It is with great pleasure that VWD Connect Foundation is hosting its Tenth Annual National Severe Von Willebrand Disease Patient Conference in West Palm Beach, FL, June 19-22, 2026.

This year will be a special time of celebration: not only is it our 10th conference, but it is also the 100th anniversary of the first mention of von Willebrand disease in literature.

We want to celebrate our connection this year, so the four days will be filled with not only great educational sessions but many opportunities to spend time with fellow Members. 

As a special treat for our Members, we are holding Member Appreciation Day on Friday, June 19. All Members and their guests are welcome to arrive on Thursday June 18 and spend Friday renewing friendships, meeting new friends and sharing stories. We always keep you running at this conference, so now is the time to just kick back, visit and enjoy the Florida sun. The Foundation will provide the extra room night on Thursday and all your meals on Friday.

IMPORTANT:  If you want to join us on Member Appreciation Day you must be registered by Wednesday, April 15 so we can hold the correct number of rooms.

There will be two different educational tracks on Saturday morning: The “Core Education” track is designed for first-time attendees, or any attendee who would like a refresher on basic information about genetics, symptoms and management of sVWD.  For those attendees who would like to dive a little deeper into focused areas, we are offering the “Specialized Topics” track. There will also be many diverse breakout sessions, our small discussion groups with Faculty Members, to choose from throughout the Conference.

CONFERENCE FAQs

Where is the Conference?

The Conference is being held at the West Palm Beach Marriott, 1001 Okeechobee Blvd., West Palm Beach, FL.  The hotel is located a couple of miles from Palm Beach International Airport (PBI). The hotel provides a complementary shuttle service between PBI and the hotel.

Who can attend?

Patients who are Foundation Members may attend the Conference along with one (1) companion. If the Patient is under the age of 18, two (2) companions may also attend but one must be the parent/legal guardian of the patient.

What if I am a severe VWD patient but not a member of the Foundation?

You must be a Foundation Member to attend. Membership is free. If you are interested in joining, please contact Jeanette Cesta, Executive Director at 561-373-3889 or JCesta@VWDConnect.org or CLICK HERE

What does the Foundation provide?

The Foundation will provide all meals and conference materials for the Patient and their companion(s). The Foundation will also provide one (1) hotel room for the party for Friday, Saturday, and Sunday (June 19, 20 and 21) nights.

What if additional family members or friends want to attend with the patient?

We offer an additional paying guest registration option. The registration fee is calculated to cover the costs of the guest’s meals:
Age 0-2 Free • Age 3-12 $450 • Over 12 $700

Additionally, if the additional guest is 12 or under, we will provide childcare services if selected during registration.

Additional Guests are responsible for their own hotel lodgings. The Patient may include them in their complementary room or if additional hotel rooms are needed, they may be booked directly with the hotel at a group rate of $185/night.

How do additional guests register?

Once the patient has registered, they will receive a confirmation email.  A link for registering additional guests along with the link to utilize the hotel group rate will be in the confirmation email. 

What if I want to arrive earlier or stay longer?

The Foundation has contracted with the hotel to hold a limited number of rooms for the three days prior to and three days after the Conference dates. These rooms are available at the group rate of $185 until they are gone, so make your reservations as soon as possible. To be eligible for the group rate rooms must be reserved by May 27, 2026.

I am a Foundation Member who really wants to attend but cannot afford the travel expenses. What can I do?

The Foundation has a limited Travel Assistance Fund for Members requesting assistance. The Foundation’s goal is that no Patient who wants to attend will be prohibited by the cost of travel. Please contact Jeanette Cesta, Executive Director to inquire about travel assistance.

Curious about more agenda and Faculty details? CLICK HERE to check out last year’s agenda book and gallery to see what a typical conference looks like!