Celebrating Our Impact and Looking Ahead to 2026
As 2025 draws to a close and we look toward the promise of 2026, I am filled with gratitude and pride for the tremendous progress we’ve made together at The John Ritter Foundation for Aortic Health.
What began over 20 years ago has become a powerful, global force for aortic health awareness, research, and patient support. Each year, our reach and impact continue to expand, and this year has been no exception.
In this past fiscal year, we continue our momentum raising nearly $1.5M through events, grants, and the extraordinary generosity of individual donors. We also deepened our impact by expanding our educational programs, strengthening partnerships, and continuing to support families affected by aortic disease.
These accomplishments are possible only because of the incredible people who stand with us including our dedicated staff, our Board of Directors, our Professional Advisory Board, volunteers, donors, and friends like you. Your commitment of time, talent, and resources continues to drive our mission forward.
As we celebrate all that 2025 has brought, we look ahead with renewed energy and excitement for what’s to come in 2026.
With heartfelt gratitude,
Whitney Strauss
Board Chair
20K
Refreshing Our Foundational Resources
Ritter Rules Refresh
Over a decade ago, The John Ritter Foundation and a team of expert medical advisors introduced the Ritter Rules to help patients and families better understand aortic disease. In 2025, we proudly launched a new, updated version—endorsed by our Professional Advisory Board—to reflect the latest in medical research and best practices.
The revised Ritter Rules are aligned with the 2022 AHA/ACC Guidelines and written specifically for patients and their loved ones. The updated guide is available in print and digital formats.
To help amplify the importance of this update, we hosted a virtual press conference in September featuring Dr. Anthony Estrera, Dr. Kim Eagle, and JRF CEO Meredith Ford O’Neal. Together, they spoke to leading medical journalists about the urgent need to bring aortic dissection into the national conversation.
Continuing the Legacy of Love and Laughs
Survey Says….
Team Jason Ritter faced off against Team Andy Richter on Celebrity Family Feud—all in honor of The John Ritter Foundation for Aortic Health.
Jason was joined by Tyler Ritter, Noah Ritter, Amy Yasbeck, and JRF CEO Meredith Ford O’Neal for a hilarious, heartfelt game night hosted by Steve Harvey. And spoiler alert: They didn’t just show up. They won $25,000 to support JRF’s lifesaving mission.
Laughter, legacy, and a little friendly competition? That’s our kind of win.
Come and Knock On Our Door…
At our annual Evening from the Heart LA gala this September, we teamed up with our friends at Pluto TV and DLT Entertainment Ltd. for a live staged reading of the Three’s Company episode “Going to Pot.”
With an unforgettable cast including Adam Devine, Kaley Cuoco, original stars Priscilla Barnes and Richard Kline, and so many more, it was an evening full of laughter, heart, and lifesaving impact. A celebration of comedy and community like no other.
This event was presented by The Paul Ferrante Foundation, sponsored in part by Pluto TV and USC Keck School of Medicine.
This live reading is available on Pluto TV On Demand. Search “Three’s Company Live!” today.
Advances In Research
Montalcino Aortic Consortium
The JRF's Chief Science Officer, Ellen Hostetler, was invited to attend the biennial scientific meeting in Italy. Ellen presented the work of the JRF and led a focused discussion on improving the translation of aortic research into clinical care to improve patient outcomes.
John Ritter Research Program for Aortic and Vascular Diseases
Driving Standards in Postmortem Testing
This year, 68 samples from individuals who died from aortic dissection at the Cleveland Medical Examiner’s Office underwent whole genome sequencing. The resulting data is now under active analysis. In addition, this collaboration with forensic pathologists led to our Chief Scientific Officer being invited to contribute to the updated National Association of Medical Examiners position paper on postmortem genetic testing. This work is especially important for our community, as clearer guidelines help ensure that families receive accurate diagnoses, informed risk assessments, and access to lifesaving screening and preventive care.
Identifying Molecular Triggers of Acute Aortic Dissection
This year, JRRP researchers made progress in understanding the early changes that may lead to an acute aortic dissection. A featured study introduced new techniques to measure how aortic smooth muscle cells process energy in mouse aortic tissue. These tools give scientists a clearer window into early disease processes and will guide future efforts to prevent sudden dissections.
Important Research Publications
This year, eight JRF-supported publications have advanced understanding of genetic aortic and vascular disease. Two major manuscripts in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology defined the burden of aneurysms and dissections in Marfan, Loeys-Dietz, and Vascular Ehlers-Danlos syndromes. Accompanying editorials highlighted these as landmark studies for their high-quality data and clear implications for evidence-based care of patients with genetic aortic disease. Additional publications included new insights into mitral valve disease in patients with aortic disease and development of a molecular test that helps identify genetic causes of premature atherosclerotic vascular disease.
Funding Critical New Research
This year, the JRF funded two new studies focused on improving prediction and prevention of aortic dissection. One study investigates early biological changes in the aorta that may signal rising risk. The second develops improved molecular tools to more accurately identify genetic variants linked to genetic aortic and vascular disease. Together, these projects advance earlier diagnosis and more precise care for families.
Lending a Hand Where We Can
In July 2025, we welcomed a new class of nine passionate and dedicated individuals who know firsthand the journey of aortic disease and are ready to walk alongside others navigating it.
Whether you’re awaiting surgery, living post-dissection, caregiving, or grieving the loss of a loved one, our Aorta Advocates are here to help you find your voice, get the care you deserve, and feel less alone.
Since launching in October 2023, the Aorta Advocates program has supported over 750 individuals impacted by aortic dissection. In 2025 alone, we more than doubled our previous reach, helping 400 more people. And the impact is real: more than half of those we’ve served reported making meaningful changes to their aortic care thanks to these conversations.
This year, we’ve dedicated our work to the memory of Shana Knight, an incoming advocate whose heart will never be forgotten.
Testimonials From Those Who Have Spoken with an Advocate
The Newman Family Story
The Newman Family supports The John Ritter Foundation for Aortic Health in memory of their beloved Luke.
Luke was just fifteen, full of potential and joy, when an aortic dissection took his life while waiting for help in an Emergency Department waiting room. Luke was diagnosed with Vascular Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (VEDS) when he was 4 years old. Unfortunately, the Aortic diagnosis did not happen until after he passed away.
The quick nature of this event and the experience in the Emergency Department left the family searching for answers. How could a child with a known medical condition not be diagnosed during an event for the exact thing he had built a team to address? How are Emergency Departments not integrated to the history of the patient? How do Emergency Departments diagnose Aortic Events and save people’s lives when they don’t even know what to look for and miss it when they know exactly what to look for?
Their search led them to The John Ritter Foundation. JRF’s mission of raising awareness of aortic dissection, educating physicians, gathering community, and advancing cutting edge research aligned with the passions of the Newmans. Innovative projects, including the emerging AI facial analysis tool, give them hope that earlier detection will one day save lives.
The Newmans support the Foundation so no other family experiences what they did. By sharing Luke’s story, they honor his memory and help protect other families.
Aortic Dissection Awareness Week
September 14—20, 2025
6.7%
Facebook Follower Growth.30%
Instagram Follower Growth.35,621
This year, we put out an “ADAW” Landing Page that saw over 35,621 users throughout the week.STRONGER TOGETHER
In addition to our own programming, we joined forces with The Marfan Foundation, Think Aorta, Aortic Hope, Rock from the Heart, and Loeys Dietz Syndrome Foundation to share the acronym STAT- Suspect, know the signs
- Time is critical
- Aortic imaging saves lives
- Talk about it
Powerful Storytelling
We continue to believe that powerful stories can help make complicated science, emotional moments, and life-or-death decisions feel more human, and more hopeful.
This year, we sat down with Eli Newell, who experienced a life-threatening aortic dissection just minutes after saying “I do.” His story, and the strength he and his wife Erika shared in telling it, is a powerful reminder of why knowing the signs and acting fast matters.
Thank you to Eli and Erika for their honesty, bravery, and for sharing the power of knowing the signs and acting fast in emergencies.
This year, we hosted six educational webinars for both the patient community and medical professionals. These sessions add to our growing library of on-demand content, ensuring that people can access leading aortic experts and trusted information no matter where they live.
This year, JRF team members attended nine scientific conferences, presenting at some, sharing our research at others, and connecting with new experts to form collaborations. By bringing back the latest findings, we help ensure clinicians and patients have access to cutting-edge advances in aortic and vascular health.
Our Chief Science Officer was invited to The Montalcino Aortic Consortium, a high-level meeting, where she presented the mission and work of the JRF and led a strategic discussion on translating cutting-edge research into clinical practice.
his year, we saw a 350% increase in grant applications. Originally planning to fund one $100,000 grant, we were able to support two due to the exceptional quality of the proposals. All applications were carefully reviewed by expert scientists and selected on the merit of their proposals, reflecting our commitment to supporting evidence-based research and data-driven decision-making.
BOWL-A-THON & Dallas Aorta Conference
This February, we hosted our annual Bowl-a-Thon in Dallas, TX, in conjunction with the Dallas Aorta Conference. This annual event features a morning of education at Baylor Scott & White The Heart Hospital followed by an afternoon of bowling and a silent auction.
We heard from speakers, we raised awareness, and we bowled to strike out unnecessary suffering from thoracic aortic disease.
Community Events
We love collaborating with our community members as they host their own fundraisers and events to raise awareness for aortic health. This year, we had the joy of joining in or supporting several:
Rememberin’ Benjamin,
Hosted by the Bradford Family in memory of Benjamin Bradford in Houston, TX
Run for Aortic Health,
Hosted by Aorta Advocate Carmen David in Fort Worth, TX
Salsa From the Heart,
Hosted by Aorta Advocate Ray Rivera in Chester, NY
Connecting Aortic Health with the Fitness Community
For over a decade, we’ve been honored to be a charity sponsor at the TCS NYC Marathon, bringing along our team of runners, TEAM RITTER, to run in the race. This year, in the three days leading up to the race, we set up a table at the Marathon Expo and shared our mission with a new audience.
21
Runners on Team Ritter
7,000
Participants and locals engaged with at the Expo
$175K
Raised for Aortic Health
We finished out the weekend with our annual Ritter Sitter and Race Day Rally events, where all of TEAM RITTER, family, and friends gathered to celebrate our accomplishments and impact.
A Smart Investment: Where your dollars Go
Admin: $155,106 – 11.21%
Fundraising: $123,348 – 8.92%
Programs: $1,104,862 – 79.87%
Total Budget: $1,383,316
Donate With Confidence
Our Leadership
STAFF
Meredith Ford O’Neal
Chief Executive Officer
Ellen Hostetler
Chief Science Officer
Jenn Vacirca
Director of Operations
Bella Marin
Patient and Advocacy Coordinator
Professional Advisory Board
Dianna Milewicz, MD, PhD
Chairman | The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston
Ali Azizzadeh, MD
Cedars Sinai
Joanna Chikwe, MD
Cedars Sinai
Anthony Estrera, MD
The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston
John Elefteriades, MD
Yale School of Medicine
Kim Eagle, MD
University of Michigan Health Center
Loren Hiratzka, MD
Retired
David Liang, MD, PhD Eagle, MD
Keck Medicine of University of Southern California
Robert Ohle, MD
Health Science North-Ontario
Maral Ouzounian, MD, PhD
Toronto General Hospital
Virendra Patel, MD, MPH
Columbia University
Siddharth Prakash, MD, PhD
The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston
Eric Roselli, MD
Cleveland Clinic
Sherene Shalhub, MD, MPH
Oregon Health & Science University
Board Members
Whitney Strauss | Chairman
Amy Yasbeck | Founder
Laura Derr
Adam Dinkes
Kent Johnson
Dianna Milewicz
Nancy Petrera
Bridget Porter (Metz)
Cindy Retterer
Carly Ritter Rappold
Jason Ritter
Tyler Ritter
Donald Schwartz
Carolyn Wang
Gregory Weaver
