Free Global Virtual Event · 8 CPD Credits – RSM

Global Aorta
Symposium 2026

From Missed to Mastered

Mission: Not Impossible. Mission: Overdue.
12 Sessions  ·  45 International Faculty  ·  One Global Mission
Download the Programme (PDF)
Session 5 · Global Aorta Moment “For one day, the world gathers around one vessel.”

Opening Address

The Clock Is Ticking: Reframing Aortic Dissection as a Systemic Emergency
09:00–09:10
09:00–09:10 Welcome & Vision: This Symposium, This Mission, This Moment Dr Farhin Holia · UK
01

The Wake-Up Call

From Harm to Healing — Innovation for Safer Aortic Care
Chairs Mr Graham Cooper · Dr Farhin Holia
09:10–09:45
09:10–09:25 London Aortic Dissection Claims Analysis: Systems Insights for Safer Care Justine Sharpe · UK
09:25–09:35 Turning Harm into Change — The Patient Perspective Catherine Fowler · UK
09:35–09:45 Scaling What Works: Turning Aortic Innovation into System Change Tarik Pacuka · UK
02

Frontline Reality

Unseen, Untreated, Too Late — Fixing the First Encounter
Chairs Dr Eva Göncz · Dr Farhin Holia
09:45–10:25
09:45–09:55 The Diagnostic Challenge — Recognising Acute Aortic Syndrome in the Emergency Department Professor Matthew Reed · UK
09:55–10:05 The Aortic Window: A New Clock for Survival, a New Pathway to Care Dr Farhin Holia · UK
10:05–10:15 The Silent Risk — Aortic Dissection in Pregnant and Postpartum Patients Dr Katherine Von Klemperer · UK
10:15–10:25 CODE AORTA — From Door to Diagnosis: A Protocol for the Time-Critical Aorta Dr Eva Göncz · Germany
03

Aorta Masterclass

10:25–10:40
10:25–10:40 Complex Thoraco-Abdominal Repair: Who, When and How? Professor Aung Ye Oo · UK
04

Diagnostic Intelligence

Pixels, Pitfalls and Potential — Rethinking Aortic Imaging
Chairs Dr Deepa Gopalan · Dr Farhin Holia
10:40–11:10
10:40–10:50 CT Angiography in Aortic Syndromes — Getting it Right First Time Dr Deepa Gopalan · UK
10:50–11:00 Valorising AI for Aortic Care — Challenges and Opportunities Professor Regent Lee · UK
11:00–11:10 Q&A — Prioritisation, Protocols and the Future of Radiology in Aortic Emergencies
05

Surgical Peak

On the Table — What Makes or Breaks Type A AAD Surgical Outcomes
Chairs Professor Hans-Joachim Schäfers · Dr Farhin Holia · Professor Martin Czerny
11:10–11:50
11:10–11:20 Decisions Under Pressure — Surgical Planning in Acute Type A Dissection Professor Davide Pacini · Italy
11:20–11:30 Complex Aortic Arch Reconstruction — Strategy, Timing and Innovation Professor Martin Czerny · Germany
11:30–11:40 In the Grey Zone — Managing Non-A Non-B Dissections Without Clear Guidelines Professor Nimesh Desai · USA
11:40–11:50 Break · 10 minutes
06

Signature Global Aorta Moment

Different Systems, Shared Urgency — A World Report on Aortic Dissection
Chairs Dr Farhin Holia · Professor Hans-Joachim Schäfers
11:50–14:20
11:50–12:00 Australia — Aortic Dissection Down Under: Current Practice and Future Directions Professor Tristan Yan
12:00–12:10 Japan — Surgical Discipline and Systematic Preparedness: A National Model for AAD Professor Kenji Minatoya & Professor Takeshi Shimamoto
12:10–12:20 China — Industrial Scale, Surgical Excellence, and the Race Against the Clock Professor Sun Lizhong · presented by Dr Wei-Guo Ma
12:20–12:30 Vietnam — Coordinating AAD Pathways Across Complex and Underserved Regions Professor Dinh Nguyen Hoang
12:30–12:40 India — 1.4 Billion Aortas: Scale, Responsibility and the Weight of a Nation Professor Bashi V Velayudhan
12:40–12:50 Saudi Arabia — The Ross Procedure in Children with Congenital Aortic Valve Disease: Experience and Perspectives Professor Zohair Al Halees
12:50–13:00 Short Break
13:00–13:10 Egypt — An Ancient Land, a Modern Aortic Challenge Professor Said Abdelaziz
13:10–13:20 Turkey — Surgical Strategies for Chronic Dissection Through Left Thoracotomy: Left Heart Bypass and Deep Hypothermic Circulatory Arrest Professor Anil Apaydin
13:20–13:30 Europe — Innovation, Collaboration and the Drive Towards Pan-European Aortic Standards Professor Andreas Martens
13:30–13:40 United States — The First 48 Hours: Turning IRAD Evidence into a Faster Aortic Response Professor Himanshu Patel
13:40–13:50 South Africa — Where the First Heart Was Given, 1967: Honouring a Legacy, Confronting the Divide Professor Timothy Pennel
13:50–14:00 United States — Giving Back a Lifetime: The Living Valve and the Ross Revolution Professor Ismail El-Hamamsy
14:00–14:20 Panel Discussion — Insights in Action: What Can Every System Bring Home?
07

Innovation & the Type B Frontier

The Endovascular Era — Navigating Complexity in Type B and Beyond
Chairs Mr Morad Sallam · Professor Colin Bicknell
14:20–14:50
14:20–14:30 From Evidence to Practice — What the Trials Tell Us and Where the Gaps Remain Professor Colin Bicknell · UK
14:30–14:40 Management of Chronic Dissections with FBEVAR Professor Stephan Haulon · France
14:40–14:50 Q&A — Endovascular Frontiers: International Evidence, Emerging Technologies and Next Trials
08

Critical Care Decisions That Shape Survival

Between Heartbeats — Optimising Anaesthesia, Perfusion and Critical Care
Chairs Dr Farhin Holia
14:50–15:30
14:50–15:00 Anaesthesia in the Acute Aortic Setting — Balancing Risk and Rapid Action Professor Massimiliano Meineri · Germany
15:00–15:10 Perfusion Under Pressure — Brain, Spinal Cord and Organ Protection During Dissection Repair Danielle Blackie · UK
15:10–15:20 From OR to ICU — Post-Operative Monitoring, Complication Recognition and Safe Handover Dr Reiner Waeschle · Germany
15:20–15:30 Short Break
09

Psychology & Recovery

Beyond Survival — Psychological Healing and Rebuilding Life After Dissection
Chairs Dr Farhin Holia · Catherine Fowler
15:30–16:00
15:30–15:40 Reclaiming Life — A Patient's Story of Recovery, Identity and Resilience Martin Hilton · UK
15:40–15:50 Living With Fear — Trauma, Hypervigilance and PTSD in Dissection Survivors Stuart Arnold · UK
15:50–16:00 Planning for Life — Long-Term Cardiovascular Risk, Uncertainty and Follow-Up Dr Elena Cervi · UK
10

Registries & Future Strategy

From Data to Direction — What Registries Reveal and What They Don't
Chairs Professor Colin Bicknell · Professor Mark Field
16:00–16:40
16:00–16:10 Thirty Years of IRAD — What the World's Largest Aortic Registry Tells Us Now Professor Santi Trimarchi · Italy
16:10–16:20 Vascular Data in Action — Dissection and TEVAR Insights from NCIP and the NVR Professor Arun Pherwani · UK
16:20–16:30 Surgical Outcomes in NICOR — Are We Tracking What Matters? Professor Mark Field · UK
16:30–16:40 Panel Discussion — Registry Reflections: Strengths, Gaps and the Strategic Agenda for Aortic Research
16:40–16:50 Prevention of Dissection — Are We On the Right Track? Professor Hans-Joachim Schäfers · Germany
16:50–17:00 The Aortic Apprentice — Training, Mentorship and the Future of the Craft Professor Sabine Wipper & Dr David Wippel · Austria
17:00–17:20 KEYNOTE — Four Decades at the Edge of the Aorta: What the Disease Taught Me, What I Taught My Trainees, and What None of Us Can Afford to Forget Professor John A. Elefteriades · USA
17:20–17:30 Founder's Closing — The Clock Is Still Ticking: What We Do Next Is Everything Dr Farhin Holia · UK

Full biographies for every speaker are on the faculty page.

Meet the Faculty →