

Alexander Sheena
TULANE
Hey I’m Alex! I’m studying Finance and Neuroscience at Tulane, and when I heard about Heart4Heart I knew I had to start a chapter at Tulane. Congenital heart disease doesn’t get enough attention, and the preventative surgeries are actually relatively inexpensive. Heart4Heart does a great job of providing donors with a specific project that they can see their money going towards, which I think is an important, and yet generally lacking feature of a lot of charities. Also, since the surgeries aren’t the most expensive it’s really gratifying to be able to see the tangible impact we are having on these children’s lives. I’m very excited to spread awareness about CHD and fundraise for these surgeries.

TULANE
Sam Lipman
Hi! My name is Samuel Lipman and I am a Senior studying Neuroscience and Political Science at Tulane University. I am from New York City and enjoy snowboarding and playing soccer and basketball. I was VP of communications for the Science and Engineering school and conducted 2 years of research in neurobiology with a focus in learning and memory. I was raised with a deep understanding that there are people less fortunate than me. That is why I am committed to helping raise money and perform community service for those who need help. I joined H4H because i have always had an interest in the healthcare field and believe that I could make a difference to help a child get CHD surgery. I am excited to be one of the leaders of my Chapter and am committed to making a difference to positively impact children around the world.

Henry Adams
TULANE
Hey, my name is Henry Adams and I’m currently in my fourth year at Tulane University studying Ecology and Evolutionary Biology. I grew up in Kansas City Missouri and have always loved art. For the most part I draw and make ceramic works, but I enjoy all art forms. I joined Heart4Heart because I wanted to give children in need a chance at all of the wonderful opportunities I had as a kid. Being able to say that I am responsible for helping to save a life means the world to me.

Liz Byrom
TULANE
Hi my name is Liz Byrom. I'm a marketing and management major at Tulane University from Evanston, Illinois. In my spare time I like to listen to music, cook, hang out with friends, and watch the Chicago Blackhawks. I joined Heart 4 Heart because I knew it would be a rewarding experience. The opportunity to put a smile on a child's face was one I could not turn down. I'm honored to be able to raise awareness and plan events and that will have a profound impact on the lives of these children.

Alyssa Tsang
TULANE
Hello! My name is Alyssa and I am currently a junior, studying finance and marketing at Tulane University. I grew up in Lexington, Massachusetts, but I love the vibrant nature of New Orleans. Aside from studying, I spend my time dancing, writing, and riding my bike. Having a background in tutoring grade-school students, and coaching track & field at a boys’ and girls’ club, I enjoy working with children and making them smile. As cliché as it sounds, by joining Heart 4 Heart, I can both support a truly inspiring cause and have the power to make a difference in people's lives.

Daniel Stagliano
TULANE
Hey everybody! My name is Danny Stagliano and I am a sophomore marketing and digital media production major at Tulane University. I’ve always loved sports, but my favorites have always been soccer, football, and boxing. I was the president of my high school’s Red Cross Club in my hometown of Ithaca, New York, so I have always felt a connection to helping people in need. I joined H4H club because CHD surgery is so inexpensive, yet so impactful on a child’s life. I am ready to help H4H be proactive in 2016-17 and make an impact on the lives of young children.

Tomas Salter-Cid
TULANE
Hey! I’m Tomas Salter-Cid and I am a junior at Tulane studying Neuroscience and Public Health. I’m from West Windsor, New Jersey, but also spent a lot of my life in San Diego. I love playing lacrosse and pick-up sports, and exploring the wonderful range of cuisine in New Orleans. I also love to fish and surfing with friends. I joined Heart 4 Heart because I was a part of Kids for Kids back home and I truly loved my experience working with children, and wanted to continue it in some way.

Avery Kravitz
TULANE
Hey, I’m Avery! I am a sophomore studying Environmental Biology at Tulane University. I grew up in White River Junction, Vermont where I loved to ski, play saxophone, and play soccer. A big part of the reason why I joined Heart4Heart was the knowledge that we as an organization could provide genuine help for children who truly need it. The surgeries that we provide to children with CHD have a huge impact on their lives and that is something I think is really special.

Adam Mansfield
TULANE
Hi, my name is Adam and I am a pre-med student studying psychology at Tulane University. I was born and raised in New York City and have always enjoyed playing recreational sports, such as intramural basketball and football with my friends, and working in labs around campus. Heart 4 Heart called out to me as an organization that I truly wanted to be part of. To be part of an organization that shows countless positive results for children in need is an honor. Our team at Tulane is dedicated to provide the best attention and work ethic to get the ball rolling on treating and providing awareness for congenital heart defects.

Matt McKeever
TULANE
Hey! My name is Matt McKeever and I am a Senior at Tulane University studying Finance. I was born and raised in Greenwich, Connecticut and have always had a love for tennis, snowboarding and chorus. As soon as I heard about Heart 4 Heart, I knew I had to get involved. I love how we get to know the kids we are raising money for and are able to make such a profound impact on their lives. There’s no better feeling than knowing that you’ve helped to change a child’s life, and give them a new sense of hope.

Brian Birt
TULANE
My name is Brian Birt, I am currently a junior at Tulane studying finance and management. I came to New Orleans from my hometown of Davis, California. Some of my hobbies include playing sports, writing poetry, collecting stamps, and public service! I have always had a love for public service, and actually received the one of the public service scholarships to attend Tulane. I am extremely excited about Heart4Heart and its potential to do great things for the communities we work in.

Bri Cohen
TULANE
Hi, I'm Briana! I am a senior studying Finance and Entrepreneurial Management at Tulane University. When I was growing up in Baltimore, Maryland, my favorite activities were biking, skiing, and playing tennis with my family and friends. I have always been passionate about helping others embrace happy and healthy lives. I joined Heart4Heart to help kids with CHD get the financial support for life-saving surgeries and allow these kids to discover activities that they love. I am excited to see this organization grow and have a positive impact on those that it serves.

Sophie Levy
TULANE
My name’s Sophie and I’m a sophomore in Tulane’s business school with a plan to double major in Marketing and Management. I grew up and went to school in Norfolk, Virginia, where I enjoyed being active in my community and helping others. When I heard about Heart4Heart, I knew it was something that I wanted to be a part of. This club is able to provide such an amazing gift to children with CHD, and I cannot wait to make it as impactful as possible.

Hudson Diaz
TULANE
Hello everybody! My name’s Hudson and I’m a junior at Tulane University majoring in English from Redding, Connecticut. My hobbies include spending times outdoors, reading, and playing basketball. I have always valued the importance of helping others live healthy and full lives. Heart4Heart offers the tremendous opportunity to effectively provide much needed assistance to children in need. It is fantastic to be able to part of an organization in which you can truly see the impact you are making. Heart4Heart is an easy way to make this world a better place and I am excited help spread this organization’s message.

Adam Levy
TULANE
Hi! I’m Adam, a senior here at Tulane studying Biomedical Engineering. I’m from Los Angeles, California where i grew up playing tennis, reading, swimming and generally trying to get the most out of my day. Heart4Heart gives kids the chance to do the same. I hope to use my degree to help people by working on prosthetics, so when I heard of Heart4Heart and how easy it could be for me to trade some of my time for the chance to help save a child’s life, I had to do my part.



Number of Surgeries Funded:
62
In Partnership With
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Recently Completed Projects:
Ottawa Chapter
Social Media Links:

Michel-Lloyd Kadji
Co-President
Hey, my name is Meech and I am currently a third year student at the University of Ottawa studying Health Sciences. I have been lucky enough to visit and live in many places, but none for longer than the 10 years (and counting) that I have spent in Ottawa, Canada. However, the experiences I gathered from the other 9 years living in Quebec and Nairobi, Kenya also play huge parts in allowing me to become who I am today. Many of these experiences made it important for me to value the life I live regardless of passing struggles, because many others are not fortunate enough to live as long and as comfortably as I have. The opportunity to wake up everyday is a blessing in itself, and this is what motivated me to join Heart 4 Heart. The idea of saving lives around the world, along with my lifelong interest in sciences and the human body made it an obvious choice to get involved with this charity.

Adela Gottardi
Co-President
Hi! My name is Adela Gottardi, and I am in my 4th year of Translational and Molecular Medicine. I was born and raised in Ottawa. When I am not studying, I enjoy dancing, traveling, hiking, and forcing my friends to go skating in cold weather. What drew me to Heart4Heart was the opportunity to directly help children with congenital heart disease. We are fortunate to have access to life-saving medical treatments in Canada and with the help of the uOttawa community, I know we could provide life-saving medical procedures to children where this kind of access is not possible. I hope you can join us at the next H4H event!

Georges
Co-President
Hi, my name is Georges, and I am currently a second year Master's student studying biomedical engineering at the University of Ottawa. I was born and raised here in Ottawa, and I wouldn't have it any other way. My hobbies include playing the piano and the violin, going out with friends, keeping up with sports, and watching (too many) shows. Next winter will mark my fourth year with Heart 4 heart, an amazing charity that I am very happy to help. There is no better feeling than knowing that you are helping others in need, and for that reason I am honored to have helped bring this charity to the University of Ottawa. I am proud to contribute and am looking forward to success with my team in helping children around the world.

Elie Nehme
VP Treasurer
Hey! My name is Elie (pronounced Eli, why the "E" at the end? Couldn't tell you). Anyways, I'm Lebanese going into my second year studying a BSc in Human Kinetics at the University of Ottawa. I enjoy playing sports, fitness, and playing the guitar. I was born and raised in Ontario and over 19 years later I have yet to even get slightly used to the bipolar weather patterns here. I'm very fascinated by human anatomy and the physiology behind our systems and fond of studying the field of Biomechanics and other mechanically related Biophysics. Heart diseases have affected many people in my family lineage (pretty grim transition I know), and having seen almost firsthand how heart problems have affected my closest family made me realize just how strong yet fragile the heart can really be. This is why when I was approached with the opportunity to join Heart4Heart I didn't hesitate to join. I'm privileged to have a healthy and functioning body and I'm very proud to contribute what I can to this organization. I'm especially excited to see the difference we can make to help children around the world who suffer from CHD.

Caleb Lakhani
VP Social Media
Hi, my name is Caleb, and I am currently in my third year of Translational and Molecular Medicine at the University of Ottawa. Outside of school, I love to play hockey and lacrosse, as well as hiking through Northern Ontario with my friends in the summer. I also enjoy reading and watching (lots of) TV, both of which have definitely helped to pass time during the COVID-19 pandemic. I decided to join Heart 4 Heart after learning about the Gift of Life International program, and the work that they do to help children with congenital heart disease that would otherwise not get the help that they need. As a part of Heart 4 Heart, we are having a direct impact on so many different children and communities who are not as fortunate as us, and helping to give them a better quality of life that they deserve. I am super excited to work with such a great team and hope that we can raise even more money and awareness for H4H & Gift of Life in the upcoming years!

Chelsea Klein
VP Social Media
Hey! My name is Chelsea Klein, and I’m going into my 4th year of Biomedical Science at the University of Ottawa. I’m originally from Thunder Bay, Ontario but have lived in Ottawa for the past 8 years … and I still need a GPS wherever I go. In my free time, I like to dance, read, crochet, and walk my dog! I wanted to get involved with the uOttawa chapter of Heart 4 Heart after looking into their mission statement and the fundraising events being accomplished. It was inspiring to see all these efforts work toward a common goal of helping fund life-saving surgeries for children with CHD. I’m honored to be a part of this team and excited to contribute to this incredible cause!

Samantha Johnson
VP Outreach
Hi! My name is Samantha and I’m a fourth year Biomedical Science student at the University of Ottawa. I was born in Ottawa and I have lived here my entire life. Some of my hobbies include spending time with my friends and family and reading. I joined Heart4Heart because I have been working with children as a camp counsellor and soccer coach for many years and I have seen the difference small acts such as a smile can make in a child’s life. Through Heart4Heart, we have the opportunity to make a bigger difference by contributing to an organization that is able to save the lives of so many children. I’m very excited to be able to directly help these children who are suffering from CHD to get the health care they need through this amazing organization!

Armita Kalani
VP Outreach
Hello! My name is Armita Kalani and I am a third year student at the University of Ottawa studying Translational and Molecular Medicine. I am from Iran and recently immigrated to Canada so I am still integrating into the Canadian society and learning so much from my fellow Canadians every day (although still haven’t figured out how to play hockey)! I love gardening, baking and reading. Helping those in need has always been a passion of mine and in combination with my curiosity about the science behind the cardiovascular system, Heart4Heart became the perfect club to be involved in. Contributing to Heart4Heart saves a child’s life struggling with CHD, gives a shot to children to live healthy lives that many of us take for granted and brings hope to families who long to see their children grow. I am excited to see how much of an impact our team can make!

Samuel Xiao
VP Graphics

Venika Toor
VP Volunteer Coordinator
Hello! My name is Samuel Xiao, and I’m studying Biomedical Science as a third-year student at the University of Ottawa! I love to immerse myself in the arts, especially visual arts, so I’m fortunate to have the opportunity to help children with CHD by using my artistic passion as VP of Graphics! I also enjoy singing, dancing, swimming, practicing Taekwondo, and spending time with my family. I joined Heart4Heart because I believe that the right to life is the most fundamental; therefore, I am moved to witness how our collective efforts in the chapter strive to fund life-changing surgeries. Every breath shouldn’t be a struggle, which is why we must wholeheartedly ensure equal access to medical treatment for everyone. Being part of such a talented team with one goal in mind assures us that together, we truly can make life better for every child one step at a time.
Hi! My name is Venika Toor and I am a third year student in the Health Sciences program at the University of Ottawa. I like to watch movies, paint, and read during my spare time. I joined Heart4Heart because after learning about Heart4Heart’s mission to save children lives, I wanted to help support and raise awareness for this great cause. I hope to make a help with this great team to make a difference in the community and raise awareness about congenital heart disease.

Taylor Carson
Executive Member
Hi! My name is Taylor Carson and I’m a fourth year student in Human Kinetics at the University of Ottawa. Outside of school, I love watching and playing sports, especially hockey and baseball, working out, and listening to music. I’m a die hard Leafs and Sens fan which doesn’t make sense to many people, but I love seeing the reactions every time I mention it to someone. I joined Heart4Heart because I wanted to be able to help make a difference in the lives of kids with CHD, and their families. By working with a team of other dedicated and passionate individuals, we can no doubt help make that difference in the lives of these children suffering from CHD, and I’m very excited to be a part of this great initiative.

Mariana
Executive Member
Hi! My name is Mariana, and I am a fourth-year student at the University of Ottawa studying Biology. During my free time you can find me spending time with family and friends, or out in nature! After learning about the mission behind Heart4Heart I was eager to join a team of like minded individuals wanting to make a positive impact and raise awareness within the uOttawa community. I am excited to work with the team, bringing our skills together, towards a common goal.