Agenda

Day 1 – Friday, September 18, 2026

6:30 AM – 7:30 AM
Registration & Breakfast

7:30 AM – 7:45 AM
Opening remarks
Joseph Bavaria MD
Munir Boodhwani MD
Nimesh Desai MD PhD

7:45 AM -8:00 AM
The Aortic Root Universe 2026 (v. 8.0)
Joseph Bavaria, MD

SESSION I: THE AORTIC ROOT AND VALVE: FUNDAMENTALS
Moderators: Nimesh Desai MD PhD and Munir Boodhwani MD 

8:00 AM – 8:10 AM
Anatomy of the Aortic Valve and Implications for Repair and Ross
Ming Guo MD

8:10 AM – 8:20 AM
When to operate on the proximal aorta for TAV and BAV
Karen Kim MD

8:20 AM – 8:35 AM
Cardiology Keynote Lecture
“Pre-operative evaluation of Regurgitant Aortic Valve:  When to Offer Surgery”
Juan Carlos Plana MD

8:35 AM – 8:50 AM
“Intraoperative TEE assessment of the Aortic Valve and Root for Aortic Valve Repair and Ross”Alexa Grudzinski MD MPH

8:50 AM -9:00 AM
“Fundamentals of the 3-cusp Root Reimplantation Procedure:  Step by Step”
Edward Chen MD

 9:00 AM -9:10 AM
“Fundamentals of the Root Remodeling + External Annuloplasty Procedure”
Ismail El-Hamamsy MD PhD

9:10 AM – 9:20 AM
“Cusp Repair in Three Cusp Aortic Valves”
Pouya Youssefi, MBBS FRCS PhD

9:20 AM – 9:30 AM
“Cusp Repair Techniques in BAV 1.0”
Munir Boodhwani MD

9:30 AM – 9:40 AM
“Isolated AV Repair without Root Dilation:  External Annuloplasty and Cusp Repair”
Prashanth Vallabhajosyula, MD

9:40 AM – 10:00 AM
Discussion Panel
Moderator: Nimesh Desai MD PhD
Panel: Ismail El-Hamamsy MD PhD, Pouya Youssefi MBBS FRCS PhD, Munir Boodhwani MD, Prashanth Vallabhajosyula MD, Edward Chen MD

10:00 AM – 10:25 AM
Break

SESSION II: TECHNIQUES FOR RECONSTRUCTION OF THE AORTIC ROOT
Moderators: Edward Chen MD and Michael Chu MSc 

10:25 AM – 10:33 AM
“How and Why I Use a Straight Graft for Implantation”
Jennifer Chung MD PhD

10:33 AM – 10:41 AM
“How and Why I Use a Valsalva Graft for Reimplantation”
Joel Price MD MPH

10:41 AM – 10:49 AM
“How and Why I Create Neo-Sinuses for Reimplantation (T-DAVID V)”
Thomas Gleason, MD

10:49 AM – 10:55 AM
Panel Discussion
Moderators: Edward Chen MD, and Michael Chu MSc
Panelists: Jennifer Chung MD PhD, Joel Price MD, Thomas Gleason, MD

10:55 AM – 12:00 PM
“To The Operating Room” – Live in box Round 1
Valve Assessment and Decision Making
Moderators:  Joseph Bavaria MD, Munir Boodhwani MD
Technical Moderator:  John Kelly MD
Panelists:   Ruggero DePaulis MD, Ismail El-Hamamsy MD PhD, Maral Ouzounian MD PhD, Laurent DeKerchove MD PhD, Edward Chen MD, Alexa Grudzinski, MD MPH FRCPC

12:00 PM – 12:25 PM
Abstract and Techniques Session I
Moderators:  Prashanth Vallabhajosyula MD, Michael Chu MD, Edward Chen MD

12:00 PM –  12:05 PM
“Florida Sleeve Valve-Sparing Repair of a Bicuspid Aortic Valve with Severe Left Ventricular Dysfunction”
Lee Fuentes MD MBA

 12:05 PM -12:10 PM
“Effect of Cusp Shaving and Decalcification on Outcomes Following Aortic Valve Repair
Hugo Issa, MD

 12:10 PM – 12:15 PM
Mini-VSRR (Video)
Konstadinos Plestis MD

12:15 PM-12:20PM
BAV Valve Analysis
Cecillia Chin MD

12:25 PM – 12:30 PM
Introduction of Keynote Speaker
Joseph Bavaria, MD

12:30 PM – 12:55 PM
KEYNOTE LECTURE: “Aortic Valve Preservation and Repair:  The Past and The Future”
Ruggero DePaulis MD

12:55 PM- 1:00 PM
Moderated Q & A with Keynote Speaker

1:00 PM – 1:30 PM
Lunch

Session III:  New Frontiers in AV Repair and Root Surgery
Moderators:  Prashanth Vallabhajosyula MD, Karen Kim MD

1:30 PM – 1:40 PM
Fate of the distal aorta following root repair in Marfan Syndrome
Christopher Burke MD

1:40 PM – 1:50 PM
Cardiac MRI for Assessment and Decision Making in AR:  When and Why?
Andrew Peters MD

1:50 PM – 2:00 PM
Managing the Aortic Valve in Moderately Dilated Aorta:  Lessons from TITAN: SvS
Jehangir Appoo MD

2:00 PM – 2:10 PM
“AV Repair/VSRR in Type A Dissection – How I do it and results”
Bradley Leshnower, MD

2:10 PM – 2:40 PM
Panel Discussion
Moderators:  Prashanth Vallabhajosyula MD, Karen Kim MD
Panelists: Christopher Burke MD, Andrew Peters MD, Jehangir Appoo MD, Brad Leshnower MD

2:40 PM – 3:10 PM
Abstract and Techniques Session II

2:40 PM – 2:45 PM
“Lifetime Management of Aortic Stenosis and Aortopathy:  from AVR to Ross Procedure”
Andres Jimenez

2:45 PM-2:50 PM
“Use of the Konno Procedure in a Complex Rheumatic Heart Disease Patient”
Catherine Eccleston MD

2:50 PM – 2:55 PM
“Significance of Mild Aortic Insufficiency after the Ross Procedure”
Williiam Sham BS

2:55 PM – 3:00 PM
“The Spokane Scaffold”
William Sham BS

3:00 PM – 3:05 PM
Abstract:  TBD

3:10 PM – 3:30 PM
Break

SESSION IV:  “ROSS MASTERCLASS”
Moderators:  Ismail El-Hamamsy MD PhD, Christopher Burke MD and William Brinkman MD

 3:30 PM – 3:40 PM
“Expanded Criteria for the Ross:  How to Think About It”
Christopher Burke MD

3:40 PM – 3:50 PM
“Ross Resurgence:  What is the Long-Term Data?”
Jordan Bloom MD

3:50 PM – 4:00 PM
“Decellularized vs. Non-Decellularized Pulmonary Homografts:  Is There a Difference?”
Elbert Williams MD

4:00 PM – 4:10 PM
Panel Discussion
Moderators:  Ismail El-Hamamsy MD PhD, Christopher Burke MD
Panelists: Jordan Bloom MD, Elbert Williams MD

ROSS TECHNICAL VIDEO MATINEE

4:10 PM – 4:18 PM
“Full Root Technique Ross:  Techniques and Tricks
Maral Ouzounian MD PhD

4:18 PM – 4:26 PM
“Fully Supported Ross:  How I Do it.”
Shinichi Fukuhara MD

4:26 PM – 4:34 PM
“Technical Nuances to Prevent Late Failure of the Ross Procedure in AR”
Nimesh Desai MD PhD

 4:34 PM – 4:42 PM
“Leaflet Repair in the Autograft:  When is it feasible? What are the outcomes?”
Ismail El-Hamamsy MD PhD

4:50 PM – 4:58 PM
The Seattle Shawl
Scott DeRoo MD

4:58 PM – 5:10 PM
Panel Discussion
Moderators:  Ismail El-Hamamsy MD PhD, Christopher Burke MD
Maral Ouzounian MD PhD, Shinichi Fukuhara MD, Nimesh Desai MD PhD, Scott DeRoo MD

5:10 PM – 5:35 PM
Ross Controversies Debate:  The Best Support for a Dilated Aortic Annulus in a Ross
Moderators:  Ismail El-Hamamsy MD PhD, Christopher Burke MD

            “External Annuloplasty is the Best Option”
            Michael Chu MD                       

            “Full Dacron Support is the Best Option”
            William Brinkman MD

5:40 PM – 5:45 PM
Closing Remarks
Joseph Bavaria MD
Munir Boodhwani MD

5:45 PM – 7:00 PM
Welcome Reception

Day 2 – Saturday, September 19, 2026

6:45 AM – 7:30 AM
Breakfast

7:40 AM – 7:55 AM
“Why we are here!:  Discussion with patients who have undergone Advanced Root Procedures”
Joshua Grimm MD and Todd Crawford MD

7:55 AM – 8:00 AM
Day 2 Opening Remarks
Munir Boodhwani MD
Nimesh Desai MD PhD

SESSION V:  FOCUSING IN ON THE BAV
Moderators:  Maral Ouzounian MD PhD, Thomas Gleason MD, Joseph Bavaria MD 

8:00 AM – 8:10 AM
Anatomy and Repair-Oriented Classification of the BAV
Laurent de Kerchove MD

8:10 AM – 8:25 AM
“BAV Repair for AR with dilated root and reimplantation DV:  Symmetric and Asymmetric Reconstruction”
Joseph Bavaria, MD

8:25 AM – 8:35 AM
Complex Cusp Repair in BAV
Munir Boodhwani MD

8:35 AM – 8:45 AM
BAV Repair with Eternal Ring Annuloplasty:  Technique and Outcomes
Pouya Youssefi MBBS FRCS PhD

8:45 AM – 8:55 AM
Outcomes of BAV Repair:  2026 Update, Have We Arrived?
Kendall Lawrence MD

8:55 AM – 9:10 AM
Panel Discussion
Moderators: Maral Ouzounian MD PhD, Thomas Gleason MD
Panelists:  Laurent de Kerchove MD, Joseph Bavaria MD
Munir Boodhwani MD, Pouya Youssefi MBBS FRCS PhD, Kendall Lawrence MD

9:10 AM – 10:10 AM
To the Operating Room:  Round 2 – Case-based Complex BAV and Ross Scenarios
Moderators:  Michael Chu MD and Mark Peterson MD PhD
Technical Moderator:  John Kelly MD
Panelists:  Ruggero DePaulis MD, Laurent de Kerchove MD, Ismail El-Hamamsy MD PhD, Jordan Bloom MD 

10:10 AM – 10:15 AM
Introduction to Honorary Lecturer
Munir Boodhwani MD

10:15 AM – 10:40 AM
Honorary Lecture:  “How Can We Further Improve AV Repair Outcomes?”
Laurent de Kerchove MD

10:40 AM – 11:10 AM
Break

SESSION VI:  ADVANCED AORTIC ROOT/VSRR SCENARIOS
Moderators:  Michael Chu MD, Mark Peterson MD PhD

 11:10 AM – 11:20 AM
BAV Repair with Hemiyacoub +/- Annuloplasty:  Techniques and Outcomes
Chad Hughes, MD

11:20 AM – 11:30 AM
“True Redo Root Surgery:  Pitfalls and Techniques
Mark Peterson MD PhD

11:30 AM – 11:40 AM
“The Bordeaux VSRR Technique” – Virtual
Thomas Modine MD

11:40 AM – 11:50 AM
“Managing Limited Cusp Calcification”
Hugo Issa MD

11:50 AM – 12:00 PM
“3-cusp eccentric AR with Root Aneurysm:  VSRR and Repair Techniques for Success and Decision-making.”
Munir Boodhwani MD

12:00 PM – 12:10 PM
Panel Discussion
Moderators:  Michael Chu MD, Mark Peterson MD PhD
Panelists:  Chad Hughes MD, Mark Peterson MD PhD, Thomas Modine MD
Hugo Issa MD, Munir Boodhwani MD

 12:10 PM – 12:35 PM
Debate:  The Very Asymmetric BAV:  Repair or Ross?
Moderators:  Michael Chu MD and Mark Peterson MD PhD

“Push for Repair!”
Joseph Bavaria MD

“Just Ross It!”
Nimesh Desai MD PhD

12:35 PM- 1:00 PM
“Assessing the Repaired Valve:  Retain, Re-Repair or Replace” Moderated Case-Based Panel Discussion
Moderators:  Michael Chu MD, Mark Peterson MD PhD
Presenters:  Scott DeRoo MD, Jordan Bloom MD, Ming Guo MD, Christopher Mehta
Panelists:  Laurent de Kerchove MD, Ruggero DePaulis MD, Maral Ouzounian MD PhD, Nimesh Desai MD PhD, Edward Chen MD,  Jared Feinman MD 

1:00 PM- 1:20 PM
Break and Pick Up Lunch

Session VII – WORKING LUNCH SYMPOSIUM:  BEYOND THE ASCENDING AORTA,  “THE ELEPHANT IN THE ROOM”
Moderators:  Chad Hughes MD and Wilson Szeto MD

1:20 PM -1:25 PM
“Arch Abstract:  Long term durability and perioperative outcomes of circulatory arrest vs. distal cross clamping in proximal aortic repair”
Anna Gussner

1:25 PM – 1:35 PM
“Traditional Frozen Elephant Trunk:  When and How I Use It.”
Fernando Fleischman MD

1:35 PM – 1:45 PM
“Hybrid Stent Graft System::  When and How I Use It”
Michael Moon MD

1:45 PM – 1:55 PM
“Fenestrated Frozen Elephant Trunk:  When and How I Use It.”
Francois Dagenais MD

1:55 PM – 2:05 PM
“Uncovered Arch Stent” is the Preferred Option for Extended Repair in Type A Dissection”
Wilson Szeto MD

2:05 PM – 2:15 PM
“Zone 2 with Branched Arch Graft  is the preferred approach for Acute Type A Dissection.”
John Kelly MD

 2:15 PM – 2:30 PM
Panel Discussion “Do We Need a Randomized Trial of Optimal Extended Arch Strategy in Type A Dissection”
Panelists:  Fernando Fleischman MD, Michael Moon MD, Wilson Szeto MD, Francois Dagenais MD

2:30 PM – 2:35 PM
Closing Remarks
Joseph Bavaria MD, Munir Boodhwani MD, Nimesh Desai MD