Aortic Surgery
Aortic aneurysm and aortic dissection — open repair, TEVAR/EVAR endovascular stent grafting, and complex hybrid reconstruction of the thoracic and abdominal aorta.
Director of Cardiovascular Surgery · Reston Hospital Center
Vahram
Ornekian, MD
Cardiothoracic & Vascular Surgeon — dual board-certified, treating the full spectrum of heart, aortic, and vascular disease with open, minimally invasive, and endovascular techniques.
Board Certified
American Board of Thoracic Surgery
Board Certified
American Board of Surgery — Vascular Surgery
ARDMS Certified
Registered Physician in Vascular Interpretation
2×Board Certified — Cardiothoracic & Vascular Surgery
12+Years of surgical training & practice — UCLA, Georgetown, MD Anderson
25+Peer-reviewed publications, chapters & presentations
4Languages — English, Spanish, French & Armenian
01 — About
A surgeon trained across
two disciplines
Dr. Vahram Ornekian is one of a small number of surgeons in the United States formally trained and board certified in both cardiothoracic surgery and vascular surgery — a combination that allows him to treat complex cardiovascular disease with the complete toolkit: open surgery, minimally invasive approaches, and catheter-based endovascular therapy.
A Southern California native, he earned his bachelor's degree in biology at UCLA and a Master of Science in physiology and biophysics at Georgetown University before receiving his medical degree from Albany Medical College. He completed an integrated residency in vascular surgery at MedStar Washington Hospital Center / Georgetown University in Washington, DC, and a fellowship in cardiothoracic surgery at the University of Texas at Houston / MD Anderson — one of the nation's highest-volume centers for complex aortic and cardiac surgery. He has published on this integrated training pathway as a model for the modern cardiovascular surgeon.
From 2020 to 2026 he practiced as an attending cardiothoracic and vascular surgeon with PIH Health Physicians Group / LA Cardiology Associates in Los Angeles. Beginning August 2026 he serves as Director of Cardiovascular Surgery at Reston Hospital Center in Reston, Virginia.
Beyond the operating room, Dr. Ornekian is faculty for the Osler Medical Board Review course — teaching cardiothoracic and vascular surgery to physician candidates preparing for board certification since 2022.
Outside of medicine, Dr. Ornekian enjoys staying active and spending time with his family and friends. He is married and the proud father of a son. In his free time, he can often be found playing tennis, cooking, or exploring new restaurants.
Dr. Ornekian is licensed in Virginia, California, and Texas, and sees patients in English, Spanish, French, and Armenian.
American Board of Thoracic SurgeryBoard Certified, Thoracic & Cardiac Surgery — 2021
American Board of SurgeryBoard Certified, Vascular Surgery — 2019
02 — Training
Education & training
- 2018–2020University of Texas Houston / MD AndersonFellowship, Cardiothoracic Surgery
- 2013–2018Washington Hospital Center / Georgetown UniversityResidency, Vascular Surgery (Integrated)
- 2013Albany Medical CollegeDoctor of Medicine
- 2009Georgetown University School of MedicineMaster of Science, Physiology & Biophysics
- 2008University of California, Los AngelesBachelor of Science, Biology — College & Departmental Honors
03 — Expertise
Areas of focus
Comprehensive surgical care of the heart, aorta, and blood vessels — matching each patient to the least invasive effective approach.
Heart Valve Surgery
Surgical treatment of aortic and mitral valve disease, including valve repair and replacement strategies tailored to each patient's anatomy.
Coronary Surgery
Surgical revascularization for coronary artery disease, performed within a collaborative heart-team model with referring cardiologists.
Carotid & Stroke Prevention
Treatment of carotid atherosclerotic disease, including carotid endarterectomy and carotid stenting for stroke risk reduction.
Peripheral Vascular & Limb Salvage
Open and endovascular revascularization for peripheral arterial disease and chronic limb ischemia, diabetic limb salvage, and dialysis access creation and maintenance.
Thoracic Surgery
Surgery of the chest, including lung surgery, with an emphasis on minimally invasive techniques.
In the operating suite — where precision and teamwork determine outcomes.
04 — Media
Dr. Ornekian on air
Interviews and patient-education segments on cardiovascular health.
05 — Scholarship
Selected publications
Peer-reviewed articles, book chapters, and invited presentations spanning cardiac, aortic, and vascular surgery. Indexed articles are available on PubMed.
- Ornekian V, Adham A, Hammed I. Integrated vascular surgery residency to thoracic surgery fellowship: a less-known training pathway for modern cardiothoracic surgery. JTCVS Open. 2024.
- Tanaka A, Ornekian V, Estrera AL. Limited repair with tear-oriented approach for type A aortic dissection. Journal of Cardiovascular Surgery (Torino). 2020.
- Nissen AP, Abreu J, Ornekian V, Nguyen S, Nguyen TC. Percutaneous and open cannulation for peripheral cardiopulmonary bypass: pearls and pitfalls. Journal of Visualized Surgery. 2018; 2:256.
- Nissen AP, Abreu J, Ornekian V, Nguyen S, Nguyen TC. Our preferred techniques for both direct and percutaneous femoral cannulation in minimally invasive mitral surgery. ASVIDE. 2018.
- Ornekian V, Sava J, Malik R. From trauma to treatment: optimizing vascular trauma patient management. Endovascular Today. 2016; 15(1): 56–60.
- Ornekian V, Siah MC, Woo EY. Challenges of concomitant common and internal iliac artery aneurysms. Controversies and Updates in Vascular Surgery. 2016.
- Ornekian V, Pradka SP, Akbari CA. Surgical revascularization of chronic limb ischemia. In: Critical Limb Ischemia: Acute and Chronic. Springer, 2016.
- Ornekian V, Akbari CM, Evans KK. Treatment of arterial ulcers. In: Scientific American Plastic Surgery. Decker, 2016.
- Nguyen MK, Ornekian V, Kao L, Butch AW, Kurtz I. Defining the role of albumin infusion in cirrhosis-associated hyponatremia. American Journal of Physiology — Gastrointestinal and Liver Physiology. 2014; 307(2): G229–32.
- Kurtz I, Kraut J, Ornekian V, Nguyen MK. Acid-base analysis: a critique of the Stewart and bicarbonate-centered approaches. American Journal of Physiology — Renal Physiology. 2008; 294(1).
- Nguyen MK, Ornekian V, Butch AW, Kurtz I. A new method for determining plasma water content: application in pseudohyponatremia. American Journal of Physiology — Renal Physiology. 2007; 292(5): F1652–6.
- Nguyen MK, Ornekian V, Butch AW, Kurtz I. Role of Gibbs-Donnan equilibrium in hypoalbuminemia-induced hyponatremia: a new mechanism underlying hyponatremia in cirrhosis and nephrotic syndrome. Journal of the American Society of Nephrology. 2007; 18(1): 791A.
- Ornekian V, Pushkin A, Kurtz I. Purification and cryo-electron microscopic characterization of Anion Exchanger 1 (Band 3). UCLA Undergraduate Science Journal. 2007; 1(1): 7–10.
- Mulroney SE, Ornekian V, Mowla MS, Wirsing D, Saphyakhajon M, Myers AK, Fugh-Berman A. Effects of dandelion leaf and root on kidney and GI function in adult rats. FASEB Journal. 2005; 1(1): 110–113.
Invited lectures & presentations
- Strategies in Aortic Valve Repair — Symposium on Cardiovascular Diseases and Therapies, Los Angeles, 2021
- Surgical Management of Mitral Valvular Disease — Symposium on Cardiovascular Diseases and Therapies, Los Angeles, 2021
- REBOA for Military Vascular Trauma — HyeBridge Armenian Telehealth Conference, Yerevan, 2019
- Carotid Atherosclerotic Occlusive Disease — Georgetown University General Surgery Grand Rounds, Washington, DC, 2016
- Challenging Iliac Artery Aneurysms — Eastern Vascular Society Annual Meeting, Baltimore, 2015
- Complex Bilateral Hypogastric Aneurysms: Endovascular Solutions — Vascular Techniques & Technology Thinktank, Albany, 2015
Poster presentations
- Transcaval Embolization of a Type I Gutter Endoleak After Three-Vessel Chimney Endovascular Aneurysm Repair — MedStar Health Research Symposium, Bethesda, 2017
- Chimney Endograft to Left Subclavian Artery for Neurovascular Rescue after TEVAR — MedStar Health Research Symposium, Bethesda, 2017
- A Novel Approach for the Treatment of a Penetrating Aortic Ulcer — Society for Clinical Vascular Surgery Annual Meeting, Lake Buena Vista, 2017
- Functional Status as a Predictor of Mortality in Open and Endovascular Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Repair in Octogenarians — Society for Vascular Surgery Vascular Annual Meeting, Boston, 2014
- Effects of Dandelion Leaf and Root on Kidney and GI Function in Adult Rats — Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology, San Diego, 2005
06 — Recognition
Awards & honors
- 2016Cardiovascular Research Therapies Scholarship
- 2016Teaching ScholarshipSociety for Vascular Surgery
- 2014 · 2015Eastern Vascular Society Scholarship
- 2013Society for Vascular Surgery Scholarship
- 2009Jeffrey Bridges AwardGeorgetown University School of Medicine
- 2008College & Departmental HonorsUniversity of California, Los Angeles
- 2007Undergraduate Research Scholar AwardUniversity of California, Los Angeles
- 2006Undergraduate Research Fellow AwardUniversity of California, Los Angeles
- 2004UCLA Alumni Scholar AwardUniversity of California, Los Angeles
