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).
Eligibility
To be eligible to serve on the PFAB, applicants must:
- Complete and submit the PFAB application form (Applications are no longer open).
- Participate in an interview, if selected.
- Be:
- An adult (age 18+) with a congenital heart condition/disease (CHD), and/or
- An immediate family member of someone with CHD (spouse/partner, parent, sibling, or child).
While we welcome applications from all parts of the United States, this year we will prioritize these areas where we identified a higher need:
- California (Los Angeles, San Diego and San Francisco metro areas)
- Chicago, IL metro area
- Denver, CO metro area
- Kansas City metro area
- Minneapolis, MN metro area
- New Mexico
- Ohio (Cincinnati and Columbus metro areas)
- Oregon
- Phoenix, AZ metro area
- Salt Lake City, UT metro area
- Seattle, WA metro area
- St. Louis, MO metro area
Even if you don’t live in these areas, please submit your application, as we will consider applications from across the United States.
Commitment & Expectations
If accepted to serve as a member of ACHA’s PFAB, here’s what we will ask of you:
- Attend at least six (6) virtual meetings each year.
- Serve a 3-year term, with the option for one (1) renewal, for a maximum of 6 years.
- Commit a minimum of 3–5 hours per month to engage in ACHA activities, such as:
- Educating the public during Heart Month
- Holding or attending local CHD events
- Fundraising for your local Walk for 1 in 100 and other fundraising campaigns
- Writing letters to elected officials to encourage funding for CHD research
- Sharing your story during an ACHA program, virtually or in your community
- Advising ACHA on the needs of adults and families with CHD
- No financial requirement, though we encourage members to contribute or fundraise annually.
The PFAB may determine at its discretion and expense, and with the approval of ACHA, to meet in person at any time.
About ACHA
The Adult Congenital Heart Association (ACHA) is the trusted partner of more than 2 million adults in the United States living with congenital heart disease by uniting patients, families, and medical professionals to create a supportive community.
VISION: Every adult with congenital heart disease receives specialized cardiac care.
MISSION: To empower the congenital heart disease community by advancing access to resources and specialized care that improve patient-centered outcomes.