Volunteers significantly contribute to the success of the Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy Association and our commitment to providing support, education, advocacy, and advancement of research, understanding, and care to those with HCM. The tireless dedication of our volunteers gives us the extra hand needed to make our community’s healthcare experiences positive. To learn more about HCMA volunteer opportunities and get involved, contact julie@4hcm.org or click here.

Share Your Story (SYS)

HCMA Theme of the Month Stories

Our HCMA themes for August are “Newly Diagnosed or Change in Symptoms/Status” and “Adjusting the Sails,” featuring the story of Armonnie (Monnie) Hawkins. 

If you want to share your HCM story, please email julie@4hcm.org to schedule an interview. Patient stories are essential to help educate and spread awareness about HCM!

HCMA Ambassador Program 

Please follow our HCMA Ambassadors on social media. Like, comment, or share their posts to help them spread awareness about HCM. 

#4hcm

#BigHeartBigLife 

#hypertrophiccardiomyopathy 

HCMA Featured Ambassador for August 2023 – Lauren Donoghue-Cinelli

About Lauren: Lauren was born and raised in the Boston suburbs and was diagnosed with HCM when she was 16. During a routine well-visit, her pediatrician suggested having a heart murmur checked as a precaution. While all was well that year, she was diagnosed two years later at the next check-up. HCM runs in her family, though she was the first diagnosed.

Nearly 25 years, two ICDs, and five heart surgeries later, Lauren is thrilled to be volunteering with the HCMA!

Lauren does campaign marketing for an events company, works with healthcare and life science companies, and loves to read and buy books (which are two different hobbies!). Follow her bookstagram account @laurenlizlibrary to see recommendations and funny memes about reading! She loves spending time at her home-away-from-home, Lake Winnipesaukee in New Hampshire and currently lives with her husband in the Boston suburbs. They continue to debate getting a dog!

Follow Lauren on social media and help spread awareness about HCM:

Facebook – Lauren Donoghue-Cinelli

Twitter – laurenliz615

Instagram – laurenliz615 and laurenliz_hcmwarrior

LinkedIn – Lauren Donoghue-Cinelli

If you would like to share your HCM experience via social media as an HCMA Ambassador, click here to apply for future workshops. 

Legislative Advocacy

We are looking for “Champions” in every state to get the word out to legislators about the Healthy Cardiac Monitoring Act (HCM Act). We aim to pass the HCM Act into law in all 50 states. State Champions will be trained and supported through the process, from beginning to end, by HCMA staff members and members of the HCMA Legislative Committee. We’ve had a lot of interest from our community (thank you!), and we will reach out in August to those who have already signed up to volunteer for our legislative effort. If you have not already signed up, it’s not too late. Sign up to be a legislative volunteer

To view the HCM Act proposed legislation, click the following link:  Health Cardiac Monitoring Act – Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy Association (4hcm.org)    

Free Online Patient Discussion Groups   

Our online discussion group meetings are recurring, but you must register for each meeting date. Our meeting dates, times, and topics are updated regularly, so check our event calendar regularly to join a meeting (or more than one) best suited for you!  

HCMA’s August 2023 Featured Discussion Group Leader:  Linda Montgomery

Linda hosts our “Newly Diagnosed” education groups. These free online education sessions are ideal for those newly diagnosed (within the past two years) or those new to the HCMA. Linda offers several dates ×s each month to make it convenient for all to attend.

About Linda: I am one of seven children, which has taught me how to get along with different personalities, stand up for those who need it, and never forget where I came from.  I’ve had an amazing career in Global Pharmaceuticals over the past couple of decades.  Getting closer to the patients was always my goal, so I changed careers and entered Patient Advocacy as an employee of the HCMA.  As an HCMA employee and a Discussion Group Leader of the Newly Diagnosed, I’ve had the privilege of conducting many of your Intake Calls. I hope I’ve made you feel warmly welcomed into the HCMA community.

While I do not have HCM, I am passionate about helping people with rare diseases and transplantation.  I work as a volunteer for an Organ Donation group.

I live in NJ, and in my time away from the office, I enjoy visiting my son in Dallas, spending time with my English Bulldogs, and being outdoors.

To view our event calendar for meeting dates and times, please click the following link: Patient Discussion Groups – Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy Association (4hcm.org)

HCMA Volunteer GEM Awards Program

Please remember to log your volunteer hours regularly to participate in our Volunteer GEM Awards (VGA) program and be recognized at the end of the year with fun prizes and other forms of appreciation. Click GEM to learn more about our HCMA Volunteer GEM Awards Program and how you can get involved.

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