Heart Valve Voice Canada

11/20/2025

Born with serious heart valve problems, Danny Covey had his first open-heart surgery before age two. At 14, a valve replacement changed everything.

“That's really when, for me, life began,” says Danny. “It's like my childhood was a series of storm clouds. But after the valve replacement, for the first time, there was sunshine. At 14, I could run, I could exercise, I could lift weights, I could do things. And that's really, for me, when I went from being the kid who has heart problems to the man who had problems as a kid.”

More than 35 years later, after his fourth open-heart surgery, Danny is staying active and giving back. He’s proof that with timely detection, care and support, life after valve disease can be full and fulfilling.

His message to others affected by heart valve disease:
✅ Advocate for yourself.
✅ Follow your doctor’s advice.
✅ Never underestimate the power of community and hope.

What advice would you add to help others with valve disease?

👉 Read Danny’s story https://www.heartvalvevoice.ca/en/patient-stories-collection/growing-up-with-valve-disease

Multiple open-heart surgeries have taught Danny Covey a lot about living.

11/17/2025

Global Heart Hub is delighted to be at PCR London Valves, representing the heart valve disease patient community. If you're attending the congress, come visit us at Booth A22 to meet the team and learn how we’re amplifying the patient voice in cardiovascular care ❤️�

Join us tomorrow for our session, “Learning from Lived Experience and Contemporary Evidence: Shaping the Treatment of Women with Heart Valve Disease.” ⏱ 10:10 – 11:10 | 📍 Room A�

In collaboration with Heart Valve Voice and Heart Valve Voice Canada our expert panel will explore how real-world insights and emerging evidence can improve care for women with heart valve disease.

11/12/2025

If left untreated, heart valve disease can be fatal. It can be treated—if detected early.

👉 Knowing about heart valve disease can help save a life. Will you watch and share?

Global Heart Hub

11/12/2025

Global Heart Hub is delighted to host a dedicated session at PCR London Valves, “Learning from Lived Experience and Contemporary Evidence: Shaping the Treatment of Women with Heart Valve Disease”, taking place on:

🗓️ Monday, 17 November
⏱️ 10:10 – 11:10
📍 Room A

In partnership with Heart Valve Voice and Heart Valve Voice Canada , this session brings together leading clinicians, patient advocates and women with lived experience to examine how real-world insights and emerging evidence can drive more equitable and effective care for women with heart valve disease.

This year’s expert panel includes Prof Sandra Lauck (Canada); Marcia Malcolm, Patient Advocate (UK); Prof Vijay Kunadian (UK); Dr Fabien Praz (Switzerland); Prof Marta Sitges (Spain); and Ellen Ross (Heart Valve Voice Canada).

You can also visit Global Heart Hub at Booth A22 throughout PCR London Valves, from 16–18 November. Come by to meet the team, learn more about our initiatives and discover how we’re working to amplify the patient voice in cardiovascular care.

A huge thank you to our panel of speakers and PCR London Valves for this patient-centred discussion on women's heart health.

11/06/2025

Want these practical tips and insightful stories delivered to your inbox on November 18th? Subscribe to our bimonthly newsletter for people impacted by heart valve disease.

Subscribe here 👉: https://www.heartvalvevoice.ca/

From pre-diagnosis through treatment and recovery, we connect you to the information & resources you need on your journey with heart valve disease.

10/30/2025

Thank you to everyone who helped make our 6th annual Heart Valve Disease Awareness Week a success!

Here’s what we accomplished:

❣️Organized 14 Listen To Your Heart Stethoscope Check Events from across the country.
❣️Met with over 760 Canadians who had a stethoscope check by a healthcare provider—the first step in detecting heart valve disease.
❣️Reached more than 4 million Canadians with info about heart valve disease in the media and online.

These stethoscope events are extremely well attended, which is no surprise. With our aging population, heart valve disease is on the rise. We organize the events because valve disease is treatable, but it’s under-detected, under-diagnosed and under-treated. A simple stethoscope check can save your life.

A special thank you to participating clinicians, organizers, venues, partners and media for helping make a meaningful impact by increasing awareness and early detection for Canadians with valve disease.

💚 Our partners Shoppers Drug Mart Canadian Cardiovascular Society Global Heart Hub Edwards Lifesciences LifeLabs
💚 University of British Columbia cardiology fellows Dr. Jeff Wong Dr. Jobanjit Phulka and team
💚 Reh-Fit Centre Dr. James Tam
💚 Dr. Janine Eckstein
💚 University of Ottawa Heart Institute Centre for Valvular Heart Disease, Cindy Cross and team
💚 Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre Dr. Harindra Wijeysundera and team
💚 Centre de recherche de Institut universitaire de cardiologie et de pneumologie de Québec-UL, Dr. Phillipe Pibarot, Mathieu Couture and team
💚CHUM Dr. Jessica Forcillo and team
💚Nova Scotia Health Dr. Osama Elkhateeb and team
💚SEVA Cardiac Centre Beata Gomez and Dr. Ajai Pasricha

10/23/2025

Can digital stethoscopes with AI improve early detection of heart valve disease?

That’s what Dr. Philippe Pibarot is studying. Watch this video to understand how it could help improve early detection.

An award-winning researcher, Philippe is a board member, Director of Cardiology Research at the Institut universitaire de cardiologie et de pneumologie de Québec-UL, and the Canada Research Chair in Valvular Heart Diseases at Université Laval.

10/16/2025

You’ve heard of heart attacks and strokes. But do you know what heart valve disease is?

Not enough people do, and it’s costing lives, especially it’s rising as our country’s population ages.

Know the signs. If you’re 60+, ask for a simple stethoscope check.

It could help save your life.

Find patient info, stories and resources at https://www.heartvalvevoice.ca/

10/09/2025

The Perth Courier just featured Darlene’s patient journey with heart valve disease—at 39, she learned she urgently needed surgery.

Thank you to Metroland Media Group for sharing her patient story to help Canadians understand more about heart valve disease, which is serious but treatable.

Read Darlene’s story: https://www.heartvalvevoice.ca/en/patient-stories-collection/a-failing-valve-at-39

Darlene was a working mother, too busy to worry about her valve disease diagnosis. Then everything changed.

10/06/2025

One of our board members was recently awarded one of Canada’s highest distinctions for his exceptional heart valve disease research.

Please join us in congratulating Dr. Philippe Pibarot!👏

He was elected a member of the Academy of Sciences for The Royal Society of Canada (RSC) / La Société royale du Canada (SRC).

Philippe has transformed heart valve disease patient care and is recognized worldwide for his innovative approaches to cardiovascular medicine.

The RSC/SRC recognizes and engages our country’s leading scholars, researchers, intellectuals and artists to address issues that are critical to Canadians and Canada.

Institut universitaire de cardiologie et de pneumologie de Québec-UL

10/01/2025

If you’re 65+, you have a higher risk of acquiring heart valve disease.

Do yourself a favour and take care of your heart on National Seniors Day:

Ask a healthcare provider to listen to your heart with a stethoscope.

A stethoscope check is the first step in detecting heart valve disease, which is serious but treatable.

Find patient info, stories and resources at https://www.heartvalvevoice.ca/

Will you tag a senior who’ll appreciate knowing this life-saving info?

From pre-diagnosis through treatment and recovery, we connect you to the information & resources you need on your journey with heart valve disease.

09/29/2025

4 benefits of opening our latest newsletter for Canadians impacted by heart valve disease:

Inside the September newsletter:
💚Rick’s patient story: Finding care far from home
💚New research: Earlier treatment could help some with aortic stenosis
💚Patient resource: Track your cholesterol
💚Detection: Free stethoscope check events across Canada

👉Tap to read and subscribe: https://www.heartvalvevoice.ca/en/reports-resources/

Find the latest resources, from easy-to-understand guides and tools to lay summaries of clinical research.