We are deeply saddened by the passing of Dominique Vervoort, a talented young cardiothoracic surgeon whose impact far exceeded his years in training. Dominique was a PhD candidate in Health Systems Research and Vanier Scholar at the Institute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation at the University of Toronto. His doctoral work focused on disparities in the care of thoracic aortic disease, reflecting his profound commitment to equity in healthcare. A passionate advocate for global surgery and public health, he was also an extraordinary social media ambassador for the EACTS Annual Meeting and other initiatives, generously donating his time to amplify science, live-tweet our sessions and help extend the reach of our Annual Meeting worldwide. Our thoughts are with Dominique’s family, friends and colleagues. He will be greatly missed.