Center for Reconstruction and Wound Healing
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.
Oran Schachter, DPM
Dr. Oran Schachter specializes in foot and ankle surgery with a focus on
wound care and limb preservation. He was born and raised in Israel and
moved to the United States after his military service in an elite unit.
He then graduated from UCLA with Bachelor of Science degree in Biochemistry.
He attended podiatry school in Western University of Health Sciences in
Pomona, CA and earned a degree of Doctor of Podiatric Medicine (D.P.M).
After graduation, Dr. Schachter was accepted to a residency program at
VA Greater Los Angeles. His training included rotations at VA Greater
Los Angeles, UCLA/Olive Medical Center and Kaiser Permanente in Woodland
Hills. Working in three different hospitals with three unique types of
populations allowed him to gain a well-rounded training. Dr. Schachter
is trained on a variety of pathologies, including lower extremity wounds,
trauma, reconstructive foot and ankle surgery, sport medicine injuries
and elective surgeries such as bunions and hammertoes. He graduated after
3 years of extensive training in Podiatric Medicine and Surgery with the
added credential in Reconstructive Rearfoot/Ankle Surgery (PMSR/RRA).
Dr. Schachter joined the Wound Institutes of America because he truly believes
that “Saving a limb is saving a life”. He understands that
it takes a village to heal a wound and collaborates with different specialties
such as vascular surgery, infectious diseases, primary care physicians,
home health agencies and others to allow for optimal environment for wound
healing. He understands that the first step to heal a wound is good bedside
manner and having a good rapport with his patients is essential. He is
versed in types of surgical and non-surgical treatment modalities and
formulates a plan that will fit the patient’s needs and expectations.
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.