News & Events
2008 Fifth National ACHA Conference
Thank you to everyone who joined us May 1-4 , 2008 for
ACHA's Fifth National Conference at the
Philadelphia
Airport Marriott in
Philadelphia, PA! Please stand
by
for
updated conference information!
Download a PDF of the Fifth National Conference brochure!!
The Adult Congenital Heart Association invites adults born with heart defects, their families, and ACHD health professionals to its Fifth National Conference which will begin with optional welcome sessions at 4:00 PM, Thursday, May 1, 2008, and conclude at 12:30 PM on Sunday, May 4, at the Philadelphia Airport Marriott.
This event will bring together top congenital heart specialists to provide the latest information on adult congenital heart treatment, research, and resources. It also offers a unique opportunity for the heart defect community to come together to share our stories, celebrate our triumphs, and plan for our future. The Conference will again offer three parallel events—ACHA’s Patient-Family Conference, ACHD Research Symposium, and ACHD Health Care Professionals Symposium, plus plenary sessions involving all attendees.
The Patient/Family Conference will include three focus topics: Adult Congenital Heart Disease: What’s In Our Future?offering defect and surgery-specific sessions and topics such as ACHD and pregnancy, exercise, and aging; Beyond the Doctor’s Visit, which will address issues such as disability law, insurance, and psychosocial issues, and Congenital Heart Defects—Who Gets Them and Why?, presenting the latest in CHD genetics and epidemiology. Extensive opportunities for peer connections and support and personalized sessions with clinicians will also be offered. To see the agenda for the Patient/Family Conference, click here.
ACHA offers need-based registration and travel scholarships to those who qualify—for more information click here. ACHA relies on our conference sponsors to help make these funds available and to help us keep this event accessible to our community. ACHA conference sponsorship offers a unique opportunity to support our community and meet face-to-face with ACHD professionals and patients—for more information on conference sponsorship click here.
The ACHD Health Care Professionals Symposium is a day-long event addressing the unique clinical, administrative, and research needs of cardiology professionals with a focused practice in adult congenital cardiology. Sessions will be interactive and case-based, and will address topics such as pregnancy and contraception, practical approaches to transition, and creating an ACHD clinic business plan. To see an agenda, click here.
The ACHD Research Symposium will bring together top ACHD researchers to address how to move forward a national research agenda for ACHD patients. Focus topics will include Working with Large Databases, Exercise and Functional Capacity, Genetics and Genomics, and Aging and Congenital Heart Disease. Travel grants will be awarded to those submitting winning abstracts. To see an agenda click here. ACHA is soliciting research abstracts and will be awarding ten travel grants to winning investigators—for more information on submitting an abstract, click here.
To register online, click here. For fast and easy registration by phone, call the office toll-free at (888) 921-2242 with your credit card.
To download and mail a printable registration form, click here.
For information on housing and travel, click here, or see below.
*Please note, agendas are subject to change.*
Still have questions? E-mail conference@achaheart.org or call the office toll-free at (888) 921-ACHA.
Location: Philadelphia Airport Marriott
One Arrivals Road
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19153
Tel: (215) 492-9000
Toll-free: (800) 682-4087
Accommodation
The Philadelphia Airport Marriott is located adjacent to Terminal B of the Philadelphia International Airport. It is fully sound proof and offers extensive amenities including an indoor pool. Rooms are no longer available at the reduced rate of $109/night. There are still rooms available at the standard rate of $269/night. To reserve your room, call the Philadelphia Airport Marriott at (215) 492-9000. For more information about the Philadelphia Airport Marriott, click here. For information on alternative nearby hotels, please click here.
Getting There
Air: The hotel is connected to Terminal B of the Philadelphia International Airport (PHL) via a skybridge.
Train: The hotel is connected via skybridge to the Terminal B stop of the R1 Airport Septa rail line. Trains run into Center City Philadelphia and Amtrak’s 30th Street Station (PHL) every 30 minutes. For more information about the R1 Airport Septa rail line, click here.
Driving: The Philadelphia International Airport is directly accessible via interstates 95/495 and 76/476. For directions, click here. Adjacent garage parking is available at a special conference rate of $8/day.
Conference Chair
Gary D. Webb, MD
The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia/Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania
Chair of the ACHD Health Care Professionals Conference
Carole A. Warnes, MD
Mayo Clinic
Chair of the ACHD Research Symposium
Michael Landzberg, MD
Children’s Hospital Boston/Brigham & Women's Hospital
Chair of the Patient/Family Conference
Amy Verstappen, MEd
Adult Congenital Heart Association
Keynote Speaker
Michael Landzberg, MD
Boston Children’s/Brigham and Women's Hospital
Faculty
Robert W. Battle MD
University of Virginia Health Systems
Suzanne Bores, LCSW
Yale-New Haven Hospital
Mary M. Canobbio, RN, MN, FAAN
Ahmanson/UCLA Adult Congenital Heart Disease Center
Joshua M. Cooper, MD, FACC
University of Pennsylvania Health System
William R. Davidson, Jr., MD
Penn State University/Hershey Medical Center
Curt J. Daniels, MD, FACC
The Ohio State University
William R. Davidson, Jr., MD
Penn State University/Hershey Medical Center
Barbara J. Deal, MD
Children's Memorial Hospital, Chicago
Kirsten Dummer, MD
Children’s Heart Clinic, Minneapolis, MN
Desiree Fleck, RN, MSN, CRNP
The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia/Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania
David F. Friedman, MD
The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia
Lee R. Goldberg, MD, MPH, FACC
Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania
Elizabeth Goldmuntz, MD
The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia
Kevin Gordon
Adult Congenital Heart Association
Tom Grady
Adult Congenital Heart Association
Michelle Gurvitz, MD, MS
University of Washington Medical Center
Jeanine Harrison, RN, BScN, MN, APN
University of Toronto Faculty of Nursing
Ziyad M. Hijazi, MD, MPH, FSCAI
Rush University Medical Center
Jeffrey P. Jacobs, MD, FACS, FACC, FCCP
The Congenital Heart Institute of Florida (CHIF)
Kathy Jenkins, MD, MPH
Children’s Hospital Boston
Paul Khairy, MD, PhD, FRCP(C)
Montreal Heart Institute
Stephen E. Kimmel, MD, MSCE
University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine
Adrienne Kovacs, PhD
University of Toronto
Harlan M. Krumholz, MD, SM
Yale University School of Medicine
Michael Landzberg, MD
Children’s Hospital Boston/Brigham & Women's Hospital
Mitchell S. Laskin, RPh
Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania
Christopher Loffredo, PhD
Georgetown University School of Medicine
Jean Luciano, MSN, RN, CRNP
Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania
Arianne Marelli, MD, FRCP(C), FACC
McGill University Health Center
Michael McConnell, MD
Emory University School of Medicine
Kathleen McCue, MA, LSW, CCLS
Author, How to Help Children Through a Parent's Serious Illness
Alison Knauth Meadows, MD, PhD
University of California, San Francisco
Pamela Miner, RN, MN, NP
Ahmanson/UCLA Adult Congenital Heart Disease Center
Philip Moons, PhD, RN
Catholic University of Leuven, Belgium
Daniel J. Murphy, Jr., M.D.
Stanford University School of Medicine
Loretta Ninivaggi, NP
Meridian Medical Associates
Rita T. Novello RDCS
The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia/University of Pennsylvania Health System
Alexander R. Opotowsky, MD, MPH
Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania
Disty Pearson, PA-C
Children’s Hospital Boston/Brigham & Women's Hospital
Joseph K. Perloff, MD
Ahmanson/UCLA Adult Congenital Heart Disease Center
James C. Perry, MD
Children’s Heart Clinic, Minneapolis, MN
Catherine Merino Reisman, Esquire
Montgomery McCracken Walker & Rhoads LLP
Larry A. Rhodes, MD
West Virginia University School of Medicine
Amy E. Roberts, MD
Children's Hospital Boston
Marlon S. Rosenbaum, MD
Columbia University Medical Center
George Ruiz, MD
Children's National Medical Center/Washington Medical Center
Arwa Saidi, MB. BCh, FACC
University of Florida- Gainesville
Christine E. Seidman, MD
Brigham & Women's Hospital/Harvard Medical School
Elizabeth D. Shore, MSW, CSW
Thomas Jefferson University Hospital
Candice Silversides, MD
University of Toronto
Elizabeth A. Sparks, MS, APNG
Department of Genetics, Harvard Medical School
Thomas L. Spray, MD
The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia/Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania
Bridget Stewart, MBA
Children's Hospital Boston
Karen Stout, MD, FACC
Washington Medical Center
Donna Turransky, RN, BSN, CCM
Anne Marie Valente, MD
Children’s Hospital Boston/Brigham & Women's Hospital
Amy Verstappen, MEd
Adult Congenital Heart Association
Carole A. Warnes, MD
Mayo Clinic
Gary D. Webb, MD
The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia/Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania
Gil Wernovsky, MD, FACC, FAAP
The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia
Jim Wong, PhD
Adult Congenital Heart Association
2008 Patient/Family Conference Topics
Patient/Family Conference
Thursday Patient/Family Conference Pre-Sessions
Reception/Meet and Greet Activities
Defect-specific/Interest Discussion Groups
Moderated Poster Sessions (with Research Symposium)
Friday Symposium Topic: The Future of ACHD Medical Care
Scheduled Sessions Currently Include:
Whole-Group Sessions
Key Recent Developments in ACHD Care
Heart Rhythm Treatment: What’s New? What’s Around the Corner?
Medications and Interventions
Heart Rhythm Devices
Heart Function/Heart Rhythm Interactions
Managing Rhythm Problems: The Patient’s Perspective
What’s New in ACHD Surgery
What’s New in Catheter Intervention
Preparing for Surgery
What Everyone Should Know About Advance Directives
What Everyone Should Know About Transfusion
Preparing for Surgery: The Patient’s Perspective
Break-out Sessions
Defect/Syndrome-specific Sessions
Coarctation/Bicuspid Valve
Cyanosis/Pulmonary Hypertension
Mustard/L-Transposition
Fontan/Norwood
Rastelli/Arterial Switch
Get the Beat: Avoiding and Treating Rhythm Problems
It’s All in the Pump: Avoiding and Treating Heart Failure
How to Have Fun Saturday Night without Visiting the E.R. Sunday
Morning
CHD over 40 for Men
CHD Over 40 for Women
CHD and Pregnancy
What You Should Know About Echo
What’s New in Pulmonary Hypertension
What’s New in Transplant
New Imaging Technologies
Managing Your Anticoagulation
What’s New in Birth Control and CHD
Evening Activities
Philadelphia City Tour/Dinner (additional cost)
Saturday Symposium Topic: Beyond the Doctor’s Visit
Scheduled Sessions Currently Include:
Whole-Group Sessions
10 Things Every ACHDer Should Know
What Every ACHDer Should Know About Their Health Records
Strategies for Managing Insurance Issues
Heart and Mind: What Every ACHDer Should Know
What’s New: in ACHD and Exercise
Ask the Experts: Keeping Fit with CHD
Gifts and Challenges of CHD
Break-out Sessions
ACHD in the Workplace
Traveling with CHD
Managing Medical Records
Managing Insurance Problems
Sharing and Resources for ACHD Family Members
Managing Depression and Anxiety
Coping with Heart Failure
CHD, the Brain, and Learning
Quality of Life in CHD
Helping your children manage your CHD
Keeping Fit with Cyanosis/Heart Failure/Pulmonary Hypertension
Pushing Yourself, Staying Safe: ACHD and Athletics
Eating for Heart Health
Living Post-stroke
Sharing for those Bereaved by CHD
Evening Activities
ACHA Gala and Awards Dinner
Sunday Mini-Symposium Topic- CHD: Who Gets It and Why?
Scheduled Sessions Currently Include:
Plenary Sessions
CHD and Genetics
CHD and the Environment
Making a Difference: ACHA Advocacy
Report from the ACHA Research Symposium
Break-out Sessions
More on Causation
Communicating With Your Health Care Team
More on End of Life Planning
Dating With CHD: Peer-to-Peer Sharing
Adoption for ACHDers
Regional Planning Sessions
Memorial Celebration for the CHD Community
Questions? E-mail conference@achaheart.org or call ACHA's office at (888) 921-ACHA.