CDH International’s story begins with the first worldwide charity for Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia: CHERUBS, which was founded in 1995. The focus of CHERUBS has always been to help support and educate parents whose children have been diagnosed with Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia. After two decades of supporting thousands of CDH patients, CHERUBS has grown and evolved to explore CDH research and awareness in addition to family support.
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In order to move forward with a focus on research and accreditation, the charity was restructured and reinvented as CDH International. This new organization reflects our goal as a collective group of hospitals, researchers, and charities working together on a global initiative to stop Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia. CHERUBS still exists as a division of CDH International. The new President of CHERUBS, Tracy Meats, is dedicated to continue the support families through their CDH journeys. Founder and President of CHERUBS for 22 years, Dawn M. Torrence Ireland, has transitioned over to the role of President of CDH International.
CDH International will focus diligently on continuing our CDH research by running the CDH Research Survey, accrediting hospitals and charities, publishing studies, lobbying for NIH funding for research, and funding research grants.
We have been blessed with wonderful mentorship from organizations such as the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, DHREAMS hospitals, and other members of the CDH Study Group to help organize our efforts. We will continue to work with our Medical Advisory Board to set better standards. We hope to begin accepting applications for hospital accreditation by January 1, 2018, with the first site visits planned for Spring 2018. This is an incredible opportunity to raise survival rates globally, and our organization is honored and eager to work with the medical community to provide a better future for all babies born with Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia.
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