Pulmonary Hypertension Association volunteers provide support for patients and caregivers and help PHA carry out its work.
As a PHA volunteer, you can turn strangers into friends, spread hope and promote common causes. Whether you have pulmonary hypertension, care for someone with PH, or are a PH-treating health care professional, you can become a PHA volunteer.
Some volunteers provide hope and information by leading support groups, answering patient and caregiver calls or serving as peer mentors.
Others share their stories in our Right Heart Blog and Pathlight magazine, speaking at events or contacting their lawmakers.
Our volunteers also help out when called upon.
Many support PHA staff at events, such as helping out at PHA’s biennial conference by welcoming attendees, creating our remembrance board or distributing t-shirts at the booth. Others organize fundraisers and volunteer at our O2breathe fundraising walks.
PHA volunteers lend their expertise to educate others. Patients, caregivers and health care professionals can serve on the PHA Board of Trustees and PHA committees. They also can share their experiences and expertise by presenting at PH International PH Conference and Scientific Sessions. Professionals can present at the PH Professional Network Symposium.
PH advocates promote our common causes. From visiting local offices of congressional representatives to taking part in advocacy visits on Capitol Hill, our advocates work to educate lawmakers about treatment access, supplement oxygen, research funding and other issues important to the PH community.
Email us to learn more about volunteer opportunities, or or call 301-565-3004, ext. 777.
The Pulmonary Hypertension Association honored eight remarkable members of the PH community during an Aug. 17 ceremony at the PHA 2024 International PH Conference and Scientific Sessions in Indianapolis. PHA’s Outstanding Member awards recognize dedication and service to the PH community and PHA through volunteer efforts in patient/caregiver support; advocacy; promotion of quality patient care; and advancing PH research.
Judy and Ed Simpson are among the recipients of the Pulmonary Hypertension Association philanthropy awards. Judy Simpson founded the organization that became PHA in 1991, along with her sister Pat Paton, Teresa Knazik, Dorothy Olson, and the women’s husbands. PHA announced the award recipients at PHA 2024 International PH Conference and Scientific Sessions.
Casey Perez was diagnosed with pulmonary arterial hypertension three months after her wedding in 2018. The 32-year-old lives in Bradenton, Florida, with her husband and works as a marketer. “I turned to PHA’s invaluable resources on how to live better with PH,” she wrote in PHA’s most recent annual report.
Bonnie Patricelli memorializes her son Ryan Juntti through her volunteer work for the Pulmonary Hypertension Association (PHA). She and Ryan revived PHA’s South Jersey Support Group in 2008, and she continues to co-lead the group since Ryan’s 2015 death. Bonnie’s story appears in the fall issue of Pathlight, PHA’s quarterly member magazine.
Colleen Schnell, Niagara Falls, New York, has had pulmonary arterial hypertension related to heart defect, since she was a baby. But her family didn’t really know anything about PAH until the symptoms significantly worsened when Schnell was 24. Since then, she has appropriate treatment, discovered the Pulmonary Hypertension Association and leads a support group.
Kayla Naecker had classic signs of pulmonary hypertension, but didn’t suspect PH. She later learned her PH was genetic.
Many companies provide incentives for employees to volunteer with organizations like PHA, such as paid time off or volunteer grants. Check with your human resources department or click below to find out if your company offers volunteer incentives.
