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Dr. Lauren Poliakin is board certified in General Surgery with Fellowship training in Minimally Invasive and Bariatric Surgery and board certified in Obesity Medicine. A native to California, Dr. Poliakin completed her undergraduate education at Loyola Marymount University, obtaining a degree in Biology. She attended medical school at St. George's University School of Medicine. Dr. Poliakin completed her General Surgery residency training at The Brooklyn Hospital Center-Mount Sinai in Brooklyn, NY and fellowship training in Minimally Invasive and Bariatric Surgery at Atrium Health's Carolinas Medical Center in Charlotte, NC. During her training, she developed a particular interest in obesity, surgical and medical weight management, nutrition, laparoscopy, and robotic surgery. My staff and I strive to provide the highest standard of care and compassion to each of my patients.

About Dr. Taylor

Robert Taylor, MD, is an expert in the management of cerebrovascular disorders. At Link Integrated Healthcare in Oxnard, Camarillo, and Santa Baraba, California, he practices neurointerventional surgery, neurocritical care, and vascular neurology.  

Dr. Taylor has previously served as director to the Vascular Neurology Fellowship and site director to the Endovascular Surgical Neuroradiology Fellowship at the University of Minnesota/Fairview Hospital and the Hennepin County Medical Center in Minneapolis. He was recognized as one of the Best Doctors in America® in 2013 and America’s Best Doctors® in 2021.  

Dr. Taylor He is a member of the American Stroke Association (ASA), the American Academy of Neurology (AAN), the Neurocritical Care Society (NCS), a senior member of the Society of Neurointerventional Surgery (SNIS), and a founding member of the Society of Vascular and Interventional Neurology (SVIN).  

Dr. Taylor has published and given numerous lectures on the latest treatments of ischemic stroke, hemorrhagic stroke, subarachnoid hemorrhage, and neuroendovascular techniques and protocols.

Dr. Heather Matheny is a fellowship-trained vascular and endovascular surgeon specializing in the comprehensive management of arterial and venous disease. She completed her General Surgery residency at the University of California, San Francisco – Fresno, a program recognized for its rigorous clinical training and diverse patient population. She then pursued advanced fellowship training in Vascular and Endovascular Surgery at the University of Washington in Seattle, one of the nation’s top centers for vascular training and innovation. During her fellowship, she gained extensive experience in complex open and endovascular procedures, including branched and fenestrated aortic repairs, carotid interventions, limb preservation, dialysis access, and venous ablation and reconstruction.

Dr. Matheny’s clinical expertise spans the treatment of cerebrovascular disease, peripheral arterial disease, aortic pathology, venous disorders, and dialysis access creation and maintenance. She is skilled in minimally invasive endovascular techniques, as well as open surgical reconstruction when indicated. Her approach emphasizes individualized care plans that align with each patient’s goals and quality of life.

In addition to her clinical practice, Dr. Matheny has authored multiple peer-reviewed publications in the Journal of Vascular Surgery and presented her research at national meetings. Her academic interests include quality improvement in vascular care, limb preservation, and surgical education.

Dr. Matheny is proud to bring her academic training and compassionate approach to the patients of Coastal Vascular Center and the surrounding Ventura County community. She believes in empowering patients through education and working closely with multidisciplinary teams to achieve the best outcomes possible.

Outside of work, Dr. Matheny enjoys spending time with her family and her Yorkshire Terriers who keep her active and entertained.

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, Camarillo, Thousand Oaks, 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.

Dr. Martina Randall is a board-certified, fellowship-trained foot and ankle surgeon in the Greater Los Angeles, California region. Dr. Randall specializes in the foot, ankle, and lower leg surgery and has a particular interest in sports medicine. Patients can be seen in Burbank, West LA, and Fountain Valley.

Dr. Randall’s practice focuses on minimally invasive, arthroscopic surgery of the ankle, cartilage restoration, trauma, reconstruction, tendon and ligament repair, total ankle joint replacement, and cosmetic surgery such as bunion and hammertoe correction.

Dr. Randall graduated magna cum laude from the Cheyney University of Pennsylvania in 2009 and from medical school at Temple University in 2014 with her Doctorate of Podiatric Medicine.

While at Cheyney University, Dr. Randall was a member of the Women’s Basketball team earning conference team accolades and NCAA all-academic honors.

Following medical school, Dr. Randall completed her residency at Palmetto General Hospital, specializing in deformity correction, reconstruction, and lower leg trauma, including complex peri-and intra-articular fractures.

After residency, Dr. Randall completed one of the country’s few foot and ankle sports medicine fellowships at Virginia Mason Medical Center. While there, her subspecialty training emphasized cartilage restoration, ligament/tendon repair, and joint preserving surgical techniques for the foot and ankle, allowing patients to continue with their athletic careers and recreational activities.

During her fellowship at Virginia Mason Medical Center, Dr. Randall assisted the team physicians for the Seattle Seahawks(NFL), Seattle Storm(WNBA), and Seattle Sounders(MLS). She also serviced other sports teams, including multiple semi-professional, university, and high school teams in basketball, football, and track and field. One of Dr. Randall’s patients is competing in the Tokyo 2020 Olympics.

Dr. Randall is well known for her surgical skill and dedication to teaching. In addition to her surgical expertise, Dr. Randall is known for her humility, kind demeanor, and patient-friendly disposition. She treats every patient like family and believes that patient education and understanding are key to achieving excellent patient outcomes. Dr. Randall believes in extensive nonsurgical treatment options as well as advanced surgical techniques to help patients return to their previous level of function and activity.

In her free time, Dr. Randall likes to spend time with her family and friends in Southern California and back home in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. She enjoys basketball, running, golf, and fitness.

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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, Thousand Oaks, 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.

Karen Quirk, MD, FACS, is a highly-skilled vascular and endovascular surgeon on the team of providers at Coastal Vascular Center in Oxnard, Camarillo, Thousand Oaks, 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.

Dr. David Magner is a double board-certified surgeon specializing in colorectal surgery. He serves as the Clinical Chief of the Division of Colorectal Surgery at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Beverly Hills, CA. Dr. Magner delivers expert laparoscopic and minimally-invasive colon and rectal surgical procedures and prioritizes interdisciplinary, patient-centered treatment for colorectal disease.

To make his patients as comfortable as possible, Dr. Magner emphasizes his skill in laparoscopy, a low-risk and minimally-invasive approach that requires only small incisions. He offers completely laparoscopic colon and rectal procedures even for surgeries typically performed in an “open” manner.

After his post-baccalaureate, pre-med training at Harvard University, Dr. Magner earned his medical degree from the University of California, Irvine, School of Medicine. He was appointed Academic Chief Resident during his general surgery residency at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center and continued his training as a fellow in Colon and Rectal Surgery at University of Miami/Jackson Memorial Hospital.

Before opening a private practice in Beverly Hills, Dr. Magner lent his patient-focused skills to the team of California Colorectal Surgeons. He’s proficient in treating all aspects of colorectal disease, including benign anorectal conditions, inflammatory bowel disease, pelvic floor dysfunction and advanced gastrointestinal malignancies.

As a faculty member in the Division of Colon and Rectal Surgery at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Dr. Magner’s research interests focus on improving clinical outcomes for surgical patients. His work has been published in multiple peer-reviewed journals and presented at several professional conferences, both nationally and internationally.

Adam Ramin, MD, is board certified in urology, with sub-specialization in Urological Oncology and Robotic Surgery. His considerable medical expertise and surgical skills are enhanced by a true desire to provide a personalized, patient-first approach to medical care at his busy practice that’s located in the Century City district of Los Angeles.

Dr. Ramin received his medical degree from Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York and completed his urological surgery residency at Loma Linda University Medical Center in 2000. He subsequently completed fellowship training in urological oncology and laparoscopic urology at City of Hope National Medical Center in Duarte, California.

After completing his fellowship training, Dr. Ramin joined the faculty at the City of Hope as Assistant Professor of Surgery. He was among the first few surgeons in the United States to perform robot-assisted laparoscopic prostatectomy using the da Vinci system.

Dr. Ramin has since performed more than 2000 laparoscopic and robotic procedures for prostate, kidney, and bladder cancers. He also provides innovative care for men and women experiencing urological issues such as prostatic enlargement, pelvic organ prolapse, erectile dysfunction, and urinary incontinence.

As an expert in prostate cancer and robotic laparoscopic prostatectomy, Dr. Ramin has published numerous articles and research papers regarding prostate cancer. He has also trained numerous urologists in the techniques of minimally invasive laparoscopy and robotic surgery.

Dr. Ramin is on staff at several prestigious medical institutions, including City of Hope National Medical Center, Cedars Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, and Saint John's Health Center in Santa Monica, California.

For expert urological care that’s provided in a warm and friendly environment where patients come first, schedule a visit with Dr. Ramin.

A Los Angeles native, Dr. Soleymani completed his undergraduate studies in Evolutionary Biology at UCLA. He went on to graduate from the University of California, Irvine School of Medicine, during which time he was awarded numerous accolades for academic excellence and was inducted into the prestigious Alpha Omega Alpha honor society, considered widely to be the highest award bestowed in medical school.

Dr. Soleymani completed his internship at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, where he was awarded the UCLA David Geffen School of Medicine Excellence in Teaching with Humanism Award. He then went on to complete his residency at Stanford University in Palo Alto, California, one of the world’s most premier dermatology training programs. While at Stanford, Dr. Soleymani worked with world-renowned experts in cutaneous oncology and complex skin diseases and was the recipient of various academic awards and distinctions. 

Following residency, Dr. Soleymani completed a rigorous fellowship in Mohs Micrographic Surgery, Cutaneous Oncology, and Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery at the Zitelli and Brodland Skin Cancer Center under the tutelage of John Zitelli, M.D., considered by many to be  the world’s most prestigious and competitive fellowship program. His fellowship was directed by both John Zitelli, M.D. and David Brodland, M.D, widely considered to be two of the pre-eminent leading authorities in Mohs surgery. Notably,  Dr. Soleymani’s fellowship director, Dr. John A. Zitelli, MD, was trained directly by Dr. Frederic E. Mohs himself, the founder and pioneer of Mohs surgery. This direct lineage from Dr. Mohs enables Dr. Soleymani provides his patients with the highest-quality Mohs surgery possible. Additionally and in much acclaim, Dr. Soleymani’s unique fellowship training was the only program in the world that included fellowship training in both Mohs Micrographic Surgery and Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery as well.  As a result he is one of only a handful of Mohs Surgeons in the world with dedicated specialized training in Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery as well, allowing him to provide the best possible functional and aesthetic reconstructive results. 

Dr. Soleymani also completed a fellowship in dermatopharmacology, clinical trials and drug development at the famed Ronald O. Perelman Department of Dermatology at NYU in New York City.  During this time, he was a co-investigator for over 14 different investigator-initiated and industry-sponsored, multi-center, phase I-III clinical trials developing new drugs for various diseases in dermatology. His work during his fellowship earned him the coveted Maurice Husik, M.D. Award for Best Research.

Prior to establishing California Dermatology and Mohs Surgery Specialists, Dr. Soleymani practiced as a full-time Clinical Professor of Dermatology and Dermatologic Surgery at UCLA, where he was also the Director of the Pigmented Lesions and Melanoma Clinic, as well as Co-Director of Mohs Micrographic Surgery and Dermatologic Oncology Fellowship Education and Resident Surgery Education programs. 

During his tenure at UCLA, Dr. Soleymani received both local and national acclaim for introducing landmark and pioneering  surgical treatments for complex, high-risk and challenging skin cancers. He introduced advanced Mohs micrographic surgery with intra-operative immunostaining to UCLA,  pioneered groundbreaking work for the treatment of early-stage melanomas on the head and neck developed UCLA’s first Mohs Surgery for Melanoma program.  He also pioneered the creation and utilization of advanced intra-operative immunostaining during surgery for high-risk, complex and rare-skin cancers, which allowed for much higher tumor cure rates and greater successful clearance of the most challenging tumors.  As a result of his pioneering work, Dr. Soleymani was able to make tremendous improvements in patient outcomes and quality of care. 

In addition to clinical patient care, Dr. Soleymani remains robustly active in academic research, continuing to publish numerous scientific papers in peer-reviewed journals and book chapters in textbooks. He has lectured and continues to present at local, regional, and national academic conferences and remains active in clinical and translational research regarding dermatologic oncology and surgical reconstruction. He is considered by many to be a key thought leader and national expert in skin cancer treatment.

In his spare time, Dr. Soleymani enjoys spending quality time with his wife and sons, staying active, and traveling.

 

Awards

    2021 Victor Newcomer Outstanding Clinical Teaching Award, David Geffen School of Medicine, UCLA 2021 Tenth Annual Rising Derm Stars Competition Award Recipient; Maui, HI 2018 ASDS Annual Conference Resident Scholarship Award; Phoenix, AZ 2018 Cosmetic Surgery Forum Resident Scholarship Recipient; Las Vegas, NV 2017 Anita Gilliam, MD Best Resident Case Award, Pacific Dermatologic Association, San Francisco, CA 2017 ASDS Annual Conference Resident Scholarship Award; Chicago Il 2016 Maurice Husik, MD Award for Best Research, The Ronald O. Perelman Department of Dermatology, NYU School of Medicine 2015 UCLA David Geffen School of Medicine Excellence in Teaching with Humanism Residents and Fellows Award (first resident in the history of the department of medicine at Cedars-Sinai to given this award) 2013 Alpha Omega Alpha (AOA), UC Irvine School of Medicine 2012 Dean’s Award for Excellence in Basic Sciences, Two Years Cumulative 2012 Dean’s Award for Excellence in Pathology, National Pathology Honor Society 2011 Dean’s Award for Excellence in Basic Sciences, First Year 2011 Dean’s Letter of Commendation for Excellence in Anatomy 2011 Dean’s Letter of Commendation for Excellence in Neuroscience 2011 Dean’s Letter of Commendation for Excellence in Physiology 2011 Dean’s Letter of Commendation for Excellence in Histology 2010 UCLA College of Letters and Science – Cum Laude Latin Honors 2010 UCLA Department of Biology - Departmental Honors  

Neal Handel, MD, a board certified Plastic Surgeon, has been in practice in Southern California for 45 years. He received his bachelor’s degree from Columbia University, where he graduated with honors. He received his MD from Yale University. Dr. Handel did his general surgery training at UCLA and Tulane, and completed his residency in plastic surgery at the University of Colorado Medical Center. Dr. Handel underwent fellowship training in England and Scotland prior to entering practice in Los Angeles in 1980. 

As a Clinical Professor at UCLA School of Medicine, he is actively involved in training young surgeons. A well-known leader in the field, Dr. Handel is often invited to lecture at professional meetings throughout the United States and around the world.

Dr. Handel has received numerous citations for excellence. He was selected in 2006 by CMagazine as one of the “ten best” plastic surgeons in California, was selected by Los Angeles Magazine (based on peer recommendations from other physicians) as one of Los Angeles’s “Super Doctors” for 2016, 2017, 2018 and 2019; Dr. Handel was also listed by “Super Doctors” as a top doctor for 2016, 2017, 2018 and 2019 and chosen for inclusion on the prestigious “Castle Connolly Top Doctor” list for 2016, 2017, 2018 and 2019.