the Cure is how our science is translated into policies and programs that create heart healthy and stroke smart communities." And he encourages others to make the commitment to get involved, remarking on difference we can achieve and the lifelong friends with staff and fellow advocates he has made along the way.