National Advocacy VP, Outreach and Partnership
Eric Batch didn’t set out to become a national leader in public health advocacy — he set out to solve problems. Early in his career, working in government offices and on political campaigns, he saw how policy could either open doors for communities or quietly close them. That realization became the thread that would run through everything he did next.
Today, as the National Vice President of Advocacy Outreach and Partnerships for the American Heart Association (AHA), Eric leads national strategies that bring together policymakers, partners, and everyday advocates to push for healthier, more equitable communities. But the path to this role was shaped by years spent in the trenches of state and local policy, where he learned how change actually happens — one conversation, one coalition, one campaign at a time.
Eric’s most defining work emerged in tobacco control, a field where the stakes are measured in lives saved. During his tenure overseeing advocacy across ten Western states, he helped lead some of California’s most consequential public health victories. Among them was Prop 56, the landmark $2 tobacco tax increase. Eric was part of the small group shaping the initiative’s strategy, drafting its policy language, and designing the funding structure that now supports prevention and cessation programs across the state.
But Prop 56 was only one chapter. Eric and his teams helped raise the tobacco purchasing age to 21, close workplace smoking loopholes, restrict flavored tobacco sales, and remove tobacco products from public spaces. His expertise eventually led him to serve as a Senior Advisor and Subject Matter Expert to the Tobacco Endgame Center, where he contributed to California’s bold plan to end commercial tobacco use by 2035. His work there blended strategy, community engagement, and a deep belief that public health policy must be built with — not just for — the people it serves.
Eric also understands that policy change is not only about legislation; it’s about storytelling. He has produced award‑winning spoken‑word and educational media projects that bring public health issues to life, using art to reach audiences that policy briefs never will. Two of these projects earned International Silver Anthem Awards, a testament to the power of creative advocacy.
Before joining the AHA, Eric worked as a Senior Consultant at Deloitte, helping organizations navigate complex change. His earlier roles — from the Office of Management and Budget in Washington, D.C., to the California Governor’s Office — gave him a front‑row seat to how systems operate and how they can be moved.
He now shares those lessons with emerging leaders as an Adjunct Professor at the University of Southern California, teaching graduate students in the Sol Price School of Public Policy. For Eric, teaching is another form of advocacy: shaping the next generation of people who will take on the challenges he cares about most.
Eric holds a Master of Public Policy from USC and a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science from Southwestern University in Georgetown, Texas. But more than credentials, he carries a belief that meaningful change is possible — and that policy, when done well, is one of the most powerful tools for improving lives.