Advancing Heart Health Equity Through On-Site Screenings

HeartSense is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit committed to improving heart health in underserved communities. They offer accessible, high-quality cardiovascular care through community-based screenings and education at a variety of events across the country.

Most recently, HeartSense offered free screenings at the 100 Black Men of America’s 39th Annual Conference in New Orleans, providing attendees with personalized heart health evaluations and real-time results. The multi-day event brought together Black leaders, mentors, and professionals from across the US, and HeartSense’s presence offered a valuable opportunity to engage attendees in conversations and action around cardiovascular health.

HeartSense used Eko's advanced digital stethoscopes and SENSORA™ platform to screen for signs of heart disease. These non-invasive, real-time assessments offered attendees personalized insight into their heart health and guidance on what steps to take next.

The Eko team connected with attendees during the event to hear their thoughts.

“Health equity is critical when it comes to preventing chronic and cardiovascular diseases in historically marginalized communities — especially the Black community, which has long faced higher prevalence and reduced access to care.

When we talk about AI in healthcare, it’s vital that race and gender are meaningfully included in the development and validation of these technologies. Inclusion ensures we’re not left behind in the future of medicine.

Tools like those from Eko Health play a crucial role in bridging this gap by offering AI solutions tailored to the needs of communities most affected.

Equitable resources must match the scale of need — and in our case, the need is great.”

Tony Price, DrPH, MS, CHES, ACSM EP-C, CSCS

The 100 Black Men event notably took place during Men’s Health Month, a time that underscores the importance of early detection and regular checkups for men of all backgrounds — but especially Black men, who face the highest rates of cardiovascular disease in the country. Many of the men screened at the conference had not recently, or ever, had their hearts examined. The accessibility and trust created through this event made it possible to turn awareness into action.

"Understanding your cardiovascular health is essential — especially in the Black community, where we often don’t know our numbers.

It’s important that we regularly see our primary care providers, follow up on our health metrics, and take action based on those results.

Whether it’s through managing medications, improving diet, or staying active, taking control of our heart health starts with awareness."

Inga Collins, PharmD

The event also coincided with Juneteenth, a moment of reflection on freedom, progress, and equity in all forms, including health equity. The work HeartSense is doing directly addresses long-standing disparities in cardiovascular care by making screening tools and health information more accessible.

“Evaluating cardiovascular health, particularly within the Black community, is crucial for raising awareness and providing the knowledge and tools necessary to prevent disease. 

Visibility is key to achieving this goal. 

Collaborating with organizations like Eko Health not only helps spread awareness but also amplifies voices within underrepresented communities.”

Randy B. Shields, Jr., MSN-CNL, RN, CCRN

This collaboration is part of a broader effort to empower communities with the tools and information they need to take charge of their health.

With each screening, HeartSense and Eko are helping to make earlier detection more routine — and more equitable.

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