Meet the Team!
Alina Yang
Alina Yang is the Founder and President of Guardians of the Heart, 501(c)(3). With a significant history of cardiovascular disease in her family and aspirations of pursuing a career in cardiology, her mission is to address heart disease at the community, medical, and legislative levels to create a healthier future for all populations. Her work with Guardians of the Heart is the foundation of this vision, as she seeks to inspire and educate youth to take proactive steps toward lifelong heart health and to empower current and future generations of adolescents to take part in the fight against the leading cause of death. Beyond her involvement with Guardians of the Heart, Alina enjoys dance, Varsity soccer, journalism, and cardiovascular research.
Founder & President
Leia Patel
Leia Patel is the School Program Manager of Guardians of the Heart. Inspired by her family’s history of cardiovascular disease, she is driven to make a difference in raising heart disease awareness. Her aspirations to pursue a career in the medical field fuels her mission to educate students, teachers, and families about the importance of heart health. Through Guardians of the Heart, she intends to integrate heart health education into school programs and advocate for healthier school environments. In addition, Leia is an active member of Varsity Track and Field, Varsity Soccer, and the Japanese Culture Club. She is also dedicated to advancing diabetes research.
Program Manager
Kaoruko Daito is the Event Coordinator of Guardians of the Heart. She first learned about the heart from a physiological perspective during biology class and finds interest in its inability to regenerate before damage. As she self-researches about the organ, she recognizes the lethality of cardiovascular diseases but also the ability for some to be preventable by lifestyle changes. Today, driven by her advocacy for CVD prevention and a big believer in a healthy lifestyle, she contributes to this organization to further spread CVD awareness and prevention methods in youth. She finds her role rewarding as well, as she gains new insight into heart health from the community, professionals, and individuals. During her free time, she enjoys art, volleyball, volunteering, and cooking.
Kaoruko Daito
Event Coordinator
Audrey Li is a junior at Scarsdale High School and serves as a Marketing Director of Guardians of the Heart. She is passionate about public health and empowering youth to make informed decisions about their well-being, believing in the power of early prevention to build healthier, more resilient communities. Outside her work with the nonprofit, Audrey enjoys photography, playing the viola, and swimming.
Marketing Director
Audrey Li
Victoria (Vicky) Rodriguez
Vicky Rodriguez Lecuona is a junior in Scarsdale High School and a Marketing Director at Guardians of the Heart. Her interest in cardiology began when her dad underwent major heart surgery in 2021 and ever since she has wanted to pursue a career in cardiology. Vicky hopes that through Guardians of the Heart, she will empower others by helping them be more informed about cardiovascular health and everything that entails maintaining a healthy and happy heart! Outside of working with the organization, Vicky enjoys baking, theatre, running with her dad and sister, and photography.
Marketing Director