Center for Aortic Disease

For more information on the new Center for Aortic Disease, please call 877-595-6089.

Aortic disease left untreated can result in catastrophic events, which cut lives short or lead to devastating complications. The Scott & White Heart & Vascular Institute has established a new center of excellence in Temple, The Center for Aortic Disease, to treat these complex conditions. Our goal is to help primary care, emergency medicine, and subspecialty providers in the region identify, treat, follow, and track the progress of their patients with aortic disease.

Early diagnosis, appropriate medical management, elective minimally invasive surgery or open surgical therapies, and close follow-up care can allow patients with these problems to live normal lives. Our system of care delivery is designed to be comprehensive and multidisciplinary. We will provide individualized treatment plans for patients with degenerative aneurysm disease, aortic dissections, connective tissue abnormalities (Marfans Syndrome), inflammatory aortic disease, bicuspid aortic valve disease and vascular anomalies.

The Center for Aortic Disease is directed by cardiothoracic surgeon Dr. Kenton J. Zehr, and vascular surgeon Dr. Marvin D. Atkins. The Centers Medical Director is cardiologist Dr. John P. Erwin, III. Dr. Clifford J. Buckley, Director, Division of Vascular Surgery and Dr. Douglas K. McDonald, Interventional Radiology, offer significant additional center leadership.