About Us

We empower and support our heart community through mental health resources, advocacy, and education. We strive to create a supportive network of peers and professionals to provide guidance and resources to people living with heart conditions.

A diagnosis doesn't need to turn the world upside down. Let's change that

Our Mission

Our mission is to increase awareness and understanding of the mental health needs of people living with heart conditions, and to provide accessible and effective mental health support tailored to their needs.

Our Vision

A world where a diagnosis doesn’t turn the world upside down

Our Initiatives

Our first initiative is peer-led support groups. We believe that other members of our heart community have insight into our unique challenges and joys that others can't give. However, we also believe that everyone should be able to get professional mental health support that fits their needs. This is why our next initiative is to create a continuing education course for mental health providers so they can learn more about our community's unique needs.

Meet the Team

Director

Rachelle Cook

Rachelle was diagnosed with CPVT at the age of 15. She has been involved in rare disease advocacy ever since. She is active in the Everylife Foundation's Young Adult Rare Representatives program, and graduated from the YARR Leadership Academy in 2022. She has a bachelor's degree from the University of Alabama in Exercise Science and Adapted Sports, as well as a Master's Degree from the University of Pittsburgh in Rehabilitation Science and Technology.

Board Member

Dan Pezzetta

Dan Pezzetta is a rare disease advocate and current GW graduate student. He was born with Aortic Stenosis, a rare congenital heart defect. Since he began his advocacy journey back in 2018, he has had the pleasure of speaking at places such as Harvard Medical School and Rare Disease Week on Capitol Hill. He recently published a book titled Disposed: A Story of Chronic Illness During the COVID-19 Pandemic detailing his experience as a chronically ill patient throughout the last two years.