Abbott HeartMates huddles: The cornerstone of a community

“It was so cathartic. Speaking to a therapist only gets you so far. You need a community that's gone through a similar experience.”

“I learned that, regardless of the type of heart condition, we all share the same emotions, including fear and hope. It is so empowering.”

“No judgement, no criticism, just support! Where else would you find that?”

All these observations came from people impacted by various cardiovascular conditions. And they all came from one event: an Abbott HeartMates huddle.

Held both online and in-person, these gatherings are a core part of the program and a way for the people in the Abbott HeartMates community to share their stories, make connections and find — or become — a source of inspiration. 

That community is growing every day, so we created this guide to answer frequently asked questions about huddles.

What is a huddle?

An Abbott HeartMates huddle is any time members of our community come together to exchange stories, talk about what’s on their minds and form connections. Huddles occur online, typically via Zoom, and in person around the U.S.

Huddles are usually hosted by a HeartMates community ambassador and one of Abbott’s cardio experts. To keep the experience intimate and help ensure everyone who wants to speak has the chance to do so, huddles are often capped at 20 HeartMates.

Ultimately, huddles are a safe space that help community members feel that they’re not alone.

Why are they called huddles?

Abbott HeartMates often uses sports terminology such as “huddles” because our goal is to create a supportive team for people impacted by heart health. Plus, our first two community ambassadors, Damar Hamlin and Tedy Bruschi, inspired the world by mounting cardio comebacks as pro football players.

What happens during a huddle? 

While the hosts help moderate the conversations, participants play a large role in deciding what gets discussed. Huddles sometimes consist of each HeartMates member sharing their heart health journey. Other times, participants might pose a question to the group or share something they’re struggling with, and HeartMates offer insights based on their lived experiences. Sometimes, it’s a bit of both.

It’s important to note that while a cardio expert is often present during a huddle, Abbott cannot provide medical advice. If you are experiencing any symptoms that are causing you concern, please make sure to talk to your doctor about them.

What if I’m not ready to share my story yet?
You’re still welcome to join, and no one is required to talk. It’s not uncommon for some first-time huddle participants to observe, become comfortable with the format and share during the next event. 

How will I know when a huddle is happening?

Virtual huddles are announced in the Abbott HeartMates newsletter, typically no less than one week before the scheduled date. We do require HeartMates members to register in advance.

In-person huddles are sometimes announced in a newsletter, but there are occasions when a representative from the HeartMates team will reach out directly to community members in the area where we’re hosting the event. This is one of the reasons we ask for ZIP codes when new members sign up for the community.

What’s the benefit of participating in a huddle?

Even though heart disease impacts over 100 million Americans,¹  experiencing a major heart-related incident can be an incredibly isolating experience.² Healthcare providers can meet patients’ clinical needs, but what about the complex and challenging emotions that often follow a heart health diagnosis?

Abbott HeartMates huddles bring together people who know what it’s like to process these feelings, face these challenges and mount a cardio comeback. They know because they’ve been there themselves.

"After experiencing a cardiovascular event that changed my life, I know the power and importance of having an engaged team to lean on for mental and physical recovery," Hamlin said.

Our hope is that everyone who joins a HeartMates huddle feels like they have a support team, too.

References

¹ Tsao CW, Aday AW, Almarzooq ZI, et al. Heart Disease and Stroke Statistics—2023 Update: A Report From the American Heart Association. Circulation. 2023;147:e93–e621

² Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Heart Disease and Mental Health Disorders, 2024