From patient to advocate: Cris Regent’s LDL-C story
A personal wake-up call inspired a Merck employee to advocate for bad cholesterol awareness
June 29, 2026
For Cris Regent, associate vice president, U.S. pharma cardiovascular and metabolic at Merck, the fight against high bad cholesterol is deeply personal. Despite eating well and exercising regularly, a few years ago, Regent discovered his low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) — otherwise known as bad cholesterol — had been climbing higher. High bad cholesterol is a major contributor to plaque (bad cholesterol, fats and other substances) buildup in the arteries, which increases the risk of heart attack or stroke. Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in the U.S. and each year, it’s estimated that more than 800,000 people in the U.S. have a heart attack.
“I thought I was managing my risk — until I wasn’t,” Regent said. Motivated by a family history of heart conditions, Regent spoke with his doctor. They moved beyond simple lifestyle changes to a comprehensive management plan to hit his LDL-C goals.
Now, Regent is turning his experience into advocacy through Playing with Heart, a collaboration between Merck, nine professional baseball teams, former professional baseball legends and WomenHeart, a nonprofit organization focused on improving the lives of adults with or at risk of heart disease. During the 2026 baseball season, the Playing with Heart program will feature a lineup of baseball legends, clubs and ambassadors who will share their personal stories about high bad cholesterol. Playing with Heart will educate adult baseball fans about the risks of high bad cholesterol and the importance of talking to your doctor about your bad cholesterol number.
“Baseball is America’s favorite pastime; you grow up with these players, you see them on TV, and there is this relationship that you build with them,” Regent said. “When you hear these players speak, you stop and you listen. We’re reaching people through players they respect and want to listen to.”
Baseball has shaped Regent’s life since his early years. As a kid, he spent each season cheering for the New York Yankees during every game before taking the field himself as the catcher for his high school baseball team. When his son played Little League, Regent was the coach of his son’s team, passing his love of baseball to the next generation.
And while the Yankees will always have a special place in his heart, he now cheers on the Phillies. But no matter who wins the World Series, he’ll be happy that this season his personal experience helped fans learn that adults can be vulnerable to the risks associated with high bad cholesterol.
Talk to your doctor to learn more about your bad cholesterol number. For more information, visit PlayingWithHeart.com.
