Bentonville, Ark. (April 23, 2024) – Heartland Whole Health Institute announced today two new leadership hires including Deven Daehn, Associate Vice President of Community Engagement, and Augusta Branham, Senior Director of Health Communications.
Founded in 2019 by philanthropist Alice Walton, Heartland Whole Health Institute puts a whole health approach at the center of the broader health care system to address the current health care crisis. Construction of the Institute is underway on the campus of Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art with the goal of opening in late 2024. The 75,000-square-foot building will include office space and community gathering areas.
“Deven and Augusta bring a breadth of valuable experience to the Institute, as well as a deep connection to the Northwest Arkansas region and passion for expanding access,” said Walter Harris, President and CEO, Heartland Whole Health Institute. “I look forward to working with them and am confident they’ll strengthen our work to transform health care in the Heartland and beyond.”
Deven Daehn, Associate Vice President,Community Engagement
Deven Daehn, MS, is Associate Vice President for Community Engagement at Heartland Whole Health Institute. In this role, she is responsible for leading strategic initiatives to engage with the local community and working with stakeholders to drive community-based health care initiatives.
Prior to joining the Institute, Daehn held various roles within nonprofit organizations in the Northwest Arkansas region. A native Arkansan, she has dedicated her entire public health career to serving her community. Daehn most recently served as Executive Director of the American Heart Association, where she helped build powerful community partnerships and trailblaze innovative public health strategies.
Daehn earned her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in health science, specializing in community health, from the University of Arkansas. Daehn’s full bio is available here.
Augusta Branham, Senior Director, Health Communications
Augusta Branham is Senior Director of Health Communications at Heartland Whole Health Institute. In this role, she is responsible for leading the communications strategy, planning, and implementation for health care transformation initiatives associated with the nonprofit organizations founded by Alice L. Walton.
Prior to joining the Institute, Branham was an Executive Communications Director at Walmart, Inc. In this role, Branham worked with the company’s Chairman, President and CEO, and the Chief People Officer, among others. Prior to joining Walmart in 2019, Branham held communications roles in city government, the transportation industry, and at Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art. She has also worked in the Walton family office.
Branham earned her bachelor’s degree in editorial journalism at the University of Arkansas. Branham’s full bio is available here.
Harris adds, “As we move closer to the opening of the Institute, we will continue to build and expand our team with talented individuals who are motivated to create meaningful change, support innovation in health care, and deliver on our mission to bridge the gaps to better health, together.” Visit our website for all open positions.
About Heartland Whole Health Institute
Founded in 2019 by philanthropist Alice Walton, Heartland Whole Health Institute puts a whole health approach at the center of the broader health care system to address the current health care crisis. The vision is to advocate, educate, and guide the implementation of an innovative system, rooted in whole health and the realignment of financial incentives. The Institute was driven by its founder’s health care experience, and furthered by research revealing that the United States has one of the highest levels of health care spending worldwide yet relatively low rankings in overall health. In conjunction with Alice L. Walton School of Medicine, the Institute will transform health care by improving outcomes, reducing costs, and expanding access, beginning in the Heartland and scaling nationally.
