What types of events/activities will take place at the Conference?
Conference includes a general session featuring medical presentations, breakout sessions on various medical, mental health, and quality-of-life topics, social activities, awards ceremonies, and more. Please visit our conference webpage for details.

What is the cost for adults and children to attend?
Adult Conference Registration is $400 through 5/30/2025. After that, the cost is $450 per adult. We also offer rates for individual conference days. Children and teens are free with a registered adult (including those attending via scholarship). Full details are on the conference webpage.

What meals are included with my registration?
Full Conference attendees receive dinner on Friday night at the Welcome Dinner & Awards Ceremony, breakfast and lunch on Saturday, dessert at the 40^th Celebration & Victory Party on Saturday evening, and breakfast on Sunday. Attendees who register only for Saturday will receive breakfast and lunch; those who register only for Sunday will receive breakfast. Extra meal tickets for the Friday dinner, Saturday lunch, and the 40^th Celebration & Victory Party can be purchased for non-registered guests. Full details are on the conference webpage.

Will there be opportunities to meet other people?
Conference offers many opportunities to connect, including social events like condition-specific meetups on Friday, a Creating Connections luncheon on Saturday, the 40^th Celebration & Victory Party on Saturday night, and more. There are also unscheduled times, such as dinner on Saturday, when you can get together with new friends.

Who should I contact if I have questions about Conference?
– General Inquiries: Kathleen Bolton conference@marfan.org
– Teen Program: Dominga Noe dnoe@marfan.org
– Children’s Program: Andrea Friedman afriedman@marfan.org
– Scholarships: Kathleen Bolton conference@marfan.org
– Health Fair: Lauren May lmay@marfan.org

May I still attend if I am exposed to COVID-19 or test positive before the Health Fair or Conference?
If you have reason to believe you were exposed to COVID-19 or have tested positive for COVID-19 leading up to the Health Fair or conference, you should not attend.

Will there be translation services or sessions in different languages?
All programming is in English, and translation services are not available for Conference. However, two workshop sessions will be offered in Spanish on Saturday.

What is the refund/cancellation policy?
Registration fees are refundable until June 13, 2025, minus a $100 processing fee. No refunds will be issued after this date.

Are there activities for children, and if so, for what ages?
There are programs for children ages 5-12 and teens ages 13-18. Participants in both the children and teen programs will enjoy on-site activities and off-site trips to local attractions. No other childcare services are provided.

Can siblings without connective tissue conditions join?
Siblings are welcome to join in all age-appropriate activities.

My children are very close in age. Can they participate in the same program?
To ensure age-appropriate experiences for all, young people ages 5-12 may participate in the children’s program; young people ages 13-18 may participate in the teen program, based on age as of July 11, 2025.

My child is turning five soon. Can they join the children’s program?
To ensure age-appropriate experiences for all, the children’s program is only open to children ages 5-12 as of July 11, 2025.

Can my child, who is 12, participate in the teen program with their friends?
To ensure age-appropriate experiences for all, the teen program is only open to individuals who are 13-18 as of July 11, 2025.

Can my 19-year-old participate in the teen program with their friends?
To ensure age-appropriate experiences for all, the teen program is only open to individuals who are 13-18 as of July 11, 2025.

Is there programming and/or childcare for children under five years?
If a parent or guardian registers for Conference, children under five can apply for a free Health Fair screening. However, childcare and programming are not provided for children under five. Please do not bring children under five to adult sessions. Some families with younger children register one adult for the conference, taking turns attending sessions and caring for the child. Others bring a grandparent, relative, or friend to help with childcare.

Who is eligible to apply for a Conference scholarship?
Anyone 19 years or older as of July 11, 2025, with financial or medical needs may apply for a Conference scholarship. Children and teens are always free with one registered adult (including adults attending via scholarship).

What expenses does the Conference scholarship program cover?
Scholarships provide partial assistance, covering one adult registration and two hotel nights. Travel expenses, such as flights, train tickets, parking, rideshare fare, and gas, are not included. Children and teens attend free with one registered or scholarship adult.

When will I know if I have received a scholarship?
Scholarship recipients will be notified by email by May 14, 2025.

When will I be notified if I receive Health Fair appointments?
Individuals selected to attend the Health Fair will be notified by May 14, 2025. The exact time of your specific appointments will not be available until 1-2 weeks before the Health Fair, so you should not expect to hear anything before then.

I applied for the Health Fair and received notification that I have been accepted to take part, but I have not received my appointment schedule, and I need to make my travel plans. What should I do?
If you have not had a recent echocardiogram, lung function test, or eye appointment, assume you have an 8:00 a.m. appointment on Thursday, July 10, 2025. If you have had a recent echocardiogram, lung function test, and eye appointment, assume you have an 8:00 a.m. appointment on Friday, July 11, 2025. Health Fair attendees will not be notified of their appointment time until 1-2 weeks before the event, and appointment times cannot be adjusted once set.

Are discounted hotel rooms available for Conference attendees?
The 2025 Conference will take place at the Hyatt Regency Atlanta at 265 Peachtree Street NE, Atlanta, GA 30303, where we have secured a discounted rate room block. Conference attendees must book their rooms directly with the hotel by Wednesday, June 18, 2025, to use the discounted rate. The discounted rate is $189.00 per night plus occupancy tax and fees for a room with up to two guests. The rate increases if three or four guests occupy one room. It is recommended that you do not wait until the last day to book your hotel rooms, as the number of discounted rooms is limited. The discounted rate is available three days before and after the conference, subject to availability.

How do I get from the airport to the Hyatt Regency Atlanta?
The Hyatt Regency Atlanta is 11 miles from Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) or three miles from Amtrak’s Peachtree Station. MARTA trains are conveniently connected to the Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport next to baggage claim. The Red and Gold lines reach the Peachtree Center MARTA Transit Station, connected to the Hyatt Regency Atlanta through the Peachtree Center Mall, in about 25 minutes.

Is the Hyatt Regency Atlanta wheelchair accessible?
Information about the hotel’s accessibility features can be found here.

Will there be accessible hotel rooms available for attendees who use wheelchairs and other assistive devices?
Yes, there will be a limited number of accessible rooms available.  

How do I request accessibility services at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport?
Airline representatives are available to provide wheelchair assistance. To reserve a wheelchair, contact the airline directly (or go to the ticketing counter) before your scheduled flight. For airline contact information, please visit their website here.

How do I find accessible transportation to/from Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport?
ADA-compliant taxi vans with either rear or side-entry wheelchair ramps are available and charged at the same meter rates as a traditional taxi. The city of Atlanta is taking steps to increase the availability of wheelchair-accessible cabs, but the existing fleet size is extremely small and does not meet the demand. Therefore, it is recommended that taxi vans be ordered hours in advance. Contact Atlanta Checker Cab at (404) 351-1111 or visit atlantacheckercab.com.

The Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA) public transit system includes elevator access for customers with disabilities. For more information on MARTA’s passenger services, call (404) 848-4711 or visit their website.

Is the Health Fair wheelchair accessible?
A bus equipped with a wheelchair lift will transport participants to and from the Health Fair. Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta’s Center for Advanced Pediatrics is fully wheelchair accessible, with designated parking spots for individuals with disabilities. Wheelchairs are available to Health Fair participants upon request.

Are the teen and children’s field trips wheelchair accessible?
A bus equipped with a wheelchair lift will transport students to and from any planned field trips. The teen and children’s field trip locations are wheelchair accessible.