HEART TALK: A candid conversation about cardiovascular heath, risk and research in Williams syndrome
April 17, 2026 - The WSA’s executive director, Sarah Schaefer, and the Armellino Center’s medical director, Dr. Mark Levin, had a conversation about cardiovascular issues in Williams syndrome. They discussed common questions about cardiovascular health, serious cardiovascular events in WS, and support provided by the WSA, ending with an audience Q&A.
Red Flags, Best Practices, and Anesthesia Precautions Handout
About The Speakers
Sarah Schaefer is the Executive Director of the Williams Syndrome Association (WSA), and parent to an adult son with WS. She will provide updates on the work of the WSA and the Clinical Consortium addressing many aspects of cardiovascular health in WS.
Dr. Mark Levin, MD is a pediatric cardiologist with over a decade of clinical and research experience with individuals with WS. He studies many aspects of cardiovascular function in WS, with a particular emphasis on defining the causes and risk factors for the (fortunately-rare) cases of sudden death in people with WS.