Eight leading aortic-awareness organizations unite to amplify life-saving stories during Aortic Dissection Awareness Week 2026

Header image with the logos of 8 North American non-profits focused on aortic dissection awareness for the 2026 Aortic Dissection Awareness Week September 13 - 19

Goal: Raising awareness through storytelling, education and collective action

For Media Inquiries: April Dawn Shinske, CCMO, The Marfan Foundation

Email: brandcomms@marfan.org

Port Washington, NY September 01, 2026 — Eight leading nonprofit organizations dedicated to aortic dissection awareness are joining together during Aortic Dissection Awareness Week (September 13–19) to share powerful stories, amplify one another’s educational messages and encourage earlier recognition of aortic dissection as a life-threatening medical emergency.

Throughout the week, Aortic Hope, the Genetic Aortic Disorders Association (GADA) Canada, The John Ritter Foundation for Aortic Health, the Loeys-Dietz Syndrome Foundation Canada, the Marfan Foundation and its divisions, Rock from the Heart, and ThinkAorta US & Canada will feature stories from survivors, families, caregivers, clinicians and advocates while sharing resources that help people recognize the warning signs of aortic dissection, understand inherited risk, and seek emergency care when every minute matters.

Aortic Hope Founder and Board Chair – and Think Aorta US representative – Carin Andersen said, “We believe no one should have to navigate aortic disease feeling unseen, unheard, or alone. Our community is built on shared experiences, support, and hope.” Andersen mentioned both Aortic Hope’s individual ASAP awareness campaign “That’s why thinking about the aorta #ASAP matters—because Awareness Saves Aortas. Period,” and the power of the teamed-up North American organizations’ united voices, “Together, we can raise awareness, inspire action, and save lives.”

This year’s joint campaign centers on the power of storytelling. Personal experiences—from lives saved through rapid diagnosis to families honoring loved ones lost too soon to learning about genetic risk—demonstrate both the urgency of aortic dissection and the hope that comes through awareness, timely treatment and lifelong support.

“Every minute matters during an aortic dissection—and every conversation about family history has the potential to save a life,” said GADA Canada Executive Director Linda Malone. “Too many families discover a hereditary thoracic aortic disease only after a devastating tragedy.”

“GADA Canada is committed to changing that by advancing research, improving education for healthcare professionals and patients, and promoting earlier diagnosis through genetic testing, family screening and greater awareness. During Aortic Dissection Awareness Week, we stand alongside our partner organizations in North America with one united message: Know the warning signs. Know your family history. If you suspect an aortic dissection, don’t be afraid to speak up and advocate for yourself and your loved ones. Awareness saves lives,” said Malone.

STAT Aortic Dissection Awareness 2026: S Suspect. Know the Signs. T. Time is Critical. A Aortic Imaging Saves Lives. T Talk About It.

Participating organizations will continue to reinforce key educational messages throughout the week, including recognizing the symptoms of aortic dissection, seeking immediate emergency care, obtaining appropriate aortic imaging and talking with family members about inherited genetic risk. Signature initiatives, including the STAT message—Suspect. Time is Critical. Aortic Imaging. Talk About It.—remain an important part of the campaign.

Amy Yasbeck knows firsthand just how devastating not knowing the signs can be and works tirelessly to ensure other families find hope.

“I established The John Ritter Foundation for Aortic Health so that John’s story could give other families hope. Hope is found in every person who learns the warning signs, every family that talks about their health history, and every hospital that reaches for aortic imaging a little sooner,” said Yasbeck, Founder of The John Ritter Foundation.

“Every story shared this week is proof that awareness changes outcomes. I’m grateful to stand with seven other organizations who understand, as we do, that grief can become purpose, and that the stories we tell can be the difference between losing someone and bringing them home.”

Many people living with Marfan syndrome, Loeys-Dietz syndrome, vascular Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (VEDS) and related genetic aortic and vascular conditions face a significantly increased risk of aortic dissection. Yet many remain undiagnosed until a medical emergency occurs, making awareness and earlier recognition critical.

“An aortic dissection is never just a medical event. It is a life interrupted, a family forever changed, and a future that might have looked different if the risk had been recognized sooner. We owe it to every family to build a healthcare system that sees danger before crisis, where inherited aortic conditions are identified early, genetic testing and specialized care are within reach, and a person’s postal code does not determine whether they are protected. Awareness matters, but awareness must lead to action. Because when we strengthen the system around families, we do more than prevent emergencies: we give people the chance to live the lives they were meant to live,” said Executive Director Loeys-Dietz Syndrome Foundation Canada Jida El Hajjar.

The eight organizations share a common mission: increasing awareness, improving outcomes and ensuring that more people receive life-saving care. Through storytelling, education and collective action, the coalition aims to reach more patients, families, healthcare professionals and members of the public than any one organization could alone.

“People living with Marfan, Loeys-Dietz, VEDS and related conditions have a roughly 250 times greater chance of aortic dissection than the general public, yet many don’t even know they have a genetic aortic condition. Sharing family health wisdom is key to helping everyone understand their personal risk – that’s why we are proud to raise our voices together during Aortic Dissection Awareness Week,” said Michael L. Weamer, President & CEO of the Marfan Foundation. “The great news is, with awareness, regular medical monitoring and care, risk of an emergency aortic event can be dramatically reduced in many cases.”

Together, the organizations hope this year’s campaign inspires people to learn the warning signs, understand their family history, seek genetic evaluation when appropriate and share these life-saving messages within their own communities.

“At Rock from the Heart, we believe music has a unique power to reach people where straightforward medical messaging alone can’t. Every time a musician who’s faced aortic disease shares their story, it opens a door for someone else to recognize their own risk before it’s too late. No single organization can reach everyone at risk of aortic disease. We’re proud to stand alongside these seven other organizations during Aortic Dissection Awareness Week, each bringing our own community and voice to a shared mission: education and awareness saves lives,” said Amy Johnson, Founder and President of Rock from the Heart.

When awareness is shared, more lives can be saved. Through collaboration, education and the power of personal stories, these eight organizations are demonstrating that collective action can help ensure more people recognize aortic dissection before it’s too late.

Lindsey Rusche, Patient & Campaign Lead, Think Aorta Canada said, “Early diagnosis saves lives — and family history matters. Through campaigns like Think Aorta Think Family, we’re raising awareness of heritable aortic disorders passed through generations, so more people get the imaging, medical intervention, and genetic testing that can save their lives.”