Adam’s Updates Blog
By Adam Pick
Happy Heart Festival: A Day of Joy and Hope
Posted By: Adam Pick, Patient Advocate, Author & Website Founder
Published: February 28, 2026
Today was different. Today was special. Today was something I had never experienced before. Thanks to the incredible teams at Camp del Corazon, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, and Edwards Lifesciences, I had the honor of attending the Happy Heart Festival — a powerful celebration dedicated to children and families living with congenital heart disease. From the moment the event began, it was clear this was more than a gathering. It was a community coming together to celebrate strength, resilience, and possibility.
Join 800 Women Patients on Today’s Webinar!
Written By: Adam Pick, Patient Advocate, Author & Website Founder
Page Last Updated: February 5, 2026
[Update: Great news! Earlier today, our patient webinar, “6 Expert Tips for Women with Aortic Stenosis, was fantastic! To watch a playback of the video at YouTube, please click this link or watch the video below. You can also download our new eBook with the six tips for women with aortic stenosis.]
Join 400 Aortic Valve Patients on Thursday’s Webinar
Written By: Adam Pick, Patient Advocate, Author & Website Founder
Page Last Updated: January 22, 2026
[Update: Great news! Earlier today, our patient webinar, “Advances in Congenital Aortic Valve Disease Therapy”, was excellent! To watch a playback of the video at YouTube, please click this link. Or, download the new free eBook here.]
My 20th Heart Valve Surgery Anniversary!
Written By: Adam Pick, Patient Advocate, Author & Website Founder
Page Last Updated: December 21, 2025
On December 21, 2005, my life transformed in a peculiar way. At the age of 33, I underwent heart valve surgery. Like so many patients, I was scared, uncertain, and searching for clear, trustworthy information leading up to my operation. Little did I know, this confusing experience would become an unexpected turning point in my life.
Join 300 Patients on Thursday’s Webinar!
Written By: Adam Pick, Patient Advocate, Author & Website Founder
Page last updated: December 11, 2025
[Update: Great news! Earlier today, our patient webinar, “Lifetime Management of Congenital Pulmonary Heart Valve Disease”, was excellent! To watch a playback of the video at YouTube, please click this link.]
In Uganda, We Help Prossy Get Life-Saving Heart Surgery
Written By: Adam Pick, Patient Advocate, Author & Website Founder
Published: December 3, 2025
Last week, we announced the launch of the HeartValveSurgery.com Charitable Giving Program. Today, I am overjoyed to share that, thanks to the extraordinary support of our community, we just helped Prossy, a 15-year-old girl from Kitgum, Uganda, receive life-saving heart valve surgery at the Uganda Heart Institute in Mulago, Kampala!
We Launch Charitable Giving Initiative for Children with Heart Valve Disease!
Written By: Adam Pick, Patient Advocate, Author & Website Founder
Published: November 23, 2025
Dear Patients and Friends,
Join 400 Aortic Valve Patients on Today’s Webinar!
Written By: Adam Pick, Patient Advocate, Author & Website Founder
Page Last Updated: November 13, 2025
[Update: Great news! Earlier today, our patient webinar, “Advantages of the Ross Procedure”, was fantastic! To watch a playback of the video at YouTube, please click this link. You can also download the new “Advantages of the Ross Procedure” eBook at this link.]
Join 400 Heart Valve Patients on Thursday’s Webinar!
Written By: Adam Pick, Patient Advocate, Author & Website Founder
Page Last Updated: October 2, 2025
[October 2, 2025 Update: Great news! Our patient webinar, “Advances in Aortic Valve Reconstruction”, was fantastic. You can now watch a video playback at YouTube. Or, you can download the new webinar eBook.]
Join 500 Heart Valve Patients on Today’s Webinar with the Mayo Clinic!
Written By: Adam Pick, Patient Advocate, Author & Website Founder
Page Last Updated: September 11, 2025
[September 11, 2025 Update: Great news! Our patient webinar, “The Present and Future of Heart ValveSurgery”, was fantastic. You can now watch a video playback of the webinar below or download our new free eBook.]
True or False: Heart Valve Disease Kills 60,000 People Annually In The United States
Written By: Adam Pick, Patient Advocate, Author & Website Founder
Published: August 21, 2025
Research from the Silver Book: Heart Valve Disease previously suggested that up to 25,000 people die annually from heart valve disease in the United States. However, new research from the American Heart Association (AHA) suggests that prior estimate may be significantly understated. Is it true the AHA now believes that 60,000 people die each year from valvular defects including aortic stenosis and mitral regurgitation?
New AI-Powered Heart Valve Chatbot Beta Test Results
Written By: Adam Pick, Patient Advocate, Author & Website Founder
Published: July 22, 2025
Thanks to the members of this wonderful community, I am happy to share that the beta test of our new Heart Valve Chatbot was a tremendous success. As you might recall, the new Heart Valve Chatbot was created with the support of over 100 leading heart valve doctors and thousands of patients.
Patient Webinar: 6 Misconceptions of Heart Valve Surgery
Written By: Adam Pick, Patient Advocate, Author & Website Founder
Page Last Updated: July 19, 2025
[July 19, 2025 Update: Great news! Our patient webinar, “6 Misconceptions of Heart Valve Surgery”, with Dr. Chris Malaisrie was fantastic. You can now watch a video playback of the webinar below or download the FREE eBook here.]
Patient Webinar: Ask Dr. Gerdisch Anything!
Written By: Adam Pick, Patient Advocate, Author & Website Founder
Page Last Updated: May 30, 2025
[May 30, 2025 Update: Great news! Our patient webinar, “Ask Dr. Gerdisch Anything”, with Dr. Marc Gerdisch was fantastic. You can now watch a video playback of the webinar below. You can also download the free eBook at this link.]
New Dynamic “Patient News Feed” Launches!
Written By: Adam Pick, Patient Advocate, Author & Website Founder
Published: May 22, 2025
Hey Everybody,
Patient Innovation: Will You Test Our New AI-Powered Heart Valve Chatbot?
Written By: Adam Pick, Patient Advocate, Author & Website Founder
Page Last Updated: July 22, 2025
Great news! To educate patients, their families and friends, we just released the world’s first Heart Valve Chatbot powered by artificial intelligence. The Heart Valve Chatbot was created with the support of 100+ heart valve doctors and 1000s of patients.
45 Patient Questions Answered by Dr. Doug Johnston!
Written By: Adam Pick, Patient Advocate, Author & Website Founder
Medical Expert: Doug Johnston, MD, Chief of Cardiac Surgery, Northwestern Medicine
Page last updated: March 3, 2025
Great news!
It’s Heart Valve Disease Awareness Day!!!
Written By: Adam Pick, Patient Advocate, Author & Website Founder
Page last updated: February 27, 2025
Today, on Heart Valve Disease Awareness Day, let’s raise awareness to this under-diagnosed disease and celebrate the life-saving heart valve surgery of Daphine, a courageous 12-year old girl from Uganda!
Join 950 Heart Valve Patients On Today’s Webinar!
Written By: Adam Pick, Patient Advocate, Author & Website Founder
Page last updated: February 23, 2025
[Update: Great news! Our patient webinar, “6 Expert Tips for Heart Valve Patients” with Dr. Johnston, Dr. Medina and Dr. Hodges was fantastic. You can watch a video playback of the webinar below or at YouTube. You can also download a free eBook of the “6 Expert Tips for Heart Valve Patients” webinar at this link.]
Happy Valentine’s Day From Chicago!!!
Written By: Adam Pick, Patient Advocate, Author & Website Founder
Published: February 14, 2025
As Heart Month continues to raise much-needed awareness to heart disease, I’m excited to be in Chicago today for a special celebration of the 20th Anniversary of the Bluhm Cardiovascular Institute at Northwestern Medicine in Chicago, Illinois.
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Surgeon Spotlight
Dr. Alfredo Trento is a world-renowned cardiac surgeon that has performed over 4,000 heart valve operations that include minimally-invasive techniques.
