Buffalo doctor honored for his work increasing CPR awareness in WNY

Dr. Les Bisson received American Heart Association’s Health Equity Leadership Award

American Heart Association Press Release & Photo

Western New Yorkers are working to change the statistics around cardiopulmonary resuscitation, or CPR. The American Heart Association, a global force changing the future of health for all, is proud to recognize one of the volunteers leading the charge.

Dr. Les Bisson received the American Heart Association’s Eastern States Health Equity Leadership Award during a hands-only CPR demonstration session on Saturday. Bisson and his team joined the American Heart Association to teach hands-only CPR at the Black Family Wellness Expo and Say Yes Saturday Academy at BUILD Community School in Buffalo. Bisson was recognized for his work to bring hands-only CPR education to the community.

Bisson is the June A. and Eugene R. Mindell, MD, professor and chair of the department of orthopaedics at the Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences at the University at Buffalo; medical director and team orthopaedic surgeon for the Buffalo Bills and Buffalo Sabres; the team orthopaedist for SUNY Buffalo; and the president of UBMD Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine. He was also a member of the team that saved Damar Hamlin’s life when the Buffalo Bills safety suffered cardiac arrest in 2023.

Bisson has made it his mission to increase CPR knowledge in Western New York. He leads the UMBD CPR/AED outreach program, which has been part of countless CPR demonstrations with us at the American Heart Association, as well as demonstrating hands-only CPR at other events. Bisson’s outreach targets under-resourced communities in and around the City of Buffalo, helping to increase the number of people who can respond to a cardiac emergency. Bisson and his team have already trained more than 18,000 Western New Yorkers in hands-only CPR.

“I’m honored to accept the award on behalf of our entire CPR training team, who bring unwavering passion to advance our goal of reducing disparities in bystander CPR performance,” Bisson said. “This award validates our work. I hope this award helps our community and beyond to keep focusing on the importance of bystander CPR performance and AED use to increase survival for out-of-hospital cardiac arrest.”

Megan Vargulick, executive director of the American Heart Association in the Buffalo/Niagara region, said, “Unfortunately, too many sudden cardiac arrest victims don’t get the help they need. Knowing how to respond in a cardiac emergency when seconds matter can be the difference between life and death. Dr. Bisson and his team have helped thousands of community members learn lifesaving skills. We are proud to recognize his work to create a Nation of Lifesavers.”

The Health Equity Leadership Award recognizes volunteers across the eastern states region whose leadership and efforts have reinforced the American Heart Association’s commitment to achieving maximum impact in equitable health and wellbeing and addressing social influencers of health to advance health outcomes.

Today, more than 350,000 cardiac arrests occur outside of hospitals in the U.S. annually. Nearly three out of four of those cardiac arrests happen in homes. Tragically, 90% of the time, these incidents prove fatal. The American Heart Association, a global force devoted to changing the future in pursuit of healthier lives for all, mobilized its Nation of Lifesavers movement in 2023 with a goal to double survival rates from sudden cardiac arrest for everyone, ensuring more people at home, work, school and even online have learned lifesaving CPR skills.

Black or Hispanic adults who experience cardiac arrest outside a hospital setting are substantially less likely to receive lifesaving care from a bystander. The American Heart Association is working to change this by empowering members of these communities to learn lifesaving CPR.

The hands-only CPR demonstration on Saturday was part of the HeartBEAT initiative, which is a five-year, $1 million commitment by the Buffalo Bills to educate thousands of Western New Yorkers in CPR.

Hands-only CPR is chest compression-only CPR. Science has shown that, following a witnessed cardiac arrest of a teen or an adult, compression-only CPR can be equally effective in the first few minutes of emergency response. If a teen or adult suddenly collapses, witnesses should immediately call emergency services and begin chest compressions at a rate of 100-120 beats per minute and a depth of at least 2 inches. The AHA encourages everyone, regardless of where they live, to take 90 seconds to learn how to save a life now at www.heart.org/HandsOnlyCPR.

Additional resources:

• buffalobills.com/heart
• Bystander CPR 
• Bystander CPR Infographic 
• Hands-Only CPR Resources 
• Women and CPR 
• Cardiac Arrest vs. Heart Attack 

The American Heart Association is a relentless force for a world of longer, healthier lives. We are dedicated to ensuring equitable health in all communities. Through collaboration with numerous organizations, and powered by millions of volunteers, we fund innovative research, advocate for the public’s health and share lifesaving resources. The Dallas-based organization has been a leading source of health information for nearly a century. Connect with us on heart.org, Facebook, X/Twitter or by calling 1-800-AHA-USA1.