Cardiology 2025, the 28th Annual Update on Pediatric and Congenital Cardiovascular Disease, took place from February 19 to 23 at Disney’s Yacht & Beach Club Report in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. The conference, hosted by Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP), featured plenary sessions, subspecialty breakouts, moderated panels and dynamic discussions, attracting a broad range of advocates and healthcare professionals involved in pediatric and congenital cardiovascular care.
Here are the key takeaways from this year’s conference:
- Success is a joint effort: Collaboration among health care systems is essential to create lasting change in our field, especially during times of financial constraint. We are harnessing strength in numbers and skillsets, providing the potential for bold new discoveries not previously achievable.
- United Voices Makes an Impact: An urgent need exists for an effective congenital heart disease (CHD) advocacy strategy. A commentary in the Orlando Sentinel by CHOP and Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children underscores the important of raising awareness about our field with consistent messages.
- Interventions Propel Progress: Catheter-based interventions are growing in number and sophistication. Procedures such as ductal stenting, Patent Ductus Arteriosus (PDA) closure, pulmonary valve insertion and closure of sinus venosus atrial septal defect (ASD) are well developed and gaining in popularity.
- Prescribing Fitness for a Healthy Heart: Exercise is the best medicine for individuals with Fontan circulation. Researchers are looking to further solidify a tailored approach to “dosage” and activity for patients.
- Research Improves Outcomes: Clinical trials in our field have increased significantly over the past decade, offering critical insights on what medications are most effective in treating pediatric cardiac patients.
- Prioritizing Self-Care is a Must for Providers: As healthcare professionals in a demanding clinical environment, it’s essential to prioritize our own wellness, which in turn has a positive impact on our patients and community at large.
- Evidence-based Practice Fuels Excellence: Evidence-based practice remains the foundation of pediatric cardiac nursing, guiding quality improvement initiatives and advancing nursing science. Integrating the latest research and evidence into bedside care ensures the highest standards for patient outcomes.
- Nurses Play a Growing and Vital Role in Pediatric Cardiac Care: The evolving and essential role of pediatric cardiac nurses is stronger than ever, spanning the full continuum of care from inpatient to outpatient settings. Their expertise is essential in driving innovation, enhancing patient outcomes, and ensuring the best possible care for children with cardiovascular conditions and their families. Nursing led research will enhance our knowledge base in best practices.
- Liver Health Can Bolster Cardiac Breakthroughs: A breakout session at the conference focused on how the integration of liver health, psychological well-being, Fontan pathway characteristics and other variables impact clinical outcomes in those with single ventricle congenital heart disease. We are elucidating the biology of liver health through sophisticated cell and metabolomic investigations that will lead to therapeutic strategies.
- Pediatric Cardiac Care is Thriving: Our field has made great strides, while remaining open to progress as we evolve care for the spectrum of pediatric and cardiovascular disease from fetus to adult.
It was inspiring to witness the dedication of our incredible community. The future looks promising.
Save the date for Cardiology 2026 in Scottsdale, Arizona: February 24-March 1, 2026. More information about registration will be available here: https://www.chop.edu/events/cardiology-2026
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Cardiology 2025, the 28th Annual Update on Pediatric and Congenital Cardiovascular Disease, took place from February 19 to 23 at Disney’s Yacht & Beach Club Report in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. The conference, hosted by Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP), featured plenary sessions, subspecialty breakouts, moderated panels and dynamic discussions, attracting a broad range of advocates and healthcare professionals involved in pediatric and congenital cardiovascular care.
Here are the key takeaways from this year’s conference:
- Success is a joint effort: Collaboration among health care systems is essential to create lasting change in our field, especially during times of financial constraint. We are harnessing strength in numbers and skillsets, providing the potential for bold new discoveries not previously achievable.
- United Voices Makes an Impact: An urgent need exists for an effective congenital heart disease (CHD) advocacy strategy. A commentary in the Orlando Sentinel by CHOP and Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children underscores the important of raising awareness about our field with consistent messages.
- Interventions Propel Progress: Catheter-based interventions are growing in number and sophistication. Procedures such as ductal stenting, Patent Ductus Arteriosus (PDA) closure, pulmonary valve insertion and closure of sinus venosus atrial septal defect (ASD) are well developed and gaining in popularity.
- Prescribing Fitness for a Healthy Heart: Exercise is the best medicine for individuals with Fontan circulation. Researchers are looking to further solidify a tailored approach to “dosage” and activity for patients.
- Research Improves Outcomes: Clinical trials in our field have increased significantly over the past decade, offering critical insights on what medications are most effective in treating pediatric cardiac patients.
- Prioritizing Self-Care is a Must for Providers: As healthcare professionals in a demanding clinical environment, it’s essential to prioritize our own wellness, which in turn has a positive impact on our patients and community at large.
- Evidence-based Practice Fuels Excellence: Evidence-based practice remains the foundation of pediatric cardiac nursing, guiding quality improvement initiatives and advancing nursing science. Integrating the latest research and evidence into bedside care ensures the highest standards for patient outcomes.
- Nurses Play a Growing and Vital Role in Pediatric Cardiac Care: The evolving and essential role of pediatric cardiac nurses is stronger than ever, spanning the full continuum of care from inpatient to outpatient settings. Their expertise is essential in driving innovation, enhancing patient outcomes, and ensuring the best possible care for children with cardiovascular conditions and their families. Nursing led research will enhance our knowledge base in best practices.
- Liver Health Can Bolster Cardiac Breakthroughs: A breakout session at the conference focused on how the integration of liver health, psychological well-being, Fontan pathway characteristics and other variables impact clinical outcomes in those with single ventricle congenital heart disease. We are elucidating the biology of liver health through sophisticated cell and metabolomic investigations that will lead to therapeutic strategies.
- Pediatric Cardiac Care is Thriving: Our field has made great strides, while remaining open to progress as we evolve care for the spectrum of pediatric and cardiovascular disease from fetus to adult.
It was inspiring to witness the dedication of our incredible community. The future looks promising.
Save the date for Cardiology 2026 in Scottsdale, Arizona: February 24-March 1, 2026. More information about registration will be available here: https://www.chop.edu/events/cardiology-2026
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Natalie Solimeo
Cardiac Center