Why are conferences specifically for adults with congenital heart defects important? Who attends ACHD conferences? What can a person expect to learn at a virtual conference?


Annie Ulchak was born in Lima, Peru in 1979 with nomenclature HLHS, pulmonary stenosis, double inlet right atrium, and double outlet right ventricle. She was adopted and had the two-stage HLHS process: BT shunt at age 3 and classic Fontan at age 7 at Boston Children's Hospital. She was diagnosed with CHF and cardiac cirrhosis in 2010. In June 2014, she was diagnosed with autoimmune serositis of the peritoneum. In December 2014 and January 2015, she was diagnosed with atrial flutters and has undergone two cardiac ablations. Following her most recent health struggles, Annie developed a passion for nutrition and improved her health dramatically via an overhaul of her diet. Annie works full-time as a dual executive assistant and project coordinator for a prominent Boston health care system. When she's not working she can be found volunteering at Quincy Animal Shelter or cooking something delicious in her kitchen.

In this episode of "Heart to Heart with Anna," Annie will be sharing with us a little bit about her history, how she became involved with Houston Methodist Hospital, and what we can expect from their upcoming Adult Congenital Heart Conference -- which will be virtual this year. Annie will tell us how she'll be participating in the conference and what others in the CHD community can expect to hear and learn, and why it's important for us to have conferences devoted to adults with congenital heart defects.

Links to things discussed in this episode:

Annie's former "Heart to Heart with Anna" episode: https://www.buzzsprout.com/62761/4107911

Registration Link for the Houston Methodist Adults with Congenital Heart Disease Conference: https://tinyurl.com/62nx499d

Fontan Outcomes Network: https://www.fontanoutcomesnetwork.org/

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