USA Physicians Group Participates in Heart Walk

Tommie Carlisle (center) and Patsy Kennedy (right) participate in the American Heart Association's Heart Walk on Sept. 21 as part of the USA Physicians Group team.

The American Heart Association’s annual Heart Walk in Mobile, Ala., was held on Saturday, Sept. 21. The event raised $283,426 to be donated to life-saving research and education in the battle against heart disease.

Despite some rain, crowds turned out to walk a three-mile path through the University of South Alabama’s campus.

Tommie Carlisle, the team captain for the USA Physicians Group’s Heart Walk team, said, “Raising awareness of cardiovascular diseases is made possible through the educational tools provided by the American Heart Association and events like the Heart Walk.”

“All of us are affected by cardiovascular disease at some point,” Carlisle said. “Awareness is the biggest counterforce against heart disease.”

Carlisle is a stroke and saddle pulmonary embolism survivor who, at the time of surgery, was given a small chance of survival. He credits his life being saved by the care he received at USA Medical Center.

“I am here today because of the excellent research, knowledge and physician awareness made possible by organizations like the American Heart Association,” Carlisle said.