By: Adrian Harpool
October 26th Event Shines Light on An Underdiagnosed Heart condition affecting Black Americans
Baltimore residents will have a chance to hear real stories and get real answers about their hearts on Monday, October 26, when the Association of Black Cardiologists (ABC) and BridgeBio host “Don’t Pass on Your Heart Health,” a special film screening and live community discussion at Morgan State University.
The evening begins at 6 p.m. in Morgan State’s Health & Human Services Center Building, 4101 Hillen Road, Suite 228. It centers on a condition many people have never heard of, but one that heart specialists say deserves far more attention in Black communities: Transthyretin Amyloid Cardiomyopathy, better known as ATTR-CM.
Real Stories. Real Talk.
The program opens with a film from BridgeBio featuring a candid conversation among three men who have made their mark in sports, music and media.
Howard H. White is a successful sports executive, author, motivational speaker and former college basketball player. He is also the founder of the Howard “H” White Center for Cardiac Amyloidosis, giving him a deeply personal stake in raising awareness of the disease.
Joining him is Doug E. Fresh, the legendary entertainer known as hip-hop’s “Human Beatbox,” who is also the founding artist of Hip Hop Public Health and a longtime community and health education partner. Rounding out the conversation is Sway Calloway, the media mogul, broadcaster, journalist, entrepreneur and cultural innovator whose voice has reached generations of listeners.
Together, the three speak openly about Black American heart health and about ATTR-CM, a condition that too often goes unrecognized until it is advanced. The event’s theme sums up the approach: gaining the power of knowledge where hip-hop meets heart health. The panel discussion will be moderated by former ABC Board Chair and President, Dr. Barbara Hutchinson, MD, PhD of Annapolis, Maryland. Dr. Hutchinson is a highly regarded Cardiologist and Medical Director at the de-novo site Flourish in Bowie, Maryland with over three decades of practice and research in Cardiology.
What Is ATTR-CM?
ATTR-CM develops when a protein called transthyretin, made mainly in the liver, becomes unstable and misfolds. The misfolded protein builds up as deposits, called amyloid, in the heart muscle. Over time, the heart walls stiffen, making it harder for the heart to fill and pump blood, which can lead to heart failure.
The condition is frequently missed because its warning signs, including shortness of breath, fatigue, swelling in the legs and ankles, and an irregular heartbeat, look a lot like more common heart problems. Some patients experience carpal tunnel syndrome in both wrists, or numbness and tingling in the hands and feet, years before their heart symptoms appear.
The issue is especially urgent for Black families. One inherited form of ATTR-CM is linked to a gene variant carried by an estimated 3 to 4 percent of Black Americans. Not everyone who carries the variant will develop the disease, but knowing your family history and recognizing the symptoms can make an enormous difference. Earlier diagnosis opens the door to treatment options that did not exist just a few years ago.
Bring Your Questions
Following the screening, attendees will take part in a live discussion with community advocates and heart specialists. Organizers are encouraging everyone to come ready with questions about symptoms, family history, testing and how to start the conversation with their own doctor.
For more than 50 years, the Association of Black Cardiologists has worked to promote the prevention and treatment of cardiovascular disease and to close the gaps in heart care that affect Black Americans and other diverse communities. Heart disease remains the leading cause of death among Black Americans, and the organization has long held that education delivered by trusted voices, in the places where people live, learn and gather, is one of the most powerful tools for saving lives.
Holding the event at Morgan State, one of the nation’s leading historically Black universities, brings that conversation directly to the heart of Northeast Baltimore.
Who Should Attend
The evening is designed for anyone who wants to take charge of their heart health: adults who have been told they have heart failure or an enlarged heart, people who have experienced unexplained shortness of breath or swelling, families with a history of heart disease, caregivers, faith and community leaders, and health professionals who serve Baltimore’s Black community. Students and young adults are welcome too; the conversations started now can protect parents and grandparents for years to come.
When: Monday, October 26, 2026, 6 p.m.
Where: Morgan State University, Health & Human Services Center Building, 4101 Hillen Road, Suite 228, Baltimore, MD 21218
To Register: https://morganhealth.eventbrite.com
