SurgeryJanuary 6, 2025
Andrew Barleben named the new UC Davis Aortic Center director
(SACRAMENTO)
Andrew R. Barleben, a renowned vascular surgeon and researcher, is the new director of the Aortic Center at UC Davis Health.
Before moving to UC Davis, Barleben was on faculty in UC San Diego’s Department of Surgery and at the VA Medical Center-San Diego. At UC San Diego, he was co-director of the Center for Medical Device Engineering and Biomechanics (CMDEB).
“UC Davis welcomes Dr. Andrew Barleben, who brings extensive experience in complex endovascular surgery — particularly in aortic aneurysm and dissection procedures,” said Diana L. Farmer, chair of the UC Davis Department of Surgery. “I am confident he will continue to elevate the Aortic Center, which has already become one of the top referral centers for complex aortic reconstructions in Northern California.”
The center is a multidisciplinary program within the Vascular Surgery and Cardiac Surgery divisions, housed in the UC Davis Vascular Center. It provides patients with a full range of medical and surgical treatments for complex aortic diseases, such as aneurysms, dissections and genetic disorders.
“I am thrilled to join the UC Davis community, to lead and collaborate with the team at the Aortic Center, building a future on its solid foundation.” —Andrew Barleben, UC Davis Aortic Center director
“I am thrilled to join the UC Davis community to lead and collaborate with the team at the Aortic Center, building a future on its solid foundation,” said Barleben. “I am looking forward to continuing to advance our mission of providing world-class clinical care for people with aortic diseases. We look forward to partnering with Cardiology and Cardiothoracic Surgery to provide pioneering open and minimally invasive stenting or robotic surgical options for aortic disease from the aortic valve down.”
At UCSD, Barleben collaborated with multidisciplinary teams to create a special FDA-approved trial to custom-build patient-specific stent grafts to repair thoracoabdominal aneurysms. He also worked on industry-sponsored trials in the aortic arch and created custom options for patients in a compassionate use authorization for patients with ascending and aortic arch disease that had no open or trial-based options.
Barleben also collaborated with the UCSD bioengineering faculty on several research projects. They looked at 3D printing patient-specific aneurysms that failed traditional treatment, as well as studying computed flow dynamic modeling of arterial occlusive disease and endoleaks after abdominal aortic aneurysm repairs. Barleben also developed and assessed custom-made 3D-printed flow models, a unique way to treat complex aortic arch pathology, for which he plans to pursue an FDA-approved trial.
As the new Aortic Center director, Barleben plans to develop similar collaborations at UC Davis.
