For Meredith O’Neal, the mission of John Ritter Foundation for Aortic Health (JRF) is incredibly personal. When she was 33 years old and 37 ½ weeks pregnant, she became the fifth thoracic aortic dissection in four generations of her family. Her professional history and passion to find answers for her family made her a perfect fit for JRF when she joined in 2021 as Chief Executive Officer.

After graduating with a BFA in Music from Texas Tech University, O’Neal worked for Dallas Summer Musicals (now Broadway Dallas) in the community outreach and development department. This led her to more than a decade of non-profit management in North Texas through large-scale fundraising events: Cattle Baron’s Ball for American Cancer Society and Cotes du Coeur for American Heart Association.

O’Neal thrives on raising funds, advocating for systematic change, connecting people, and raising awareness to save the lives of more families like hers. She lives in Texas with her husband and 5-year-old son. Family is what drives her, and she is determined to ensure that she is the last in her family to be taken surprise by thoracic aortic dissection.