Projects & Programs
Heart of a Giant Foundation
HGF
Projects & Programs
HGF improves early detection, diagnosis, and support for cardiac risk factors in high-risk populations. We promote healthy living, prevent chronic diseases, and improve health outcomes using innovative approaches. All programs are HIPAA compliant and aim to support the whole patient journey.
Project Health Joe: Awareness Raising and Advocacy
Program Nicole & Neal: Screening and Education
Living with Heart Disease Podcast
Program Jolie: Hypertension Prevention and Management for Expectant Black Mothers in Boston, MA
Join us in making a difference for a healthier future.
Project Health Joe: Awareness Raising and Advocacy
Project Joe by HGF raises awareness and advocates for patients and caregivers. Our goal is to promote a culture of care that leads to better health outcomes through education and information about heart diseases.
We amplify the voices of patients, caregivers, health practitioners, and advocacy leaders to educate our audience on living with a heart condition and enjoying a longer, healthier life.
We use various communication methods, such as blogging, podcasting, public speaking, organizing meetings, and using the web and social media platforms. We convey our messages through our website and blogs, Instagram pages, Facebook page, private community group, YouTube channel, Eventbrite, and Living with Heart Disease podcast, available on iTunes, Google, Spotify, and other platforms.
Expected Outcomes:
Raise awareness about heart diseases and related conditions.
Build a supportive community for patients, caregivers, providers, and policymakers.
Motivate people to make positive lifestyle changes.
Destigmatize high blood pressure and other chronic conditions.
Educate people about warning signs and risk factors.
Join us in raising awareness for heart diseases and promoting a culture of care.
Program Nicole & Neal: Screening and Education
Program Nicole & Neal promotes healthy living to prevent heart disease, especially among Black populations. HGF offers free hypertension screening and education in Boston neighborhoods. Our health coaches provide one-on-one support and conduct screenings at community events.
In 2023, we accomplished the following:
Engaged in 425 interactions with participants over 11 months;
Hosted 38 screening and education events, two webinars, and six workshops
Six Boston neighborhoods: Brockton, Dorchester, East Boston, Jamaica Plain, Mattapan, and Roxbury;
Conducted 355 screenings and one-on-one educational sessions.
Blood Pressure Screening and Education
At HGF, we conduct blood pressure screenings, education classes, and workshops to raise community awareness. Our local nurses and health workers offer assistance, education, and guidance. We conduct screenings and educational activities at community events to improve high blood pressure management, train participants on monitoring blood pressure at home, and offer practical tips for healthy living.
Cholesterol Awareness and Education Campaign
92 million US adults have high LDL cholesterol levels, which can lead to fatal heart diseases. HGF is partnering with the National Cholesterol Education Initiative in 2024 to increase awareness through our Cholesterol Education Campaign. We will focus on high-risk factors like diets high in saturated and trans fats, physical inactivity, excess weight, and certain health conditions.
Lipoprotein (a) Awareness and Screening Campaign
Lp(a) is a genetic risk factor for heart disease that is often overlooked. Early detection and proactive management of Lp(a) levels can significantly enhance heart health outcomes. Our program promotes heart health through coaching, screenings, and training.
Expected Outcomes
Early identification and treatment of high blood pressure.
Increased understanding of signs and symptoms and when to contact a healthcare provider.
More people can self-monitor their blood pressure.
Empowered participants are taking control of their heart health.
Peer-to-peer communication and community engagement.
Movement building and active community engagement.
Program Delivery Planning
We host program events with partners monthly, bi-monthly, or weekly. Our website and social media pages have weekly updates, and we focus on a monthly health topic to raise awareness. We collaborate with various organizations, including the American Heart Association (AHA), the Massachusetts Department of Public Health (DPH), faith-based organizations, and community development centers.
In 2024, our goals are to achieve the following:
We host program events with partners monthly, bi-monthly, or weekly. Our website and social media pages have weekly updates, and we focus on a monthly health topic to raise awareness. We collaborate with various organizations, including the American Heart Association (AHA), the Massachusetts Department of Public Health (DPH), faith-based organizations, and community development centers.
Our main priority remains to tackle high blood pressure and its related issues. To achieve this:
We aim to deliver over 60 screening and education events across 10+ locations, engaging with more than 600 adults.
We also plan to provide monthly blog posts on heart health and 12 'Living with Heart Disease' podcasts.
Additionally, host workshops focusing on various aspects of heart disease, such as hypertension, cholesterol and Lp(a), diabetes, healthy living, aging, and more.
Living with Heart Disease Podcast
"Hardships don't steal your voice, and setbacks don't stunt your growth; hence, a diagnosis will undoubtedly not silence you."
Our Living with Heart Disease platform shares inspiring stories from patients, families, caregivers, health professionals, and policy advocates. We break down stigmas associated with cardiovascular conditions and provide expert guidance on navigating healthcare systems. We're dedicated to inspiring and empowering our listeners to live longer, healthier lives after a heart disease diagnosis.
Join us on the Living with Heart Disease podcast hosted by Bouba Heart of a Giant and his team.
Program Jolie: Hypertension Prevention and Management for Expectant Black Mothers in Boston, MA
In 2023, HGF conducted the Healthy Hearts Communities Pilot Program to prevent and manage high blood pressure, and 78% moved into a lower blood pressure category. We launched Program Jolie in Boston in 2024 to fill gaps in care for Black maternal health. Program Jolie offers perinatal care to help expectant Black mothers achieve better pregnancy experiences and health outcomes, all at no cost.
Program Description:
Program Jolie supports the care of women from their 20th week of pregnancy up to 3 months postpartum. It collaborates with organizations to improve Black maternal health, heart health, and health equity.
Our Health Coaches deliver the program, supporting patients between doctor visits. The coaches are registered nurses, dietitians, social workers, and others with significant expertise. The program facilitates infant feeding support and mental health screenings with social workers and therapists.
The health coaches work one-on-one with participants to improve medication adherence, set realistic goals, and facilitate therapy and counseling. Expectant Black mothers can use advanced RPM technology with personal health coaching and receive a free personalized plan. The program targets pregnant adult (18+) women with no income eligibility requirement.
Goals and Expected Outcomes:
We build trust with hard-to-reach individuals and partner with care management programs to address healthcare gaps for better patient engagement and adherence.
Metrics and Expected Outcomes:
Enrollment > 30%
1.5M live interactions
25% increase in medication adherence
A1c reduction of 1.5 points
80% of participants move to the lower BP category
20% reduction in unhealthy days
90% participant satisfaction
For Participants:
HGF supports pregnant individuals with tools, knowledge, and coaching to improve their health and wellbeing.
Personalized education and support for chronic conditions such as cardiovascular disease, kidney disease, or diabetes.
Understand health risks, manage medication, and establish a routine.
Track vital signs and symptoms through Remote Patient Monitoring (RPM) to detect changes early.
Safe physical activity and nutrition guidelines.
Develop self-advocacy and caregiver advocacy capacity.
Improve patient-physician relationships during prenatal, birth, and postpartum visits.
For Providers:
Program Jolie enhances the birthing experience with personalized support, improving care and fostering compliance.
Improve clinical outcomes, improve quality scores, and gain unique population insights.
Improve compliance and enhance treatment adherence. Strengthen doctor-patient relationships.
Track Remote Patient Monitoring (RPM), data, and analytics.
Weight management through healthy eating and nutrition.
Enhance health literacy, encourage an active lifestyle, stress management, and healthy sleep habits to drive lifestyle and behavior change.
Methods of Delivery (Key Activities)
Our health coaches provide support from the 20th week of pregnancy to 3 months after childbirth. They collaborate with healthcare professionals to ensure comprehensive care for the mother and baby while promoting a positive birthing experience. Although they don't provide medical care, they offer personalized support to enhance the overall experience.
The program offers free-of-charge health coaching services that include personalized heart health risk-factor evaluation and education and coaching for preventing and managing health conditions.
The coaches provide remote patient monitoring, tailored feedback, nutrition, exercise, and medication adherence guidance.
Additionally, the program offers support for prenatal care, childbirth education, medication management, healthy lifestyle habits, and community resources.
Benefits and Data Analytics:
We aim to identify best practices for screening and referring participants and address social and material needs.
Our Program Team collects and monitors data with providers and partners based on hypotheses.
The research manager leads data and analytics, working with health coaches and community-based providers—the program partners with an external evaluator. The IRB ensures ethical conduct.
Results will help HGF further develop the program and improve health outcomes for expectant Black mothers.
News and Insights
Disclaimer:
The information shared on this page is not intended to replace professional medical advice. Always consult with a healthcare provider for any medical issues.
REVIEW OF A SIX-YEAR HEART TRANSPLANT JOURNEY WITH SOMANEH BOUBA: DIAGNOSIS & CHALLENGES
Today’s episode is a little different. Join us as Somaneh Bouba speaks about his heart transplant journey six months after with his new heart. Bouba has overcome tremendous challenges in his six year-long heart transplant journey. As a dedicated husband, father, senior corporate manager and social entrepreneur, Somaneh has navigated his way through the complex world of heart transplantation with grace and resilience. His personal experiences have given him unique insights and perspectives on the challenges those recovering from a heart transplant face.
Join us as Somaneh shares his inspiring story and offers invaluable advice for fellow and future transplant recipients.
In this episode, learn more about:
Navigating the complexities of heart transplant recovery.
The crucial role of robust support networks during health challenges.
Mastering medication management and side effect mitigation.
The emotional rollercoaster post-heart transplant.
Cultivating a grateful and positive mindset to weather any storm.
Catch the bonus content on our Youtube channel.
https://www.youtube.com/@heartofagiant
Did you enjoy this episode? A free way to support our show is by leaving it a rating and review on Apple Podcasts. It’s a chance to tell us what you love about the show, and it helps others discover the Living with Heart Disease podcast.
Apple Podcast https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/episode-10-inspiring-journey-from-heart-failure-to/id1567454596?i=1000608329515
Spotify https://open.spotify.com/show/4aJeFMvnXyazgGuhR8A4Xs?si=6d9f19949f514714&nd=1
Connect with me:
Instagram: livingwithheartdisease.podcast
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/heartofagiant.foundation
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@heartofagiant
Twitter: https://twitter.com/LWHDpodcast
Chapter Summaries:
Time-stamped summary of this episode:
00:00:00 – Introduction,
Bouba Somaneh begins the podcast episode by thanking the audience for joining and introducing the topic, which is his own heart disease story.
00:01:25 – Bouba talks about his early diagnosis of dilated cardiomyopathy and how he managed to live with it through medication and lifestyle changes. He also talks about moving to Senegal, launching a business, and getting accepted into President Obama flagship’s Young African Leadership Initiative.
00:04:27 – Bouba talks about how his condition got abruptly worse a few days after arriving in the US for his fellowship and had to be put on the transplant list. He talks about the significant operations he had to undergo and the life changes he had to make, including moving with his wife to Boston and staying with his in-laws for a year.
00:12:38 – Bouba talks about receiving the call for a new heart on a Friday afternoon and got everything to get to the hospital. He talks about the procedure and waking up two days later.
00:15:41 – He discusses his recovery and ICU stay after his heart transplant,the intense monitoring in ICU, his struggles with blood pressure and balance, and passing out once in the hospital. He also talks about the attention and focus of the nurses and the patience required during recovery.
00:21:41 – Bouba discusses the medication and adjustments required after his heart transplant, including antirejection medications and vitamin intake. He talks about the importance of being aware of side effects and having a support system during recovery.
00:25:46 – The day before he got the phone call for the transplant, he received an offer for a new job which he accepted while in ICU. Bouba talks about negotiating his start date with his employer and the importance of proper operations and compliance for the Foundation.
00:29:15 – Bouba discusses the importance of having a solid support system during recovery, including managing children and helping them understand the transplant process.
00:30:05 – The joy of hearing his new heart and the excitement of others at the hospital. He notes that his kids visited the hospital to listen to his new heartbeat. They were amazed by the sound. These moments were fun.
00:30:38 – Bouba talks about the difficulty of being at the hospital away from his boys It was not easy for the boys, especially the younger twin, who had difficulty with the absence Thankfully, his attitude changed for the better once Bouba returned home.
00:31:22 – Bouba expresses gratitude for his medical team, friends, and family, and everyone who supported them during his recovery. He highlighted The Heart of a Giant at the Foundation team, who kept leading work. He had something to look forward to, which helped them stay positive throughout the process.
00:31:55 – Bouba talks about his plans for the future, including delivering at home, working on the Foundation, and helping others going through similar experiences.
Testimonials
Our Supporters
Our Partners
Community Organizations
The Heart of a Giant Foundation, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, EIN 84-2900386. Donations are tax-deductible.
