What I Have Learned Since My Heart Transplant Ava Kaufman was born in the Bronx. Attending New York University with a double major in Dance Therapy and Theatre Arts. As a dancer, she toured with Gloria Gaynor, Donna Summer, and Jo Jo Smith. As a marketing executive at Capezio in New York, she oversaw the transition from dance-wear into fashion. In Los Angeles, she created a multi-million dollar transportation company with huge hotelier clients. In 2009 Ava had an emergency heart transplant, and in 2011, began the non-profit Ava's Heart, working tirelessly for transplant patients. In 2021 she became a CNN Hero, for her work in the transplant and organ donation community. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx