Our Staff

Som Kohanzadeh, MD

Dr. Som Kohanzadeh is the Medical Director of The Center for Reconstruction & Wound Healing at Sherman Oaks Hospital. Dr. Som grew up in Westlake Village, then attended UCLA, where he graduated with honors with a degree in Cybernetics while specializing in Physiologic Science and a minor in Mathematics.

Next, he attended UC San Diego Medical School, where he spent an additional year conducting Plastic Surgery research focused on hand reconstruction while visiting multiple underserved cities in Mexico as part of the Interface outreach program to provide plastic and reconstructive surgery.

He then moved back to Los Angeles, where he completed his residency training in General Surgery at Cedars Sinai Medical Center. He also performed a research fellowship in Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery in collaboration with UC San Diego. During this time he presented at multiple regional and national meetings, while also publishing multiple research articles in the fields of General Surgery, Vascular Surgery, Trauma Surgery and Plastic Surgery.

Upon completion of his General Surgery training, he earned his Board Certification from the American Board of Surgery.

He then completed Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery training at the University of Alabama Birmingham with the world famous Luis Vasconez, where he trained in all aspects of Reconstructive and Aesthetic Plastic Surgery. Additionally, he spent significant time gaining expertise in both microsurgery and complex hand surgery.

Dr. Som has presented over 50 projects locally, nationally and internationally at the the International Society of Aesthetic and Plastic Surgery in Santiago, Chile. While there he also had the opportunity to operate side by side with international surgeons and learn techniques from the other side of the world. He continues to strive to advance the art and science of plastic surgery with cutting edge research and investigation; Bringing the newest art and science to Southern California.

Ronald Belczyk, DPM

Dr. Belczyk specializes in reconstructive foot and ankle surgery. He served his surgical residency at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center and then completed a Diabetic Limb Salvage fellowship at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center and a Reconstructive Foot and Ankle surgery fellowship at the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio. He has also completed fellowships on external fixation in Russia and Greece and an AO fellowship in Switzerland.

Dr. Belczyk actively participates in resident and fellowship education and clinical research. He has authored numerous articles and book chapters in the field of reconstructive and revisional foot and ankle surgery. His interests include trauma, soft tissue coverage of the diabetic foot, reconstruction of post- traumatic injuries, and revisional surgery of the foot and ankle.

David A. Pougatsch, DPM

Dr. David A. Pougatsch is a fellowship-trained podiatric surgeon specializing in diabetic limb salvage and reconstructive foot and ankle surgery. He has authored numerous publications and has presented research and lectured at several nationwide scientific meetings. Dr. Pougatsch is active in mentoring residents and students by serving as a clinical instructor of podiatric medicine and surgery at the Western University of Health Sciences in Pomona, Calif. and is on the teaching faculty in the department of surgery at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, where he also completed his residency. Dr. Pougatsch finished his post-graduate fellowship in a combined program with the Amputation Prevention Center^® and Western University of Health Sciences.

Samuel Kashani, MD

Dr. Samuel Kashani is a general surgeon with expertise in pressure ulcer management and alternative tissues to cover wounds. He serves the residents of Encino and surrounding communities at his practice, Advanced Surgical Solutions, since 2008. In addition, Dr. Kashani serves as the current Chief of Surgery at Sherman Oaks Hospital and is an Assistant Clinical Professor at UCLA School of Nursing.

Dr. Kashani completed his Doctor of Medicine as well as a Master of Science degree (Applied Physiology) at Rosalind Franklin University in 2002. He then completed his internship and residency in general surgery at UCSF – East Bay Surgery Program, where he volunteered at the Guatemala Surgical Mission. In addition, Dr. Kashani completed a fellowship in minimally invasive, advanced laparoscopic, and bariatric surgery at Cedars–Sinai Medical Center. Dr. Kashani is board certified in General Surgery by the American Board of Surgery.

John Conrad, MD

Dr. John Conrad joined LA Vascular and Endovascular Surgery 6 years ago and has been continuing the group’s mission to provide state of the art limb salvage surgery and minimally invasive therapy. Dr. Conrad is board certified in both general and vascular surgery and completed all of his surgical training at Baylor University Medical Center in Dallas. He graduated medical school from UC San Diego and his undergraduate degree in English was completed at UC Santa Barbara with high Honors. Dr. Conrad is fluent in medical spanish.

J. Thomas Millington, MD

Dr. J. Thomas Millington is a fellow of the American College of Certified Wound Specialists and a fellow of the American Academy of Family Physicians. He is board certified by the American Board of Preventive Medicine with a subspecialty in undersea & hyperbaric medicine. Dr Millington has been providing specialized care in wound treatment and hyperbaric medicine since 1983. In addition to his practice, Dr. Millington teaches several safety courses on hyperbaric oxygen treatment annually.

Nursing and Support Staff

The staff at the center is experienced in the treatment of a variety of wounds and conditions. This includes not only doctors, but also nurses and other medical specialists. Our experts work together to determine the cause of the wound and develop an individualized treatment program.