Here is the leadership update from our April e-newsletter.
Spring is here! Despite snow last week, this week the daffodils are up and ACHA spring events are in full swing! For the second year, more than 20 Congenital Heart Walks are taking place around the country, each one providing priceless opportunities for ACHA members to educate heart parents about the lifelong journey of congenital heart disease. This year ACHA and Children’s Heart Foundation was thrilled to invite Mended Little Hearts, a national organization offering hope and support to parents of heart kids, to partner in the national Congenital Heart Walk initiative. We know that CHD is a lifelong journey, and that patients and families are in it together—every step of the way. I hope each of you will choose to support this ground-breaking initiative, as each step these walkers take brings us closer to ACHA’s vision of a long and healthy life for every person born with CHD.
But the biggest event this spring is just around the corner—ACHA’s 6th National Conference. It’s hard to believe that in two weeks we will be greeting more than 400 ACHD patients, family members, providers and researchers at the Marriott LAX for three days of learning, friendship, and celebration. Although the hotel room rate expired, it’s not too late to register. Thanks to the generosity of our members and supporters, ACHA was able to offer over 80 needy attendees from throughout the country hotel and airfare assistance to attend. Although travel funding is no longer available, registration scholarships are still available for those who need them. I can’t wait to see many of you there!
What if you aren’t heading to L.A.? This year we plan to upload as many conference presentations as possible, and also invite faculty to present again via webinar so that ACHA members from around the country have the chance to participate. Look for information in May on new conference-generated educational resources.
Happy Spring!
Amy Verstappen
ACHA President/CEO