Strategic Network Annual Meeting – Oversight Advisory Committees

The meeting will be held at the Renaissance Denver Hotel & Conference Center
3801 Quebec Street
Denver, CO 80207

ALL ATTENDEES (awardees, fellows/trainees and OAC) MUST REGISTER for the Strategic Awards Annual meeting BY AUGUST 7, 2026.

All key Center personnel (Directors/Coordinating Center PIs, Training Directors, Project PIs and Fellows/Trainees) and Oversight Advisory Committee members are expected to attend.

Refer to Programming for specific details. If you are part of two separate Strategic Awards, please register for both meetings.

REGISTER HERE FOR SEPTEMBER 24-25:

• Chronic Stress SFRN
• Inflammation in Cardiac & Neurovascular Disease SFRN
• Cardiovascular Kidney Metabolic Syndrome SFRN
• Valvular Heart Disease SFRN

REGISTER HERE FOR SEPTEMBER 25-26:

• HERN Maternal & Infant Health
• HERN Rural Health
• HERN Community-Driven Research Approaches

IMPORTANT NOTE: Meeting registration is separate from booking your hotel reservation. It is important that hotel reservations are booked within the Strategic Awards room block and not directly through the hotel’s booking link or a third-party site.  Refer to Travel/Hotel Reservations for further instructions on how to make hotel reservations. Name tags will be created based on the name and credentials/degrees entered on the registration form; please ensure this is entered correctly.

For Strategic Award meetings September 24-25, plan your arrival to Denver International Airport on Wednesday, September 23, as programming will start at approximately 8:00 a.m. on Thursday, September 24, 2026. Plan your departing flight after 5 p.m. on Friday, September 25, 2026.

• Chronic Stress SFRN, Inflammation SFRN, CV Kidney SFRN, and Valvular SFRN

• Maternal & Infant Health, Rural Health and Community-Driven Research Approaches HERN

Denver has a light rail system that attendees can ride from the airport to near the hotel. Light rail details (PDF)

Heart Association Travel Desk
All OAC members must use the Association’s travel desk to book their flights. After July 1, please email Irene Redwine at [email protected] or call (214) 706-1500 during normal business hours (Monday – Friday, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. ET) with the following information:

• Name of Meeting: Strategic Award Annual Meeting
• Full legal name (matching valid ID or passport)
• Gender
• Date of birth
• Contact information including email address and phone number
• Travel dates and time of day
• Departing and arriving city
• TSA Pre Check or Known Traveler # (if applicable)
• Travel preferences, if any (airline, aisle seat, etc.)
• Staff Contact: [email protected]
  
  Important Note:  Please communicate the name of the meeting as “Strategic Network Annual Meeting” to the representative of the Heart Association travel desk.  
  
   

Hotel Reservation
Use this link to make hotel reservations by Friday, August 7, 2026

Deposit: One-night deposit is due at the time of booking.
Cancellation Policy: Cancel 72 hours prior to arrival to avoid forfeiting one-night deposit.

Hotel Information
Renaissance Denver Hotel & Conference Center
3801 Quebec Street
Denver, Colorado 80207
(303) 399-7500

The Association will cover the costs associated with the OAC’s travel to the Strategic Network Annual Meeting. We will submit a reimbursement request on each of the OAC members’ behalf.  To ensure timely reimbursement, please read and follow the instructions below:

• Volunteer Expense Reimbursement Form (XLXS): Complete the spreadsheet and submit along with the appropriate receipts.  As a reminder, itemized receipts are required for all expenditures more than $25.The Association will reimburse for parking, cab/Uber, meals not provided at the meeting, etc.
  
  Important Note: Each volunteer is required to complete this form in its entirety to ensure their travel reimbursement is processed in a timely manner.

• Volunteer Travel and Expense Guidelines (PDF): Provides detailed information regarding allowable expenses. 

After the meeting, email [email protected] with the completed forms and receipts by Friday, December 4, 2026.

The attire for the Strategic Network Annual Meeting is business casual. Jeans, slacks, khakis, polo shirts, other casual blouses and shirts are appropriate.  Hotel meetings rooms are often cool, so bring a jacket or sweater.

Each meeting room will have a charging station. Space will be limited; it is recommended that laptops be charged nightly.

Renaissance Navigator Group Eats
By Brian Mordecai, Group Sales Manager, Renaissance Denver Central Park Hotel

Your group guests have varied and diverse tastes. I’ve curated this selection to offer a mix of local flavors and national favorites. Organized in Clusters to be ideal for groups whether everyone wants to dine together or split off into smaller tables at different restaurants. Find your favorites and explore often!

Oneida Park (1.5 miles)
Nestled in the heart of Park Hill, Oneida Park is a full city-block oasis of neighborhood retail, blending casual dining with community charm. Just a 5-minute drive or 30-minute walk from the Renaissance, this spot hums with energy—think outdoor patios, local brews, and easy parking. It's perfect for a low-key lunch or evening stroll, with everything from pizza to soft serve.

Esters: 2201 Oneida St
Cuisine: American Gastropub/Pizza
Why Go: Housed in a revamped schoolhouse vibe, Esters delivers wood-fi red pizzas, crispy pretzel bites, and local brews in a spacious, family-friendly space with a killer patio. Try the Fluffhead veggie pie for a Colorado twist. Price Range: $$ | Hours: 11am–10pm daily | Tip: Happy hour (3–6pm) for $2 off drafts.

DANG Soft Serve: 2211 Oneida St
Cuisine: Soft Serve & Fries
Why Go: A playful offshoot of Little Man Ice Cream, DANG twists 80s nostalgia with rotating dairy/vegan soft serve flavors like salted oreo, paired with hot fries for that sweet-savory hit. The bomb cyclone sundae is Instagram gold. Hours: Noon–9pm (later Fri/Sat) | Tip: Outdoor seating for people-watching.

Torpedo Coffee: 2231 Oneida St
Cuisine: Coffee & Breakfast Bites
Why Go: This cozy Park Hill staple roasts local beans for pour-overs and brews iced coffee with coffee ice cubes (no dilution!). Grab a breakfast burrito or gluten-free croissant—ideal fuel for exploring. Hours: 6am–2pm (later Fri/Sat) | Tip: Kid-friendly play area outside.

Famous Philly Cheese Steak & Wings: 2200 Oneida St
Cuisine: Philly Cheesesteaks & Wings
Why Go: Greasy-good East Coast transplants: juicy cheesesteaks loaded with whiz and peppers, plus Nashville-hot wings. The patio beer garden adds a relaxed Denver spin. | Hours: 10:30am–9pm daily

Illegal Pete’s: 2230 Oneida St
Cuisine: Mission-Style Burritos
Why Go: Massive, customizable burritos stuffed with responsibly sourced fillings—fi sh tacos and queso are standouts. Lively vibe with local drafts. Hours: 10:30am–10pm | Tip: Veggie options galore.

Stanley Marketplace (2.7 miles)
This repurposed aviation hangar is a 25+ vendor wonderland. Food hall meets farmers market, with local restaurants and retail. A 10-minute drive east, it's a great group outing hub for brunch to brews.

Annette: Wood-fi red American cuisine in an airy space—James Beard winner for seasonal pizzas and handmade pastas. Dinner daily.

Denver Biscuit Co: Comfort-food biscuit sandwiches like Nashville-hot chicken. Breakfast/lunch, switches to burgers post-3pm.

Chi Lin Asian Eatery: Fresh pan-Asian ramen, dumplings and boba. Lunch–dinner.

Famous J’s: Hot, fresh NYC-style pizza slices post-4pm (from Rosenberg’s bagels).

Stanley Beer Hall: Self-pour 51-tap wall with burgers and wings. | Brunch–late.

Sweet Cow: Small-batch ice cream with funky fl avors like candy corn swirl. All day.

Eastbridge (2.6 miles) Eastbridge, on the eastern edge of Central Park, buzzes with modern townhomes, greenways, and the Eastbridge Town Center—a sleek strip of eateries and shops. A 9-minute drive, it's walkable from the rec center and ideal for trendy brunches, delicious Italian meals or rooftop tacos and ice cream.

Cattivella: Rustic wood-fi red Italian—handmade pastas, Neapolitan pizzas, and charbroiled oysters from Chef Elise Wiggins. | Dinner, Tue–Sun.

Big Wave Taco: Surf-inspired with bold tacos and frozen margs | Tue–Sat afternoons/evenings.

Hashtag: Boozy brunch haven with Hawaiian-Asian mashups like quinoa waffles and stacked enchiladas. | 7am–2pm daily.

Tag Burger Bar: Elevated burgers, brews, and cocktails from Chef Troy Guard—think smash patties with local twists. | Lunch–Dinner, Tue-Sun

Little Man Central Park: Renowned local family owned favorite now in Central Park! Unique flavors drawing inspiration from the neighborhood's rich history of aviation as Denver’s original International Airport. Try scoops like Turbulence (chocolate stout) and Elevation Cloud Cones.

Other Favorites
These standouts add variety—book a ride-share for evenings out.

FlyteCo (0.8 miles): Aviation-themed brewpub in the old Stapleton tower—craft beers, pizzas, and games like axe-throwing/mini-golf. Tower tours for skyline views! $$ | Lunch–late. [Image Placeholder: Tower exterior with patio]

Lucky Strike (8.2 miles, LoDo): Upscale bowling alley with gourmet pub fare—truffle fries, sliders, and craft cocktails amid neon lanes. Fun for groups. $$ $ | All day.

Brian's Closing Bite:
From Oneida's quick bites to Eastbridge's brunches, Central Park's scene is all about connection and flavor. Don’t forget to swing by the hotel's complimentary evening beverage ritual in the SkyHawk lounge at 5:30 daily.

Have specific group needs?
[email protected]

Eat bold, explore often!

© 2025 Renaissance Denver Central Park Hotel. Recommendations current as of November 2025

The Oversight Advisory Committees (OACs) provide external oversight for the Strategic Networks and serve in an advisory capacity to assure specific aims and goals are met.

These guides are helpful resources that govern the HERN and SFRN awards. Please refer to the designated guide to answer the most commonly asked questions about procedures and policies of these Research Programs.   

HERN OAC Handbook (PDF)
SFRN OAC Handbook (PDF)