AortaDelphia 2026: uniting patients and clinicians to confront aortic dissection

On Friday, April 17th, the Perelman School of Medicine welcomed AortaDelphia 2026, a half-day program hosted by the Penn Aorta Center and led by Drs. Nimesh Desai and Grace Wang. Designed to bridge science and the human side of aortic disease, the conference paired powerful patient stories with the latest research and clinical advances.

The patient perspective

John Ritter’s son, Tyler, joined AortaDelphia to share the patient and family perspective, offering a deeply personal account of learning of his father's death from aortic dissection while he was a student at Penn, a moment that has since fueled his commitment to advancing awareness and hope for others touched by this disease.

Exercise cardiologist Siddharth Prakash, MD, PhD, brought clarity to one of the questions patients ask most often: how to safely return to physical activity after a cardiovascular event. Drawing on the latest evidence, Dr. Prakash offered practical guidance for exercise after aortic surgery and dissection, empowering patients to reclaim active, confident lives.

Cardiac psychologist Samuel Sears, PhD, followed with an illuminating look at the emotional dimensions of living with aortic disease. He shared findings on the distress and resilience of patients facing the threat of aneurysm and dissection, along with the coping strategies and clinical supports that help patients move from fear to flourishing, a reminder that healing extends well beyond the operating room.

Genetics of aortic dissection

Dianna Milewicz, MD, PhD, of the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, traced the genetic threads of aortic dissection through families. A pioneer in the field, Dr. Milewicz has helped uncover many of the genes now known to drive familial aortic disease, and she described how family history, genetic testing, and cascade screening are transforming outcomes—allowing at-risk relatives to be identified and protected long before catastrophe strikes. The conference also featured cutting-edge research from Penn drawing on polygenic risk scores, genome-wide association studies, and other population-level investigations, that is sharpening patient risk stratification and moving the field toward earlier detection

The endovascular angle

Vascular Director of the Penn Aorta Center, Dr. Wang offered an exciting look at novel approaches to preventing aneurysm growth, including a clinical trial currently underway at Penn that is investigating a promising medical therapy to slow or halt disease progression. Dr. Darren Schneider, Chief of the Penn Division of Vascular Surgery and Endovascular Therapy, provided insight into the remarkable evolution of minimally invasive stent graft-based approaches for thoracic-abdominal aneurysms, including advances in stent design, imaging, and the incorporation of AI.

Surgery for thoracic aortic dissection

Dr. Desai delivered a forward-looking talk capturing both the science and the spirit of modern aortic care. He spoke about the recent recognition of the aorta as an independent organ—a paradigm shift reshaping how clinicians think about disease across the vessel—as well as the evolving understanding of when to intervene in dissection, and the field's drive to make aortic surgery less invasive and safer as demand for intervention rises. Dr. Wilson Szeto, Chief of the Penn Division of Cardiovascular Surgery, discussed new efforts to protect the brain and organs during aortic arch surgery.

Summing up

AortaDelphia closed with a panel of the presenters, who welcomed audience questions and offered direction on diagnostic safety, screening, and follow-up in at-risk patients. The day ended on a note of optimism, with patients, families, and clinicians united in a shared mission to advance care and save lives.

About AortaDelphia

AortaDelphia is an annual patient-facing event in a series of aortic programs hosted by the Penn Aorta Center, which also includes the Philadelphia Aortic Symposium for trainees and the Michael and Ellen Kullman Endowed Lectureship.

Referrals and consultations

To speak with a provider or to refer a patient to the Penn Aorta Center, please call 877-937-7366 or submit a referral through our secure online referral form.