Imagine feeling empowered and in control of your afib and health. Picture yourself living life like you want to, and doing the things you enjoy with the people you love! It IS possible.

You’re invited to the 2021 Get in Rhythm. Stay in Rhythm.^® Virtual Atrial Fibrillation Patient Conference.

Life Is Too Short to Live It in Afib. This Is THE Conference to Attend—From the Comfort of Your Home—to Discover the Most Up-to-Date Afib Research, So You Can Better Manage Your Treatment and Get Your Life Back.

Previous attendees proclaimed this conference to be ten years’ worth of doctors’ visits in just three days and that it probably saved their lives. When you join us, you’ll hear directly from the afib experts.

Join us virtually August 6–8, 2021, and, if you like, get access to the recordings, to watch (or re-watch) at your convenience.

From the desk of Mellanie True Hills
Founder, StopAfib.org

Are you just existing, day to day, frustrated because you wish the afib beast would just go away, so you could get back to normal and truly live your life … without disruptions to your work, play, or family?

Are you living in fear … worried your afib will lead to a stroke, heart failure, or dementia, each of which feels like a fate worse than death?

If this resonates, you’re likely not truly enjoying life like you used to, which may leave you feeling frustrated, exhausted, and emotionally drained.

It’s hard to know who and what to trust in managing your afib, since there is so much junk out there.

Good news: The patient conference is where you get trustworthy A-to-Z afib information, from the top experts in afib, in plain language.

You can manage your afib, possibly even getting rid of it all together and taking control of your life.

This conference is for you if you’re tired of just living with your afib, and you’re ready to enjoy life again.

2020 gave us the opportunity to try a virtual conference. Thousands of people participated live or via the recordings, and it was a hit! That’s one big reason we’re making it all virtual again this year (not to mention that many of us are just not comfortable traveling and gathering yet).

Attendees loved the virtual format. Don’t take our word for it; here’s what some of them had to say:

Technology advances over time, and what we know about afib evolves … that is why we offer the conference annually. It’s also why some people attend year after year to get the latest insights from the researchers, cardiologists, electrophysiologists, surgeons, and other specialists at the forefront of the field at the conference every year.

We offer the conference each year because we see what a difference it makes for people like you.

The proof: we welcome back a significant number of repeat attendees, and, each year, we hear from some who aren’t coming back, because they’re afib free, thanks to what they learned during the conference!

Imagine:

… a single piece of information empowering you to get back to the way you were years ago.

… working or enjoying your hobbies and actually feeling good—not worrying about your afib.

… being active, achieving your optimal weight, and not visiting the hospital on a regular basis.

… being supported by others living with afib, so you no longer have to feel like you’re “going it alone.”

… developing your treatment plan with confidence.

… being empowered to communicate more effectively with your healthcare team.

After the conference, you’ll be able to do all this.

This can be your reality … and you can do it all without obsessing over your afib.

How?

You stay on the forefront of what’s happening in the field … by joining us for the 2021 Get in Rhythm. Stay in Rhythm.^® Virtual Atrial Fibrillation Patient Conference.

Here’s how I came to be doing this, and why I am so passionate about helping you:

I’m Mellanie True Hills, an afib patient and survivor who has been afib free for more than 15 years from having a surgical procedure.

I founded StopAfib.org, which has been the #1 arrhythmia website worldwide, to increase your knowledge about afib, help you improve your quality of life, and help you avoid an afib-related stroke.

I created Atrial Fibrillation Awareness Month (September), and worked with medical societies to get it officially declared as National Atrial Fibrillation Awareness Month by the US Senate.

I was the first non-clinician to participate in the guidelines process (in the development of the 2014 AHA/ACC/HRS Guideline for the Management of Patients with Atrial Fibrillation).

I serve on faculty with the world’s top afib experts at medical conferences worldwide, participate with them on coalitions and think tanks, and co-author peer-reviewed medical journal articles with them. (This is how we get such top-notch faculty for you to hear from at our conference.)

Although I wasn’t always an afib expert, I’ve always been a pioneer.

In the early 1990s, I was an Internet pioneer at J.C. Penney Company, Inc., where I led the creation of one of the earliest corporate websites as well as an intranet and supplier extranet. I spoke at some of the earliest Internet conferences and wrote two of the very first intranet books (published by John Wiley & Sons), which were long-time best sellers and top-selling business books at Amazon. I was the executive in charge of the intranet at Dell, Inc. and a Strategic Thought Leader at Cisco Systems for our Global 500 high tech and automotive manufacturing customers.

In March of 2003, I experienced symptoms of a heart attack in women, and almost died during a procedure to place a stent. About seven months later, my heart skipped some beats and started racing. At the emergency room, they said I’d had blood clots and a close call with a stroke due to a condition I hadn’t heard of called atrial fibrillation. (All of this led to writing a multiple-award-winning book, “A Woman’s Guide to Saving Her Own Life,” to share what I had learned.)

I soon learned what a toll afib takes on you. I was never stable on the anticoagulant (blood thinner) I was prescribed to prevent a stroke, ping-ponging from the risk of a clot and stroke to the risk of a bleed. In the summer of 2005, new research showed that one-fourth of those on that anticoagulant were not stable, due to genetic reasons. I couldn’t continue to live this nightmare, always wondering if I was going to have a stroke. Then, I discovered a new surgical procedure.

I underwent a mini maze procedure and removal of my left atrial appendage in September of 2005. I was now afib free, with the freedom to go and do, without fear and anxiety.

I got my life back. Now, it’s my life’s work to help other people living with afib to do the same.

Those living with afib have a 500% greater stroke risk than those without. They also have a one-in-three lifetime risk of having a stroke, and women tend to have a greater stroke risk than men.

StopAfib.org is a patient-driven website to help you become a proactive member of your healthcare team. It is our mission to spread awareness and prevent afib-related strokes.

(Of course, the information on the website isn’t meant to replace the relationship you build with your doctor and the other members of your healthcare team.)

From the first time I attended a medical conference, I wanted patients to have their own medical conference, so they had the opportunity to hear from those same world-renowned expert doctors that our doctors learn from.

We at StopAfib.org created our first patient conference in 2013, to provide vital information and resources for people living with afib and their loved ones. The conference has become an annual event, and every year, we are increasingly inspired by what we hear from those who attended.

At the 2020 conference, we asked attendees what they learned; here are some of their answers:

“You are not alone. There are lots of different avenues to attack and treat afib. You definitely need to take charge of your treatment plan.”

“Afib is manageable.”

“There is a wonderful afib community out there to learn from; there are great doctors who freely provided such helpful (and new-to-me) information.”

“Afib is curable. I might not have to be on medication for the rest of my life.”

“Afib does not make life unlivable.”

“I do not have to have a lifetime of afib.”

Life Is Too Short to Live It in Afib … and You Don’t Have to.

This is your chance to interact virtually with these experts through panels, question-and-answer sessions, and even during breaks. Past attendees have said that this opportunity alone was worth the price of admission

In fact, one attendee whose wife has afib, said, “One of the things that you get in terms of being [at the conference] is the understanding of how to talk with the doctors, how to work with the doctors, because they’re there to help you help them help you.”

Each time we plan the conference, we add new content and new speakers, so information is always fresh, even if you’ve attended in the past. We ensure that the frontline doctors and researchers who comprise our faculty deliver the very latest information you need to know to manage your afib and take control of your life.

Day 3
Sunday, August 8, 2021

We’re excited that making the Conference virtual this year means we can once again invite international afib rockstars we’ve always wanted to feature but couldn’t bring to Dallas.

We do everything we can to ensure you walk away from this three-day conference feeling in control of your afib, so you can live a happier, more fulfilling life, no matter which course of action you decide to take.

In short, when you and your family members take advantage of this opportunity to hear from the world-renowned members of our faculty—the innovators themselves—you’ll have a chance to ask them your questions during panels and in breakout sessions.

You’ll develop a better understanding of afib and how to work effectively with your healthcare team to manage it—and live life like you used to.

We’re working very hard to ensure we can once again deliver in this virtual format the things you love most about our conference.

You’ll have the opportunity to visit virtual sponsor booths, to get answers about content delivered during the faculty presentations. Sponsors will show the most leading-edge devices for treating afib, talk about treatments and clinical trials, and provide you with materials to learn even more.

It’s our goal to give you what you need to work with your healthcare team to create and manage the best possible treatment plan for you, to follow that plan, and to increase your confidence as you manage your afib and prevent afib-related strokes.

You’ll be able to enjoy all of this from home!

Now, you may be wondering about the investment for the 2021 Get in Rhythm. Stay in Rhythm.^® Virtual Atrial Fibrillation Patient Conference.

While we absolutely love seeing members of our community in person, we’re excited that offering the conference virtually means we can deliver it to even more people at a fraction of the usual conference price.

We’re offering two registration options for you to join us for this interactive virtual experience:

Showing up matters to you and to your family. Many attendees have found their solution and are no longer in afib. People who attended previously, and who have chosen to manage their afib (as opposed to having a procedure) are usually among the first to register for the annual conference, because they don’t want to miss out on the latest, potentially life-saving information they’ll hear.

Family members who attend the conference in support of a loved one with afib find it valuable, as well, in terms of helping them understand what their loved one is going through and how they can help.

Thank you to our 2021 Get in Rhythm. Stay in Rhythm.^®
Virtual Atrial Fibrillation Patient Conference Sponsors.

Q: Shouldn’t I just trust my doctor to tell me all of this?

A: Afib is such a complicated condition … it is impossible for your doctor to provide this depth of information in the short appointments that insurance allows.

Also, consider how much money you’ll save when you’re able to make the most effective decisions about your afib. Your new knowledge could save you money on unnecessary healthcare.

Plus, attending virtually is a rare opportunity to consult with the leading afib experts, and representatives from our sponsors, without traveling all over to see them. You may get information that you might never get during a visit with your doctor.

And the community is invaluable. Many attendees have enjoyed talking with others living with afib who really understood what they were going through and were able to help. And, if you implement what you learn, it’s possible you’ll be able to attend in-person next year (or even be afib free and come back to connect with your new friends).

Q: Afib information can seem confusing and overwhelming. How can I be sure I’ll understand what the experts are saying?

A: This conference is created by patients, for patients, so everything will be directed toward you! We’re leaving plenty of time for questions and answers, so you can get the clarifications you need. Also, with the conference videos available later, you can watch them multiple times if you’d like to get as much value as possible from the presentations and Q&A.

Q: What if I can’t attend the conference live? Will you issue me a refund?

A: We’re not able to issue refunds because we’ve kept the investment level for the conference as low as possible. Please check your calendar to make sure you can attend live August 6–8. If you can’t attend live (and even if you can), consider registering NOW for an All Access pass, which gives you access to the recordings of the main conference sessions when they become available. This means you can watch specific sessions at your convenience, as many times as you like. If you wait to upgrade until after the conference begins, the investment level will be higher.

We’re a tiny nonprofit, and we put everything we have into ensuring the conference is invaluable for you. Issuing refunds would take us away from working to make this the most powerful conference ever. General admission registrations are just $47. Not only do credit card companies charge us for purchases and for refunds, but also, handling refund requests takes time away from fulfilling our mission to save lives and provide outstanding value at the conference. At the current investment level, the General Admission works out to about $3/hour and the additional cost for the recordings is only about another $3/hour, each of which totals about the same as just one specialist co-pay).

Please make sure to whitelist the email address the conference materials come from to ensure that you’ll receive all conference emails and the link to the conference (search whitelist and the name of your email provider for instructions on how to whitelist an email address). Please look for that email address on the confirmation page when you register for the conference. Note: If you don’t receive a confirmation email within five minutes, check your spam folder. If it’s not there, email us at [email protected].

Q: Which technology platform will you use for the conference?

A: We use Zoom Meetings so we can see and interact with one another, almost like we would at an in-person conference. This technology supports community and breakouts, which provides attendees with support from one another, if that’s what you desire (the breakout rooms are optional).

We’ve heard from some attendees that they aren’t confident using Zoom, and we want you to know that we offer virtual check-in the day before the conference so our team can help you make sure the technology works, and so you can get comfortable with it before we start (you’ll receive the link a day or so before the conference). Additionally, we have a help desk staffed throughout the conference to assist you with the technology. And, although we recommend using video to deepen your interactive experience, you can personalize the conference to fit your needs.

Q: How can I gift a conference registration to someone?

A: If you’d like to purchase a registration for someone else, you can:

• Contact us to process it for you (email us at [email protected]).
• Or, purchase a registration and then email us at [email protected] to change the name and email on the registration, so the person you’re gifting receives all the appropriate messages.

So, now are you ready?

Are you ready to become educated and empowered, and get your life back?

Yes, Mellanie! I’m ready. Register me in the 2021 Get in Rhythm. Stay in Rhythm.^® Virtual Atrial Fibrillation Patient Conference.

Right now, you have a choice:

You can choose not to attend the conference, stay in afib, and continue experiencing worry and disruptions to your everyday life that prevent you from fully enjoying precious time with those you love. Or …

You can take action now and register to join us. You can be an active member of your healthcare team and create a treatment plan that works for you … as you take control of your health and your life!

Since we’ve offered the conference, a vast majority of our attendees report that because they attended, they feel significantly more in control of their health, and empowered to get back to living like they did before afib. Many are now afib free.

Will you be among those who become afib free, like so many of our past attendees? We hope you’ll join us for the 2021 Conference.

I look forward to “seeing” you in August!

To your health,

Mellanie True Hills
Founder, StopAfib.org

P.S. We’re bringing the conference to you, virtually, so you can enjoy this interactive, informative, empowering experience from home. Discover how you can join hundreds of others who have begun taking control of their health and their lives (and do so from the comfort of your home, where you can set the temperature exactly how you like it)! Save your spot today, and we’ll “see” you in August.