A staple since the first Pulmonary Hypertension Association conference in 1994, the Journeys lunch is a longtime favorite general conference session.
At previous conferences, the Journeys lunch featured pairs of people with PH and and a member of their healthcare team. The pairs discussed the bonds they developed over the patient’s care journey.
At PHA 2026 International PH Conference and Scientific Sessions, the Journeys lunch takes a new approach. This year, two people with PH and one who underwent lung transplantation share how they balance their careers and health issues.
Moderated by outgoing PHA Chair Traci Stewart, the Journeys panel features Meera Salamah, Lauren Janzen and Jackie Wong. The speakers will share how PH influenced their career choices and how they practice self-advocacy in the workplace. They also will share strategies and encouragement for others who work or are entering the workforce.
About the speakers
Salamah was diagnosed with pulmonary arterial hypertension when she was 8. She received a double-lung transplant in 2018 while pursuing her undergraduate degree. After graduating, she began medical school at UT Southwestern Medical Center, the same hospital where she received her PH treatments and lung transplant. Salamah currently works as a quality incentive coordinator at Hendrick Health in Abilene, Texas, with plans to become a physician.
Janzen was diagnosed with PAH in 2010 during her junior year of nursing school. Though she was given two to three years to live, Janzen did not let her prognosis stop her from continuing her degree and pursuing her career. She now works as a registered nurse at the Milwaukee VA Medical Center and clinical instructor at Marquette University.
Wong was diagnosed with PAH in 2016 when he was 34, though he remembers experiencing breathlessness and other symptoms since childhood. He describes his diagnosis as a “turning point” in his life, prompting him to prioritize a career and hobbies that gave him joy. Wong is an associate partner at McKinsey and Co. and a figure-skating analyst for his company, Rocker Skating.
Don’t miss your opportunity to hear these compelling PH journeys. Register by by June 8 to save your spot at the Journeys lunch.
PHA 2026 International PH Conference and Scientific Sessions is set for June 11-14 in Dallas. Themed “PHixin’ to Find a Cure,” the conference will unite the international PH community for four days of PH education, advocacy, support and Texas fun.
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