Aortic Dissection Awareness
Special Virtual Event - Panel Discussion
WHEN: September 26, 2022. 3 – 5 pm ET
REGISTER: CLOSED Event Complete!
In recognition of global aortic dissection awareness day (September 19th), GADA Canada hosted an exclusive virtual panel discussion with 4 world-leading aortic experts discussing aortic dissection, awareness and addressing targeted topics gathered from the Aortic Dissection community.
Panel experts:
Dr. Maral Ouzounian, Cardiovascular Surgeon, Chief of Cardiovascular Surgery, Peter Munk Cardiac Center, Toronto General Hospital, Canada, Chair, Professional Advisory Board, GADA Canada
Dr. Dianna Milewicz, Medical Geneticist, President George Bush Chair in Cardiovascular Medicine, University of Texas at Houston Health Science Centre, USA, Executive Chair, MAC Aorta – Montalcino Aortic Consortium
Dr. Sara Thorne, Adult Congenital Heart Disease and Obstetric Cardiologist, Peter Munk Cardiac Center, Canada
Dr. Michelle Keir, Cardiologist, Co-Director Aortopathy Clinic, Libin Cardiovascular Institute, Calgary, Canada
Moderated by: Lindsey Rusche, GADA Board of Directors and Patient Advocate
Discussion Highlights:
Diagnosis of aortic dissections
Treatment of aortic dissections
Aortic Dissections during pregnancy
MAC registry insights: genetic-based management of aortic dissections
Pre and Post-surgery care and lifestyle for aortic dissection patients
@aorticdisorders
PANEL EXPERTS:
Dr. Maral Ouzounian MD, PhD, FRCSC
Chief of Cardiovascular Surgery
Peter Munk Cardiac Center, Toronto General Hospital
Chair of GADA – Professional Advisory Board
Dr. Ouzounian, who has served on the Professional Advisory Board (PAB) of GADA Canada since 2015, is a Cardiac and Aortic Surgeon at the Peter Munk Cardiac Centre, Surgeon Scientist and Assistant Professor of Surgery at the University of Toronto. Earlier this year, she was appointed the Chief of Cardiovascular Surgery at UHN. She received her MDCM degree from McGill University and her PhD from the University of Toronto. Following her cardiac surgery training, she completed a fellowship at the Texas Heart Institute under the mentorship of renowned aortic surgeon Dr. Joseph Coselli. Her current clinical and academic interests are in the understanding and management of aortic diseases, including heritable aortopathies and complex aneurysms and dissections.
Dr. Dianna M. Milewicz MD, PhD
Division Director, Professor, Vice-Chair, Medical Genetics
The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston
Past Chair and current member of GADA – Professional Advisory Board
Executive Chair, Montalcino Aortic Consortium
Dr. Milewicz, is the President George H.W. Bush Chair of Cardiovascular Medicine, Director of the Division of Medical Genetics and Vice-Chair of the Department of Internal Medicine at the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth) McGovern Medical School. She completed her postgraduate training in internal medicine, specialized further in medical genetics, and forged a career in translational studies focused on genetic predisposition to vascular diseases. She has received numerous honors and awards for her research, including the Antoine Marfan Award, the Doris Duke Distinguished Clinical Scientist Award and the University of Texas Presidential Scholars Award for Excellence in Research. She has been inducted into the American Society of Clinical Investigation and the Association of American Physicians. Dr. Milewicz is the Past Chair of GADA Professional Advisory Board (PAB) and continues to provide her expertise as an active member of the PAB. Dr. Milewicz is the Executive Chair of the Montalcino Aortic Consortium (MAC), managing the largest genetic Aortopathy research registry in the world.
Dr. Sara Thorne MB BS, MD, FRCP
Adult Congenital Heart Disease and Obstetric Cardiologist
Peter Munk Cardiac Center, Toronto General Hospital
Dr. Sara Thorne joined Toronto ACHD in 2019 after 20 years in practice at University Hospital Birmingham UK where she established the regional Adult Congenital Heart Disease Unit and a renowned Obstetric Cardiology Programme with Birmingham Women’s and Children’s Hospital. She has published widely in the field and collaborated closely with UK national bodies, working to improve cardiovascular maternal morbidity and mortality. Her areas of expertise are congenital heart disease, inherited Aortopathy and obstetric cardiology.
Dr. Michelle Keir MD, MSc
Cardiologist, Aortopathy clinic, Libin Cardiovascular Institute
GADA – Professional Advisory Board
Michelle completed Internal Medicine and Adult Cardiology residencies at the University of Saskatchewan where she concurrently completed her Masters degree in Community Health, Epidemiology, and Population Science. She then went on to Fellowships in Adult Congenital Heart Disease at the University of Toronto and Echocardiography at the University of Calgary. She worked in Calgary at the Southern Alberta Adult Congenital Heart Clinic at the Peter Lougheed Centre since 2017. Research interests include: complex adult congenital heart disease, aortopathy, cardiac disorders of pregnancy, mixed methods and health systems research. She is a new member on GADA’s Professional Advisory Board.
Disclaimer:
The contents of this GADA Canada hosted virtual event, such as presentations, discussions, text, graphics, images, and other materials created or presented by GADA Canada and by others appearing in the event at the invitation of GADA Canada are for educational and informational purposes only. GADA Canada is a voluntary health organization and is not engaged in rendering medical advice or recommendations on diagnosis or treatment of genetic aortic disorders. The content within this virtual event or the GADA website, www.gadacanada.ca, should not replace necessary consultations with qualified health care professionals for medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.
Genetic aortic disorders are complex, multi-system disorders that can only be properly diagnosed and managed by skilled and trained health care professionals. The manifestations and severity of these disorders vary greatly among individuals and require personalized medical management. None of the medications, courses of treatment or lifestyle & activity recommendations discussed in this virtual event should be undertaken without being discussed with your physician.