New Nonprofit HeartFlo Aims to Boost CPR Training in East Gainesville

HeartFlo launched on Valentine's Day to provide free CPR certification and AED placement in underserved areas of the city.

Mar. 13, 2026 at 4:20pm

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A new nonprofit called HeartFlo has been launched in Gainesville, Florida with the goal of increasing bystander CPR rates and access to automated external defibrillators (AEDs) in the city's East Gainesville neighborhood. The organization was founded by Brandon Climenhage, a CPR instructor and medical student, and his wife Amy, who works in public relations. Their efforts are in response to a 2019 UF Health study that found the bystander CPR rate in East Gainesville was only 13%, compared to 56% for the county overall.

Why it matters

Receiving CPR before emergency services arrive can significantly improve the chances of survival for someone experiencing cardiac arrest. However, the disparities in bystander CPR rates and AED availability between East Gainesville and the rest of the city put residents of the underserved neighborhood at a major disadvantage during medical emergencies. HeartFlo aims to address this gap and empower more community members to potentially save lives.

The details

HeartFlo launched on Valentine's Day 2026 and has already held its first free CPR training session, certifying four new residents. The organization plans to hold regular training events, with a goal of reaching one or two per month. Each session takes just two hours to complete. In addition to the training, HeartFlo also aims to place more AEDs in East Gainesville, building on efforts by UF Health to install devices in the area through a grant. Climenhage said the biggest priority is simply getting the word out about the free CPR training opportunities.

  • HeartFlo launched on Valentine's Day 2026.
  • A 2019 UF Health study found the bystander CPR rate in East Gainesville was only 13%.
  • UF Health installed AEDs in East Gainesville through a grant in 2021.

The players

Brandon Climenhage

A CPR trainer with the American Heart Association and medical student at the University of Florida, who co-founded HeartFlo with his wife.

Amy Climenhage

Brandon Climenhage's wife, who works in public relations and co-founded HeartFlo with him.

Dr. Diane Yang

Chair of UF Medical Guild special projects, who announced the installation of AEDs in East Gainesville through a grant in 2021.

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What they’re saying

“It's reasonable to conclude from that study that folks experiencing cardiac arrest on the east side of town are less likely to get the care they need before EMS arrives.”

— Brandon Climenhage, Co-founder, HeartFlo (mainstreetdailynews.com)

“Although one might not survive even with CPR or an AED, this grant begins to level the playing field, evening out the chances of survival from a heart event in this underserved area.”

— Dr. Diane Yang, Chair of UF Medical Guild special projects (mainstreetdailynews.com)

What’s next

HeartFlo plans to continue holding regular CPR training sessions, with a goal of reaching one or two per month in East Gainesville. The organization also aims to secure funding to place more automated external defibrillators (AEDs) in the underserved neighborhood.

The takeaway

By providing free CPR training and increasing access to life-saving AED devices, HeartFlo is working to address the stark disparities in bystander CPR rates and emergency medical resources between East Gainesville and the rest of the city. Their efforts could make a critical difference in improving survival outcomes for residents experiencing cardiac emergencies.