Young Hearts Message from the Chair

It is with deep gratitude and humility that I begin my term as chair of the Council on Lifelong Congenital Heart Disease and Heart Health in the Young (Young Hearts). Having served as Chair-Elect for the past two years, I have had the privilege of watching this community up close — and I can say with confidence that the strength of Young Hearts has never come from any one leader. It comes from you: the clinicians, scientists, nurses, trainees, advocates, and staff who give their time and talent to improve the lives of children and adults living with congenital and acquired heart disease.

I am indebted to my predecessor, whose steady leadership and strategic vision leave the Council in a remarkable position, and to the outgoing leadership team whose work made the past two years so productive. My first commitment as chair is simple: to be a good steward of what we have built together.

And what we have built is extraordinary. Over the past two years, our membership grew year over year, with overall membership up 10% and early-career membership up 24%, a sign that the next generation sees a home in Young Hearts. We celebrated a record 14 newly elected FAHAs, a three-and-a-half-fold increase. At Scientific Sessions 2025, 362 of our members (roughly a third of the Council) attended, the highest turnout in three years, engaging with a record 25 Young Hearts sessions. And for yet another year, we led all American Heart Association councils in scientific statement productivity.

These numbers tell a story, but the real story is the moment we are in. Pediatric and congenital cardiovascular science is advancing at a remarkable pace. We increasingly understand that adult cardiovascular disease begins in childhood — placing our community at the very origin of lifelong heart health. At the same time, the growing focus on equity, global access, and implementation science gives us an unprecedented opportunity to shape not just what the evidence says, but how it reaches patients everywhere.

Over the next two years, I hope we will seize that opportunity together by sustaining our leadership in scientific statements and guidance, expanding high-impact programming at Scientific Sessions, strengthening our early-career and global initiatives, and deepening collaborations across American Heart Association councils. Above all, I want to widen the doors of this Council. Expanding and diversifying our membership — across disciplines, career stages, and geography — is essential to our vitality, and creating more opportunities for members to participate meaningfully will be a central priority of my term.

I do not have all the answers, and I would not want to lead as though I did. What I can promise is an open door, a listening ear, and a genuine invitation: whether you are a longstanding member or joining us for the first time, there is a place for you here and work worth doing. Please reach out to me or to any member of our leadership team with your ideas, your concerns, and your ambitions for this community.

Thank you for the trust you have placed in me. I am honored to serve you, and I cannot wait to see what we accomplish together.

Warmly,

Andrea Beaton, MD FAHA
Chair, Council on Lifelong Congenital Heart Disease and Heart Health in the Young (Young Hearts)