February 2026

Share, Celebrate, Stay Informed

Dear member

Welcome to your February 2026 SOLVE-CHD Monthly Update.

As we step into a new year with a fresh new look, we are excited to continue sharing the progress of our projects and the growth of our shared initiatives.

Our network is only as strong as the voices within it. We invite you to contribute your news, insights, and activities, directly or indirectly related to the program to solve-chd.info@sydney.edu.au. We are particularly eager to celebrate your research achievements in cardiac rehabilitation; sharing your success helps us inspire and inform our entire community.

Key Highlights and Updates

2025 Annual Report: Work is well underway on the SOLVE-CHD Annual Report for 2025; stay tuned for the official release of our yearly milestones and impact.
ACRA Excellence Initiative: The review process for the 2026 ACRA Cardiac Rehabilitation Program Excellence Initiative has now commenced, and we look forward to celebrating the outcomes at the ACRA ASM in Sydney this August.
Rio Workshop 2026: We are currently planning a Cardiac Rehabilitation Roadmap Implementation workshop to be held in Rio de Janeiro this October, strategically scheduled just prior to the World Congress of Cardiology (WCC). We invite those interested in participating to contact Julia Ning (julia.ning@sydney.edu.au).

Celebrating Prof Robyn Gallagher:
Officer of the Order of Australia

We are delighted to congratulate Prof Robyn Gallagher on her appointment as an Officer of the Order of Australia (AO) on Australia Day 2026.

This national honour recognises Prof Gallagher’s outstanding service to nursing academia, cardiovascular health and disease prevention, cardiac rehabilitation, and tertiary education. As a Lead Investigator with SOLVE-CHD, Prof Gallagher’s leadership, scholarship and advocacy have shaped cardiovascular prevention and rehabilitation in Australia and internationally, and continue to inspire clinicians, researchers and the next generation of health professionals.

A very well-deserved recognition. Congratulations, Robyn!

Head of School Brendan McCormack celebrating Robyn Gallagher at the Sydney School of Nursing Retreat Feb 2026

Authored by

JULIE REDFERN
ROBYN GALLAGHER
TOM BRIFFA
DION CANDELARIA

FEATURED READING

Future-proofing heart care in Australia: time to reimagine cardiac rehabilitation

If we are to future-proof heart care in Australia, we must reimagine our national commitment to secondary prevention. Read our latest MJA InSight+ article here for insights into the evolving landscape of secondary prevention.

Special Congratulations to:

Dr Ling Zhang and Dr Dion Candelaria for being elected as Fellows of the European Society of Cardiology
Dr Georgia Chaseling for being promoted to Level C at the University of Sydney
Deborah Manandi for receiving her PhD letter of completion!
Deborah Manandi and team for the publication of their paper, 'Socioeconomic Variation in the Association Between Participation in Cardiac Rehabilitation and Clinical Outcomes in Patients With Acute Coronary Syndrome'
Prof Sherry Grace and team for the publication of their paper, 'Fifteen Years of Advancing Cardiovascular Rehabilitation in Low-Resource Settings through the International Council of Cardiovascular Prevention and Rehabilitation (ICCPR) and a Look Ahead'
Dr Karice Hyun and team for the publication of their paper, 'Cardiac Rehabilitation Participation and Outcomes in the 3 Years After Acute Coronary Syndrome: LINKED DATA STUDY OF THE SNAPSHOT ACS AUDIT'
Dr Susie Cartledge, Carmel Bourne, Dr Dion Candelaria, Prof Robyn Gallagher and team for the publication of 'CSANZ and ACRA Position Statement on Quality Use of Telehealth in Cardiovascular Care'

Events & Opportunities

PhD Scholarship opportunity: Bond University & Surf Life Saving Australia

Bond University and Surf Life Saving Australia (SLSA) are partnering to offer a unique PhD scholarship focused on strengthening the health, wellbeing and sustainability of volunteer organisations.

Apply here

Applications close 31st March 2026

Strong Women, Strong Hearts: Cardiovascular Health and Beyond

Join ACRA Victoria & Tasmania on the 6th March for an education and networking event focused on women’s cardiovascular health.

This two-part event brings together clinicians, researchers, and lived-experience voices for an afternoon and evening of practical insights and networking.

Note that registrations for the keynote dinner close 3rd March 2026

Australian Lifestyle Psychiatry Symposium 2026

Join leading researchers advancing the field of lifestyle psychiatry at the inaugural Australian Lifestyle Psychiatry Symposium on 19th-20th March.

Physical activity messaging for people with coronary heart disease

Are you living with coronary heart disease? Have your say to help us get physical activity messages right!

Your input can help shape physical activity advice to support Australians to live longer, healthier lives. The survey takes just 10 minutes - make a difference today!

Take the survey

National Cardiac Registry Annual Report out now

The National Cardiac Registry Annual Status Report 2025 is a comprehensive summary of Percutaneous Coronary Intervention (PCI) activity in Australia. Check it out for the newest information on procedures, year-on-year trends, analysis and benchmarking which can be utilised for continuous quality improvement measures in cardiovascular care.

Read here