MI-AORTA Leadership Team
Leadership Team
Executive Physician Director, MI-AORTA, S Martin Lindenauer Collegiate Professor of Vascular Surgery and Professor of Surgery, Medical School
Dr. Eliason is the S. Martin Lindenauer Collegiate Professor of Vascular Surgery. He completed his general surgery training at Vanderbilt University in 2002 and his vascular surgery fellowship at the University of Michigan in 2004. After completing his training he served as an active-duty vascular surgeon in the United States Air Force. He completed one overseas deployment to Balad, Iraq in the 2006-2007 timeframe under Operation Iraqi Freedom. In 2007 he returned to the University of Michigan as Faculty where he has focused clinically on open and minimally invasive aortic surgery and pediatric vascular surgery.
Until 2020 he maintained an active research laboratory. He collaborated with the Department of Defense on the management of non-compressible torso hemorrhage in trauma, as well as studying the connections between tobacco smoke and e-cigarette vapor on aortic aneurysms. His current research focus is clinical in nature, focused on outcomes of minimally invasive and open surgical treatments of aortic disease. He is a Past-President of the Vascular and Endovascular Surgery Society (VESS) and serves in leadership as the Co-Director of MI-AORTA. He has a strong emphasis on surgical education, receiving the Arnold Coran teaching award for medical student education in 2023 and the Faculty Excellence in teaching award for vascular trainees in 2019 and 2023.
Executive Physician Director, MI-AORTA, Clinical Professor of Internal Medicine, Medical School
Dr. Hofmann is a physician, a scientist, and an accomplished sutdent mentor who strives to combine translational research with clinical care. She was trained in Germany and obtained both MD and PhD degrees from Heidelberg University where she gained a deeper understanding of diabetes-mediated vascular inflammation during a year-long postdoctoral research fellowship in the laboratory of Ann Marie Schmidt at Columbia University in New York.
Dr. Hofmann then applied her knowledge in vascular biology to her clinical work as a general cardiologist, specifically for the care of patients with aortic aneurysms. After the completion of an internal medicine residency at Northshore University Hospital in Long Island, NY, she trained in cardiovascular medicine at the University of Chicago under the mentorship of Dr. Elizabeth McNally. There she became the Driector of the Aortic Clinic at the University of Chicago Medical Center from 2014-2018. In 2018, Dr. Hofmann became a faculty member at the Frankel Cardiovascular Center at the University of Michigan in the Department of Internal Medicine. Her expertise in aortic diseases led to her appointment as an Executive Director of the MI-AORTA program, and as the principal investigator for the CHIP biorepository, a long-term investment of the Frankel Cardiovascular Center.
Executive Physician Director, MI-AORTA, Frankel Research Professor of Aortic Surgery, J Maxwell Chamberlain M.D. Collegiate Professor of Cardiac Surgery, Director of Aortic Surgery, Director of Research, and Professor of Cardiac Surgery, Medical School
Dr. Yang joined the Department of Cardiac Surgery at the University of Michigan in July 2011 after completing his Cardiothoracic Surgery Fellowship at Stanford University. His clinical expertise spans the range of complex aortic surgical procedures to treat aortic pathology from aortic root to the femoral arteries (including open and TEVAR), and adult cardiac procedures for patients with aortic aneurysm and dissections, such as bicuspid aortic valve, Marfan’s Syndrome, Loeys-Dietz Syndrome, familial thoracic aortic aneurysm.
Dr. Yang has been very productive in basic science research and clinical research. He and his team use patient’s induced pleuripotent stem cells (iPSCs) to model the thoracic aortic aneurysm and study the mechanism of aortic aneurysm in bicuspid aortic valve and in patients with known mutations, such as Loeys-Dietz syndrome, and Marfan syndrome in order to develop novel therapies to prevent aortic aneurysm. Clinically, he and his team have focused outcome research of aortic surgery and adult cardiac surgery, including acute aortic dissection, aortic root repair, aortic arch repair, thoraco or thoracoabdominal aneurysm repair.
Dr. Yang has won numerous research awards such as: AHA Vivien Thomas Young Investigator Award, finalist; Young Investigator of Loeys-Dietz Syndrome Foundation, and several research projects supported by NIH grants.
Jen McNamara is the MI-AORTA Administrative Manager at the University of Michigan. With a wealth of experience spanning over 10 years, Jen has established herself as a dedicated professional in the field of aortic research. Jen received her bachelor's degree and master's degree from Indiana University. Throughout her tenure at the University of Michigan, Jen has showcased her expertise in managing and coordinating research projects related to aortic studies and biorepositories. Her exceptional organizational skills and attention to detail have enabled her to successfully oversee various aspects of research administration, ensuring the smooth operation of projects from start to finish.
Core Team
Kailey Chisolm is a physician assistant who has spent her career working in cardiac surgery. She received her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Michigan State University, and her Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies from South University in Georgia. She began working as a physician assistant at the University of Michigan on the cardiac surgery step-down team in 2019.
Kailey came to the FCVC from Children's Hospital of Michigan where she worked in congenital cardiac surgery in the ICU and in the operating room. Kailey works in collaboration with cardiac surgery, vascular surgery, and cardiovascular medicine leaders offering system-wide coordination of care for aortic disease patients at the Frankel Cardiovascular Center.
She provides health care and specialized health services to patients evaluated for care within the FCVC. Her primary role is to evaluate, manage, and treat these patients under the direction of the MI-AORTA program's physician leaders.
Associate Executive Director, MI-AORTA, Associate Professor Cardiothoracic Radiology, Director of Aortic & Structural Heart Imagine, University of Michigan
Dr. Burris is a Cardiothoracic Radiologist who joined the faculty at University of Michigan in 2016, after having received his medical degree from the University of Maryland and completing residency in Diagnostic Radiology and fellowship in Cardiothoracic Radiology at UCSF. Dr. Burris additionally completed a year of dedicated post-doctorate research training at UCSF as part of the Biomedical Imaging for Clinician Scientists NIH T32 training grant.
Dr. Burris' primary clinical and research interests are focused on advanced imaging of diseases of the aorta and aortic valve. He has investigated a variety of advanced MRI and CT techniques to improve risk assessment of patients with aortic dissection, aortic aneurysm, and aortic valve disease. Specifically, he leads several funded research projects including a project from the Radiologist Society of North America focused on the use of 4D Flow MRI in the assessment of patients with aortic dissection, and a NIH SBIR/F44 funded project focused on the development and commercialization of a novel technique for an accurate, three-dimensional assessment of aortic aneurysm growth (vascular deformation mapping). He is a lead Radiologist for the Multidisciplinary Aorta Program (MAP), transcatheter aortic valve (TAVR) and MATRIx (Mitral/Tricuspid) programs and serves as the director of Aortic & Structural Heart Imaging for the Department of Radiology, as well as the Associate Director of the FCVC MI-AORTA program. Dr. Burris serves as a reviewer for multiple top national and international scientific journals including JACC, Circulation, Radiology, and European Heart Journal. He has a high level of enthusiasm for training medical students, residents, and fellows, in Cardiovascular Imaging.
Dr. Figueroa received his PhD Mechanical Engineering at Stanford University, were he developed computational methods for simulating fluid structure interactions between blood and blood vessels. His first academic appointment was at King's College London in the UK, where he was Senior Lecturer in the Division of Biomedical Engineering and Imaging Sciences. Dr. Figueroa is currently Edward B. Diethrich M.D. Professor of Biomedical Engineering and Vascular Surgery, Senior Associate Chair of Biomedical Engineering at the University of Michigan, and Thematic Director of the FCVC Cardiovascular Research Network (CRN).
Dr. Figueroa's laboratory is focused on the following main areas: 1) developing tools for advanced modeling of blood flow which combine advanced imaging, machine learning, and computational methods of fluid and solid mechanics. His group develops the modeling software CRIMSON (www.crimson.software); 2) studying the link between abnormal biomechanical stimuli and cardiovascular diseases such as hypertension and thrombosis; 3) simulation-based surgical planning to aid with the optimal planning of cardiovascular surgeries.
Dr. Gewurz-Singer is an associate professor of Rheumatology in the Department of Internal Medicine at the Universtiy of Michigan. She completed her medical training in New York City, graduating from NYU Medical School and completing residency and fellowship at Cornell University.
Dr. Gewurz-Singer has a clinical and research interest in vasculitis and serves as the Director of the Michigan Medicine Vasculitis Program and is a member of the Vasculitis Clinical Research Consortium (VCRC).
Rajani Aatre is a Senior Genetic Counselor in the Division of Cardiovascular Medicine and a member of the MI-AORTA Program and Inherited Cardiomyopathy Program at the Frankel Cardiovascular Center. She is also part of the Pediatric Cardiogenetic Clinic at Mott Children's Hospital. She received her bachelor's degree from University of Delhi, New Delhi, India, and two master's degrees in Cell and Molecular Biology from Dalhousie University, Halifax Canada, and in human genetics (Genetic Counseling) from Sarah Lawrence College, New York.
Rajani worked in Maternal-Fetal Medicine at Hutzel Hospital (1998-2001) and Von Voigtlander Women's Hospital (2001-2005) before joining the FCVC Clinic in 2008. Her clinical work is focused on providing comprehensive care to patients with inherited cardiovascular disease and their families. Her research interests include return research results and the application & utility of genomic medicine in health care.
Jeremy Wolverton is a seasoned data expert and the esteemed lead data architect for the Cardiac Surgery Data Warehouse at Michigan Medicine. With a decade-long tenure, Jeremy has established himself as a trusted professional in the field of data architecture. His unwavering commitment to advancing the understanding of cardiac surgery through innovative solutions has made him a pivotal figure in the realm of healthcare data.
Jeremy's expertise lies in developing data solutions tailored specifically to the unique challenges of cardiac surgery research and quality. His meticulous attention to detail, coupled with his deep understanding of data management principles, has enabled him to create robust and scalable architectures that empower researchers to unlock valuable insights from vast amounts of complex data.
Beyond his technical acumen, Jeremy is known for his collaborative approach and ability to bridge the gap between academia and technology. His passion for data is matched only by his dedication to fostering meaningful partnerships with medical professionals and researchers. Through his leadership, he has facilitated numerous successful collaborations, ensuring the seamless integration of data-driven solutions into the cardiac surgery research and quality landscape.
Chelsea Fisk is a clinical researcher (MI-AORTA Research Technician) in cardiothoracic surgery at Michigan Medicine. Chelsea's prior work includes clinical research in trauma & acute care surgery, clinical research in perinatal psychiatry, bench research in cell metabolism, and diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) support across a number of medical specialties. She is a graduate of Michigan State University. Her research has been published in a variety of journals, including The American Journal of Surgery, Injury, Air Medical Journal, and Surgical Endoscopy. Chelsea's research interests include health equity, improved diversity of research populations, and optimization of tissue preservation.
Jennifer Frick is the FCVC Administrative Director. Jennifer's commitment to scientific inquiry and patient care improvement has led her to participate in numerous groundbreaking research studies and clinical trials. She now focuses on administering large multidisciplinary, multi mission spanning cardiovascular programs at the CVC. Jennifer is a respected leader at the FCVC, sharing her knowledge and passion for cardiovascular research administration with the next generation of healthcare professionals. She actively engages in mentoring and coaching activities to inspire others to discover and pursue their professional goals. Jennifer's contributions to the Frankel Cardiovascular Center exemplify her dedication to advancing cardiovascular research and improving patient care and outcomes. Her expertise, passion, and collaborative spirit continue to drive innovation and foster a culture of excellence within the center.
Julia Gilbert is the Program Assistant for the FCVC MI-AORTA program. Julia plays a crucial role in coordinating and supporting various initiatives within the program. Her exceptional organizational abilities ensure smooth operations and efficient collaboration among team members.
Julia has worked in the Neurology and Primary Care Departments here at Michigan Medicine. With an impressive 17-year tenure in administration, Julia brings a wealth of experience and expertise to her role. Julia's unwavering dedication to helping others shines through in her commitment to the program's mission of improving patients' lives through education and support.