LVADStrong CEO Joins Heart Failure Panel
June 14, 2025
LVADStrong CEO joins heart failure panel to promote peer support and better patient care.
June 14, 2025
LVADStrong CEO joins heart failure panel to promote peer support and better patient care.
Last month, the energy and sense of purpose buzzing around the American Association of Heart Failure Nurses (AAHFN) conference left a lasting impression on the LVADStrong community. At the heart of this momentum was the nonprofit’s CEO, who had the honor of joining a panel discussion focused on advancing care and support for patients with heart failure and mechanical circulatory support devices like LVADs.
LVADStrong was founded with a clear mission: to create a supportive network for patients living with Left Ventricular Assist Devices (LVADs), their caregivers, and healthcare providers. The CEO’s participation at AAHFN was a powerful opportunity to bring this mission directly to professionals who are on the front lines of heart failure care, as well as to share the real stories and needs of the LVAD community.
One of the key takeaways from the CEO’s experience at the conference was the profound impact of peer connection among LVAD patients. It’s not just about survival or managing the device day to day. The emotional weight can be crushing, especially early on. But there’s healing and strength that comes from sharing the journey with others who truly understand.
The CEO explained that being an LVAD patient mentor is a two-way street. Mentors who have been through the challenges find purpose and meaning in supporting others. The act of helping someone else navigate fear, uncertainty, and practical challenges contributes to their own healing. This peer mentorship is a cornerstone of what LVADStrong is building.
Through this growing community, no one with an LVAD has to feel alone. It’s a network where shared experience translates into empowerment. The CEO emphasized that every connection made, every conversation had, can lighten the load for patients and caregivers alike.
Participation in the AAHFN panel gave the CEO a platform to highlight gaps in patient education and ongoing support. Many patients leave the hospital with more questions than answers about living with an LVAD. Caregivers often feel overwhelmed and underprepared. Healthcare providers want to offer better guidance but need the right tools and insight into the lived experience of their patients.
LVADStrong is stepping in to fill these gaps by offering resources, educational materials, and community programs designed in collaboration with patients and medical professionals. The nonprofit’s focus on real-world challenges—like emergency preparedness, device maintenance, and emotional support—makes it uniquely positioned to complement clinical care.
The CEO stressed that improving LVAD patient outcomes requires a team approach that includes peers, caregivers, and the healthcare system working in sync. Building bridges between these groups was a central theme at the conference and aligns perfectly with LVADStrong’s vision.
To continue growing this essential support network, LVADStrong recently launched a fundraising campaign. The goal is to expand peer mentorship programs, enhance educational outreach, and increase access to resources for patients and caregivers who often feel isolated.
The CEO called on the community and supporters to contribute, highlighting that even small donations can have a significant impact. Fundraising efforts will help bring the nonprofit’s mission to more people across the country and eventually beyond.
The campaign is accessible online and invites anyone who believes in the power of community and patient advocacy to join the cause. The CEO thanked everyone who has already shown support and encouraged continued engagement to build something truly meaningful for the LVAD population.
The American Association of Heart Failure Nurses is known for its commitment to advancing education and improving care quality for heart failure patients. The CEO expressed deep gratitude for the space AAHFN provides where voices from all sides—patients, caregivers, and providers—can come together to share ideas and build solutions.
This collaboration between clinical experts and patient advocates is crucial for driving progress. By participating in panels and discussions like this, LVADStrong is helping ensure that patient experience shapes future care models and support services.
The CEO’s participation at the AAHFN conference was more than just a speaking engagement. It was a call to action for the LVADStrong community and beyond. The nonprofit is committed to growing a movement that turns loneliness into connection, fear into hope, and uncertainty into empowerment.
With the recent fundraiser and ongoing efforts, LVADStrong aims to make peer mentorship widely available and deepen educational resources for all involved in the LVAD journey. The nonprofit’s leadership sees this as just the beginning of a broader effort to improve quality of life and advocate for better care and awareness.
As the LVADStrong CEO said in their heartfelt message: “Being there for someone else helps me heal too. It gives the journey meaning.” That message is resonating far beyond the conference walls and is inspiring action in communities across the nation.
LVADStrong is building something real. The question now is, how many will join the movement?