September 5, 2023

The 8th World Congress: A Pivotal Milestone for Children’s HeartLink

Once every four years, the global community in pediatric cardiology and cardiac surgery convenes for the World Congress of Pediatric Cardiology and Cardiac Surgery. This year, for the 8th World Congress, over 5,700 experts and advocates gathered, making it the largest meeting of its kind. For Children’s HeartLink, the World Congress wasn’t just another event—it was a rare, invaluable opportunity. 

From hospital partners and medical volunteers to board members and our own staff, the event unified the people who breathe life into our mission. The World Congress enabled us to not only discuss the practice we deeply care about, but also to strategize on expanding access to cardiac care for children worldwide. Here’s a glimpse inside this monumental occasion.

World Congress 1 CTA

We spearheaded the advocacy committee for the event and secured 1,500 endorsements for the Washington D.C. Call to Action on Addressing the Global Burden of Pediatric and Congenital Heart Diseases prior to the start of the conference. The Call to Action was announced at the opening ceremony and promoted throughout the meeting.

The Global Health and Advocacy Village brought together a community of NGOs and patient and family organizations working to improve access to pediatric and congenital heart care globally. Along with our advocacy partner, the Global Alliance for Rheumatic and Congenital Hearts(Global ARCH), Children’s HeartLink played a leading role in bringing nearly 100 organizations from 36 countries together in this hub to advocate for children. Bistra Zheleva, David Overman, M.D. from Children’s Minnesota and Amy Verstappen, President of Global ARCH co-chaired the Global Village.

 This was an excellent opportunity to see old friends and meet new ones! Our president Jackie Boucher was spotted with Harikrishnan AM from Children’s HeartLink Center of Excellence Amrita Hospital, Kochi. Hari works with 3D printing to build models of hearts for children with congenital heart disease. 

Many of our partners, volunteers, Board of Directors and International Advisory Board members attended the conference and contributed their expertise and insightful questions to lectures. We sponsored 20 partner representatives from Children’s HeartLink partner hospitals to attend the congress. 

Several Children’s HeartLink partners and staff members contributed posters and presentations. Scroll for some of the presentations.

We were thrilled to host over 90 global partners and volunteers for breakfast! It’s not every day that we can gather so many champions of the Children’s HeartLink mission in one room. We’re thankful to all who could attend!

Pictured here are Adriana (center) and Unnikrishnan (left). They’re joined by Children’s HeartLink nursing volunteer Dr. Anna Fisk at Boston Children’s Hospital (second from left), Bistra Zheleva, vice president of global strategy and advocacy at Children’s HeartLink (second from right) and PGIMER nurse, Sunil (far right).

We were grateful for the opportunity to come together, share ideas and celebrate our collective accomplishments over dinner with our esteemed International Advisory Board members. Their guidance and expertise continually shape Children’s HeartLink’s mission and empower us to reach greater heights. 

Also while in D.C…

The 8th World Congress was not just an event; it was a seminal moment that brought together the leading lights in pediatric cardiology and cardiac surgery. We left the Congress invigorated, not just by the opportunities that lie ahead, but by the profound sense of responsibility we all share. The conversations, the presentations, the collaborations—they were all milestones that point to one thing: the promise of a better future for children around the globe who need cardiac care. 

As we look forward to the next World Congress in 2025, we’re filled with a sense of urgency. The insights and alliances forged in this gathering will propel us to reach more children, in more places, more effectively than ever before. Here’s to the next chapter in making pediatric cardiac care accessible for every child, everywhere. 

originally Published August 31, 2023

We save children’s lives by transforming pediatric heart care in underserved parts of the world.

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