Natalie W. Pierson works as a heart failure nurse coordinator for the Heart and Vascular Center at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania. She has over 25 years of experience in the management of heart failure patients. She volunteers in many community outreach programs including with the Philadelphia American Heart Association (AHA) as a community educator on the prevention of cardiovascular disease in high-risk populations. Her interest in social determinants of health and disease prevention led to her obtaining a Master of Science Degree in Community System Administration.  

She has developed programs for community outreach to educate people on cardiac health and lifestyle modifications to prevent cardiac disease. Natalie is a Board-Certified Nurse Coach and she utilizes her skills as nurse coach to empower her patients to make long-term positive changes. Her research interests include the impact of community-based hypertension/cardiovascular prevention programs, the improvement of cardiovascular health and the impact of a nurse-community navigator on the improvement of the relationship between community members and healthcare clinicians. She has been recognized for her dedication to patient care, advocacy and passion for community service by such organizations as the Heart Failure Society of America (2018 National Clinical Excellence in Nursing Award), American Heart Association (Philadelphia Heart Champion) and Hospital University of Pennsylvania (Nursing Clinical Excellence award).