Our Impact on CHD

CHD Education

UNM Pediatric Grand Rounds – educating 162 medical providers on CHD topics from childhood chronic illness, CHD & mental health, about sudden cardiac arrest and critical care of the CHD child.
The first in the nation CHD ECHO program – educating 54 medical providers throughout the United States in 14 medical institutions.
Training 24 medical providers regarding congenital heart defects in the context of rural healthcare in New Mexico. Best outcomes for newborns with duct dependent hearts occur when an early diagnosis is made & appropriate management is implemented.
Spoke to medical providers about Congenital Heart Disease (CHD) during pregnancy and the importance of detection among newborns whose parents are living with CHD. The risk increases about three-fold (3x’s) for a family in which the mother, father, or sibling has CHD.

American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) Heart Policy Screenings

We have provided over 2,000 heart screenings from 2023-2025 to help detect undiagnosed CHDs and other heart related issues. This includes The University of New Mexico Welcome Back Days (Main & Medical School Campus), United in Health with The Somos Unidos Foundation & United Soccer, Girls Scouts of New Mexico Family, Fit, Fun Fest.
Partnering with the NMAA to update their Heart Health Questions on the NMAA Activities/Sports Physical Questionnaire to help detect CHDs and sudden cardiac arrest (SCA), plus other heart related issues.
Provided AAP Heart Screen Policy Questions to 81 attendees during the Rio Rancho Girls Basketball Team during their largest attended game. These efforts help screen for undiagnosed CHDs and other heart related issues.

Articles & Podcasts

Solving a Medical Mystery: Repairing This Common Birth Defect Transformed a Boy’s Life – GE HealthCare Insights Article

https://www.gehealthcare.com/insights/article/solving-a-medical-mystery-repairing-this-common-birth-defect-transformed-a-boy%E2%80%99s-life

Screening is key to learning more about congenital heart defects – Albuquerque Journal

https://www.abqjournal.com/2468370/screening-is-key-to-learning-more-about-congenital-heart-defects.html

Annual Reports