Five years ago, the Heart Center opened a dedicated inpatient unit for the Adult Congenital Heart Disease (ACHD) program. What started as a new unit has grown into a place where adults with congenital heart disease find care, understanding and a team that walks with them at every step of their journey.
While the inpatient unit marked an important milestone, Texas Children’s has been caring for adults with congenital heart disease for decades. Since 1995, the Heart Center has provided care for thousands of ACHD patients. The opening of the dedicated inpatient unit strengthened that legacy by creating a space designed specifically to meet the needs of this growing patient population and support lifelong, specialized care.
To mark this milestone, team members from our Heart Center gathered with cupcakes and refreshments while sharing laughter, memories and stories that have inspired them along the way.
“This anniversary is a celebration of our team and all the hard work that they have put in to make our program the success that it has become, “said Dr. Edward Hickey, surgical director of the ACHD program.
“Five years ago, the hospital leadership recognized that age should be no barrier to expert congenital heart care and invested in this project to give adults with congenital heart disease a home, tailored specifically to their needs,” Dr. Hickey added. “It is unique and will likely inspire other programs around the country to follow our lead.”
Today, the ACHD program is one of the largest in the nation, providing specialized surgeries, interventional procedures, advanced imaging and outpatient care. Physicians, nurses, advanced practice providers and support staff work together to guide adults with congenital heart conditions through every stage of care.
As team members looked back on the past five years, stories of patient victories, teamwork and everyday triumphs filled the room. The celebration showed that the ACHD program’s strength comes not just from medical expertise and collaboration but from the team’s commitment to every patient who depends on the Heart Center.
Join us in congratulating the ACHD team on this remarkable milestone in the comments below!
