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Dr. George T. Pisimisis, with his extensive 20-year tenure in vascular and endovascular surgery, recently held the position of Associate Professor of Vascular Surgery in the Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery at The University of Texas.

Dr. Pisimisis began his illustrious medical career upon graduating from the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Greece. He further honed his skills through diverse fellowships at the Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, TX, and the University of Illinois at Chicago, IL. He completed his general surgery residency at the University of Nebraska Medical Center (UNMC) and pursued a vascular surgery fellowship at the Mayo Clinic.

His academic and leadership endeavors are noteworthy. Dr. Pisimisis served as the Medical Director of the Fenestrated Endovascular Aortic Repair Program at the Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center and led the Vascular Ultrasound Lab at Baylor College of Medicine. Additionally, he held a joint appointment as an Associate Professor in Interventional Radiology at The University of Texas. His committee roles have included participation in Acute Critical Care at the UT MD Anderson Cancer Center and the Pelvic Sarcoma Center of Excellence.

Dr. Pisimisis’ professional accomplishments have been widely recognized. The University of Nebraska lauded him as an Outstanding Surgery Resident, and he was acknowledged as one of the Top 1% physician performers in 2018 by UT MD Anderson Cancer Center. His academic brilliance was evident during his studies in Athens, where he was honored for ranking in the top 5% of his class. Moreover, the Mayo Clinic presented him with the Clinical Research Excellence Award in Vascular Surgery.

An accomplished scholar, Dr. Pisimisis has authored over 40 peer-reviewed research articles and numerous book chapters. His dedication to education is demonstrated by his mentorship of more than 90 residents and fellows, significantly contributing to their professional growth and the broader medical community.

• gastric bypass, including minimally invasive Roux-en-Y bypass
• gastric banding, including the Lap-Band system
• sleeve gastrectomy
• hernia surgery
• heartburn (GERD) surgery
• revisional bariatric surgery
• SmartLipo
• medically supervised diet and nutrition

As a leading bariatric specialist, Dr. Liu understands the unique issues that confront weight-loss patients before and after losing weight, and he provides supportive care prior to and following surgery to help ensure the best possible short- and long-term results.

After earning his bachelor's degree in chemistry from the University of Chicago, Dr. Liu completed his M.D. at the prestigious University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine, followed by his residency, internship and fellowship at UCLA Medical Center, Department of Surgery, where he also served as Administrative Chief Resident.

Before opening his current practice, Dr. Liu served as staff surgeon at the West Los Angeles Veterans Hospital; medical director of minimally invasive bariatric surgery at Century City Hospital and Midway/Olympia Hospital; medical director of bariatric surgery at Garden Grove Hospital; and clinical assistant professor of surgery at UCLA School of Medicine. For seven years, he has been named a Southern California Super Doctor. He has also held several committee appointments at UCLA and local medical centers.

Dr. Liu is dedicated to offering his patients the most advanced, safest treatment options in a state-of-the-art medical center geared toward providing individualized care and attention. From establishing goals and expectations to learning new eating behaviors and lifestyle habits, Dr. Liu is firmly committed to helping each patient successfully complete their weight-loss journey.

Patients all around the country seek the expertise of board-certified plastic and reconstructive surgeon Jonathan Zelken, MD. From his office in Newport Beach, California, Dr. Zelken stands out amongst his peers and colleagues for his expertise in facelift procedures and facial contouring. He is board-certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery – the most selective and prestigious certifying organization. This certification makes Dr. Zelken uniquely qualified and committed to delivering natural and transformative results to his patients. It is no secret that Dr. Zelken is dedicated to helping patients achieve their aesthetic goals while maintaining their one-of-a-kind features. His exceptional qualifications, combined with his personalized approach, make him a trusted expert in the field.

Raised in New England, Dr. Zelken developed an early fascination with the enhancing abilities of the field. Driven by his desire to impact the lives of his patients positively, he embarked on a career in plastic surgery with a focus on delivering natural and rejuvenating outcomes. He earned his undergraduate degree in biology from the prestigious and competitive Cornell University in Ithaca, New York. He then pursued his degree in medicine at Tufts University in Medford, Massachusetts. Graduating at the top of his class, he completed his plastic surgery training at the prestigious Johns Hopkins Hospital. Dr. Zelken also underwent specialized training during a microsurgery fellowship in Taiwan under the guidance of the world’s foremost microsurgeon. 

If that wasn’t enough, Dr. Zelken’s dedication to continual learning is proven time and time again. He has made significant contributions to the field through his research, authoring over 50 scientific articles and demonstrating a passion for teaching.

In his practice, Dr. Zelken offers a comprehensive range of reconstructive and aesthetic surgeries for the breasts, body, and face. His expertise extends to advanced techniques such as facial contouring and the utilization of innovative technologies. As a trainer for BodyTite, a state-of-the-art radiofrequency skin tightening device, he remains at the forefront of the latest advancements in minimally invasive and non-surgical rejuvenation treatments.

Dr. Zelken’s unwavering commitment to his patients is evident in his willingness to undertake the most challenging facial reconstruction cases. He is highly regarded in the Orange County community for his exceptional skills, meticulous approach, and ability to achieve remarkable results, even in complex situations.

Kevin M. Major, MD, FACS, is a board-certified Vascular and Endovascular Surgeon with over 20 years of experience. He currently serves the community of Ventura County on the team of providers at Coastal Vascular Center, which has three state-of-the-art clinics in Oxnard, Camarillo, and Simi Valley, California. 

Dr. Major graduated from the University of San Diego in 1992 with a degree in Biochemistry and a minor in Business Administration. He went on to earn his medical degree in 1998 from the Medical College of Ohio (now known as the University of Toledo College of Medicine and Life Sciences) in Toledo.

Dr. Major returned to Southern California for his post-graduate training, completing a residency in General Surgery at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, where he also completed additional fellowship training in Surgical Critical Care. He went on to complete fellowship in Vascular Surgery at the University of Southern California (USC) in Los Angeles.

Dr. Major holds certification from the American Board of Surgery in General Surgery, Surgical Critical Care, and Vascular Surgery. He is also a fellow of the American College of Surgeons. 

Dr. Major has recently served as the chairman of the surgery department at Community Memorial Hospital in Ventura, California. He retains privileges at Community Memorial Hospital, St. John’s Regional Medical Center in Oxnard, Pleasant Valley Hospital in Camarillo, and Adventist Health Simi Valley.

Dr. Major looks forward to getting to know his patients at Coastal Vascular Center and keeping them in excellent health.

Karen Quirk, MD, FACS, is a highly-skilled vascular and endovascular surgeon on the team of providers at Coastal Vascular Center in Oxnard, Camarillo, and Simi Valley, California. She’s one of the few female surgeons in the field of vascular surgery, which only has a 10% female population nationwide.

Dr. Quirk was born and raised in South Korea and immigrated to America as a young teen. She graduated on the dean’s honor list with a Bachelor of Arts in Molecular Cell Biology from the University of California in Berkeley. After graduating, she spent some time conducting basic scientific research on a therapeutic recombinant proteinase before going to medical school. Dr. Quirk earned her medical degree from the University of California Irvine School of Medicine, graduating with a variety of honors and research awards. 

She went on to discover her love and passion for surgery and completed an internship and residency in general surgery at Harbor–University of California Los Angeles Medical Center. She found herself particularly drawn to vascular surgery because of the field’s technical elegance, its capacity for lifelong relationships with patients, and its challenges in managing complex vascular diseases. This passion bloomed during her vascular surgery fellowship at the University of California San Diego Medical Center and continues to drive her in practice today.

Dr. Quirk has a reputation for outstanding surgical skills and compassionate patient care. She’s a fellow of the American College of Surgeons and the Society for Vascular Surgery and is one of the few surgeons in Southern California capable of using fenestrated stent-graft technology to perform minimally invasive complex aortic aneurysm repairs. She manages the full spectrum of vascular disease at Coastal Vascular Center.

Outside of work, Dr. Quirk enjoys spending time with her two wonderful boys.

John T. Baber, MD, specializes in vascular and endovascular surgery at Coastal Vascular Center. Dr. Baber provides comprehensive and compassionate care to patients at the practice's locations in Oxnard and Simi Valley, California.

Dr. Baber received his undergraduate degree in Biology and Neuroscience from the University of Virginia. Afterward, he moved to New Orleans, Louisiana, where he received his Doctorate of Medicine as well as a Masters of Business Administration from Tulane University. 

While at Tulane, Dr. Baber was elected to the Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Society in his third year of medical school (top 5% of class) and received the university-wide Tulane 34 Award at graduation. He continued his medical training at UCLA, where he completed his internship, General Surgery residency, and a two-year research fellowship focusing on the molecular mechanisms of ischemia-reperfusion injury. He subsequently trained in vascular and endovascular surgery at Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons and Cornell University Medical Center in New York, New York, before returning to Southern California. 

Dr. Baber has developed a diverse skill-set, with the ability to treat complex arterial and venous pathology with cutting-edge minimally-invasive techniques or traditional open surgery. This allows him to tailor the treatment he provides to each patient's specific needs.

Gregory Albaugh, DO, FACS, is a board-certified vascular and endovascular surgeon who’s been providing Ventura County with exceptional medical care since 2004. He’s the founding member and managing partner of Coastal Vascular Center, which has three convenient locations in Oxnard, Camarillo, and Simi Valley, California.

Dr. Albaugh completed a fellowship in vascular surgery at Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond. He’s a fellow of the American College of Surgeons and holds board certifications in general surgery and vascular surgery. Prior to founding Coastal Vascular Center, he was the medical director at St. John’s Regional Medical Center Peripheral Vascular Laboratory and the Pleasant Valley Wound Care Center in Camarillo, California.

In his work at Coastal Vascular Center, Dr. Albaugh is regarded as a regional expert in complex limb revascularization, carotid endarterectomy, endovascular and open aortic surgery, wound care, and the treatment of varicose veins and venous insufficiency. 

Outside of his medical career, Dr. Albaugh is a member of the United States Navy Reserve, where he serves as a commander and has a variety of awards and citations. He lives with his wife, Anne, in Ventura County. He looks forward to improving his patients’ quality of life at Coastal Vascular Center.

Y.H. Salem, MD, FACS, runs a state-of-the-art medical practice specializing in vascular surgery, acid reflux surgery, and general surgery, at his offices in Huntington Beach, Foothill Ranch, and Anaheim, California.

With over 20 years of professional experience under his belt, he leads a friendly staff and employs cutting-edge technology to provide cosmetic and health benefits to patients dealing with varicose veins and spider veins stemming from a variety of causes.

At the practice’s warm, welcoming offices, they provide a host of innovative treatments for vascular disease, including ultrasound-guided procedures, injections, and laser treatments. Dr. Salem always takes considerable effort to minimize any scarring following medical procedures and maintains constant monitoring to evaluate the progress of his patients through recovery. They’re also highly skilled when it comes to providing surgical treatment for many other conditions, such as intestinal obstructions, lipomas, gallstones, and appendicitis.

One of the central tenets of Dr. Salem’s care is spending as much time as possible with each patient to develop individualized treatment plans and to allow time for addressing questions and concerns. Patient education is also essential and foundational to the practice’s overall approach to care, as Dr. Salem and the staff help each patient understand everything about their condition and treatment options.

If you’d like to schedule an appointment with Dr. Salem to learn more about the practice and what it can offer you, call or use the online booking tool today.

Board-Certified Orthopedic Surgeon
Specializing in Foot and Ankle Disorders & Hip and Knee Replacements

Medical Degree

University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
Sarah Graham Kenan Scholarship
John B. Graham Research Society

Internship

Medical College of Virginia, Richmond, Virginia

Orthopedic Residency

Medical College of Virginia, Richmond, Virginia

Orthopedic Fellowship

Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina

Research Presentations

• Clinical and radiographic results of 227 consecutive primary total hip arthroplasties using a femoral component with proximal and distal precoating and built-on centralizers. Found significant association between initial cement mantle radiographic grade and mechanical loosening. Presentation at the 1999 North Carolina Orthopaedic Association Conference and at the 2000 John B. Graham Student Research Day.
• Effect of barium sulfate particle size on production of IL-1, IL-6. and TNF-alpha. Found no difference in cytokine production between micro- and nano-sized particles exposed to mouse macrophages. 2003. Presentation at 2003 MCV Resident's Day.
• Short term outcomes after tibial shaft fractures: a retrospective study at MCV hospital. Found that institutional data correlates with similar outcome studies in the trauma literature which included a low complication rate and a functional deficiencies in a majority of patients. 2005. Presentation at 2005 MCV Resident's Day.
• Open reduction and internal fixation of the symptomatic type II accessory navicular. Found no significant difference between excision and ORIF of symptomatic accessory navicular bones. 2006. Video poster presentation at 2006 Summer AOFAS meeting. Presentation at 2006 North Carolina Orthopaedic Society Meeting. Poster presentation at 2007 American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.

Publications

• Scott A, Sabesan V, Saluta JR, Easley ME. Open reduction and internal fixation of the symptomatic type II accessory navicular. Foot Ankle Int. in press 2008.
• Saluta JR, Nunley JA. Chapter: Percutaneous open reduction and internal fixation of fifth metatarsal base fractures. MIS Techniques in Orthopaedics. Springer. 2009. In press.
• Saluta JR, Nunley JA. Ankle injuries in athletes. The Journal of Musculoskeletal Medicine. 23:195-201; 2006.
• Saluta JR, Nunley JA. Foot and ankle rehabilitation success hinges on screening accuracy: Biomechanics. June, 2006.

Lectures

• Grand Rounds: Five foot and ankle problems every doctor should know. Good Samaritan Hospital 4/05/2007. California Hospital Medical Center 4/08. St. Vincent Medical Center 5/08.
• Grand Rounds: My Experience with Hip, Knee, and Ankle Arthritis. Good Samaritan Hospital. 1/16/2008.
• Foot and Ankle Injuries in Running. Speaker at McDonalds Expo. Los Angeles Marathon. 2/29/08 and 3/01/08.
• Advancements In Orthopaedics: Hip, Knee, and Ankle Technologies. Speaker. Stryker International. 3/19/08

Media

• Care of the Foot and Ankle. Radio Manila. Consultant, Orthopaedic Surgeon. Health segment of one hour international radio talk show. Dec 2006.
• Governor Schwarzenegger recovering from surgery. KABC-TV Los Angeles evening news. Consultant, Orthopaedic Surgeon. Dec 2006.
• What Happens Next: When a Bone Breaks. Banner Caswell Productions. Television documentary. Consultant, Orthopaedic Surgeon. Veria channel, Dish network. Dec 2007.

Professional Affiliations

• American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons
• American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society
• Piedmont Orthopaedic Society
• California Orthopaedic Association

Community

• 2008-2010 Official Medical Team Los Angeles Marathon
• 2008-2010 National Youth Leadership Forum Volunteer Speaker
• January 2010 Medical Mission at California Medical Center in San Fernando, La Union, Philippines
• 2006 Member of Orthopaedic Trauma Team at California Hospital, Level 2 Trauma Center