Published November 6, 2024
In a strategic move to further advocate for addressing the burden of pediatric and congenital heart disease globally, Children’s HeartLink recently transitioned our International Advisory Board (IAB) to the International Policy and Advocacy Advisory Board (IPAAB). Under the leadership of Children’s HeartLink president, Jackie Boucher, this change reflects a commitment made in 2017 to integrate advocacy as a key component of our organization’s mission.
“The decision to prioritize advocacy has propelled Children’s HeartLink into a position to drive impactful changes in national and global health systems,” shared Jackie Boucher, president of Children’s HeartLink. “Our commitment to advancing this strategy includes engaging health policy experts, aiming to use advocacy to amplify the impact of our programs so more children in the world have access to these lifesaving services.”
The IPAAB will have global representation and will support efforts to increase awareness of the lifelong care required for pediatric and congenital heart disease and prioritize policy development and clinical services in low- and middle-income countries.
The inaugural IPAAB includes:
John C. Langenbrunner, Ph.D., Chair
Senior Health Economist, consultant to World Bank, Middle East and India, to USAID, Indonesia
Greg Holman
Operating Partner, LYFE Capital, China
Kathy Jenkins, M.D., MPH
Executive Director, Center for Applied Pediatric Quality Analytics, Kobren Family Chair for Patient Safety and Quality, Boston Children’s Hospital, USA
Karen Johnson Lassner, M.A., MPH
Independent Consultant in Global Health, Brazil
James A. Rice, Ph.D.
Managing Director & Senior Advisor, Governance & Leadership, Gallagher Integrated, USA
Children’s HeartLink has already set significant milestones with our advocacy. In partnership with Global Alliance for Rheumatic and Congenital Hearts (Global ARCH), we led the Advocacy Village at the 8th World Congress of Pediatric Cardiology and Cardiac Surgery and introduced a groundbreaking Call to Action, which subsequently led to the creation of the Global Coalition for Pediatric and Congenital Hearts, a first of its kind globally.
Through collaborative global advocacy efforts, the coalition seeks to reduce inequities in access to quality health care for pediatric and congenital heart disease patients in low- and middle-income countries.
In 2024, the coalition worked on developing a campaign advocating for a World Health Assembly (WHA) resolution dedicated to pediatric and congenital heart care, aimed at improving national strategies for cardiac care, enhancing infrastructure and developing healthcare capacity.
The establishment of the IPAAB positions Children’s HeartLink to build upon its achievements and lead groundbreaking advocacy efforts, driving better health outcomes for children with heart disease and advancing our vision that all children have access to high-quality heart care.
Read more about our advocacy efforts.
About Children’s HeartLink
Children’s HeartLink saves children’s lives by transforming pediatric heart care in underserved parts of the world. The global nonprofit organization (NGO), partners medical volunteers from top teaching and research institutions with doctors, nurses and health care professionals in Bangladesh, Brazil, China, India, Malaysia and Vietnam to develop or improve pediatric cardiac care programs. Since 1969, the organization has reached more than 2 million children.