Action Learning Network

10/22/2026

If you or your child has received care at an ACTION site, we'd love to hear your story.

By sharing your experience, you may help other patients and families navigating a similar path.

Think you'd be interested? Send us a direct message. We'd love to chat. ❤️

10/20/2026

Going home on a ventricular assist device (VAD) is a major milestone, but it also comes with unique challenges for adolescents and young adults.

Published in JHLT Open, a recent ACTION study examined the experiences of 17 adolescents and young adults living at home with durable VAD support. Participants shared concerns related to emergency situations, infection, bleeding, and device management, along with challenges affecting daily activities and social engagement.

Special thanks to the ACTION Fellows who led this project and to the adolescents and young adults who shared their experiences!

Learn more here: https://bit.ly/4dNAM3K!

10/16/2026

Thinking about ? So are we! 🇦🇺 Check out the details below and start planning!!

Plan on attending in Sydney? Start making your travel arrangements. Attendees can now book hotels at exclusive rates. ✈️📆

🌟Preconference Day: Tuesday, 13 April
🌟Annual Meeting & Scientific Sessions: Wednesday, 14 April - Saturday, 17 April

Learn more at 🔗 https://bit.ly/4dJLs37

10/15/2026

🦠 How common are VAD-associated infections in children?

A new study published in Artificial Organs evaluated 1,527 pediatric patients in the ACTION registry and found that about 10% developed a VAD-associated infection. Infection rates were proportionately higher among patients with intracorporeal VADs, and median time to infection was longer for intracorporeal versus paracorporeal devices. The study found no difference in one-year survival between patients with and without VAD-associated infection.

Learn more here: https://bit.ly/4Blw3Au!

10/12/2026

Congratulations to our newest Member of the Month, Jonathan Edelson, Medical Director of the Heart Transplant and Ventricular Assist Device Programs at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia! 🎉

When asked what made him join ACTION, Jon shared, “I saw the excitement, enthusiasm, collaboration, and productivity within ACTION and wanted to be part of it. It felt like a group of people who genuinely enjoyed working together and were actually getting things done.”

Get to know Jon, including the ACTION projects he's most excited about, his favorite travel destination, and the best piece of advice he's received here: https://bit.ly/4hJbmGL!

10/07/2026

Does earlier right ventricular assist device (RVAD) implantation confer a survival advantage in children requiring biventricular assist device (BiVAD) support? A recent ACTION study published in ASAIO Journal examined outcomes among 223 pediatric patients and found better 1-year survival among patients who received an RVAD during the same surgery as their left ventricular assist device (LVAD) compared with those who underwent delayed RVAD implantation.

Learn more here: https://bit.ly/4rXZdBu.

10/05/2026

🎉 Join us in welcoming Megan to the ACTION team! 🎉

Megan is joining ACTION as a Program Manager, excited for the opportunity to contribute to meaningful work that supports patients and families. She is looking forward to being part of a passionate, welcoming team dedicated to improving outcomes together.

Outside of work, Megan enjoys seeing new movies, listening to music, spending time with her two cats, and hanging out with her fiancée, family, and friends. 🎬🎵🐱

Welcome aboard, Megan! We’re so glad to have you!

10/01/2026

We are excited to introduce the ACTION Referral Guidance for Pediatric Oncology Providers! This resource was created to provide guidance on when referral to cardiology may be appropriate for pediatric oncology patients during treatment and survivorship. The goal is to support timely recognition of cardiovascular concerns and strengthen collaboration between oncology and cardiology teams.

Special thanks to Heang Lim, MD and the ACTION Cardio-Oncology Committee for developing this valuable tool!

Download here: https://bit.ly/4e5Z8Wk!

09/23/2026

We're excited to kick off a new season of the ACTION VAD IRL Series with The Wait Is Not a Pause: Helping Children Thrive While Awaiting Transplant.

Join us October 15 to hear from Dr. Jennifer Conway of Stollery Children's Hospital, Dr. Casey Vogel of Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago, and a family as they share their experiences and perspectives on helping children and families during the transplant wait.

Register here: https://bit.ly/4yURLsZ.

09/21/2026

When should beta-blocker therapy begin for children with heart failure? A recent ACTION study published in Pediatric Cardiology found that children who started beta-blockers during a heart failure hospitalization had similar 30-day readmission and mortality outcomes compared with those who started therapy after discharge.

These findings add to the growing body of evidence on beta-blocker initiation in pediatric heart failure and provide important data for clinicians caring for these patients. Learn more here: https://bit.ly/4izPVZE.