Family Heart Foundation Founder and CEO Katherine Wilemon Named Honorary Fellow Awardee by the American Society for Preventive Cardiology

Recognition Reflects the Family Heart Foundation's Impact on Advancing Research, Education and Awareness to Prevent Strokes and Heart Attacks Caused by Inherited Lipid Disorders

FERNANDINA BEACH, Fla.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The Family Heart Foundation, a leading research, education and advocacy organization, today announced that Founder and Chief Executive Officer Katherine Wilemon has been named the 2026 Honorary Fellow Awardee by the American Society for Preventive Cardiology (ASPC), one of the nation's leading professional societies dedicated to advancing cardiovascular disease prevention. The award was presented during the ASPC 2026 Congress on Cardiovascular Disease Prevention in Scottsdale, Ariz.

The recognition reflects the Family Heart Foundation's ongoing efforts to address gaps in care and drive earlier diagnosis of inherited lipid disorders, including familial hypercholesterolemia (FH), and high lipoprotein(a) — or Lp(a). Wilemon is the first non-clinician to receive the ASPC Honorary Fellow Award. In a field where such honors have traditionally recognized clinical researchers and medical leaders, the award underscores the growing role advocacy organizations play in advancing research, raising awareness and educating clinicians and the public about inherited cardiovascular risks.

“It's my great honor to congratulate Katherine Wilemon on receiving the ASPC Honorary Fellow Award at our 2026 ASPC Congress on Cardiovascular Disease Prevention,” said Dr. David Maron, ASPC Congress Chair. “Through her work founding and leading the Family Heart Foundation, Katherine has transformed the landscape of care for people living with familial hypercholesterolemia and high Lp(a) as critical, actionable risk factors. Her advocacy has given patients a voice, driven meaningful policy change, and pushed our field toward earlier detection and better outcomes. On behalf of the ASPC, I'm proud to celebrate her leadership and the lasting impact she's had on cardiovascular disease prevention."

After experiencing a heart attack at age 39 and a missed diagnosis of FH and high Lp(a), Wilemon founded the Family Heart Foundation to help other families avoid similar experiences. What began as a deeply personal mission has grown into a national organization dedicated to improving the lives of individuals with inherited lipid disorders.

Under Wilemon's leadership, over the last 14 years the Family Heart Foundation has become a leading voice in inherited cardiovascular disease prevention by:

• Establishing the only national FH registry, CASCADE FH^®, to advance patient-centered research and address gaps in diagnosis and treatment.
• Creating machine-learning algorithm models, FIND FH^® and FIND Lp(a)^®, and facilitating implementation science/quality improvement efforts with leading healthcare systems across the United States, to identify undiagnosed individuals in health systems across the country.
• Providing free screening for high Lp(a) and high LDL cholesterol to more than 40,000 individuals to date through its Cholesterol Connect^® national initiative, as well as support to thousands of individuals monthly through its Care Navigation Center.
• Leading international coalitions to develop systematic approaches to improve care for individuals at genetic risk for cardiovascular disease.
• Engaging with healthcare professionals, policy makers, and Family Heart Ambassadors to advocate for policy change and improve outcomes in the fight against cardiovascular disease.

“On behalf of the Family Heart Foundation, I am deeply honored to receive this recognition from the American Society for Preventive Cardiology," said Wilemon. "This award reflects the efforts and accomplishments of an extraordinary community of families, researchers, clinicians, and partners who have joined the Family Heart Foundation in addressing systemic gaps in care for the over 60 million American born with either high lipoprotein(a) or familial hypercholesterolemia. Together, we have made substantive progress and continue to work toward a paradigm that prioritizes prevention.”

About the Family Heart Foundation

The Family Heart Foundation^® is a nonprofit research and advocacy organization. The Foundation is a pioneer in the application of real-world evidence, patient-driven advocacy, and multi-stakeholder education to help prevent heart attacks and strokes caused by familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) and elevated lipoprotein(a), or Lp(a), two common genetic disorders that have an impact across generations. The Family Heart Foundation conducts innovative research to break down barriers to diagnosis and management of inherited lipid disorders; educates patients, providers, and policy makers; advocates for change; and provides hope and support for families impacted by heart disease and stroke caused by FH, HoFH, and elevated Lp(a). The organization was founded in 2011 as the FH Foundation. For more information, visit FamilyHeart.org and follow us on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn.