Board of Directors

Ava Kaufman

Ava’s Heart Founder, Ava Kaufman is herself a heart transplant recipient. Eight years ago, having always been very healthy, a rare autoimmune disease left her in dire need of an emergency heart transplant. The enormous expense and strain caused her to lose her successful business, marriage and home.  Observing firsthand the service gaps for post-transplant patients, Ava vowed to create a systemic change so that others facing organ transplant could find more support, guidance, and resources, honed for their unique situation.  Her passion fueled her determination and founded Ava’s Heart.

Anna Czene

As a Latina from an economically disadvantaged background, Anna Czene brings a personal understanding of the systemic barriers faced by historically underrepresented communities. Her personal fight against breast cancer and her close friend’s journey as a minority heart transplant recipient instilled in her a deep empathy for patients, forming the bedrock of her unwavering commitment to enhancing the patient journey and championing equal access to healthcare for all.

With over 25 years of experience as a corporate and marketing communications leader, much of it within the healthcare industry, Anna has demonstrated a strong track record of results. She has contributed meaningfully to expanding markets, improving patient outcomes, and elevating awareness in oncology, diabetes, genomics, hearing loss, and, most recently, transplantation. Presently, at CareDx, she leads corporate communications, co-leads the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) committee, was part of the stand-up committee that formed the company’s women’s leadership employee group, and passionately advocates for patient care and health equity in transplantation.

Sidra Franklin LoCurto

As a former New Yorker, Sidra Franklin LoCurto began volunteering at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. Upon her arrival in LA in 1996, she started volunteering at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center. She was assigned to the Emergency Department where she is still active after 21 years. In addition, Sidra received her hospice and bereavement training and worked with patients at Cedars-Sinai until the dissolution of those programs. She became a member of Pet Partners and visited patients at Cedars-Sinai with her Chihuahua Taj for the past six years. She visited with many patients who were awaiting heart transplants and offered support weekly.

When Sidra met Ava Kaufman in a dance class, Ava shared her story and they immediately bonded. Sidra was so impressed with Ava’s Heart Foundation and passion for her cause, that she knew that it was kismet that they met. Sidra is so proud to be a board member of Ava’s Heart Foundation. Sidra is an interior and landscape designer and has an eponymous business. Her husband Sal and her 16 year old son Wil are the lights of her life in addition to her 5 rescue dogs.

Heather Manion, MSN, RN

Heather has dedicated her career to the care of thoracic transplant patients. In 2009, as a new graduate nurse, Heather worked in the intensive care unit, caring for lung transplant patients. In 2013, she transitioned to the role of Heart Transplant Coordinator, supporting patients across all stages of the transplant journey—pre- and post-transplant. She was promoted to a leadership position in 2015, managing a team of nurses caring for all transplant ICU patients.

Heather completed her Master’s Degree in Nursing in 2017 at Grand Canyon University.  The following year, she joined a local academic hospital to launch a heart transplant program.  Heather played a critical role in securing the program’s CMS certification, and the center completed its first transplant in 2020.

In 2021, Heather joined Thermo Fisher Scientific as a Medical Science Liaison in the company’s Transplant Diagnostics Division. Her primary responsibilities include educating transplant clinicians about breakthrough diagnostic technologies that can improve patient care and leading the company’s advocacy efforts.

Heather remains deeply connected to the the transplant community through her patient advocacy work at Thermo Fisher and volunteer activities with the Donor Network of Arizona.

Seejai

Born and raised in Detroit, Michigan Craig Erquhart Jr. (Seejai) had an affinity for sports and was a standout basketball player after a growth spurt his sophomore year of high school. At a young age he had trouble breathing, and shortness of breath nearly sidelined his athletic career. His devoted parents took him to doctors where he was misdiagnosed with asthma and other chronic illnesses, yet he always felt something was not quite right.

Seejai overcame numerous obstacles, and through discipline and dedication he proudly played Division 1 basketball for Eastern Michigan University. He continued to pursue a professional basketball career, but had to hang up his gym shoes after not being able to pass physicals with professional teams due to his health. Luckily another passion was music, and he poured his heart and soul into recording R&B.

Just as Seejai’s music career was taking off, with one of his singles featured on a popular television show, he was dealt a shock. In the summer of 2013 after years of wondering what was causing his shortness of breath and his body to feel numbness, tingling, and other symptoms, he was properly diagnosed with myositis, a rare heart condition that weakens the heart muscles.

What followed was a rapid deterioration of his physical strength, but not his will to live. He was hospitalized and the disease progression left the former star athlete bedridden, unable to walk, talk or eat. The doctors told him that he would need a heart transplant to survive. Faced with uncertain odds, he was placed on a defibrillator to help his weakened heart pump blood and oxygen throughout his body. The cardiology team at UCLA then used an innovative technology called a Bi- Ventricular Assist Device (Bi-VAD) to keep him alive while he waited for a transplant.

Erquhart’s 6ft 6 frame became unrecognizably slim, but his resolve to fight grew stronger. While waiting for a new heart he endured fevers, blot clots, tests and surgeries. Every breath took on a greater meaning as he chased his fear of death by holding fast to his faith in God.

On October 28, 2014 Seejai received the gift of life, a heart transplant. Thanks to his team of doctors, his wife, family and friends, he is now able to give back to those who are beginning the transplant journey, volunteering his time to mentor others and speak to community groups.

Today he celebrates every moment, knowing that he truly has something to sing about.

Greg Quinn

Greg is an experienced Vice President of Sales and Commercial Operations with a demonstrated history of working in the biotechnology industry. Greg is an experienced and successful sales professional and leader skilled in Negotiation, Sales, Medical Devices, Sales Operations, and Sales Management.

Currently as Senior Vice President of Sales at CareDx, Greg manages day to day commercial operations for CareDx’s services category including solutions for transplant patients to monitor the health of the allograft.  Leading a team of highly successful individuals, Greg and team have launched AlloSure in the United States.

Previously, Greg held positions as Vice President of Sales at Boston Heart Diagnostics, and managerial positions at SpectraCell Laboratories and ALCiS Health.

Greg is very connected to the field of transplantation both professionally and personally.  Greg’s 6 year old daughter, Madelyn, received a heart transplant in 2015 and is now a thriving 1st grader who is full of life.  Greg is very proud to be part of an organization who is dedicated to transplant patients and committed to improving patient outcomes through innovative, non-invasive testing solutions throughout the entire patient journey.

Lance J. Walter

Joe Lafferty