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Kanagaratnam Sivalingam, MD, FACP, is a skilled internist at First Valley Medical Group in Lancaster, California. He has more than 40 years of experience in treating numerous acute and chronic conditions. Dr. Sivalingam spends time with patients and listens to their concerns, giving them a voice in their treatment.

Dr. Sivalingam earned his medical degree from the University of Ceylon Medical School in Peradeniya, Sri Lanka. He completed his internal medicine training at the Hospital for Joint Diseases in New York City and his residency at Vembadi Polyclinic in Ceylon, Sri Lanka.

He maintains his advanced credentials with continuing education. Dr. Sivalingam is board certified in internal medicine and licensed in the state of California. He’s a fellow of the American College of Physicians and a member of the American Medical Association, American Society of Echocardiography, American Academy of Anti-Aging Medicine, and numerous other professional organizations.

At First Valley Medical Group, Dr. Sivalingam provides premium care for patients with a variety of chronic diseases using a compassionate bedside manner. He uses the most innovative technology and procedures to provide expert treatments.

Dr. Sivalingam evaluates each patient as a whole person and offers conservative treatments whenever possible. He and his team warmly welcome patients to First Valley Medical Group and look forward to serving them.

Dr. Barry Buffman has been practicing since 1980 in internal medicine with a specialty in urology. He graduated from the Rush Medical College in Chicago, IL and practices with a focus on a multitude of urological issues, such as sexual dysfunction, bladder, and prostate conditions. In addition, Dr. Buffman is involved with medical research for various urological conditions. In his spare time Dr. Buffman has a passion for teleplay/screenplay, musical composition, guitar, and piano.

Kanagaratnam Sivalingam, MD, FACP, is a skilled internist at First Valley Medical Group in Lancaster, California. He has more than 40 years of experience in treating numerous acute and chronic conditions. Dr. Sivalingam spends time with patients and listens to their concerns, giving them a voice in their treatment.

Dr. Sivalingam earned his medical degree from the University of Ceylon Medical School in Peradeniya, Sri Lanka. He completed his internal medicine training at the Hospital for Joint Diseases in New York City and his residency at Vembadi Polyclinic in Ceylon, Sri Lanka.

He maintains his advanced credentials with continuing education. Dr. Sivalingam is board certified in internal medicine and licensed in the state of California. He’s a fellow of the American College of Physicians and a member of the American Medical Association, American Society of Echocardiography, American Academy of Anti-Aging Medicine, and numerous other professional organizations.

At First Valley Medical Group, Dr. Sivalingam provides premium care for patients with a variety of chronic diseases using a compassionate bedside manner. He uses the most innovative technology and procedures to provide expert treatments.

Dr. Sivalingam evaluates each patient as a whole person and offers conservative treatments whenever possible. He and his team warmly welcome patients to First Valley Medical Group and look forward to serving them.

Dr. Barry Buffman has been practicing since 1980 in internal medicine with a specialty in urology. He graduated from the Rush Medical College in Chicago, IL and practices with a focus on a multitude of urological issues, such as sexual dysfunction, bladder, and prostate conditions. In addition, Dr. Buffman is involved with medical research for various urological conditions. In his spare time Dr. Buffman has a passion for teleplay/screenplay, musical composition, guitar, and piano.

Kanagaratnam Sivalingam, MD, FACP, is a skilled internist at First Valley Medical Group in Lancaster, California. He has more than 40 years of experience in treating numerous acute and chronic conditions. Dr. Sivalingam spends time with patients and listens to their concerns, giving them a voice in their treatment.

Dr. Sivalingam earned his medical degree from the University of Ceylon Medical School in Peradeniya, Sri Lanka. He completed his internal medicine training at the Hospital for Joint Diseases in New York City and his residency at Vembadi Polyclinic in Ceylon, Sri Lanka.

He maintains his advanced credentials with continuing education. Dr. Sivalingam is board certified in internal medicine and licensed in the state of California. He’s a fellow of the American College of Physicians and a member of the American Medical Association, American Society of Echocardiography, American Academy of Anti-Aging Medicine, and numerous other professional organizations.

At First Valley Medical Group, Dr. Sivalingam provides premium care for patients with a variety of chronic diseases using a compassionate bedside manner. He uses the most innovative technology and procedures to provide expert treatments.

Dr. Sivalingam evaluates each patient as a whole person and offers conservative treatments whenever possible. He and his team warmly welcome patients to First Valley Medical Group and look forward to serving them.

Dr. Barry Buffman has been practicing since 1980 in internal medicine with a specialty in urology. He graduated from the Rush Medical College in Chicago, IL and practices with a focus on a multitude of urological issues, such as sexual dysfunction, bladder, and prostate conditions. In addition, Dr. Buffman is involved with medical research for various urological conditions. In his spare time Dr. Buffman has a passion for teleplay/screenplay, musical composition, guitar, and piano.

Teferi Mitiku, MD, FACC, is a board-certified cardiologist in Clinical Cardiac Electrophysiology and Cardiovascular Disease. He specializes in cardiac electrophysiology (EP) and provides the entire spectrum of arrhythmia treatments, including medical therapy, catheter ablation, and device-based therapy. Dr. Mitiku strives to provide compassionate care for his patients at Coastal Cardiology of Orange County in Irvine and Ladera Ranch, California.

Dr. Mitiku earned his Bachelor of Science in molecular cell and development biology from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), graduating magna cum laude. He went on to attend the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, receiving his Doctor of Medicine. 

He then completed his internship and residency in internal medicine at Stanford University Hospital in Stanford, California, before completing cardiovascular medicine and electrophysiology fellowships at Yale New Haven Hospital in New Haven, Connecticut.

He previously served as the Director of Electrophysiology and an Assistant Professor of Medicine in the Division of Cardiology at the University of California, Irvine (UCI) School of Medicine and Wayne State University School of Medicine.

During his academic appointments, Dr. Mitiku enjoys teaching medical students, residents, and cardiology fellows. He was awarded Outstanding Teacher of The Year for three consecutive years and was granted entry into the Gold Humanism Honor Society.

Dr. Mitiku is affiliated with UCI Medical Center in Orange, California, and serves as the director of electrophysiology at Hoag Irvine Hospital in Irvine, California. At Hoag, He was awarded the top quality performer within the Cardiology peer group for 2019 and 2020. He is also a member of the American Heart Association, American College of Cardiology, and the American Medical Association.

He looks forward to welcoming new patients and providing excellent care for those continuing at Coastal Cardiology of Orange County.

Huy Nguyen, MD, FACC, a cardiologist at Coastal Cardiology of Orange County, has deep roots in Irvine, California, one of the communities the practice proudly serves, along with Ladera Ranch, California.

Dr. Nguyen grew up in Irvine and received his Bachelor of Arts in biology from the University of California, Irvine. 

He then earned a master's in applied physiology and earned his medical degree from Chicago Medical School, one of the graduate schools of the Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science in North Chicago, Illinois. 

Back in Orange County, he completed his internship and residency in internal medicine, as well as his fellowship training in general cardiology, all at UC Irvine Medical Center in Orange, California.

He then moved to New York to complete his interventional cardiology fellowship at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City, where he was awarded Outstanding Interventional Cardiology Fellow of the Year.

Throughout the course of his training, Dr. Nguyen has given numerous lectures and presentations, and has authored publications in peer-reviewed journals on various topics in both general and interventional cardiology.  

He was involved with and participated in live case demonstrations at Mount Sinai Hospital, focusing on complex coronary interventions.

Dr. Nguyen believes in a patient-centric approach to cardiovascular care and focuses on the collaborative efforts with his patients in optimizing their outcomes.

In his spare time, Dr. Nguyen enjoys spending time with his family, watching movies, playing basketball, and surfing.

Brett Wertman, MD, FACC, is a triple board-certified cardiologist who is widely respected for his treatment and care for patients at Coastal Cardiology of Orange County in Ladera Ranch and Irvine, California.

Dr. Wertman, who twice has been named a Physician of Excellence by the Orange County Medical Association, also leads the Cardiac Rehabilitation Program at Hoag Hospital Irvine in Irvine. 

An Orange County native, Dr. Wertman graduated summa cum laude and with Phi Beta Kappa Society honors in earning his Bachelor of Arts degrees in biochemistry and molecular, cellular, and developmental biology from the University of Colorado Boulder in Boulder, Colorado.

Dr. Wertman then completed his medical degree from the University of Washington in Seattle, Washington, and went on to finish his internship and residency training in internal medicine at Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center in Los Angeles, California.

He completed his fellowship training in cardiology and interventional cardiology at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, also in Los Angeles.

Dr. Wertman has authored numerous publications in leading peer-reviewed journals and participated in live case transmissions to national meetings, demonstrating new techniques in the treatment of coronary artery disease and valvular heart disease. 

Dr. Wertman is highly trained in the percutaneous treatment of valvular heart disease, including aortic valve replacement using the Edwards Sapien heart valve system, as well as mitral valve repair using the Abbott MitraClip™ system. He also has significant experience in other novel interventional therapies.

He looks forward to welcoming new patients and offering superior care to those returning to Coastal Cardiology of Orange County.

In Dr. Wertman’s spare time, he enjoys relaxing with his family, traveling, and exercising.

Bianca Culhane is a board-certified physician assistant who is passionate about primary care and preventative medicine. Bianca graduated from Springfield College with a Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies, a minor in Nutrition Sciences, and as a PAEA Pi Alpha National Honor Society member. Bianca grew up in Western Massachusetts and enjoys being outdoors, running, and spending time with family and friends.

Daniel Norman, MD, is Board Certified in Sleep Medicine, and is the Medical Director at Santa Monica Sleep Disorders Center. He provides treatment options for a wide variety of conditions including snoring, insomnia, obstructive sleep apnea, narcolepsy, parasomnias, and more.

Dr. Norman is a graduate of the University of California, Los Angeles, where he earned a bachelor of science degree in neuroscience and graduated summa cum laude. From there, he attended University of California, Irvine College of Medicine, where he was again recognized for his academic excellence with an Alpha Omega Alpha distinction and acceptance to the National Dean's List. He then completed residency training in Internal Medicine, and a dedicated fellowship in Sleep Medicine at Harvard, and a Pulmonary and Critical Care Fellowship at UC San Diego.

Through his studies, Dr. Norman came to understand the impact sleep had on a person’s health, and developed an interest in the effective treatment of sleep disorders. Dr. Norman has been on the forefront of sleep medicine, as a principal investigator in numerous research studies, a lecturer at UCLA and at various national meetings, and an author of over 20 abstracts, book chapters, and scientific articles in peer reviewed journals.

Norr Santz, MD is a board-certified physician in physical medicine and rehabilitation who provides quality care to patients at the West Los Angeles office of Health Atlast. Dr. Santz completed her undergraduate studies at the University of California Los Angeles then earned her medical degree from Ross University School of Medicine. She went on to complete her residency in Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation at SUNY Downstate Medical Center in Brooklyn, NY. Dr. Santz provides comprehensive care to her patients and strives to empower and support them with patient education.
She values a multidisciplinary approach to maximize her patients’ physical function.

Clinical and health psychologist Elena Bagourdi, PhD, is the co-founder and program/clinical director of EXIS Youth. Located in West Los Angeles, California, Dr. Elena or Dr. B., as her clients call her, has expertise in the treatment of addictive behaviors, trauma, depression, anxiety, and personality disorders.

Since 1998, Dr. Elena has been working as a psychotherapist with individuals and their families. As the program/clinical director at EXIS Youth, Dr. Elena is highly invested in constantly expanding the therapeutic modalities used. She stays up-to-date and seeks out the most cutting-edge therapeutic approaches to incorporate into their existing program. This way, she can sustain the effectiveness of their program and further enrich its breadth.

Dr. Elena holds a PhD in clinical/health psychology, as well as a master’s in clinical psychology and organizational and economic psychology. She has a deep interest in her community, and she is on the board of local nonprofit organizations. Dr. Elena has also collaborated extensively with nonprofit organizations overseas. For instance, she co-led the World Health Organization (WHO)'s "mhGAP" pilot project in Greece on behalf of EPAPSY, a local nonprofit organization.  

In addition to EXIS Youth, Dr. Elena has a successful private practice as a psychotherapist.