New Aortic Dissection clinic opens to treat patients across every stage of their journey, from diagnosis and treatment to long-term management.
August 17, 2026 — Tampa General Hospital (TGH) continues to advance specialized cardiovascular care through the TGH Heart & Vascular Institute’s (HVI) Aortic Program. This comprehensive, multidisciplinary program is dedicated to the diagnosis, treatment and lifelong management of patients with complex aortic disease. Experts in vascular surgery, cardiothoracic surgery, cardiology, advanced imaging and care coordination provide seamless, patient-centered care across the spectrum of aortic conditions. Eligible patients may also have access to clinical trials.
The TGH HVI Aortic Program was established to provide highly specialized, evidence-based care while simplifying access and care coordination for patients and referring physicians. Through a collaborative model, patients benefit from expert evaluation, advanced imaging, medical management, minimally invasive endovascular therapies, complex surgical intervention and long-term monitoring. The program allows specialists to review complex cases together and develop individualized treatment plans that address every stage of a patient’s care journey.
A key component of the program is the newly established Aortic Dissection Clinic, dedicated to patients recovering from acute aortic dissection and those living with chronic aortic disease. The clinic provides advanced imaging review, medical management, surgical consultation, patient education and long-term disease monitoring through a dedicated multidisciplinary team. The Aortic Dissection Clinic provides structured, coordinated care while ensuring patients benefit from the collective expertise of the entire Aortic Program.
“Complex aortic disease is rarely managed in a single visit or by a single specialty. Our model brings the right experts together to create one coordinated plan for each patient, from diagnosis and medical management to advanced open or endovascular treatment and lifelong surveillance,” said Lucian Lozonschi, MD, Director and Chief of Cardiothoracic Surgery at TGH and the USF Health Morsani College of Medicine. “The Aortic Dissection Clinic extends that care beyond the acute event, providing survivors with structured follow-up and timely access to specialized expertise as their disease evolves,” he said.
Diseases affecting the aorta — the body’s largest artery — include aneurysms, dissections and other complex aortic conditions. Multidisciplinary evaluation and lifelong follow-up is often the case. Recognizing these unique needs, the TGH HVI Aortic Program was designed to deliver expert care from initial diagnosis through treatment and long-term management.
In addition to delivering comprehensive care for patients, the TGH HVI Aortic Program serves as a regional referral resource for physicians throughout Florida and the Southeast. The program offers streamlined referral pathways, coordinated communication among providers and direct access to specialized aortic expertise.
The expansion of the TGH HVI Aortic Program further strengthens Tampa General’s position as a regional and national leader in cardiovascular and aortic care. The program reflects Tampa General’s commitment to innovation, academic medicine, research and outcome-driven care while expanding access to highly specialized services for patients with complex cardiovascular conditions. Tampa General Hospital has been recognized as #1 in Tampa Bay for Heart & Vascular Care by U.S. News & World Report for 2026-27.
Program physicians include Drs. Lucian Lozonschi, Jean Bismuth, Gundars Katlaps, Zain Al Rstum and Halim Yammine.
Patients and physicians seeking more information on the Aortic Program and Dissection Clinic can call (813) 844-3900 or visit TGH.org/heart.
ABOUT TAMPA GENERAL HOSPITAL
Tampa General Hospital, Florida’s premier academic health system, is a 1,530-bed not-for-profit network of hospital and outpatient services spanning Florida. As the only center for Level l trauma and comprehensive burn care center serving 23 counties, Tampa General delivers world-class care. The system’s hospitals include Tampa General Hospital, Tampa General Rehabilitation Hospital, Tampa General Behavioral Health Hospital, all in Tampa; Tampa General Brooksville, Tampa General Spring Hill and Tampa General Crystal River. Tampa General is the highest-ranked hospital in Tampa Bay in U.S. News & World Report’s 2026-2027 Best Hospitals for 11 consecutive years, with five medical specialties ranking among the top 50, two additional medical specialties ranked among the top 100 best hospital programs and two specialties ranked in the top 10% in the United States. As the first hospital in Florida to open a clinical command center for real-time situational awareness, the academic health system has elevated its digital care coordination center to the next level by leveraging artificial intelligence (AI) and its analytics platform across inpatient and outpatient care to ensure patients receive leading-edge care as quickly and safely as possible. Tampa General’s commitment to growing and developing its team members is recognized by four prestigious Forbes magazine rankings — in the 2026 America’s Best Large Employers ranked as the Tampa Bay region’s #1 employer in the healthcare category for the sixth year in a row, the 2026 America’s Best Employers for Company Culture, in the top 100 for the 2026 American’s Best Employers for New Grads and the 2026 America’s Best Employers for Women.
Tampa General is the area’s safety-net hospital, caring for anyone regardless of ability to pay; in fiscal year 2024, Tampa General provided a net community benefit of approximately $289.1 million in the form of healthcare for underinsured patients, community education and financial support to community health organizations in Tampa Bay. It is recognized as one of the leading adult solid organ transplant centers in the nation and is the primary teaching hospital for the USF Health Morsani College of Medicine. With five medical helicopters, Tampa General transports critically injured or ill patients from surrounding counties to receive the advanced care their conditions require. Tampa General has a nationally accredited comprehensive stroke center and its 32-bed Neuroscience Intensive Care Unit is the largest on the West Coast of Florida. It is home to the Muma Children’s Hospital at TGH, the Jennifer Leigh Muma 82-bed neonatal intensive care unit and a nationally accredited rehabilitation center. Tampa General’s footprint includes TGH North, which consists of three hospitals and several outpatient locations in Citrus and Hernando counties; Tampa General Medical Group Primary Care offices; TGH Family Care Center Kennedy; TGH outpatient centers; TGH Virtual Health; and TGH Imaging outpatient radiology centers throughout Hillsborough, Pasco, Pinellas and Palm Beach counties. Tampa Bay area residents receive world-class care from the TGH Urgent Care, powered by the Fast Track network of clinics. To see a medical care professional live anytime, anywhere on a smartphone, tablet or computer, visit Virtual Health | Tampa General Hospital (tgh.org). For more information, go to www.tgh.org.