Heart Institute at UPMC Children's Becomes Project ADAM Affiliate

In 2024, the Heart Institute at UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh became a Project ADAM Affiliate member. Leading the efforts for this initiative at UPMC Children’s are Angela Keibler, MSN, RN, and Ashley Draxinger, MSN, RN, who are the co-program coordinators, and Bryan Funari, MD, medical director. The team’s first project was working with the Irwin First Assembly to help them earn the Project ADAM Heart Safe Designation in September 2024. 

Project ADAM is a national organization that partners with children’s hospital entities to provide CPR and AED education for schools, communities, and youth sports. Project ADAM was established after the tragic death of Adam Lemel, a teenager from Wisconsin that collapsed during a basketball game and suffered a Sudden Cardiac Arrest. When his family learned that he could have been saved with the right preparation and equipment, they founded Project ADAM (Automated Defibrillators in Adams Memory) to be sure everyone is given the best possible chance to survive.

UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh became an affiliate of Project ADAM in March 2024.

As a Project ADAM affiliate, UPMC Children’s and the Heart Institute are working to ensure that our communities are trained, equipped, and prepared to respond to a cardiac emergency.

To learn more about the UPMC Children’s program email chpprojectadam@upmc.edu or call 412-692-5540 option 7.