Course Directors:

John A. Elefteriades, MD
Professor and Chief of Cardiothoracic Medicine
Yale University School of Medicine
New Haven, Connecticut

Donald M. Botta, MD
Yale University of Medicine
New Haven, Connecticut

Keynote Speaker:

M. David Tilson III, MD
Aisla Mellon Bruce Professor of Surgery
Columbia University
St. Luke's Roosevelt Hospital Center
New York, New York

Dinner Speaker:

Denton A. Cooley, MD
Surgeon-in-Chief
The Texas Heart Institute
Houston, Texas

Special Lecturer:

Randall B. Griepp, MD
Professor, Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery
Mount Sinai School of Medicine
New York, New York

Local Faculty:

James A. Brink, MD
George Tellides, MD, PhD

Invited Faculty:

Joseph E. Bavaria, MD
Professor of Surgery
University of Pennsylvania Medical Center
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

John B. Chang, MD
Professor, Clinical Surgery, Albert Einstein College of Medicine
Founding Chairman, Asian Society for Vascular Surgery
Chairman, Board of Directors, International College of Angiology
Editor-In-Chief, International Journal of Angiology
Director, Long Island Vascular Center
Roslyn, New York

Valentin Fuster, MD, PhD
Director, Mount Sinai Heart Center
Mount Sinai School of Medicine
New York, New York

Larry H. Hollier, MD
Chancellor & Professor of Surgery
Louisiana State University School of Medicine
New Orleans, Louisiana

Eric M. Isselbacher, MD
Associate Director
Massachusetts General Hospital Heart Center
Boston, Massachusetts

Moses Lebovits, JD
Daniels, Fine, Israel, Schonbuch & Lebovits, LLP
Partner
Los Angeles, California

Alan Matsumoto, MD
Executive Vice Chair for Clinical Operations
UVA Health System
Charlottesville, Virginia

Dianna M. Milewicz, MD, PhD
President, George H.W. Bush, Chair of Cardiovascular Medicine
Doris Duke Distinguished Clinical Scientist
Professor and Director, Division of Medical Genetics
University of Texas Medical School at Houston
Houston, Texas

Christoph Nienaber, MD, PhD
Head, Division of Cardiology
Universitatsklinikum Rostok
Roston, Germany

Robert W. Thompson, MD
Professor of Surgery, Radiology and Cell Biology and Physiology
Washington University School of Medicine
St. Louis, Missouri

	John Ritter This supremely talented and beloved actor (Three’s Company, 8 Simple Rules for Dating My Teenage Daughter, Sling Blade, Problem Child) and one of America’s best-known comedians, succumbed to acute aortic dissection. This symposium is devoted to the investigation, diagnosis, and treatment of acute aortic conditions. Mr. Ritter’s family has kindly agreed that this symposium be dedicated in Mr. Ritter’s memory.
	Amy Yasbeck Ms. Amy Yasbeck, the well-known actress (Wings, Life on a Stick) who is the wife of Mr. Ritter, has kindly agreed to give a retrospective on the career of John Ritter as well as lend her support to the investigation and treatment of acute aortic diseases.
	M. David Tilson III, MD Noted aortic authority Dr. M. David Tilson III, Professor of Surgery, Columbia University, who first recognized the genetic component of aortic aneurysm disease, has accepted Dr. Elefteriades’ challenge to speak on the topic: “Aortic Diseases and Creativity: Is There a Link.” The considerable number of creative individuals in the arts and sciences who have been felled by aortic diseases indicates that there may be a link – that the genetic alterations that enable the formation of an aneurysm may confer specific creative abilities to the central nervous system. Examples of creative individuals affected by aortic aneurysm and dissection include Mr. Ritter, as well as Lucille Ball, George C. Scott, Albert Einstein, and Broadway composer Jonathon Larson (Rent), among many others.

Scientific Program
Thursday, November 1, 2007

Morning Session

8:00 – 8:15 AM
Introduction, Welcome and Epidemiology
John A. Elefteriades, MD

8:15 – 8:40 AM
Keynote Presentation
The Aorta and I: A Lifetime Relationship
Denton A. Cooley, MD

8:40 – 9:00 AM
Imaging of Aortic Diseases: CT and MRI
James Brink, MD

9:25 – 9:45 AM
Pathogenesis of Aortic Aneurysms I
Robert W. Thompson, MD

9:45 – 10:05 AM
Pathogenesis of Aortic Aneurysms II
Donald M. Botta, MD and George Tellides, MD

Interactive Session:
10:05 – 10:25 AM
Point/Counterpoint on Pathogenesis
Faculty and Participants

10:25 – 10:45 AM
Break/Visit Exhibits

10:45 – 11:05 AM
Genetics of Aortic Aneurysms
Dianna M. Milewicz, MD, PhD

11:05 – 11:25 AM
Genetics of Aortic Aneurysms
John A. Elefteriades, MD

Interactive Session:
11:25 – 11:45 AM
Point/Counterpoint on Genetics
Faculty and Participants

11:45 AM – 12:05 PM
Classification of Aortic Diseases
Christoph Nienaber, MD, PhD

12:05 AM – 12:25 PM
Diagnosis of Aortic Diseases
Eric M. Isselbacher, MD

Interactive Session:
12:25 – 12:45 PM
Point/Counterpoint on Classification/Diagnosis
Faculty and Participants

12:45 – 1:45 PM
Lunch

Afternoon Session

1:45 – 2:05 PM
Medical Management of the Aorta
Valentin Fuster, MD, PhD

Interactive Session:
2:05 – 2:15 PM
Q&A with Dr. Fuster: Learning from the Authority
Faculty and Participants

2:15 – 2:35 PM
Surgical Treatment of AAA
John B. Chang, MD

2:35 – 2:55 PM
Endovascular Treatment of AAA
Larry Hollier, MD

Interactive Session:
2:55 – 3:15 PM
Q&A on AAA
Faculty and Participants

3:15 – 3:30 PM
Break/Visit Exhibits

3:30 – 4:30 PM
Moderated Poster Presentations

4:30 – 4:45 PM
Endovascular Treatment of TAA I
Alan Matsumoto, MD

4:45 – 5:00 PM
Endovascular treatment of TAA II
Joseph E. Bavaria, MD

5:00 – 5:10 PM
Safety of Aortic Surgery in the Present Era
John A. Elefteriades, MD

Interactive Session:
5:10 – 5:30 PM
Knockdown – Drag ‘Em Out Debate:
Endovascular Therapy vs. Surgery
Alan Matsumoto, MD,
Joseph E. Bavaria & John A. Elefteriades, MD

5:30 – 5:50 PM
Biomarkers for Diagnosis
Donald M. Botta, MD

6:00 – 8:00 PM
Dinner in the President’s Room

John Ritter Retrospective
Amy Yasbeck

Aortic Diseases and Creativity: Is There a Link?
David M. Tilson III, MD

Scientific Program
Friday, November 2, 2007

Morning Session

8:00 – 8:20 AM
Legal Aspects of Aortic Disease
John A. Elefteriades, MD and Moses Lebovits, JD

Interactive Session:
8:20 – 8:30 AM
Share Your Legal Woes
Faculty and Participants

8:30 - 8:50 AM
Long-term Suppressive Rx
Robert W. Thompson, MD

Interactive Session:
8:50 – 9:00 AM
Q&A on Suppressive Rx
Faculty and Participants

9:00 – 9:20 AM
Putting it All Together: Symptoms, Signs, and Diagnostic Tests
Eric M. Isselbacher, MD

9:20 – 9:40 AM
Lessons from IRAD
Eric M. Isselbacher, MD

Interactive Session:
9:40 – 9:50 AM
Session with the Expert: Dr. Isselbacher
Faculty and Participants

9:50 - 10:10 AM
MMP’s in Aortic Disease
Donald M. Botta, MD

10:10 - 10:20 AM
Weight Lifting and Acute Aortic Dissection
John A. Elefteriades, MD

10:20 – 10:30 AM
How Does Dissection Pick a Date and Time to Occur? John A. Elefteriades, MD

10:30 – 11:00 AM
Break/Visit Exhibits

11:00 – 11:20 AM
Natural History of Aortic Disease: When to Operate? Michael Coady, MD – Dr. Coady cannot present

11:20 – 11:40 AM
Prospects for the Future: Molecular Diagnosis, Enhanced Imaging, Molecular-Based Conventional Drugs and Gene Therapy
John A. Elefteriades, MD

11:40 AM – 12:00 PM
Moderated Poster Session

Interactive Session:
12:00 – 12:20 PM
Open Discussion: Any Topic
Faculty and Participants

12:20 – 12:40 PM
Special Lecture: Deep Hypothermic Circulatory Arrest in Aortic Surgery
Randall B. Griepp, MD

12:40 – 1:00 PM
Review: The Key Lessons of this Conference
John A. Elefteriades, MD

1:00 PM
Adjourn

Abstract Submission Information

Deadline for Abstract Submissions: September 21, 2007

Submission of original abstracts are being accepted and will be considered for oral presentation and poster display at the Summit on Acute Aortic Diseases: Lux Et Veritas Symposium, at the Mary S. Harkness Auditorium, Yale University Medical School, New Haven, Connecticut on November 1–2, 2007.

All abstracts must be submitted online at www.promedicacme.com, and should be no more than 200 words (inclusive of title, authors, institutions, text). If accepted, the abstract will be printed AS SUBMITTED in the symposium syllabus. Please avoid errors and misspellings.

If you also plan to send a hard copy of your submission, it must be typed single-spaced within the framed space on this form, and accompanied by a CD. A cover letter should include full name(s), academic degree(s) and affiliation(s) for each author. Any hard copy received without an online submission will not be considered.

The abstract should be organized as follows:

* Type the title in capital letters. Omit abbreviations in the title, but you may use them in the text. Do not underscore the title.
* Include the name (first name then family name), institution, city and country of authors. Please underscore the name of the presenting author.
* Text of your abstract should adhere to the following guidelines:
o Title: Make as brief as possible indicating the nature of the study
o Concise statement of the purpose of the investigation
o Material and methods of the study
o Summary of the results
o Conclusions supported by the results of the investigation
o Do not include references

Abstract Categories

* Genetics and Population Screening of Acute Aortic Disease
* Endovascular for Ruptured Abdominal & Thoracic Aneurysms
* Imaging in Aortic Disease
* Pathophysiology of Aortic Disease
* Legal Issues of Aortic Disease
* Biomarkers in Acute Aortic Diseases
* Surgical Therapy for Abdominal Aneurysms
* Surgical Therapy of Thoracic Aneurysms

Instructions For Mailing
If you also wish to send a hard copy, please mail the original abstract form, (1) copy and the CD to:

Cindy Brown
Symposia Manager
Promedica International CME, a California Corporation
2333 State Street, Suite 203
Carlsbad, CA 92008 USA
Tel (760) 720-2263 Fax (760) 720-6263
email: cbrown@promedicacme.com

Location
The Symposium will be held in the Mary S. Harkness Auditorium at Yale University Medical School in New Haven, Connecticut.

Hotel Accommodations
Please contact Rebecca Law at rlaw@promedicacme.com for a list of recommended hotels.

Payment
Registration fee may be made by check, payable to Promedica International CME, a California Corporation in US dollars, drawn on a US bank. Visa, MasterCard, American Express or Discover is also accepted.

Refunds
All cancellations must be submitted in writing and refunds will be subject to a $100 administrative charge. Cancellations will not be accepted over the phone. No refunds will be given after Thursday, September 6, 2007.

Registration Fee Information
Registration fee includes tuition, continental breakfast, coffee breaks, lunch and a copy of the book“Acute Aortic Disease” by Dr. John Elefteriades.

$695 Physician/Industry through August 9, 2007
$795 Physician/Industry after August 9, 2007
$395 Resident/Fellow/Nurse through August 9, 2007
$495 Resident/Fellow/Nurse after August 9, 2007

To register, please visit our website at www.promedicacme.com, or return the following form by mail or fax to:

Promedica International CME, a California Corporation
2333 State Street, Suite 203, Carlsbad, CA 92008
Phone: (760) 720-2263, Fax: (760) 720-6263
Email: education@promedicacme.com

No registrations will be accepted over the phone, and must be submitted in writing.

Special Optional Event

Gotham Dream Cars is a unique and exciting opportunity to experience world-class driving and the thrill and passion of six different exotic sports cars such as: Ferrari F430, Lamborghini Gallardo, Bentley Continental GTC, Porche 911 GT3 and the Aston Martin Vanquish. Information on how to sign-up for the event will be included with your registration confirmation letter.

Lamborghini Gallardo