The beginning of a new year means the addition of new members to the Adult Congenital Heart Association’s (ACHA) Board of Directors and Medical Advisory Board. This year, we are proud to announce the following members who are joining these impressive teams to become an integral part of fulfilling the ACHA mission to empower the congenital heart disease (CHD) community by advancing access to resources and specialized care that improve patient-centered outcomes.
Board of Directors (BOD):
- Nicole Jung, Vice President of Finance, Health and Science Technologies, IDEX Corporation, Minneapolis, MN
- Matthew J. Martinho, Senior Wealth Planner, Merrill Lynch, New York, NY
- Claudia E. Norman, Lead Director, Aetna, a CVS Health Company, New Britain, CT
- Anne Stapleton Reilly, Retired, Development and Public Relations Professional, Naples, FL
Medical Advisory Board (MAB):
- Alice Chan, DNP, AGACNP, CCRN, Clinical Program Manager, Adult Congenital Heart Disease Center, Mount Sinai Medical Center, New York, NY
- Joseph D. Kay, MD, FACC, Colorado’s Adult and Teen Congenital Heart (CATCH) Program Director, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO
- Jamie L. Lohr, MD, Associate Professor of Pediatrics, University of Minnesota School of Medicine, Minneapolis, MN
James Ruppel, MD, MS, who this year has also begun his two-year tenure as ACHA Board Chair, commented that he was very impressed by the achievements of the new board members. As he said, “They reflect the increasing prominence of ACHA.”
CHD, the most common birth defect diagnosed in one in 100 births, is a chronic illness that ranges among simple, moderate, and complex heart defects, and needs to be monitored over the course of a patient’s life. Through education, outreach, advocacy, and research—and with the support and advisement of our boards—ACHA serves and supports the nearly two million adults with CHD, their families, and the medical community.
“We are honored to welcome these seven individuals to our BOD and MAB,” said ACHA President and CEO Mark Roeder. “Comprised of industry leaders in their fields, as well as medical providers dedicated to the lifelong care of adults with CHD, they will serve alongside an already impressive list of nationally recognized board members. Their diverse talents and connections will take ACHA’s mission to the next level, and bring great value to our committees, staff members, and other volunteers.”