Cleveland Clinic Gathers World Leaders to Advance Aortic Disease Care

I just had an extraordinary opportunity to attend the Cleveland Clinic’s Comprehensive, Lifelong, Expeditious (CLE) Care of Aortic Disease Symposium, an important educational conference focused on advancing the diagnosis and treatment of aortic aneurysms, aortic dissections, aortic valve disease, and other complex conditions of the aorta.

Cleveland Clinic brought together leading aortic specialists for this two-day educational conference held September 18–19, 2026. Led by Dr. Eric Roselli, Chief of Adult Cardiac Surgery and Surgical Director of the Aorta Center at Cleveland Clinic, the symposium featured experts from the world’s leading multidisciplinary aorta centers to discuss and debate the latest advances in the diagnosis and treatment of aortic aneurysms, aortic dissections, aortic valve disease, genetics, imaging, surgery, endovascular therapies, and lifelong surveillance.

Why This Matters for Heart Valve Patients

For the HeartValveSurgery.com patient community, this conference is especially important because of the close relationship between bicuspid aortic valve disease and aortic aneurysms. Approximately one-third to one-half of people diagnosed with a bicuspid aortic valve may develop an aortic aneurysm or significant aortic enlargement. That connection reinforces an important message for patients: Having a bicuspid aortic valve is not only about monitoring the valve for stenosis or regurgitation. It is also important to monitor the size and health of the aorta over time, because enlargement of the aorta can create additional risks that may require specialized surveillance and treatment.

Conferences like this help specialists share emerging research and refine strategies for identifying which patients may be at greatest risk and when treatment should be considered.

Raising Awareness to Aortic Dissections

The symposium was also especially timely because it took place during Aortic Dissection Awareness Week. Aortic dissection is a life-threatening emergency in which a tear develops within the wall of the aorta. For patients with an acute Type A aortic dissection, which involves the ascending aorta, every minute can matter. Without appropriate treatment, early mortality can increase by approximately 1% to 2% per hour after symptoms begin.

Several conditions and characteristics can increase a person's risk for aortic disease and dissection, including an enlarged aorta or thoracic aortic aneurysm, bicuspid aortic valve disease, inherited aortic and connective-tissue disorders, including Marfan syndrome, Loeys-Dietz syndrome, and vascular Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, a family history of thoracic aortic aneurysm or aortic dissection, uncontrolled high blood pressure, which places additional stress on the wall of the aorta.

These risks underscore why education, earlier diagnosis, appropriate imaging surveillance, and access to experienced multidisciplinary aortic teams are so important. The symposium also brought together the medical and patient-advocacy communities, with support from The Marfan Foundation and the The John Ritter Foundation for Aortic Health, organizations committed to improving awareness, education, and outcomes for people affected by aortic disease. Here is Eileen Novis, the CEO of The Marfan Foundation, and Meredith Ford O'Neal, the CEO of The John Ritter Foundation for Aortic Health.

A Program Full of Cardiac Experts

The speakers on the program for the Care of Aortic Disease Symposium was full of world-renowned cardiologists, interventional cardiologists, cardiologists, anesthesiologists, imaging experts and more. From the Cleveland Clinic, I was fortunate to see and/or spend time with the following physicians: Dr. Milind Desai, Dr. Marijan Koprivanac, Dr. Xioaying Lou, Dr. Edward Soltesz, Dr. Gianluca Torregrossa, Dr. Patrick Vargo, and Dr. Anthony Zaki.

Celebrating Dr. Alan Braverman’s Legacy in Aortic Care

One of the most meaningful moments of the symposium was a special luncheon honoring Dr. Alan C. Braverman, a nationally recognized cardiologist from Washington University School of Medicine and Barnes-Jewish Hospital. Titled “Living Legends: From Lifesaving to Lifelong Care,” the luncheon, which was celebrated by Dr. Roselli, celebrated Dr. Braverman’s decades of contributions to cardiovascular medicine and, in particular, his leadership in the care of patients with Marfan syndrome, heritable thoracic aortic disease, and other aortopathies.

Dr. Braverman is the Alumni Endowed Professor in Cardiovascular Diseases at WashU Medicine, serves as director of its Marfan Syndrome and Aortopathy Clinic, and has helped build one of the country’s largest multidisciplinary programs dedicated to inherited aortic conditions. The recognition was especially fitting for a conference centered on lifelong aortic care, because Dr. Braverman’s career has exemplified the importance of combining expert diagnosis, long-term surveillance, patient education, and compassionate clinical care across a patient’s lifetime.

Innovation on Display: Technologies Helping Aortic Patients

Another fascinating part of the symposium was the exhibition of medical technologies being used and developed to help patients with complex aortic and cardiovascular disease. Attendees had an opportunity to see these innovations up close and learn how new devices are expanding the treatment options available to cardiovascular surgeons and interventional specialists. The exhibition included companies such as Artivion, Gore, Terumo, and Edwards Lifesciences.

What makes these innovations so meaningful is that they give physicians an expanding toolbox for treating patients whose anatomy, age, health, and aortic disease may be very different. Some patients may require traditional open surgery, while others may benefit from endovascular, transcatheter, or hybrid approaches. Seeing these technologies firsthand was a powerful reminder that innovation in aortic care is ultimately about giving physicians more options to personalize treatment and improve patient outcomes.

It was also neat to see a booth for ARCALYST®, which is an FDA-approved drug to treat recurrent pericarditis and reduce the risk of future recurrences in adults and children ages 12 and older. For patients who develop recurrent pericarditis after heart surgery, ARCALYST can help by blocking IL-1–driven inflammation, reducing painful flares and helping prevent additional episodes. Here is Lisa Strickland, a Clinical Sales Specialist at Kiniksa, the company that makes ARCALYST.

Thank You to the Aortic Disease Community

On behalf of the patients and families in the HeartValveSurgery.com community, we extend a very special thank you to Dr. Eric Roselli, the Cleveland Clinic team, the distinguished faculty, and every healthcare professional who attended this important two-day symposium. We also recognize The Marfan Foundation, The John Ritter Foundation for Aortic Health, and the conference exhibitors and supporters for helping advance education, awareness, research, and innovation in aortic care.

Related Links:

• Valve-Sparing Aortic Root Replacement vs. Bentall Procedure with Dr. Eric Roselli and Dr. Marijan Koprivanac

• Surgeon Roundtable: Complex and High-Risk Heart Valve Surgery with Dr. Edward Soltesz and Dr. Anthony Zaki

• Aortic Valve and Aortic Aneurysm Interaction and Treatment with Dr. Eric Roselli and Dr. Xiaoying Lou

Keep on tickin!
Adam