Diana Vaca McGhie

Diana Vaca McGhie is currently the American Heart Association’s (AHA) global advocacy portfolio lead. In this role, she works across the organization to leverage its core capacities and develops relationships with government, healthcare professionals, academics, patients, and other stakeholders to advance policies in support of “a world of longer, healthier lives”.

She has over 25 years of experience working in the nonprofit sector and has led several global coalitions to drive engagement focused on women’s health and noncommunicable diseases.  In former roles she has developed leadership programs, led international relations efforts to advance country health priorities, and integrated organizational processes to support diversity, equity, and inclusion.  She has managed and overseen projects in more than ten countries and is an active volunteer in her community.  

Diana is a fellow of the 2022 North American cohort of the WomenLift Health’s global leadership program funded by the Bill & Melinda Gate’s Foundation and holds a master’s degree in public administration from New York University. She lives in Alexandria, Virginia, with her husband and twins.