Comprehensive Aortic Program

Leaders in Aortic Disease

Discover world-class experience and patient-centered care for aortic disease.

Make an appointment Three cardiac surgeons, gowned in green and masked, performing surgery
  • About
  • Approach
  • Appointments
  • Services
  • Clinical Trials
  • Locations
  • Doctors

    • The Comprehensive Aortic Program is the busiest in the state and among the largest in the U.S. We are a premier center for the care of patients with complex aortic diseases.

    Our surgeons perform over 1,200 aortic and aortic valve procedures each year. This high volume of innovative treatments translates to better outcomes and longer, healthier lives for our patients.

    The program is part of the Frankel Cardiovascular Center, a state-of-the-art facility designed for healing. It houses nearly all the specialists and services you’ll need under one roof. This makes it convenient for you to see our care team for appointments, tests and procedures.

    Our Approach

    The Comprehensive Aortic Program at the U-M Health Frankel Cardiovascular Center is nationally ranked for cardiology and heart surgery by U.S. News & World Report. This ranking reflects our exceptional team-based approach to care across multiple specialties.

    At the same time, our program provides a patient-centered experience. Though we are part of one of the largest health systems in Michigan, our care feels personal. Our nurse care coordinators provide a single point of contact for patients. Since we monitor many of our patients for the rest of their life, nurturing relationships is a top priority. 

    Program Highlights

    Highlights of our Comprehensive Aortic Program include:

    • High performance ratings: Our program received a “high performing” rating (the highest possible) from U.S. News & World Report for abdominal aortic aneurysm repair and aortic valve surgery.
    • Specialized surgeons and experience with repeat procedures: We have Michigan’s largest team of skilled surgeons who specialize in aortic disease, which leads to better survival rates and lower hospital readmissions for our patients. In addition, our surgeons perform the most aortic surgeries done annually anywhere in Michigan and have extensive experience with patients who had previous heart or aortic procedures and need additional treatment.
    • Advanced and innovative procedures: Our surgeons developed and perform some of the most complex aortic procedures available today, including ascending grafts, branched arch grafts and branched thoracoabdominal grafts. Our leading expertise in these areas allows us to offer patients the latest treatment options. Surgeons from other facilities are often trained by our team in these advanced procedures.
    • Genetic counseling: Aortic diseases can run in families or occur because of an inherited syndrome. We offer genetic counseling to help patients and their families understand their risk. Early identification and treatment are critical to prevent life-threatening complications. 

    Appointment Information

    Patients: To schedule an evaluation with a Frankel Cardiovascular Center physician, call 888-287-1082. Or visit our Make a Cardiovascular Appointment page to learn what to expect when you call us.

    Physicians: To refer a patient, call M-Line at 800-962-3555, or visit our For Cardiovascular Health Professionals page for more detailed information. 

    Services

    As the go-to program in the state for complex aortic disease, we have unmatched expertise in treating all conditions of the aorta and aortic valve. The most common aortic conditions are aneurysms and dissections, in which the aortic wall bulges (aneurysm) or tears (dissection).

    Conditions that affect the aortic valve include regurgitation (the valve leaks) and stenosis (the valve becomes narrow). An aneurysm or dissection that occurs near the heart can also damage the aortic valve.

    Learn more about the aortic conditions we treat

    Treatments

    Our physicians work with you to create a tailored treatment plan. In some cases, the best treatment approach may be medications or lifestyle changes, along with close monitoring.

    If you need a higher level of intervention, our skilled specialists offer customized treatment plans that may include minimally invasive treatments, open surgery, or both. 

    Learn more about aortic disease treatments and procedures

    Clinical Trials

    We participate in FDA-sponsored clinical trials for medical devices and research funded by the NIH. As one of a handful of sites in the country participating in trials that involve endovascular technology, our team is able to offer new devices or treatment options to patients before they are available to the public.

    Learn more about cardiovascular clinical trials you may be eligible for on umhealthresearch.org.

    Locations
    • Cardiac Surgery Clinic | Frankel Cardiovascular Center 1425 E Ann St
      Floor 3 Reception C
      Ann Arbor, MI 48109-5856       Get Directions
    • Cardiology Clinic | Frankel Cardiovascular Center 1425 E Ann St
      Floor 3 Reception C
      Ann Arbor, MI 48109-5856       Get Directions
    • Multidisciplinary Valve Clinic | Cardiovascular Center 1425 E Ann St
      Floor 3 Reception C
      Ann Arbor, MI 48109-5856       Get Directions
    • Vascular & Interventional Radiology Clinic | Cardiovascular Center 1425 E Ann St
      Floor 3 Reception B
      Ann Arbor, MI 48109-5856       Get Directions
    • Vascular Surgery Clinic | Frankel Cardiovascular Center 1425 E Ann St
      Floor 3 Reception B
      Ann Arbor, MI 48109-5856       Get Directions

    Doctors

     Search for a U-M Health doctor     Gorav Ailawadi, MD

    Gorav Ailawadi, MD, MBA

    Professor

    Thoracic Surgery, Surgery

    Geoffrey Douglas Barnes, MD

    Geoffrey Douglas Barnes, MD, MSc

    Associate Professor

    Cardiovascular Disease, Internal Medicine

    Robert John Beaulieu, MD

    Robert John Beaulieu, MD

    Clinical Associate Professor

    Vascular Surgery

    Craig Stanton Brown, MD

    Craig Stanton Brown, MD

    Clinical Assistant Professor

    Vascular Surgery

    Stanley Joseph Chetcuti, MD

    Stanley Joseph Chetcuti, MD

    Clinical Professor

    Interventional Cardiology, Cardiovascular Disease, Internal Medicine

    Frank Michael Davis, MD

    Frank Michael Davis, MD

    Assistant Professor

    Vascular Surgery

    George Michael Deeb, MD

    Professor

    Thoracic Surgery, Surgery

    Kim Allen Eagle, MD

    Kim Allen Eagle, MD, MACC

    Professor

    Cardiovascular Disease, Internal Medicine

    Jonathan Lee Eliason, MD

    Jonathan Lee Eliason, MD

    Professor

    Vascular Surgery, Surgery

    James Barklow Froehlich, MD

    James Barklow Froehlich, MD

    Clinical Professor

    Cardiovascular Disease, Internal Medicine

    Show All Doctors

    Why Choose the Comprehensive Aortic Program

    Experience & Outcomes

    Because our surgical teams do so many procedures, they have more experience, which leads to better patient care and excellent outcomes.

    Genetic Counseling

    Aortic diseases can run in families or occur because of an inherited syndrome. We offer genetic counseling to help patients and their families understand their risk. Early identification and treatment are critical to prevent life-threatening complications.

    Innovative Procedures

    Our team is known for developing new aortic disease procedures that offer patients better results, like the Y-incision/rectangular patch aortic root enlargement procedure.

    Aortic Research

    Our world-renowned researchers are advancing the science of aortic disease evolution and progression. Our discoveries impact patients of all ages. And because aortic diseases can be inherited, today’s innovations will benefit our patients’ children and grandchildren.

    A patient and a doctor in a hospital room. They are smiling and shaking hands.
    Spotlight On

    MI-AORTA Clinic

    The MI-AORTA Clinic is a comprehensive, multidisciplinary program designed to address the needs of patients with aortic disease and those with genetic conditions that put them at higher risk for aortic disease, which may require interventions ranging from cardiac surgery, vascular surgery, vascular medicine, cardiology, and genetic counseling or testing.

    News & Stories

         Members of Eugene Chen's laboratory with a basketball
    News Release

    A night of two national titles for U-M, as scientists and basketball players both triumph

    On the same night that the U-M men's basketball team triumphed in the NCAA tournament, U-M cardiovascular researchers won a national tournament of science
         surgeons up close in surgery with scrubs and scrub hats on green teal
    Health Lab

    Failed TAVR? Heart surgeons explain TAVR explant, options and risks

    As transcatheter aortic valve replacement, or TAVR, gains popularity, cardiac surgeons are seeing more cases of failing valves. Two cardiac surgeons from Michigan Medicine explain TAVR explant and other surgical options.
         Illustration of scientists and doctors playing basketball in white coats and scrubs
    News Release

    Six U-M medical research teams picked for virtual science tournament

    The March Madness of science, called STAT Madness, brings attention to scientific research at U-M and around the nation; six U-M-led teams have made it to this year's tournament run by a health news organization.
         Health Lab Podcast in brackets with a background with a dark blue translucent layers over cells
    Health Lab Podcast

    Delays in Heart Surgery for Women due to One-Size-Fits-All Criteria

    Two studies showed similar disparities for different heart procedures.
         woman prepped for surgery with mask going over mouth in surgical setting blue scrubs on all pictured and white gloves
    Health Lab

    Women may face heart surgery delays due to criteria based on male anatomy

    Women may receive heart procedures later due to surgical criteria based off male anatomy, two studies suggest.
         A radiologist talks with a CT scan patient while in the control room.
    Health Lab

    Hospital partnership improves follow up scans, decreases long term risk after aortic repair

    A statewide partnership of hospitals in Michigan, which drastically increased follow up imaging after aortic aneurysm repairs, resulted in patients having a nearly 60% decrease in the likelihood of dying within one year of surgery.