Alan Dardik MD-PhD, FACS

Associate Professor of Surgery (Vascular); Chief, Vascular Surgery, VA Connecticut Healthcare Systems, West Haven, CT

Biographical Info

Dr. Alan Dardik trained at Yale, the University of Pennsylvania, and the Johns Hopkins Hospital before his appointment to the Yale faculty in 2001. Dr. Dardik concentrates his clinical practice in vascular surgery at the VA Connecticut where he is the Chief of the Vascular Surgery section, focusing his practice on teaching of medical students, residents, and fellows.

The Dardik laboratory studies the healing and function of blood vessels and synthetic blood vessel substitutes that are used in patients having vascular bypass surgery. We are currently trying to understand the fundamental molecular mechanisms by which vein graft adaptation results in positive remodeling and successful adaptation to the arterial environment, yet often proceeds, in the long-term, to neointimal hyperplasia and graft failure. The laboratory has made the original observation that vein graft adaptation is associated with diminished Eph-B4 expression (Kudo et al., ATVB 27:1562, 2007). We are currently investigating the importance of modulating Eph-B4 function in vein graft adaptation, and have recently published that Eph-B4 is active in adult veins, regulates venous remodeling, and that Eph-B4 function depends on receptor phosphorylation and association with caveolin-1 signaling (Muto et al., J Exp Med 208:561, 2011).

The laboratory is R01 funded from the NIH NHLBI and, as part of Yale's Interdepartmental Program in Vascular Biology and Therapeutics, is located on the 4th floor of the Amistad building. Members of the Dardik laboratory include surgery residents from Yale, UConn, and St. Mary’s Hospital as well as postdoctoral fellows from Japan, China, and India.

Dr. Dardik is a surgeon-scientist who seeks to use the power of molecular biology to achieve a modern understanding of vascular disease, and to use the basic science laboratory to perform cutting edge research to ultimately benefit patients with vascular disease. Dr. Dardik's laboratory is funded by the NIH and is part of Yale's Interdepartmental Program in Vascular Biology and Therapeutics (VBT).

International Activity

  • Invited lecture
    Nagano-shi, Japan (2012 - 2012)
    Endovascular Therapy by vascular surgeons in USA
  • Invited lecture
    Nagano-shi, Japan (2012 - 2012)
    Therapy for PAD: Strategies by Vascular Surgeons in the USA
  • Invited lecture
    Belo Horizonte, Brazil (2012 - 2012)
    Manejo da Estenose Carotídea. O que é melhor: Endarterectomia, Angioplastia com Stent ou Melhor Tratamento Clínico ? O que é Verdadeiro sobre os Estudos Randomizados ? / Management of carotid stenosis: What is best, CEA CAS or medical therapy? What do the randomized studies say?
  • Invited lecture
    Belo Horizonte, Brazil (2012 - 2012)
    Comportamento dos Enxertos Venosos e dos Patches de Pericárdio após Cirurgia / Behavior of venous grafts and pericardial patches after surgery
  • Invited lecture
    Belo Horizonte, Brazil (2012 - 2012)
    O Tratamento Endovascular é a Primeira Escolha para todos os Pacientes com Doença Arterial Periférica? Ainda há Papel para a Cirurgia Aberta? / Is endovascular treatment the first choice for all patients with PAD? Is there still a role for open surgery?
  • Invited lecture
    Belo Horizonte, Brazil (2012 - 2012)
    É possível tratar as Lesões TASC D com Técnicas Endovasculares? / Is it possible to treat TASC D lesions with endovascular techniques?
  • Invited lecture
    Cambridge, United Kingdom (2012 - 2012)
    Understanding vein adaptation to the arterial environment
  • Invited lecture
    Changsha, China (2012 - 2012)
    Factors for Consideration for Endovascular repair of aortic dissections: a Yale University perspective
  • Invited lecture
    Changsha, China (2012 - 2012)
    Durability considerations for EVAR : selection choices and long term outcomes
  • Invited lecture
    Changsha, China (2012 - 2012)
    How do pericardial patches heal after surgery?
  • Invited lecture
    Paris, France (2011 - 2011)
    “Does a high risk patient for carotid endarterectomy (CEA) exist? / Y-a-t-il des patients à haut risque pour une endartériectomie carotidienne (EAC)”
  • Invited lecture
    Changsha, China (2011 - 2011)
    “New Research on the Etiology of Abdominal Aortic Aneurysms,”
  • Invited lecture - visiting professor
    London, United Kingdom (2011 - 2011)
    Can surgeons turn veins into arteries?
  • Invited lecture - The Litchfield Lecturership
    Oxford, United Kingdom (2011 - 2011)
    Can we turn veins into arteries?
  • Invited lecture - visiting professor
    Leeds, United Kingdom (2011 - 2011)
    Healing of vascular grafts and patches: Lessons for tissue engineers
  • Invited lecture
    Paris, France (2010 - 2010)
    “La veine peut-elle devenir une artère? Do vein grafts arterialize?”
  • Invited lecture
    Kyoto, Japan (2010 - 2010)
    “The Future of Bypass Surgery: Lessons from the Embryo”
  • Invited lecture
    Cambridge, United Kingdom (2010 - 2010)
    “Understanding Eph-B4 Control of Vein Graft Adaptation”
  • Invited lecture
    Belo Horizonte, Brazil (2010 - 2010)
    “Cerebrovascular disease: Diagnosis and Treatment”
  • Invited lecture
    Belo Horizonte, Brazil (2010 - 2010)
    “Peripheral arterial disease: Diagnosis and Treatment”
  • Invited lecture
    Gaillimh, Ireland (2009 - 2009)
    "What’s Happening With Stem Cell Treatments For Lower Limb Ischemia?"
  • Invited lecture
    Gaillimh, Ireland (2009 - 2009)
    “Regulation of vessel identity during vein graft adaptation – Are we closer to preventing neointimal hyperplasia?”
  • Invited lecture
    Gaillimh, Ireland (2008 - 2008)
    “Regulation of vessel identity during vein graft adaptation"
  • Invited lecture
    Nagoya-shi, Japan (2007 - 2007)
    “Peripheral bypass strategy for infrainguinal vascular disease”
  • Invited lecture
    Nagoya-shi, Japan (2007 - 2007)
    “Venous identity is lost but arterial identity is not gained during vein graft adaptation”
  • Invited lecture
    Tokyo, Japan (2006 - 2006)
    “U.S. update report: Carotid endarterectomy vs. carotid artery stenting”
  • Invited lecture
    New Delhi, India (2006 - 2006)
    “Carotid endarterectomy: community gold standard for high risk patients”
  • Invited lecture
    Nagoya-shi, Japan (2005 - 2005)
    "Effects of aging on vascular healing"
  • Invited lecture
    Oxford, United Kingdom (1999 - 1999)
    “How to build a better blood vessel”

Education & Training

B.S.
Yale University, New Haven, CT (1986)
M.D./Ph.D.
University of Pennsylvania (1993)
Resident
The Johns Hopkins Hospital, Baltimore, MD, General Surgery (1993 - 1999)
Postdoctoral Fellow
The Johns Hopkins Hospital, Baltimore, MD, General Surgery (1995 - 1997)
Specialist Registrar
The John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford, UK, Surgery
Chief Resident
The Johns Hopkins Hospital, Baltimore, MD, General Surgery (1999 - 2000)
Fellow
The Johns Hopkins Hospital, Baltimore, MD, Vascular Surgery (2000 - 2001)

Honors & Recognition

  • Valedictorian
    The Frisch School, Paramus, NJ (1982)
  • Phi Beta Kappa
    Yale University, New Haven, CT (1984)
  • Tau Beta Pi
    Yale University, New Haven, CT (1985)
  • Summa Cum Laude
    Yale University, New Haven, CT (1986)
  • Keynote speaker, 35th annual meeting; Nagoya, Japan
    Japanese Society for Vascular Surgery (2007)
  • Keynote Speaker, 11th annual congress; Kyoto, Japan
    Asian Society for Vascular Surgery (2010)
  • Keynote Speaker, 4th annual meeting; Changsha, China
    Chinese National Symposium on Vascular Disease (2011)
  • Distinction in the Major, Computer Science
    Yale University, New Haven, CT (1986)
  • The Litchfield Lecturership
    Oxford University, Oxford, UK (2011)
  • Keynote speaker, 12th annual meeting; Belo Horizonte, Brazil
    Encontro Mineiro De Angiologia e Cirurgia Vascular, Brazil (2012)
  • William D Carey Science Award (for an outstanding graduate student in science and engineering)
    American Association for the Advancement of Science (1991)
  • Balduin Lucke Memorial Prize (for superior research in experimental medicine and biology)
    University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA (1992)
  • Keynote Speaker; 11th annual China National Congress of Vascular Surgery, Changsha, China
    Chinese Society for Vascular Surgery (2012)
  • Sandoz Surgical Student Research Award (for superior accomplishment in biomedical research)
    Association for Academic Surgery (1993)
  • International Vascular Biology Travel Award
    North American Vascular Biology Organization (2002)
  • Franklin Martin Faculty Research Fellowship (highest ranking faculty research proposal)
    American College of Surgeons (2002)
  • Upjohn Award for Clinical Research (for outstanding clinical research by a resident member of the Department of Surgery)
    Johns Hopkins University Department of Surgery, Baltimore, MD (1996)
  • Surgical Resident and Fellows Award
    Baltimore Academy of Surgery, Baltimore, MD (1997)
  • Upjohn Award for Clinical Research
    Johns Hopkins University Department of Surgery, Baltimore, MD (1997)
  • First Place, Fellow and Resident Paper Competition
    Chesapeake Vascular Society, Annapolis, MD (2000)
  • E.J.Wylie Traveling Fellowship
    Lifeline Foundation (2002)
  • Dennis Jahnigen Career Development Scholar Award
    American Geriatrics Society (2002)
  • Wylie Scholar in Academic Vascular Surgery Award
    Pacific Vascular Research Foundation (2002)
  • Faculty Teaching Award
    Surgical Residents of St Mary’s Hospital, Waterbury, CT (2002)
  • The William J. von Liebig Vascular Academic Award
    Peripheral Vascular Surgery Society (2004)
  • Faculty Teaching Award
    Surgical Residents of St Mary’s Hospital, Waterbury, CT (2004)
  • Honorable Mention, C. Elton Cahow Award for Outstanding Faculty Teaching
    Department of Surgery, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT (2005)
  • American College of Surgeons Traveling Fellowship to Japan
    American College of Surgeons (2006)
  • The William J. von Liebig Award (highest ranking vascular surgery basic science research proposal)
    Lifeline Foundation/American Vascular Association (2006)
  • C. Elton Cahow Award for Outstanding Faculty Teaching
    Department of Surgery, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT (2006)
  • Distinguished Fellowship
    Society for Vascular Surgery (2007)

Professional Service

  • Councilor, Class of 2002, Association for Academic Surgery (2010 - 2012)
  • Research Committee, Association of VA Surgeons (2009 - 2012)
  • Treasurer, International Society for Vascular Surgery (2009)
  • Grant reviewer for VCMB study section, challenge grants, NIH NHLBI (2009 - 2009)
  • Program Committee, Chairman, Association of VA Surgeons (2008 - 2009)
  • Awards Committee, New England Society for Vascular Surgery (2008)
  • Program Committee, Peripheral Vascular Surgery Society (2008 - 2008)
  • Program Committee, Section for Surgical and Related Medical Specialties, American Geriatrics Society (2007 - 2009)
  • Program Committee, Association for Academic Surgery (2007 - 2009)
  • Advisory Council for Vascular Surgery, American College of Surgeons (2006)
  • Issues Committee, Eastern Vascular Society (2006 - 2010)
  • Representative to the Advisory Council for Vascular Surgery, American College of Surgeons, Peripheral Vascular Surgery Society (2006 - 2012)
  • Constitution and By-Laws Committee, Society for Clinical Vascular Surgery (2006 - 2009)
  • Institutional Representative, Association for Academic Surgery (2005 - 2007)
  • Program Committee, Association of VA Surgeons (2005 - 2009)
  • Young Vascular Surgeons Committee, Eastern Vascular Society (2005)
  • Regional Councilor - North America, International Society for Vascular Surgery (2005 - 2008)
  • Program Committee, New England Society for Vascular Surgery (2004 - 2009)
  • Membership Committee, Peripheral Vascular Surgery Society (2004 - 2004)
  • Informatics and Technology Committee, Association for Academic Surgery (2003 - 2005)
  • Program Committee, Chairman, Peripheral Vascular Surgery Society (2003 - 2004)
  • Chair for SURG 1 study section, VA (11/01/2011 - 12/31/2012)
  • Grant reviewer for SURG 1 study section, VA (1/1/2010 - 12/31/2012)
  • Chair, Research and Education Committee, Society for Vascular Surgery (07/01/2009 - 06/30/2013)
  • Vascular Cures (Pacific Vascular Research Foundation) (07/01/2007 - 06/30/2012)
  • Research and Education Committee, Chairman, Society for Vascular Surgery (06/01/2009 - 05/30/2012)
  • Program Committee, Society for Vascular Surgery (06/01/2009 - 05/30/2012)
  • Research and Education Committee, Society for Vascular Surgery (06/01/2006 - 05/30/2012)
  • BTSS study section, NIH NHLBI (01/01/2012)
  • Program Committee, Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis and Vascular Biology (ATVB) Spring Conference, American Heart Association (01/01/2009 - 04/30/2012)
  • Editorial Board, Vascular (01/01/2007 - 12/31/2012)
  • Editorial Board, Annals of Vascular Surgery (01/01/2007 - 12/31/2012)
  • Editorial Board, Journal of Vascular Surgery (01/01/2006 - 12/31/2012)

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