Pediatric patients referred for heart transplant (HTx) due to congenital heart disease (CHD) are considered high-risk due to their disease complexity and their specific peritransplant surgical risks. However, there has been great improvement in pediatric CHD outcomes treated with HTx- and surgical therapies, especially with the use of ventricular assist devices (VADs). This session will review the current state of HTx for pediatric CHD, addressing issues such as mortality risk factors, waitlist mortality, mechanical-support options, and immunosuppression and antibody-mediated rejection. It will also discuss key issues for this population, including psychosocial challenges, rehabilitation goals and future expectations regarding functional outcomes.

This activity aims to explore best practices in cancer screening and shed light on the groundbreaking WISDOM Study, which is revolutionizing our approach to screening by testing a personalized precision-medicine method based on individual risk factors for breast cancer in contrast to traditional annual mammograms. Participants will learn how this alternative approach differs from the current “one-size-fits-all” guideline-based method and discuss its potential to significantly improve the effectiveness of screening.

Bladder cancer (BC) is the tenth most common cancer worldwide, and its associated five-year survival rate declines rapidly (from 96% to 6%) as it progresses from in situ through local invasion, regional spread and finally to distal spread. Thus, early detection and timely therapeutic interventions are crucial to improve outcomes and reduce the burden of disease. Outcomes have been further improved by the integration of recently approved therapies for BC, the utilization of biomarkers to guide treatment plans and the opportunity for eligible patients with BC to enroll in clinical trials. For all treatment plans, effective communication among the health care team is crucial for providing comprehensive care for this condition. This activity will provide participants with an overview of early BC diagnosis and its impact on survival rates. It will explore recently approved therapies for BC both as standalone treatments and in combination with established therapeutic approaches. Emerging therapies and their potential benefits will be examined, and the value of biomarkers will be discussed. Participants will gain insight into treatment strategies to optimize patient outcomes in BC.

This activity will provide an overview of the negative impacts of ageism and ableism on health, longevity, happiness, and the personal and professional aspects of individuals’ lives. It will also discuss the intersectionality of aging and ability status, and the varying effects these types of discrimination may have on individuals.