UT Southwestern Medical Center has a caring staff of medical professionals who are committed to enhancing patients’ quality of life, as well as meeting the needs of patients’ families. Our staff can direct them to a variety of informative and enriching support groups and other resources, which can be tailored to meet a specific situation.
At UT Southwestern, excellence in patient care includes pointing the way to resources patients and their families may not be familiar with, but which have proved invaluable to others. We trust these services will assist patients on the road to healing and improved health.
Heart
Adult Congenital Heart Association
The Adult Congenital Heart Association (ACHA) is a national organization for adults and adolescents with congenital heart disease (CHD). The purpose of ACHA is to educate the public, patients with CHD and the medical community about adult congenital heart issues through the development of newsletters, support groups and other communication activities.
American Heart Association
The American Heart Association is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to reduce disability and death from cardiovascular diseases and stroke. Volunteers and staff work to meet these goals through supporting research and providing resources, education and support to those with heart disease or those at risk, and acting as a national advocate.
CongenitalHeartDefects.com
CongenitalHeartDefects.com provides information and resources for people with congenital heart disease (CHD), including definitions of medical terms, links to support groups, articles regarding CHD and resources for the CHD community.
The Glenda Dawson Donate Life Texas Registry
This organ-donation registry is operated by the Texas Department of State Health Services. Texans can register to be an organ, tissue, and eye donor.
Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy Association
The Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy Association (HCMA) was established to provide information and support to those with HCM, their families and the medical community. The organization promotes education about symptoms and treatment options and works to develop and maintain a network of health-care professionals educated in the treatment of the HCM.
Latino Cardiovascular Health Resource
The Latino Cardiovascular Health Resource is a community-based, heart-health promotion initiative from the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute. The project raises awareness of cardiovascular disease risk factors and promotes lifestyle changes to reduce the chances of developing heart disease.
Mended Hearts
Affiliated with the American Heart Association, Mended Hearts is a support group for heart patients, families and care givers. The Web site promotes a network of people who have heart disease and their families, and is available in 260 cities across the U.S.
National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute
The National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute (NHLBI) is a national program for diseases of the heart, blood vessels, lungs and blood, including blood resources and sleep disorders. The institute plans, conducts, fosters and supports an integrated program of basic research, clinical investigations and trials, observational studies, and education projects. Research is conducted in the institute's own laboratories as well as by scientific institutions and individuals supported by research grants and contracts.
Lung
American Lung Association
The mission of the American Lung Association is to prevent lung disease and promote lung health. The association is the oldest voluntary health organization in the United States, with a national office and constituent and affiliate associations around the country. Founded in 1904 to fight tuberculosis, the association today fights lung disease in all its forms, with special emphasis on asthma, tobacco control and environmental health.
Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America
The Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA) is a nonprofit organization founded in 1953 and is a leading patient organization for people with asthma and allergies. AAFA provides practical information, community-based services and support through a national network of chapters and support groups. AAFA develops health education, organizes state and national advocacy efforts and funds research to find better treatments and cures.
Cystic Fibrosis Foundation
The Cystic Fibrosis Foundation is a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping ensure the development of the means to cure and control cystic fibrosis and to improve the quality of life for those with the disease. The foundation provides a resource for comprehensive information about cystic fibrosis.
LungCancer.org
In 1998, CancerCare founded lungcancer.org as part of its ongoing programs for people with lung cancer. Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death in men and women, and the organization has developed a wide range of programs to meet the needs of the more than 175,000 people a year who are diagnosed with the disease.
Muscular Dystrophy Association
The Muscular Dystrophy Association is a voluntary health agency and is a dedicated partnership between scientists and concerned citizens aimed at conquering neuromuscular diseases that affect more than a million Americans. The association combats neuromuscular diseases through programs of worldwide research, comprehensive medical and community services, and far-reaching professional and public health education.
National Center on Sleep Disorder Research The National Center on Sleep Disorders Research, located within the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), was established in 1993 to combat the serious public health concern surrounding sleep disorders. Sleep disorders and disturbances of sleep comprise a broad range of problems, including sleep apnea, narcolepsy, insomnia, parasomnia, jet-lag syndrome, and disturbed biological and circadian rhythms.
The National Emphysema Foundation
The National Emphysema Foundation was founded in 1971 and its mission is to improve the quality of life of patients with emphysema, asthma or related lung diseases through information and education for families. The foundation supports research and works with advisors who are involved in direct patient care.
Pulmonary Hypertension Association
The mission of the Pulmonary Hypertension Association is to seek a cure for the disease and provide hope for the pulmonary hypertension community through support, education, advocacy and awareness. The vision of PHA is to improve the lives of those affected by pulmonary hypertension.
Vascular
American Heart Association
The American Heart Association is a nonprofit organization whose mission includes reducing disability from cardiovascular diseases and stroke. Volunteers and staff work to meet these goals through supporting research and providing resource, education and support to those with heart disease or those at risk, and acting as a national advocate for heart disease and related illnesses.
The National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute
The National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute (NHLBI) is a national program for diseases of the heart, blood vessels, lungs, and blood, including blood resource and sleep disorders. The institute plans, conducts, fosters and supports an integrated program of basic research, clinical investigations and trials, observational studies, and educational projects. Research is conducted in the institute's own laboratories as well as by scientific institutions and individuals supported by research grants.
The Society for Vascular Surgery
The Society for Vascular Surgery seeks to advance excellence and innovation in vascular health through education, advocacy, research and public awareness. The organization was founded in 1947 and merged with the American Association for Vascular Surgery in 2003. The organization’s mission includes promoting, encouraging and improving the dissemination of knowledge concerning all aspects of vascular disease and health.
The Society of Interventional Radiology
The Society of Interventional Radiology promotes the use of advanced technology, such as minimally invasive, image-guided therapies, to treat disease.
