Congenital Heart Center Transition Program

If you have congenital heart disease (CHD), moving from pediatric to adult care can be a confusing process. The Transition Program at the Congenital Heart Center is designed to make the transition easier for pediatric patients by addressing your individual medical, educational and psychosocial needs to prepare you for your eventual transfer to adult congenital heart care.  

Transition is the process of getting ready for health care as an adult. It means gradually taking on more responsibility for your health care tasks, like taking medications and knowing about your medical condition. Transition is a gradual process that generally happens over many years.  

Transfer of care is the actual change to seeing an adult provider instead of your pediatric provider. 

Program Eligibility 

Patients of the Congenital Heart Center with CHD that are 12 to 18 years old will benefit from the transition program. We encourage you to speak to your pediatric cardiologist about meeting with our transition team. Meeting with the transition team does not mean you will leave your pediatric provider, but will help prepare you for lifelong heart care.  

Support may include helping you learn more about: 

  • Your specific CHD
  • Your surgical and/or cardiac catheterization history
  • What it means to take an active role in your heart health
  • Emergency medical situations
  • Your future with CHD
  • Medications
  • Nutrition and exercise
  • Emotional and behavioral health
  • Coping with life with CHD
  • Pregnancy and contraception
  • Lifestyle, travel and career considerations
  • Specialist referrals

Transition Program team 

The Transition Program is coordinated by the adult congenital heart disease (ACHD) team at University of Michigan Health and led by transition coordinators, Andrea Craven, NP, and Elizabeth Stalder, NP. Other members of the team include pediatric psychologists and a pediatric cardiologist and adult congenital heart disease physician. Support and resources are also offered by the Congenital Heart Center M-COPE Psychosocial and Educational Program, exercise specialists and social workers.

During your transition visit, our program coordinators will conduct a needs assessment to create an individualized learning plan specific to your needs and knowledge gaps. The program coordinators will then focus on promoting independence in the following areas:

Andrea Craven, NP, (left) and Elizabeth Stalder, NP (right), Transition Program coordinators
Andrea Craven, Elizabeth Stalder
  • Education: providing CHD knowledge for lifelong care 
  • Skill building and coping: offering patients the tools needed to become a successful adult with CHD 
  • Connections: providing a safe environment to foster networks for patients and advocates of CHD 

Our goal is not to replace the care that you are receiving from your pediatric cardiologist, but to provide additional support and education, while promoting independence with your heart health. Some patients may need one visit, others may need many. We are here to support you through the transition process. 

To view educational webinars about Congenital Heart Disease or learn about upcoming webinars, click here.

Frequently Asked Questions  

Does being part of the Transition Program mean I have to leave my current pediatric cardiologist and see a new doctor? 
No. Participation in the Transition Program is not to replace your current care, but to provide you with education and any extra support you may need or want during your transition. The timing of transferring care to a different provider is a very personal decision that is discussed and decided by each patient with their Pediatric Cardiologist.  

Can my mental health, like anxiety or depression, make transition and transfer more difficult? 
It is possible! We know that emotional and mental health are some of the most important factors for successful transition and transfer to adult health care. Because of this, psychologists, social workers and educational specialists are key members of our Transition Program team. The Transition Program partners with the Congenital Heart Center M-COPE Psychosocial and Educational Program to offer screening, referral and intervention for patients needing additional coping or mental health support. Some examples of support available through our Transition and M-COPE Programs include:  

  • Peer-to-Peer Mentoring: We are growing a community of peer patient mentors to support transition, living with heart disease, and more!  
  • Pediatric Psychology: Our Congenital Heart Center pediatric psychologists provide assessment and therapy (including virtual sessions!) to children, teens and young adults in and out of the hospital setting to address a number of things that could impact transition success, including coping with illness, anxiety or sad mood, treatment adherence, and more.  
  • [COMING SOON!] WE BEAT for Transition: A psychologist-led, virtual, free group-based wellness education program bringing together teen patients with heart disease to learn skills for coping with the ups and downs in life. Please share your interest in joining an upcoming WE BEAT program with your transition program coordinator or cardiologist.  

What is the U-M Health Adult Congenital Heart Disease Program? 
University of Michigan Health has a team of dedicated providers that focus on the care of adults with CHD. The Adult Congenital Heart Disease (ACHD) Clinic is located on the University of Michigan Health campus at the Frankel Cardiovascular Center. Although visits are conducted in an adult space, care will remain with a Congenital Heart Center provider that uniquely specializes in ACHD care. The ACHD care team at U-M Health is accredited by the Adult Congenital Heart Association as an ACHD Accredited Comprehensive Care Center. 

Take the Next Step 

To request support from the Transition Program at the Congenital Heart Center, call 734-764-5176.