Agenda – Friday and Saturday, September 18-19, 2026
Day 1 – Friday, September 18, 2026
6:30 AM – 7:30 AM
Registration & Breakfast
7:35 AM – 7:50 AM
Opening remarks
Joseph Bavaria MD
Munir Boodhwani MD
Nimesh Desai MD PhD
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”
Adam Dryden, MD
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 and Visit with Industry
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
10:41 AM – 10:49 AM
“How and Why I Create Neo-Sinuses for Reimplantation (Stanford Approach)”
Chris Malaisrie, 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, Chris Malaisrie, 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, Christopher Malaisrie MD, Adam Dryden MD
12:00 PM – 12:25
Abstract and Techniques Session I
Moderators: Prashanth Vallabhajosyula MD, Michael Chu MD, Edward Chen 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, Networking and Visit Exhibits
Session III: New Frontiers in AV Repair and Root Surgery
Moderators: Prashanth Vallabhajosyula MD, Karen Kim MD
1:30 PM – 2:00 PM
Abstract and Techniques Session II – 4 abstracts
2:00 PM – 2:10 PM
Fate of the distal aorta following root repair in Marfan Syndrome
Christopher Burke MD
2:10 PM – 2:20 PM
Cardiac MRI for Assessment and Decision Making in AR: When and Why?
Andrew Peters MD
2:20 PM – 2:30 PM
Managing the Aortic Valve in Moderately dilated aorta: Lessons from TITAN: SvS
Jehangir Appoo MD
2:30 PM – 2:40 PM
“AV Repair/VSRR in Type A Dissection – How I do it and results”
Bradley Leshnower, MD
2:40 PM – 3:10 PM
Panel Discussion
Moderators: Prashanth Vallabhajosyula MD, Karen Kim MD
Panelists: Christopher Burke MD, Andrew Peters MD, Jehangir Appoo MD, Brad Leshnower MD
3:10 PM – 3:30 PM
Break
SESSION IV: “ROSS MASTERCLASS”
MODERATORS: ISMAIL EL-HAMAMSY MD PhD, CHRISTOPHER BURKE 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: Christopher Burke MD, 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
7:45 AM – 8:00 AM
Day 2 Opening Remarks
Munir Boodhwani MD
Nimesh Desai MD PhD
SESSION V: FOCUSING IN ON THE BAV
Moderators: Christopher Malaisrie MD and Maral Ouzounian MD PhD
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: Christopher Malaisrie MD and Maral Ouzounian MD PhD
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
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”
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, Christopher Malaisrie 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 – 1:30 PM
“Traditional Frozen Elephant Trunk: When and How I Use It.”
Fernando Fleischman MD
1:30 PM – 1:40 PM
“Hybrid Stent Graft System:: When and How I Use It”
Michael Moon MD
1:40 PM – 1:50 PM
“Fenestrated Frozen Elephant Trunk: When and How I Use It.”
Francois Dagenais MD
1:50 PM – 2:00 PM
“Uncovered Arch Stent” is the Preferred Option for Extended Repair in Type A Dissection”
Wilson Szeto MD
2:00 PM – 2:10 PM
“Zone 2 with Branched Arch Graft is the preferred approach for Acute Type A Dissection.”
John Kelly MD
2:10 PM – 2:25 PM
Panel Discussion “Do We Need a Randomized Trial of Optimal Extend Arch Strategy in Type A Dissection”
Panelists: Fernando Fleischman MD, Michael Moon MD, Wilson Szeto MD, Francois Dagenais MD
2:25 PM – 2:30 PM
Closing Remarks
Joseph Bavaria MD, Munir Boodhwani MD, Nimesh Desai MD
