Ross Procedure Blog

By Adam Pick

Part II: Elisabeth Completes Half-Marathon with Daughter After Ross Procedure

Written By: Adam Pick, Patient Advocate, Author & Website Founder
Published: June 25, 2025

The inspirational patient success stories keep coming in from all over the world!

Continue reading this post »

Northwestern Medicine’s Bluhm Cardiovascular Institute Achieves 100th Ross Procedure!

Written By: Allison DeMajistre, BSN, RN, CCRN
Reviewed By: Adam Pick, Patient Advocate, Author & Website Founder
Published: June 21, 2025

Dr. Chris Malaisrie, and Dr. Christopher Mehta,  cardiac surgeons at Northwestern Medicine Bluhm Cardiovascular Institute specialize in the treatment of aortic valve disease. Along with their team of experts at Northwestern Memorial Hospital, they recently performed their 100th successful Ross Procedure. “We’re happy to report that Northwestern Memorial Hospital has a 100 percent in-hospital survival rate for this complex procedure in addition to long-term durability,” said Dr. Malaisrie.

Continue reading this post »

Inside Access: The Ross Procedure Wet Lab at USC

Written By: Adam Pick, Patient Advocate, Author & Website Founder
Page last updated: April 7, 2025

In case you missed it… Earlier today, we had special access to the Ross Procedure Training Course taught by Dr. Vaughn Starnes and Dr. Craig Baker. As you may know, Dr. Starnes performed the Ross Procedure on me in 2005.  Nearly 20 years later, my heart is doing perfect and I do not take any medications or blood thinners.

Continue reading this post »

Ross Procedure Patient Education Center Launches Now!

Written By: Adam Pick, Patient Advocate, Author & Website Founder
Published: March 12, 2025

As many of you know, I had a Ross Procedure performed by Dr. Vaughn Starnes in 2005.  Since then, nearly 20 years ago, I have had no re-operations and I am not on any medications including blood thinners. While the Ross Procedure is not for everybody, I am getting many patient questions about this advanced form of aortic valve surgery given new research about patients who are experiencing (i) a return to normal life expectancy and (ii) long-term durability going out to the third post-operative decade.

Continue reading this post »

NEW 3PM EST START TIME: Join Me LIVE In A Ross Procedure Training Course

Written By: Adam Pick, Patient Advocate, Author & Website Founder
Page last updated: March 7, 2025

Ready to experience something extraordinary?

Continue reading this post »

4 Must-Know Facts About the Ross Procedure

Written By: Adam Pick, Patient Advocate, Author & Website Founder
Published: October 21, 2024

Heart Warrior: New Patient Video Celebrates the Ross Procedure and Dr. Christopher Burke

Written By: Adam Pick, Patient Advocate, Author & Website Founder
Published: April 28, 2024

Congratulations to Andy Dial, a Ross Procedure patient from Pullayup, Washington and member of the HeartValveSurgery.com, for the wonderful release of his new video, “Heart Warrior”.  I am touched, moved and inspired by Andy’s patient advocacy efforts to drive awareness to the Ross Procedure, Dr. Christopher Burke, his surgeon, and the medical team at UW Medicine Heart Institute that helped save Andy’s life.

Continue reading this post »

Surgeon Q&A: “What About Ross Procedure Autograft Wrapping?” asks William

Written By: Adam Pick, Patient Advocate, Author & Website Founder
Medical Expert: Ismail El-Hamamsy MD, PhD, Cardiac Surgeon, Mount Sinai Hospital
Published: April 23, 2024

I just received a great question from William about the Ross Procedure, an advanced form of aortic valve replacement that moves the patient’s pulmonary valve into the aortic position.

Continue reading this post »

“Can Leaky Pulmonary Valves Work for the Ross Procedure?” asks Tim

Written By: Adam Pick, Patient Advocate, Author & Website Founder
Medical Expert: Christopher Burke, MD, Cardiac Surgeon, UW Medicine Heart Institute
Published: July 20, 2023

I’m receiving lots of excellent patient questions about the Ross Procedure.

Continue reading this post »

New Ross Procedure Research for Aortic Valve Patients To Consider

Written By: Adam Pick, Patient Advocate, Author & Website Founder
Published: May 4, 2023

Given my experience with the Ross Procedure, I continue to get lots of great patient questions about this advanced form of aortic valve replacement.  Patients often ask me about the durability of the Ross Procedure, the life expectancy of the Ross Procedure, and what happens if a reoperation is needed in the future.

Continue reading this post »

“What About Ross Procedure Reoperations for the Aortic & Pulmonary Valves?” asks Joe

Written By: Adam Pick, Patient Advocate, Author & Website Founder
Published: January 26, 2023

Given the renewed interest for the Ross Procedure – from patients in our community – I’m getting lots of excellent questions about this advanced form of aortic valve replacement. For example, Joe asked me, “Is it more common for the aortic valve or pulmonary valve to fail?” and “If the aortic or pulmonary valve fails, can a transcatheter valve replace the failing valve without an open-heart procedure?”

Continue reading this post »

Patient Email: “Are Ross Procedure Patients at Higher Risk for Endocarditis?” asks Sara

Written By: Adam Pick, Patient Advocate, Author & Website Founder
Published: August 26, 2022

I just received a fantastic question from Sara, a Ross Procedure patient, in response to an article about endocarditis and heart valve disease featuring comments from Dr. David Kaczorowski, a leading cardiac surgeon from UPMC.  Her question is about the statement, “If you have an acquired valve disease, artificial heart valve, congenital heart disease, or have a history of valvular disease, monitoring your health for endocarditis symptoms is especially important.”

Continue reading this post »

Patient Quiz: What Just Happened to Andy’s Heart Valves in Dr. Burke’s Operating Room?

Written By: Adam Pick, Patient Advocate, Author & Website Founder
Published: August 2, 2022

Many thanks to Andy Dial, an avid 33-year-old fisherman from Puyallup, Washington, for sharing the amazing picture (below) from inside the operating room at UW Medicine Heart Institute in Seattle. So you know, Andy was born with a bicuspid aortic valve, aortic stenosis and Wolff-Parkinson White syndrome.  In addition, Andy’s aorta began to dilate over the years.

Continue reading this post »

Reed Is “Changed” Thanks to the Ross Procedure & Dr. Starnes!

Written By: Adam Pick, Patient Advocate, Author & Website Founder
Published: February 1, 2022

There is nothing better than hearing from patients about their personal journeys to healthy hearts. For example, I just got a wonderful email from Reed about his successful Ross Procedure with Dr. Vaughn Starnes at Keck Medicine of USC. (As you might recall, Dr. Starnes performed my Ross Procedure over 15 years ago.)

Continue reading this post »

8-Year Old, Grant, Gets Successful Ross Procedure Thanks to Dr. Starnes!

Written By: Adam Pick, Patient Advocate, Author & Website Founder
Page Last Updated: May 17, 2025

Since starting HeartValveSurgery.com in 2006, I’ve been fortunate to speak with thousands of patients about heart valve disease. 

Continue reading this post »

Patient Webinar: “Advantages of the Ross Procedure” with Dr. Stelzer & Dr. El-Hamamsy

By Adam Pick on November 12, 2020

[Update: The webinar, held on November 18, was fantastic!!! You can now download the free eBook or watch the webinar video at this link.]

Continue reading this post »

After Ross Procedure Success, Elisabeth Runs to Support Heart Disease Patients!

Written By: Adam Pick, Patient Advocate, Author & Website Founder
Published: Mary 26, 2020

When courageous patients transform medical lemons into lemonade, I want you to know about it.

Continue reading this post »

Research Update: Are There Advantages of the Ross Procedure?

By Adam Pick on August 29, 2018

The first time I heard about the Ross Procedure I was skeptical. My first thought was, “What???!!!  You want to play musical chairs with my heart valves?  No way!!!”  Then, the more I learned about this unique procedure for patients with aortic valve disease, I started thinking, “Hmmm.  That might be the operation for me.”

Continue reading this post »

Newest Community Post

Susan says, "Nurses illustrate EKG rhythms with dance"
Read more

Shaun says, "Hi Guys. I live in Australia and I am"
Read more

Ben says, "Hello everyone. I’m new to this site."
Read more

Find Heart Valve Surgeons

Search 1,500 patient-recommended surgeons