Mended Hearts International Foundation to expand global cardiovascular patient advocacy from Geneva

A new nonprofit organization, the Mended Hearts International Foundation (MHIF), will be launched in Geneva, Switzerland, with a mission to empower patients living with cardiovascular diseases and related conditions worldwide. Originating from the legacy of The Mended Hearts, Inc. (MHI) — the world’s largest peer-to-peer cardiovascular support network — this newly endowed foundation aims to shape healthcare policy, patient education, and cross-border advocacy, working directly with international institutions, lawmakers, and nonprofit networks.

MHIF’s mandate includes support for over 523 million global cardiovascular patients, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), by leveraging a collaborative ecosystem called the Mended Hearts International Network (MHIN), which includes MHI (USA), Mended Hearts Europe, Mended Hearts University, and others in development across Asia and additional regions.

How will the Mended Hearts International Foundation support cardiovascular patients globally through peer advocacy and policy reform?

The Mended Hearts International Foundation plans to serve as a global nexus for patient advocacy, focusing on inclusive peer-to-peer support, educational access, research-driven resources, and legislative influence. By anchoring its operations in Geneva, the MHIF positions itself at the crossroads of global health diplomacy, close to institutions such as the World Health Organization and various UN health and policy groups.

The foundation will build on MHI’s successful model of patient empowerment by prioritizing policy engagement. This includes collaborating with national and international regulators to design patient-centered healthcare frameworks spanning a broad spectrum of comorbid conditions — not just heart disease but also stroke, diabetes, obesity, chronic kidney disease, cancer, sleep apnea, and mental health disorders like depression.

Through MHIN, the foundation will also promote shared governance and inclusivity, integrating feedback and leadership from its network affiliates to advance educational research and maintain high ethical standards across geographies. The structure of MHIF includes a Board of Directors, a Geneva-based auditor system, and an International Advisory Committee with representatives from each MHIN entity to ensure broad accountability and global representation.

What is the historical legacy of The Mended Hearts, Inc. and how does it inform the MHIF’s global expansion?

The Mended Hearts, Inc. was established in 1951 and incorporated in 1955 in the United States. Over the past seven decades, the American nonprofit has built a peer-support network of over 125,000 members in 73 countries, offering in-person and digital support across 643 hospitals, clinics, and community centers. Each year, MHI-trained volunteers directly reach nearly 400,000 patients and families, while digital initiatives extend their educational content to over 7 million individuals.

Through programs like Mended Little Hearts, Young Mended Hearts, and Mended Hearts, the U.S.-based organization has uniquely supported patients from infancy to late adulthood. Its initiatives span patient resource guides (HeartGuide®), interactive content (GoToGuides), advocacy portals (the MHI ACTION NETWORK™), and awareness campaigns.

MHIF’s launch represents an evolution of this legacy — formalizing an international framework that can influence cross-border healthcare standards, integrate patient voices into policy, and accelerate access to accurate health information across both developed and emerging nations.

What kind of healthcare policy changes and patient education initiatives will the MHIF champion worldwide?

The MHIF’s policy advocacy work will involve monitoring legislative trends, recommending ethical and legal reforms in patient rights, and supporting alternate funding strategies for better access to cardiovascular treatment. The foundation also plans to host global conferences, bringing together policymakers, researchers, and patient advocates to share best practices and legislative blueprints.

Beyond legislation, a major focus will be on equity in education. MHIF will develop multilingual digital tools, e-learning modules, and culturally relevant patient resources through Mended Hearts University, enabling communities across socioeconomic and regional divides to access actionable cardiovascular health knowledge.

Its research agenda includes educational and observational studies driven by real-time patient feedback collected through the MHIN. These projects will inform resource creation, validate lived experiences of patients, and generate scalable support models for other chronic illnesses that often co-occur with cardiovascular diseases.

How will the governance structure of the MHIF ensure transparency and global patient representation?

The Mended Hearts International Foundation will be governed by a minimum three-member Board of Directors, supported by auditors and an International Advisory Committee. Each MHIN entity will nominate two delegates to the advisory body, ensuring fair representation from different regions and healthcare systems.

This governance structure is designed to maintain strategic alignment across programs, uphold ethical standards, and coordinate region-specific education, support, and advocacy efforts. Staff from MHIF’s Geneva headquarters will serve as liaisons for cross-country collaboration, research coordination, and fundraising oversight.

MHIF will also serve as the coordinating body for future members such as Mended Hearts Asia and other nonprofit organizations seeking to adopt the peer-support model in cardiovascular health. These members will be bound by the foundational values and ethics developed by MHI and adapted for global implementation.

What do analysts and healthcare institutions expect from the launch of the MHIF in terms of patient outcomes and global partnerships?

Healthcare institutions and advocacy experts regard the MHIF as a strategic breakthrough for amplifying the patient voice in global healthcare policy. Its Geneva base places it at a unique intersection of influence, especially as governments and multilateral bodies increasingly emphasize patient-centered outcomes and equity frameworks in non-communicable disease (NCD) strategies.

Institutional observers see the MHIF as capable of bridging a critical gap in chronic disease advocacy, especially in countries where access to psychosocial support, educational tools, and patient representation is limited. By translating patient experiences into legislative influence, MHIF is expected to deepen healthcare accountability and increase resilience in cardiovascular care delivery systems.

The expansion also aligns with global health trends calling for stronger civil society involvement in healthcare reform, especially for high-burden diseases like heart failure and stroke, which remain top causes of mortality worldwide.

What is the long-term impact expected from the MHIF’s global network and advocacy mission?

Looking ahead, MHIF aims to influence the development of international standards and funding mechanisms that prioritize patient agency, treatment access, and caregiver support. The organization is positioned to work alongside the World Health Organization, European health ministers, and Asian public health systems to adapt its peer-led programs for different regulatory environments.

Future collaborations may involve pharmaceutical companies, hospital networks, and academic research bodies, especially to validate and distribute patient-focused interventions. As more nonprofit members join MHIN, MHIF expects to deepen its impact across regions, integrating local health realities with global standards of care.

Ultimately, analysts expect MHIF to become a cornerstone in the architecture of global NCD advocacy, shaping a world where no cardiovascular patient lacks emotional, educational, or legislative support.