REGISTRATION NOW OPEN!

It is with great pleasure that VWD Connect Foundation is hosting its Ninth Annual National Severe Von Willebrand Disease Patient Conference in West Palm Beach, FL, July 18-21, 2025.

This year will be a special time of renewal and refreshment! We have slowed down the pace a bit and created many fun and relaxing activities where you can unwind, nurture your mental wellness, and just be together. But don’t worry, there will still be plenty of top-notch educational sessions with an incredible Faculty of presenters. 

There will be two different educational tracks on Saturday morning: The “Core Education” track is designed for first-time attendees, or any attendee who would like a refresher on basic information about genetics, symptoms and management of sVWD.  For those attendees who would like to dive a little deeper into focused areas, we are offering the “Specialized Topics” track. There will also be many diverse breakout sessions, our small discussion groups with Faculty Members, to choose from throughout the Conference.

NEW THIS YEAR

The Foundation is offering the option for parents/guardians of sVWD patients aged 0-17 to attend a pre-conference Parenting Workshop being held Friday, July 18 from 10:00AM to 2:30PM prior to the opening of the Conference. Interested? CLICK HERE for all the details!

CONFERENCE FAQs

Where is the Conference?

The Conference is being held July 18-21, 2025 at the West Palm Beach Marriott, 1001 Okeechobee Blvd., West Palm Beach, Fl.  The hotel is located a couple of miles from Palm Beach International Airport (PBI). The hotel provides a complementary shuttle service between PBI and the hotel.

Who can attend?

Patients who are Foundation Members may attend the Conference along with one (1) companion. If the Patient is under the age of 18, two (2) companions may also attend but one must be the parent/legal guardian of the patient.

What if I am a severe VWD patient but not a member of the Foundation?

You must be a Foundation Member to attend. Membership is free. If you are interested in joining, please contact Jeanette Cesta, Executive Director at 561-373-3889 or JCesta@VWDConnect.org or CLICK HERE

What does the Foundation provide?

The Foundation will provide all meals and conference materials for the Patient and their companion(s). The Foundation will also provide one (1) hotel room for the party for Friday, Saturday, and Sunday (July 18, 19 & 20) nights.

What if additional family members or friends want to attend with the patient?

We offer an additional paying guest registration option. The registration fee is calculated to cover the costs of the guest’s meals:
Age 0-2 Free • Age 3-12 $450 • Over 12 $700

Additionally, if the additional guest is 12 or under, we will provide childcare services if selected during registration.

Additional Guests are responsible for their own hotel lodgings. The Patient may include them in their complementary room or if additional hotel rooms are needed, they may be booked directly with the hotel at a group rate of $169/night.

How do additional guests register?

Once the patient has registered, they will receive a confirmation email.  A link for registering additional guests along with the link to utilize the hotel group rate will be in the confirmation email. 

What if I want to arrive earlier or stay longer? 

The Foundation has contracted with the hotel to hold a limited number of rooms for the three days prior to and three days after the Conference dates. These rooms are available at the group rate of $169 until they are gone, so make your reservations as soon as possible. To be eligible for the group rate rooms must be reserved by June 24, 2025.

I am a Foundation Member who really wants to attend but cannot afford the travel expenses. What can I do?

The Foundation has a limited Travel Assistance Fund for Members requesting assistance. The Foundation’s goal is that no Patient who wants to attend will be prohibited by the cost of travel.

Curious about more agenda and Faculty details? CLICK HERE to check out last year’s agenda book and gallery to see what a typical conference looks like!