Professor of cardiology at the University of Nevada, Reno School of Medicine (UNR Med), Lorrel Toft, M.D., is helping shape national cardiovascular care through her work with the American Heart Association (AHA). Her contributions to the 2025 AHA Guidelines for Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation and Emergency Cardiovascular Care reflect years of clinical experience, research and dedication to improving patient outcomes. Her contributions focused specifically on cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) education.  

Dr. Toft trained at Johns Hopkins University, where she spent more than a decade in cardiology and medical education, before serving as a faculty member at the University of Louisville. There, she directed the cardiovascular fellowship program and worked in the cardiac intensive care unit. Since joining UNR Med in 2019, Toft has expanded her focus to general cardiology and prevention. “I fell in love with the way the heart works,” she said. “I liked caring for critically ill patients and emergencies that I can make an impact on.”  

“It’s a rigorous and collaborative process.”

Early on, Toft’s clinical practice led to her deep interest in CPR education. Her expertise recently contributed to the development of AHA's 2025 CPR Guidelines — one of the most influential documents in resuscitation care. These guidelines translate the latest global research into guidelines for health care professionals, and in this case non-professionals who are trained to perform CPR. “The volume of medical research is enormous,” Toft said. “The guidelines process distills all that data into practical, evidence-based recommendations that clinicians can use to deliver better care.” 

As part of a team of national experts, Toft helped evaluate and interpret recent studies to determine the most effective practices in resuscitation education. “We look closely at the quality of each study, identify patterns across the literature and then grade the strength of the evidence,” she said. “It’s a rigorous and collaborative process.” 

For Toft, the work is more than academic — it’s about ensuring that lifesaving information reaches those who need it most. “As a practicing cardiologist, I rely on these guidelines every day,” she said. “They’re essential for improving outcomes and keeping medical practice aligned with the best available evidence.” 

Toft’s role with the AHA highlights the growing national footprint of UNR Med’s research community. 

“Part of UNR Med’s mission is to educate future physicians and provide excellent care in our community,” she said. “But another vital piece is advancing the field of medicine through research. Having faculty involved in national processes like creating clinical guidelines raises the school’s visibility and demonstrates the expertise we have here.” 

Beyond training future physicians, Toft wants to highlight the groundbreaking research in medicine at the University. Through her research, teaching and national leadership, Toft exemplifies the balance of local service and global impact at the heart of UNR Med’s mission. 

“It’s rewarding to know that our work in Nevada contributes to shaping the standards of care used across the country,” she said. “That’s how we move the field forward — by turning knowledge into action that saves lives.”