Applications Now Available for ACHA's 2026 Research Grants
Since launching our emerging research program in 2019, ACHA has invested nearly $700,000 to fund 24 investigations at adult congenital heart disease (ACHD) centers across the country. We are excited to build upon our commitment to unlocking new discoveries for our patient population, and are thrilled to announce today that grant applications for ACHA’s 2026 Research Awards are now available!
ACHA’s 2026 research program will continue to accept applications for early investigation and pilot studies for all ACHD disciplines. We are proud to once again offer the Meil Family Foundation Research Award for Neurocognitive Studies, which debuted in 2022.
A Q&A with ACHA Volunteers: Apply to Join Them Today
Have you ever considered putting your talents to work as an ACHA volunteer? Through May 8, we are accepting applications for ACHA's signature volunteer programs: the Heart to Heart Peer Support Program and our Patient & Family Advisory Board (PFAB). We encourage you to click here to learn more about our needs and the application process and your options for giving back to the ACHD community!
Volunteer roles are available to adults with CHD and to immediate family caregivers. Today we are sharing more about two current volunteers with our programs. PFAB Member Jaclyn Drager is the mother of a child with CHD, and Peer Mentor Courtney Fogarty is an adult with CHD. Read more about their journeys and why they became ACHA volunteers
ACHA’s 60th Accredited ACHD Center: Full Circle from Boston and Back Again
ACHA is thrilled to share that we recently accredited our 60th ACHA ACHD Accredited Center. From our humble beginnings in 1998, when ACHA was founded at a kitchen table just outside Boston, to today’s expanding national network of accredited programs, the journey reflects vision, persistence, and collaboration.
Make Your Mark: Two Volunteer Opportunities Open
April is National Volunteer Month! As we celebrate our amazing ACHA volunteers, we are excited to announce that we are opening applications for two of our signature volunteer programs – the Heart to Heart Peer Support Program and our Patient & Family Advisory Board.
ACHA Honors CHD Awareness Week Throughout the U.S.
This Heart Month and CHD Awareness Week (February 7-14), we celebrate our dedicated volunteers. Your efforts to raise awareness about ACHA and advocate for lifelong adult CHD care create real impact. Specifically, our Patient and Family Advisory Board (PFAB), along with other supporters, have joined together to write and submit proclamation requests that have resulted in CHD Awareness Week being officially recognized by legislators in U.S. states, counties, and cities.
Introducing the Robin Schlesinger Adult Congenital Heart Endowment
ACHA is thrilled and honored to announce our first-ever endowment: The Robin Schlesinger Adult Congenital Heart Endowment. The purpose of the Endowment Fund is to enhance ACHA’s programs to make adults living with congenital heart disease (CHD) and the general public more aware of the need for specialized lifelong care and to help patients obtain this care. Click here to donate to the fund.
Board of Directors 2025 Recruitment Period Opens
The Adult Congenital Heart Association is currently recruiting highly-qualified candidates to serve on the ACHA Board of Directors (BOD). To learn more about the roles, responsibilities, and qualifications for our BOD, please click here.
ACHA Research Spotlight: Mindfulness-Based Intervention for Adults with CHD
Since ACHA's emerging research program launched in 2019, we have invested more than $600,000 to fund 20 research investigations specifically focused on adult congenital heart disease (ACHD). In fact, ACHA is the only national nonprofit organization focusing solely on ACHD research. The researchers who were awarded research grants through the ACHA Research Program are hoping to improve the landscape of treatment options, innovative surgery/intervention options, medications, and overall neurocognitive health of all ACHD patients.
Today we are spotlighting another researcher—and her research intervention that started in 2022 with funding from ACHA—to share the results that directly affect those with ACHD.
In this update, we are highlighting Vicki Freedenberg, PhD, RN, a 2022 Meil Family Foundation Research Award for Neurocognitive Studies recipient from Children’s National Hospital, in Washington, D.C., and her study, "Exploring Mind Body Resilience and Coping/Cognitive Exercises (EMBRACE): A Psychoeducational Intervention for Adult Congenital Heart Disease, a Randomized Control Trial."
Applications Now Available for ACHA's 2025 Research Grants
Since launching our emerging research program in 2019, ACHA has invested nearly $600,000 to fund 20 investigations at adult congenital heart disease (ACHD) centers across the country. We are excited to build upon our commitment to unlocking new discoveries for our patient population, and are thrilled to announce today that grant applications for ACHA’s 2025 Research Awards are now available!
ACHA’s 2025 research program will continue to accept applications for early investigation and pilot studies for all ACHD disciplines. We are proud to once again offer the Meil Family Foundation Research Award for Neurocognitive Studies, which debuted in 2022.
ACHA's Patient & Family Advisory Board Recruitment Opens
Thank you for your interest in applying to the Patient & Family Advisory Board (PFAB) of the Adult Congenital Heart Association (ACHA)! The goal of our PFAB is to empower patients and family members across the country to engage with ACHA and the public for improved understanding, collaboration, and outcomes for adults with congenital heart disease (CHD).
Members of our PFAB advise us on the needs of the CHD community, support delivery of programs on the ground, and provide a platform for diverse voices and experiences. As a member of the PFAB, you will gain skills to help you serve as an ACHA advocate, connecting adults with CHD to one another and to critical resources. The PFAB is a standing advisory body to the ACHA Board of Directors (BOD).