In 2026, our Leaders Forum will continue to grow as a dedicated space for connection, learning, and collaboration across our global community. Each month, we will host focused discussions based on the topics you voted for—ensuring that the conversations truly reflect the priorities, concerns, and lived experiences of our member organizations.
Throughout the year, participants will also have the opportunity to meet and interact with regional members in small-group sessions. These conversations help strengthen relationships, highlight regional priorities, and build the foundation for a more unified global voice.
The Leaders Forum is a space to be heard, to listen, to learn, and to contribute to a greater community. Whether you are leading a patient organization, building advocacy efforts, or supporting families in your region, your voice matters here.
We look forward to another year of shared knowledge, meaningful dialogue, and collective impact.
Together, we are shaping stronger pathways for lifelong care.
Registration is required, and you may now pre-register for future sessions. If you would like to give a short presentation (5–10 minutes) about your organization, please email [email protected]

Amy Verstappen has been a patient advocate and health educator since 1996, when her own challenges living with a complex heart defect led her to the Adult Congenital Heart Association, where she served as president from 2001 to 2013. She has served as an advisor to the Centers for Disease Control the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute; and the International Society for Adult Congenital Cardiac Disease, and worked with congenital heart patient and professional groups throughout the USA and the world. Ms. Verstappen received a Masters in Education in 1990 and a Masters in Global Health in 2019.