Member Spotlight: Adult Congenital Heart Association

Posted September 5, 2023

Contact name: Christine Wenzl, Midwest Regional Development Specialist
Contact email:
cwenzl@achaheart.org

 

The mission of the Adult Congenital Heart Association (ACHA) is to empower the congenital heart disease (CHD) community by advancing access to resources and specialized care that improve patient-centered outcomes. The vision of ACHA is that every adult with CHD receives specialized cardiac care.

 

ACHA is the trusted partner of the more than 2.5 million people in the United States living with congenital heart disease, bringing together patients, family members, and medical professionals to create a community and support network. CHD is a chronic illness, affecting 1 in 100 people, that needs to be monitored over the course of a patient’s life. ACHA helps to facilitate and educate this lifelong care continuum from childhood to adulthood. ACHA supports the CHD community year-round by providing programs and services such as patient education, research, peer-to-peer support, ACHD program accreditation, and more.

 

ACHA was started by an inspired group of young adults in the CHD community looking for support and to help guide each other in their journeys. Their founding took place in Massachusetts in 1998 and they are approaching their 25th anniversary this October. You can learn more about the founding of ACHA in this video and this blog post.

“We have many ways that someone can connect with ACHA and the CHD community in the Iowa City area. ACHA is here to support every life stage of CHD, from young adulthood through the decades ahead… we are proud of our expansion to a national organization with local roots, such as in Iowa City.” -Christine Wenzl, Midwest Regional Development Specialist

ACHA stands as the sole nonprofit organization catering to the needs of adults with CHD. For instance, the organization functions as the lone national patient advocacy collective with a sole focus on providing financial support for research endeavors that enhance the extent and scope of adult CHD understanding. ACHA’s primary goal is to enhance the quality of lifelong, comprehensive care, with a special emphasis on concerns like psychosocial and neurocognitive hurdles. Interested individuals can garner insights into ACHA’s distinctive attributes and its influence on the lives of adults with CHD by viewing this video.

 

ACHA joined the Iowa City Area Business Partnership because they want to continue to support the local community and connect with other businesses and community members in the Iowa City area.

 

Connect with Adult Congenital Heart Association today!

Check out their website and follow them on Instagram, Facebookand LinkedIn

 

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