Congenital Heart Disease in the Adult (ACHD) Annual Conference

Conference attendees smiling and laughing during a presentation.

WELCOME to the 36th Internation Symposium on Congenital Heart Care in the Adult, held at Skamania Lodge outside of Portland, Oregon, June 2-5, 2027.

We look forward to seeing you there and for your contribution to what we think will be a rewarding experience for all.   This rotating conference held in conjunction with the University of Toronto and Cincinnati Children’s Hospital is sponsored by Oregon Health and Science University and Co-sponsored by the University of Washington.

Organizers

OHSU Faculty

  • Craig Broberg
  • Abby Khan
  • Lidija McGrath
  • Patty Woods

Meeting Organizers

  • Leah Chasin
  • Kelsey Oldham
  • Ana Martin

UW Faculty

  • Karen Stout
  • Eric Krieger
  • Zach Steinberg
  • Yonathan Buber
  • Jason Deen
  • Jill Steiner
  • Andy Pistner

Tri-city meeting organizers

  • Rafa Alonso-Gonzalez
  • Sasha Opotowsky

Background and objectives

The meeting has played an important role in building our community of providers for adults with congenital heart disease.  It traces its roots to David Sahn and Gary Webb who established this rotating educational forum.  The venue has been host to Joe Perloff and Jane Sommerville and subsequent generations of ACHD providers like us that have followed. 

Skamania has been a place for building relationships with others in the field, and we want to keep that tradition going.  Therefore, the meeting objectives are to not only address knowledge gaps, but also network gaps, collaboration gaps, and friendship gaps.   We will highlight emerging research, discuss contemporary topics in ACHD in some unique ways, and importantly, build the ACHD community worldwide, not only across institutions but across hemispheres.  The objectives also mean the meeting is meant to be relaxed, fun, and interactive.  We encourage participants to mix around the sessions and also at social and recreational events that will be built into the program.

Registration

We will send out an email to colleagues when registration opens. Your registration fees will cover meals during the meeting as well as social events. There will be DISCOUNTS for overseas registrants (outside US and Canada). 

Registration will open Oct 1.

Accommodations

Lodging options are as follows:

  • Skamania Lodge (Conference Location), <1 hr drive from Portland International Airport. Limited shuttle service provided Tuesday 6/1-2/27 and returning 6/4-5/27.
  • Columbia River Inn (Best Western), 10 min drive from Skamania. 735 Wa Na Pa St, Cascade Locks, OR 97014
  • Bonneville Hot Springs Resort, 12 min drive from Skamania. 1252 E Cascade, N. Bonneville, WA 98639
Skamania 2027 logo

Registration

Registration information available soon.

Contact us

kcvicme@ohsu.edu

Program

Detailed agenda will be posted at this site when finalized.

Tuesday, June 1
  • Arrivals
  • Event preconference 
Wednesday, June 2
  • Opening session
  • Session 2
  • Session 3
  • Posters, drinks, dinner
  • Evening fun
Thursday, June 3
  • Session 4
  • Session 5
  • Afternoon adventures
  • Posters, drinks, dinner
  • Evening fun
Friday, June 4
  • Session 6
  • Session 7
  • Session 8
  • Dinner at Columbia Gorge Museum
  • Camp songs and s'mores
Saturday, June 5
  • Abstracts
  • Conclusions
  • Departures

Transportation

Skamania is about a 1 hour picturesque drive from Portland International Airport (PDX), through the scenic Columbia Gorge. 

We are committed to limiting vehicle traffic in the Gorge as much as possible. Therefore, a limited shuttle service will be arranged from PDX on Tuesday, June 1, with selected times through the day, and on Wednesday morning June 2. Return service from the Lodge to PDX will be available Friday evening and Saturday morning. The service is complimentary. Information and sign ups will be available.

Abstracts

Abstract submission will open in November.  A link to the submission site will be placed here. Case Reports are generally discouraged unless they present new information about unusual anatomy or management innovations. Accepted Abstracts should be announced by Feb. 1. As in the past, most accepted abstracts will be presented in poster format. Approximately 5 abstracts will be selected for oral presentations on the morning of Saturday, June 5.  Prizes for best abstracts will be awarded by the International Society for Adult Congenital Heart Disease.

Abstracts are due by Jan. 2 at midnight.

Skamania Playlist

To get you thinking about next June, we hope you will enjoy a few songs we’ve created about the Skamania experience, which will be release periodically through the year

  • “Anderson or Van Praagh” (release date 9/1/26)
  • “Desk of Registration” (release date 10/1/26)
  • “Maude Abbot’s Atlas” (release date 11/1/26)
  • “Rock Beacon Rock” (release date 1/1/27)
  • “Hasta Skamania” (release date 2/1/27)
  • “Best I Can” (release date 3/1/27)

(all lyrics by C.S.Broberg)

ACHD Adventures

The afternoon of Thursday, June 3 will be free for recreational activities including local hikes, lawn painting, and local excursions. Hikes will include Beacon Rock, Hamilton Mountain, Dog Mountain, and Horse Tail Falls.

NEW THIS YEAR we will host an “ACHD Competition” that afternoon wherein participants will participate in small teams through a collection of varied tests of mental, physical, or team building skill each with an ACHD theme. Come prepared to show your best and have fun.

Skamania by bike

We would LOVE to host another bike ride from PDX to the Lodge on Tuesday, June 1, a picturesque 45 miles along the Old Columbia River Hwy, and transport your luggage to the lodge. Right now, a portion of the route is under construction, and completion time is uncertain. We will keep potential riders informed if we think it will work out for 2027.

Sponsorships/exhibitors

We are open to sponsorship opportunities to support the meeting costs. 

There will be space available for exhibitors at the venue as well. Please email Kelsey Oldham with inquiries.