Alex Meixner is a Director of Government Relations in the American Heart Association’s Chicago office, leading AHA’s efforts to improve Illinois’ emergency medical systems and implement AHA priorities within healthcare reform by working with patients, providers, and governments at a state and local level.  Prior to joining the AHA, Meixner served for five years as Senior Director of Policy and Government Relations for the Save Darfur Coalition in Washington, DC, where he led Save Darfur’s efforts to formulate policy priorities and pursue their implementation.  In so doing, he worked directly with the U.S. government, foreign governments, non-governmental organizations, multilateral institutions, and the Darfuri diaspora on a range of peacekeeping, sanctions, and appropriations issues.  Meixner also served as Save Darfur’s initial Communications Director, and continued to serve as their spokesman.  Prior to his time with Save Darfur, Meixner worked on the legislative staffs of former Rep. Robert Matsui and Rep. Doris Matsui, and on the political staff of former Sen. Tom Daschle’s leadership PAC.  Meixner is a graduate of Tulane University and a native of Los Angeles, CA.