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Global Aorta Symposium 2026

"From Missed to Mastered –
A Global Response to Aortic Dissection"

Date 9th September 2026
Time 09:00 – 17:30 BST
Format Global Virtual Webinar
CPD Accredited
Register Your Place

About the Conference

One Day.
One Mission.

Aortic dissection remains one of the most time-critical and frequently missed diagnoses in emergency medicine. Every hour of delay carries a profound cost — yet the knowledge, tools, and systems to change this exist today.

Global Aorta 2026 is a landmark virtual conference bringing together world-leading clinicians, surgeons, researchers, allied health professionals, and patient advocates to transform how we identify, treat, and support those affected by aortic dissection — wherever they are in the world.

Founded by Dr. Farhin Holia of Barts Health NHS Trust, this event is built on the belief that excellence in aortic care is not a privilege — it is a standard we must reach together.

11 Clinical Sessions
30+ Expert Speakers
5 Continents Represented
8.5 Hours of Education

Full Programme

The Agenda

All times in BST · Virtual attendance · Full day webinar

09:00–09:30 Opening
Opening Plenary
"The Clock Is Ticking: Reframing Aortic Dissection as a Systemic Emergency"
  • Welcome & Vision — Dr. Farhin Holia
  • Opening Keynote: From Delay to Direction — Dr. Kevin Harris
09:30–10:15 Session 1
Urgency & System Shock
"From Harm to Healing – The Truth About Missed Dissections"
  • Aortic Dissection as a High-Stakes Missed Diagnosis — Justine Sharpe
  • Turning Harm into Change – The Patient Perspective — Catherine Fowler
  • Panel: Just Culture, System Learning, and Moving Beyond Blame
10:15–11:00 Session 2
Frontline Reality
"Unseen, Untreated, Too Late – Fixing the First Encounter"
  • Recognising Aortic Dissection Across Atypical Presentations — Dr. Emma Readfern
  • Through My Eyes – The Front Door Experience — Dr. Farhin Holia
  • The Silent Risk – Aortic Dissection in Pregnant Patients — Dr. Elena Cervi
  • Panel: Diagnosing in Real Time
11:00–11:15 Break
Coffee Break · Pre-Recorded Aorta Masterclass Video
11:15–12:00 Session 4
Diagnostic Intelligence
"Pixels, Pitfalls & Potential – Rethinking Aortic Imaging"
  • CT Angiography in Aortic Syndromes — Dr. Deepa Gopalan
  • AI in Imaging: Help or Hype? — Dr. Regent Lee
  • Panel: Prioritization, Protocols & the Future of Radiology
12:00–12:45 Session 5
Surgical Peak
"On the Table – What Makes or Breaks Type A AAD Surgical Outcomes"
  • Surgical Planning in Acute Type A Dissections — Prof. Mark Field
  • Complex Aortic Arch Reconstruction — Prof. Martin Czerny
  • Managing Non-A/Non-B Dissections — Prof. Nimesh Desai
  • Panel: Risk, Success & the Realities of Emergency Aortic Surgery
12:45–13:15 Break
Lunch & Poster Showcase — Innovation, Case Learning & QI from Across the Globe
13:15–14:00 Session 7
Signature Global Aorta Moment
"Different Systems, Shared Urgency – Global Insights into Aortic Dissection"
  • Coordinating Pathways in Southeast Asia — Prof. Stephen Cheng
  • Innovation in Aortic Care in Europe — Prof. Andreas Martens
  • National Retrieval Models in Australia — Prof. Tristan Yan
  • Advocacy and Awareness in the U.S. — Prof. Kim Eagle
  • Japan's Model for AAD Care — Dr. Hiroshi Ohtsu
  • Short Feature: Aortic Dissection Around the World – Survivor Stories
14:00–14:45 Session 8
Innovation + Type B Future
"The Endovascular Era – Navigating Complexity in Type B and Beyond"
  • Global Innovation in Type B Aortic Dissections — Prof. Christoph Nienaber
  • From Evidence to Evolving Practice — Prof. Colin Bicknell
  • Panel: Endovascular Frontiers in International Context
14:45–15:30 Session 9
Critical Care Decisions
"Between Heartbeats – Optimizing Anaesthesia, Perfusion & Critical Care"
  • Anaesthesia in the Acute Aortic Setting — Dr. Seema Agarwal
  • Brain, Spinal Cord & Organ Protection During Repair — Timothy Jackson
  • Post-Operative Monitoring and Risk — S. Chatterjee
  • Panel: Seamless Handover, Safer Outcomes
15:30–16:15 Session 10
Psychology & Recovery
"Beyond Survival – Psychological Healing and Rebuilding Life After Dissection"
  • Living With Fear – PTSD in Dissection Survivors — Ann Marie Doyle
  • Planning for Life – Cardiovascular Risk & Follow-Up — Alex Pritcher
  • Panel: What Does True Recovery Look Like?
16:15–17:00 Session 11
Registries & Future Strategy
"From Data to Direction – What Registries Reveal (and What They Don't)"
  • What IRAD Tells Us After 30 Years — IRAD Co-Founders
  • NSIP and NVR Insights — Prof. Arun Pherwani
  • NICOR Surgical Outcomes — Mr. Manoj Kuduvalli
  • Panel: Registry Strengths, Gaps & Next Steps
17:00–17:30 Closing
Founder Closing – The Final Cut
  • Key Messages and Closing Remarks — Dr. Farhin Holia

Faculty

World-Class Speakers

Clinicians, surgeons, researchers, and patient advocates from across the globe — united by one mission.

Dr. Farhin Holia
Conference Founder & Director · Barts Health NHS Trust
Prof. Christoph Nienaber
International Aortic Disease Expert
Prof. Colin Bicknell
Vascular Surgery
Prof. Aung Oo
Cardiac Surgery
Prof. Martin Czerny
Aortic Arch Surgery
Prof. Nimesh Desai
Complex Aortic Surgery
Prof. Kim Eagle
Cardiology & Aortic Advocacy · USA
Prof. Tristan Yan
Cardiac Surgery · Australia
Dr. Kevin Harris
Opening Keynote Speaker
Dr. Deepa Gopalan
Aortic Imaging & Radiology
Prof. Stephen Cheng
Vascular Surgery · Southeast Asia
Dr. Hiroshi Ohtsu
Aortic Dissection Care · Japan

"Every delay in diagnosing aortic dissection is not a system failure — it is a human one. This conference exists to change that, one clinician, one conversation, one country at a time."

Dr. Farhin Holia
Founder, Global Aorta 2026 · Barts Health NHS Trust

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Global Aorta 2026 is open to clinicians, nurses, allied health professionals, researchers, patients, and advocates worldwide. Registration is free. Places are limited.

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