Aortic Disease Center
- Here for your heart

Why choose UF Health?

The UF Health Aortic Disease Center’s experts combine leading-edge science with compassionate and personalized care. Our multidisciplinary approach benefits patients by providing the expertise of board-certified, fellowship trained physicians who specialize in cardiovascular and vascular surgery and endovascular therapy. Our aortic center is one of the nation’s highest-volume, and our team sees patients from around the world, approaching each patient with one goal: to provide high-quality, patient-centered care that leads to outstanding outcomes – enabling patients to get back to their lives and their loved ones.

UF Health Shands Hospital is rated by U.S. News & World Report as one of the nation's top hospitals for abdominal aortic aneurysm repair.

Conditions and treatments

The aorta is the largest blood vessel in the body. Our team at the UF Health Aortic Disease Center – ranked as one of the nation’s top-performing hospitals for abdominal aortic aneurysms by US News & World Report – understands aortic anatomy and its importance to the functions of the rest of the body. Our physicians collaborate to provide expert care for the full spectrum of aortic diseases, including:

• Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm
• Aortic Aneurysm Repair – minimally invasive and open
• Aortic Dissection Repair
• Aortic Transection
• Aortic Valve Disease
• Bicuspid Aortic Valve
• Fenestrated Endovascular Aortic Repair (FEVAR)
• Marfan Syndrome
• Thoracic Aortic Aneurysm
• Thoracic Endovascular Aortic Repair (TEVAR)
• Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement (TAVR)

What to expect

Appointments at the UF Health Aortic Disease Center are held at UF Health Surgical Specialists - Heart & Vascular Hospital, located on the first floor.

Before your visit

Before your appointment at the UF Health Aortic Disease Center, our physicians will want to review your medical records, any medications you are taking, and your lab results and any imaging studies done. You will need to make arrangements to have your medical records sent to us once your physician has decided your case should be seen by our multidisciplinary team and your clinic appointment has been scheduled. Our Aortic Disease Center patient care coordinators will follow up with you about the status of your records and answer any questions you may have about what records you need to send and where to send them.

Our physicians may request that you have additional testing done to help them better understand your condition and determine what may be the best treatment options for you. Our Aortic Disease Center patient care coordinators will arrange for you to have these tests done prior to your clinic visit with us that day. They will contact you to confirm the appointments you have scheduled with us on the day of your visit and will provide directions on where to go for each of those appointments.

During your visit

If our physicians requested that you have additional testing done prior to your clinic visit, our Aortic Disease Center patient care coordinators will have arranged those for you and will notify you where you need to be and at what times prior to your clinic visit with us that day.

During your clinic appointment, you will meet with a nurse and sometimes a medical resident or fellow who will ask you for needed information prior to being seen by one of our Aortic Disease Center physicians.

When the physician sees you, they will review your medical records, your medical history, imaging studies you had done and perform a physical exam if needed. They will then take the time to discuss the anatomy of the aorta with you and show you which part of your aorta is being affected by your aortic condition. Your doctor will explain the treatment options available to you after considering the following factors:

• Overall health
• Age
• Past medical history
• Your signs and symptoms
• Your body’s ability to tolerate certain medications, procedures or therapies
• The current state of the disease and how it is expected to progress
• Your personal preference - ultimately, it is for you to decide whether you want treatment and if so, what kind of treatment suits you best

You are likely to spend several hours at UF Health Heart & Vascular Hospital the day of your clinic visit. How long your visit is with us depends on your schedule and any specific health care needs you may have, such as additional testing or consultations. We ask that you please plan ahead and bring your medications and anything else you may need with you for that day.

After your visit

Any follow-up care needed such as further testing or surgery will be determined based on your individual need once the physician has evaluated you. Once the follow-up care you need has been determined, you will receive information on next steps. If you have any questions or concerns after your visit with the UF Health Aortic Disease Center, please contact Jordan McBride at (352) 273-5494.

For referring physicians

By choosing UF Health to be your partner for delivering aortic care to your patient, you can expect our team to deliver:

Transfer or refer a patient 24-7

Our Aortic Disease Center team is available around the clock for emergent, urgent and elective patient transfers facilitated through our UF Health Shands Hospital Transfer Center by calling 1-800-XTRANSFER or (352) 265-0559. The Transfer Center can assist you in coordinating medical transportation through ShandsCair, UF Health’s critical care transport system.

Make an appointment for your patient

To request an appointment for your patient, please call Jordan McBride at (352) 273-5494.

Hear from our director

Patient testimonial

Clinical trials

Our experts are physician-scientists working to advance medicine and surgical approaches for the treatment of aortic diseases. Our center offers the latest surgical options and medical therapies for aortic diseases – tomorrow’s treatments for today’s patients – many of which are not available elsewhere.

Our team

At the UF Health Aortic Disease Center, we combine leading-edge science with compassionate and personalized care. Our multidisciplinary approach provides you with a team of board-certified physicians specializing in thoracic and cardiovascular surgery and vascular surgery and endovascular therapy. We work together with one goal: to provide high-quality, patient-centered care that leads to outstanding outcomes.

Contact us

The UF Health Aortic Disease Center cares for you.

Thank you for visiting the UF Health Aortic Disease Center. We are here to help you or your loved one find the treatment and help needed.

To contact our dedicated team directly, simply fill out the form below, or call Jordan McBride at (352) 273-5494: