American Stroke Association Stroke Hero Awards
Honoring individuals and groups in the stroke community who have shown resilience and outstanding progress.
Learn more about each of the 2026 Stroke Hero Awards winners
The Stroke Hero Awards are awarded in seven categories to those who educate, inspire and raise awareness about stroke locally or nationally.
Award Categories
B.E. F.A.S.T. Hero
2026 B.E. F.A.S.T. Hero:
Nasheel Joules
Honors an individual who recognized the warning signs of a stroke and acted fast to get help for the person having a stroke. This award is for a friend, family member, coworker or bystander, not a provider acting in a professional capacity. We encourage survivors who recognized their own stroke symptoms to nominate themselves in the Survivor Hero category.
Caregiver Hero
2026 Caregiver Hero:
Felicia Veasey
Honors an individual who has cared for a stroke survivor and used their experience to educate, inspire and bring awareness about stroke. This award is for a personal caregiver, not a provider acting in a professional capacity.
Community Impact Hero
2026 Community Impact Hero: Lamont Causey
Honors an individual who promotes the goal of equitable health in their work with those at risk for stroke, stroke survivors and stroke caregivers, to ensure that everyone has the opportunity to be as healthy as possible.
Group Heroes
2026 Group Heroes:
The Aphasia Recovery Connection
Honors a group committed to educating, inspiring and bringing awareness about stroke. This can include stroke support groups, stroke teams, families, private associations, medical facilities and more.
Pediatric Hero
2026 Pediatric Hero:
Marina Ganetsky
Honors an individual younger than 18 who has survived a stroke and overcome significant hurdles and whose family has used its experience to educate, inspire and bring awareness to stroke.
Survivor Hero
2026 Survivor Hero:
Gabriela Raso
Honors an individual who has survived a stroke and used their experience to educate, inspire and bring awareness about stroke.
Voters’ Choice Hero
2026 Voters’ Choice Hero:
Stacie Barber
Honors an individual or group making an outstanding effort to educate, inspire and bring awareness about stroke on a local or national level. Judges selected the finalists from the nominations received in the other six categories.
Do you know a Stroke Hero?
Nominations for 2027 will open this October.
Awards Timeline
| Date(s) | Activity |
|---|---|
| Oct. 1 – Dec. 4, 2025 | Nominations accepted |
| Dec. 2025 – Jan. 2026 | Nominations judged |
| Early Feb. 2026 | Voters’ Choice Hero candidates determined |
| Mar. 4 – 18, 2026 | Voters’ Choice Hero voting |
| May 1, 2026 | Winners announced |
FAQ, Rules, Judging Criteria and More
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