Celebrating Heart Valve Disease Awareness Day 2026

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On Saturday, February 21, 2026, the Minneapolis Heart Institute Foundation (MHIF) welcomed nearly 100 community members, patients, and families to the Dellwood Country Club in Dellwood, MN to celebrate Heart Valve Disease Awareness Day 2026. The program brought together leading experts from Allina Health Minneapolis Heart Institute, including Drs. Nadira Hamid, Sebastian Iturra, and Jennifer Riggs, for a day of education focused on awareness, early detection, and hope for those living with heart valve disease.

The event featured a powerful story from grateful patient Marlene, who shared her journey of being diagnosed with heart valve disease and ultimately participating in a clinical research trial. Her experience highlighted the importance of listening to your body, advocating for yourself, and seeking specialized care when something doesn’t feel right. Marlene’s story also underscored how access to innovative therapies and clinical trials can change – and extend – lives.

More than 15 million Americans are living with heart valve disease HVD, but despite its prevalence, 3 out of 4 Americans know little to nothing about it. While it’s a serious condition that can lead to complications like irregular heartbeats, blood clots, or even heart failure, there’s good news — valve disease is highly treatable!

Key takeaways from the program:

• HVD affects approximately 1 in 5 adults over the age of 75.
• Women are less likely to be diagnosed, in part because symptoms can be subtle, attributed to aging, or go unrecognized.
• Unlike conditions such as cancer, valve disease does not receive the same level of public attention, despite being a significant and growing health issue; early detection and timely treatment can dramatically improve survival and quality of life.
• Innovative treatments such as transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR), transcatheter mitral therapies, and other minimally invasive procedures are transforming how heart valve disease is treated, often allowing patients to recover faster and return more quickly to the activities they enjoy.
• MHIF and the Allina Health Minneapolis Heart Institute team are recognized leaders in heart valve research, clinical trials, and physician education, helping to bring cutting-edge therapies to patients locally and around the world.

The program also emphasized the unique collaboration between expert clinicians, researchers, patients, and community members that makes this work possible. MHIF’s mission to improve the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of heart and vascular disease is advanced not only through research and innovation, but also through educational events like this that empower patients and families to take an active role in their heart health.

This event was made possible through generous grant support and exhibits from Abbott, AtriCure, Edwards Lifesciences, and Medtronic. Their support helps MHIF continue to host this annual community program, fostering learning, connection, and a shared commitment to reducing the impact of heart valve disease.