Dear friends,

The Pulmonary Hypertension Association’s 2023 annual report is now available online. This year’s report shows PHA’s impact on those we serve: people with pulmonary hypertension, caregivers and health care professionals.

Through first-person impact stories, the report demonstrates how PHA helped the PH community Live PHearlessly, reflecting our 2023 PH Awareness Month campaign. In the campaign and the report, the PHA community relates the ways they Live PHearlessly thanks to scientific advancements, support and education.

The annual report also highlights our work and achievements of the previous year. In 2023, we had much to be proud of. In our long tradition of providing invaluable education resources for patients and professionals alike, we introduced a Spanish-language version of Navigating Pulmonary Hypertension: A Guide for the Newly Diagnosed. We also updated pages on our website for each FDA-approved PH treatment.

Last year, we introduced a rebranded version of our daylong free education events, previously known as PHA on the Road. The new PHA Connects: PH Community workshops in San Diego and Boston drew more than 150 people combined in 2023, and we continue to build on those changes in 2024. Next month, we hope those in the Phoenix area will join us for the next PH Community Workshop, Saturday, Oct. 26.

In 2023, we also made it easier for patients and families to participate in support groups, wherever they live. We merged our telephone support groups with our nationwide support group program, allowing participants to join easily through Zoom. We continue to provide regular training for support group leaders through our Support Group Leadership Institute.

PHA also has a longstanding tradition of ensuring health care professionals stay up to date in their field. In addition to our Online University courses, professional mentorship program and other continuing education opportunities, we present the PH Professional Network Symposium ever two years. In 2023, we attracted a record 600-plus people. A highlight of the event was a presentation by Marc Humbert, MD, the primary author of new PH diagnosis and treatment guidelines.

Going beyond professional education, PHA also invests in research and treatment advancements. Among our 2023 achievements: We welcomed seven new PH Care Centers and for the first time, two PHA-accredited Pulmonary Hypertension Care Centers expanded from Regional Clinical Programs to Centers of Comprehensive Care. We also introduced a new research grant: the Early Career Mentored Scientist Award and awarded two other grants in 2023.

In the advocacy arena, we celebrated a milestone achievement after many years of work on the Safe Step Act. For the first time, the bill moved out of committee to the full Senate floor, thanks to PHA advocates. We also continued to advocate for other health care reforms, such as elimination of copay accumulators and improved access to supplemental oxygen – issues we continue to fight for in 2024 and will push for in 2025.

The achievements demonstrated in this report reflect the invaluable contributions from our community. Thousands of people participate in PHA O₂breathe fundraising walks and community events to support our mission. Many more give regularly through regular payroll deductions, monthly contributions, memorial gifts, estate plans and campaign appeals, such as Giving Tuesday and quarterly fundraising campaigns. It’s not too late to participate in one of our community events this year – please join us for an upcoming walk in your area.

We also owe our success to the selflessness of our patient, caregiver and PH professional volunteers. Those people include the volunteers who serve on our committees and the Board of Trustees; share their expertise in educational events; and our corporate partners. Above all, we could not fulfill our mission to extend and improve the lives of people with PH without the dedication of the talented PHA staff.

Please read and share the report as we celebrate our impact and achievements in the PH community. If you have comments about the report, please don’t hesitate to reach out. As I always, I look forward to hearing from you.

With gratitude and respect,

Matt J. Granato, LLM, MBA (he/him)

President and CEO