The Adult Congenital Heart Association (ACHA) is proud to announce the hiring of new President and CEO Mark Roeder. He joins ACHA with an impressive 30-year career track record in nonprofit management for large, national health organizations as well as high-level corporate marketing and public relations. In this role, Roeder will ensure that ACHA responds to the changing congenital heart landscape, maintains relevance, and maximizes organizational opportunities.

“I am incredibly excited to take the helm of ACHA at such an important and critical time and to work with the organization’s Board of Directors, staff, volunteers and supporters on new development, program and awareness opportunities,” Roeder said. “Advances in medical procedures mean that 1.4 million adults in the United States are living with congenital heart disease (CHD), the most common birth defect, which affects one in 100 babies. ACHA plays a crucial role in making sure adults with CHD have access to specialized care and surveillance throughout their entire lives.”

As President and CEO, Roeder has strategic, operational and developmental responsibility for ensuring that ACHA achieves its strategic objectives to forward its mission and vision. He is responsible for the overall management, direction and financial well-being of the organization, ensuring alignment of ACHA’s programs with its organizational values and the implementation of ACHA’s Strategic Plan. Roeder will oversee the process of establishing program priorities, identifying necessary resources, and implementing policy and procedures to ensure organizational excellence and sustainability.

Roeder cited the following organizational initiatives as just a few of the many where he is particularly eager to lend his expertise:

• ACHA Adult Congenital Heart Disease (ACHD) Accreditation Program: Five pilot sites went through the accreditation process in 2015, while the initial rollout in 2016 yielded 15 sites from across the country who submitted applications, plus six more in the second application round. Accreditation is a crucial area for advancing and standardizing the quality of care for ACHD.
• Advocacy efforts: ACHA engages in year-round advocacy, working with legislators focusing on the Congenital Heart Futures Reauthorization Act to secure support of priority issues to the CHD community such as continued support for CHD-specific research and surveillance as well as increased funding for CHD research conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
• Public awareness campaigns: ACHA’s most recent two-month public awareness campaign, centered around Heart Month in February 2017, reached more than 300,000 people and resulted in substantial increases in patient-family and medical professional members, increased activity on social media and the ACHA website, and the best February appeal to date–raising nearly $115,000 thanks to the Meil Family Foundation Valentine Match Challenge.
• Congenital Heart Walks: This year, supporters will gather in more than 30 cities across the United States with the goal of raising much-needed funds to benefit cutting-edge research, patient programs, and advocacy initiatives. In 2016, more than 16,000 walkers raised over $1.8 million in 29 locations across the country to support the missions of ACHA and The Children’s Heart Foundation.

Roeder most recently served as the Executive Director for Susan G. Komen in Maryland, where he introduced several successful fundraising campaigns and led the development of a three-year strategic plan. Prior to that, Roeder held several leadership positions with the National Multiple Sclerosis Society. In addition to directing statewide operations for the organization’s Maryland Chapter for nearly a decade, Roeder spearheaded the merger of the Maryland and National Capital Chapters into a $9 million operation. He also served on various national committees and taskforces focused on budget development, marketing and branding, and donor development. In his career, Roeder has raised tens of millions of dollars through special events, grants, sponsorship solicitation and donor cultivation.

About the Adult Congenital Heart Association

The Adult Congenital Heart Association (ACHA) is a national not-for-profit organization dedicated to improving the quality of life and extending the lives of adults with congenital heart disease (CHD). Founded in 1998, ACHA serves and supports the 1.4 million adults with CHD, their families and the medical community—working with them to address the unmet needs of the long-term survivors of congenital heart defects through education, outreach, advocacy, and promotion of ACHD research. For more information about ACHA, contact (888) 921-ACHA or visit www.achaheart.org.