The Adult Congenital Heart Association (ACHA) – whose mission is to empower the congenital heart disease (CHD) community by advancing access to resources and specialized care that improve patient-centered outcomes – has appointed Erin Walsh-Beguin to its Board of Directors.
Diagnosed in one in 100 births, CHD is the most common birth defect and a chronic illness that includes a range of simple, moderate, and complex heart defects that need to be monitored throughout a patient’s life. ACHA serves and supports nearly two million adults with congenital heart disease – along with their families and the medical community – with education, outreach, advocacy, and research.
Walsh-Beguin, who calls herself “an adult who has been blessed with incredible health and a story of surviving CHD,” has been involved with ACHA through the Phoenix Walk for 1 in 100, the organization’s charity walks program. Walsh-Beguin was born with multiple heart defects and had surgical interventions as a child—at just 10 months and four years old.
“I am proud of my repairs,” said Walsh-Beguin. “And organizations like ACHA, who bring awareness, help to put faces and stories to CHD. Sometimes all a person or family needs is to see someone else who can relate to them or their journey, and that starts to build a community. As a Board member, I genuinely hope to use my voice across a broader platform to help continue the organization’s mission and perhaps to be someone another patient can look to for support.”
As someone who was seen regularly by pediatric cardiologists but fell out of care as an adult, Walsh-Beguin says she was fortunate enough to be seen by a cardiologist during pregnancy who recognized that her heart was unique and referred her to a specialized adult CHD center. Because of this, she says, “Over the years, I have felt a yearning to advocate for more awareness around CHD.”
Professionally, Walsh-Beguin has 20+ years of progressive experience in full cycle recruiting and operations. Currently, she is Senior Director of Global Recruiting Operations & Employer Brand at GoDaddy.com LLC. As a member of the Board of Directors, Walsh-Beguin joins a dedicated group of professionals who oversee the organization’s leadership and strategies in an effort to advance ACHA’s mission and advocate for people living with CHD.
“We are thrilled to welcome Erin to the Board of Directors, as her professional experience surrounding her business knowledge and skills fills a gap in our expertise,” said ACHA President and CEO Mark Roeder. “Through Erin’s work with Walk for 1 in 100, she has shown to truly be an HR expert with our supporters, too, and we are looking forward to her continuing to build more of ACHA’s people programs, like our core volunteer base.”