Join the Kiawah Heart Mission
Kiawah Healthy Events And Retreats Together building connections within our extended community of Kiawah, Seabrook, Johns Island and beyond.
The Kiawah Heart Story
Welcome to Kiawah Heart, an educational nonprofit organization committed to bringing health and wellness information and experiences to Kiawah Island. Our mission is to foster deeper connections and build a stronger community through inspiring and informative balanced living initiatives. By focusing on the essential aspects of health and wellness, we aim to empower individuals with the knowledge and tools needed to make simple yet impactful shifts toward optimal health, happiness, and longevity.
At Kiawah Heart, we believe that community and connection are fundamental components of well-being. Through our speaker series and workshops, we address six key areas of health: eating and drinking for health, movement, and exercise, social connection and community, purpose, mental and emotional well-being, and good quality sleep. These events provide opportunities not only to gain valuable insights and practical advice but also to meet new friends and strengthen community ties.
Join us on this journey to a healthier, happier, and more connected life on Kiawah Island.
We are on a journey to a healthier, happier, and more connected life on Kiawah, Seabrook and Johns Islands.
— Katherine Pearce, Founder
About the Kiawah Heart Board of Directors
Meet the dedicated Board of Directors at Kiawah Heart, where our passion for health and wellness drives our mission to support and enrich our community. With diverse expertise and a commitment to excellence, we work together to create meaningful programs and resources for a healthier, happier Kiawah Island.
Katherine Pearce, LAc MTCM
Founder & Executive Director
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Katherine is a nationally licensed acupuncturist and holds a master’s degree in Chinese Medicine. She has been practicing for the last 25 years. She worked for 12 of those years with a physician specializing in integrative health for patients with chronic or complex conditions. She also worked for 4 years as part of a hospital cancer support team.
She has undertaken in-depth studies on the influences of the mind and the stress response on the body.
She is committed to increasing the overall health and well-being of our community. She is passionate about the importance of people being well-informed regarding their health and having the tools to be their own advocates in a rapidly changing landscape of medical best practices. She believes we can all thrive together.
Dr. Vanessa McPherson
Officer
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Dr. Vanessa McPherson is the Medical Director of Concierge Primary Care for Roper St. Francis and practices at Signature Primary Care on John’s Island/Kiawah. With almost 30 years of experience. She specializes in concierge-like primary care, preventive medicine, treatment of chronic diseases, weight management, behavioral medicine, and office-based procedures.
Dr. McPherson embraces a holistic approach to care, considering a patient’s family, environment, occupation, faith, and community. She enjoys helping people adopt healthier habits and her goal is for patients to achieve their best health physically, mentally, and emotionally. She has a passion for helping patients improve their health at every stage of life using a functional medicine and preventative medicine approach.
Donna Hall
Secretary
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Following a career in real estate management in Charlotte, NC Donna relocated to Kiawah Island with her husband and her two Jack Russells. She has served on the homeowner’s association boards of both her Cassique neighborhood and her neighborhood in Edwards, Co. She has also served on fundraising committees for the American Heart Association in Charlotte.
Donna’s passions are health and wellness, golf, and snow skiing.
Kim Zorniger
Officer
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Kim joined the Kiawah community in 2008. She has been active in Arts Etc. and her Cassique neighborhood. Before retiring, Kim owned and operated her own landscape design company. She designed and installed residential and commercial landscapes. She has become very interested in Functional Medicine and incorporates it into her daily life.
Kim is now a community volunteer and spends her free time traveling, golfing, and spending time with her grandchildren.
Larry O’Toole
Treasurer
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Larry O'Toole is an attorney ( retired) admitted to practice in New York and Massachusetts. He has over 30 years of experience as an executive of publicly traded, private, and nonprofit companies and has served on numerous boards of directors and trustees, both for-profit and nonprofit. His principal areas of expertise are board and corporate governance, regulatory procedure, and compliance.