The field of adult congenital heart disease (ACHD) truly has reached a crossroads. Advances in technology and innovation have transformed a previously pediatric discipline into one of highly complex adult care. With that, healthcare professionals—from a wide variety of specialties and disciplines—require increasingly in-depth education and multidisciplinary training, ideally offered at specialized centers of care.
In this issue of the Methodist DeBakey Cardiovascular Journal, we present international experts and leaders within the field whose articles offer practical approaches to diagnosis and management while also emphasizing the complexity, innovation, and multidisciplinary nature of current care for adults with congenital heart disease.
I am especially grateful to our guest editors, Dr. Valeria Duarte and Dr. Andrea Quarti, for their dedication to advancing awareness and understanding of ACHD among our readers and the broader medical community. Their leadership and commitment have made possible the comprehensive coverage featured in this issue, bringing much-needed attention to this rapidly advancing and expanding area of cardiovascular care.
In addition to the useful information included here, I hope our readers will explore the great variety of topics featured in the Journal archives. You also will find many learning resources in our Special Collections of videos, case reports, and interactive CME cases—and we invite you to submit your own case reports! If you haven’t already explored these options on our website or subscribed to receive our free e-newsletter, be sure to do that now.
Miguel A. Quiñones, MD, MACC, FASE
Editor-in-Chief
Methodist DeBakey Cardiovascular Journal
Winters Family Distinguished Centennial Chair
in Cardiovascular Education, Houston Methodist DeBakey Heart & Vascular Center