About The HeartBrothers Foundation: Who We Are

About the HeartBrothers Foundation

Founded in 2014, the HeartBrothers Foundation is a 501(c)3 non-profit foundation dedicated to helping heart failure patients and their families navigate the complicated financial world of Heart Failure (HF), Ventricular Assist Devices (VAD’s) and Heart Transplantation. Our mission is to fill gaps for patients by offering them essential support through medical insurance assistance programs, informative stress-coping resources, and connections to the global heart failure community.

Board of Directors

We are Bob Romer and Pat Sullivan. We are the HeartBrothers. After receiving defibrillators, stents, LVADS and transplants and spending more than two years in the hospital together, we dedicated our lives to helping other heart failure patients and their families by drawing on our combined three decades of experience dealing with this often-fatal condition.

Robert Romer, Co-Founder, Heart Failure Survivor

(Bob.Romer@heartbrothers.org)
As a heart failure, LVAD, and heart transplant survivor, Bob is committed to giving back with his heart brother, Pat Sullivan, to the heart failure community through the formation of the Heart Brothers Foundation. In his previous life, Bob was the CFO and Controller for a manufacturing firm. Bob attended New Hampshire College and the University of Massachusetts, Lowell. He also is a member of the Knights of Columbus Chapter #85 and is on the advisory committee for the Massachusetts American Heart Association.
Bob’s Story

Patrick J. Sullivan, Co-Founder, Heart Failure Survivor

(Pat.Sullivan@heartbrothers.org)
After suffering from heart failure and cardiovascular disease for over 17 years, spending over two years in and out of the hospital with an LVAD and life threatening infections, and receiving a heart transplant on Thanksgiving 2012, Pat committed at the same time with Bob to give back to the heart failure, LVAD, and transplant community. Pat attended Northeastern University and Arizona State University and has held executive positions for numerous, large technology firms, running multi-billion dollar sales and marketing organizations. He has served on the Board of Directors of four publicly listed companies and two private 501c3 corporations. Pat is also on the advisory committee for the Massachusetts American Heart Association.
Pat’s Story

Leslie Sullivan, Co-Founder, Family Member

(Leslie.Sullivan@heartbrothers.org)
As a surviving loved one of heart failure, LVAD, and heart transplant recipient, Leslie has extensive knowledge as a caregiver and the needs of patients and families of heart failure. Leslie is a seasoned educator with nineteen years of teaching and directing preschools around the country. In her current position as the co-owner of Next to New, her business raises funds for non-profit organizations. Leslie graduated from Wheelock College with a BA in education. She is also on the advisory committee for the Massachusetts American Heart Association
Leslie’s Story

Susan Romer, Co-Founder, Family Member

(Susan.Romer@heartbrothers.org)
As a surviving spouse of a heart failure, LVAD, and heart transplant recipient, Susan understands the needs and fears of patients and families of heart failure. She provides years of general management experience to the operations of the foundation. Susan is a graduate of Boston College and has an MS in Business Administration from Indiana University. She is also on the advisory committee for the Massachusetts American Heart Association.
Susan’s Story

David DeNofrio, MD, Board Member

David DeNofrio, MD, is Director of the Heart Failure and Cardiac Transplantation Center at Tufts Medical Center, which performs +/-20 heart transplants annually, and is Associate Professor at Tufts University School of Medicine. Dr. DeNofrio is a longtime member and current Fellow of the American College of Cardiology. He is board certified in Internal Medicine, Cardiovascular Disease and Advanced Heart Failure/Transplant Cardiology.

Board of Advisors

Linda Ordway, RN, MS, ACNP-BC
Nurse Practitioner, Cardiomyopathy Center, Ventricular Assist Devices and Heart Transplants
Tufts Medical Center, Boston, MA

James Campbell
Director of Development, Diocese of Fall River, MA

Heather Cote, RN, BSN
Transplant Coordinator, Tufts Medical Center, Boston, MA

Rich Carlson
President, Carlson Communications
Northborough, MA

William Pollack
Vice President, BillAway Corp
North Andover, MA

Michael Kiernan, MD, MSc
Director, Ventricular Assist Device Program, Tufts Medical Center, Boston, MA

Deborah Fleck, RN, BSN
Heart Transplant Coordinator, Tufts Medical Center, Boston, MA

Duc Thinh Pham, MD
Surgical Director, Center for Advanced Heart Failure, Bluhm Cardiovascular Institute, Northwestern Memorial Hospital Associate Professor of Surgery, Division of Cardiac Surgery, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine Chicago, IL

Kerry Gaj, DNP
Associate Professor at Northeastern University’s School of Nursing, Boston, MA

Who We Are