7th World Symposium on Pulmonary Hypertension

Working to make a difference in pulmonary hypertension

Imagine a life where you wake up each day unable to fully catch your breath – a constant challenge that affects your quality of life. While I may never fully understand this feeling, I carry an awareness of it with me daily at work, motivating me to make a meaningful impact on the lives of those living with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH), a rare and life-changing form of pulmonary hypertension (PH). For those unfamiliar with PH, it's a condition that affects the arteries in the lungs and the right side of the heart, impacting approximately 1% of people globally as a life-threatening disease[1]. One of the primary symptoms is breathlessness.

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Working at Johnson & Johnson has provided me the chance to work alongside a dedicated team that is given invaluable opportunities to gain a deep appreciation for the resilience of people living with PAH. Understanding their daily obstacles and celebrating their triumphs continues to fuel the commitment for not only me, but my whole team, to work toward developing innovative therapies tailored to their needs.

This past weekend, the team and I had the privilege of attending the World Symposia on Pulmonary Hypertension (WSPH) in Barcelona, Spain, where patients, patient advocates, healthcare professionals, scientists and industry leaders gathered from around the world to discuss the latest scientific advancements, clinical research findings and treatment options in PH.

The first taskforce presentation was on “Patient Perspectives,” a major step forward for patient representation. As Professor Slack of Harvard Medical School stated in 1976, “The patient is the largest and least utilized resource in healthcare”. Almost 50 years later, this remains true today. Patient representation is a crucial area that needs to be addressed to better advance quality care, and although we have come a long way since 1976, much remains to be done. Gatherings like those at the WSPH are an important step towards that goal and I’m proud to be leading a truly Global team making that commitment.

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Addressing life-threatening diseases is a challenging yet rewarding endeavor that requires dedication and perseverance. One of the most important things we measure in this industry is outcomes. It is not just about what you say you can do, but rather what you accomplish. At Johnson & Johnson, we approach our work with a strategic focus on achieving meaningful outcomes for the communities we serve. Our commitment is underscored by more than two decades of research in the PH space. I take pride in our collective efforts and the difference we hope to make in the lives of those living with this condition.

[1] “What Is Pulmonary Hypertension?” National Heart Lung and Blood Institute, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 1 May 2023, www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/pulmonary-hypertension .