Meet the Medical Staff

Liva L. Yates Gritton, MD

Medical Director, Center for Wound Healing, and Wound & Hyperbaric Center

Liva Yates Gritton, MD has focused on improving the life of each patient she treats, not only through medicine but also with patient advocacy and compassion.

Dr. Yates Gritton received her Medical Doctorate from the University of California, San Diego and completed her internship at Harvard Medical School at Cambridge Hospital. In 1995, she completed her residency for Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, and received the designation from the University of California, Irvine. That same year, Dr. Yates Gritton shared her passion for medicine and rehabilitation as an Assistant Adjunct Professor in the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, UC Irvine, where she later became a Medical Director in Acute Rehabilitation services. In 2007, Dr. Yates Gritton assisted in opening the Valley Rehabilitation Center at Valley Presbyterian Hospital, and has been the Medical Director since. In 2015, she became the Medical Director of the hospital's Wound and Hyperbaric Center.

With her unwavering commitment to serving the community, Dr. Yates Gritton strives to provide the best quality of life for each individual she sees.

Ronald Belczyk, DPM

Ronald Belczyk, DPM specializes in podiatric surgery and has been a member of Valley Presbyterian Hospital since September 2010.

Dr. Belczyk is a reconstructive foot and ankle surgeon who specializes in the treatment of traumatic, degenerative, congenital, and acquired disorders of the lower extremity. Upon graduating from Samuel Merritt College of Podiatric Medicine, Dr. Belczyk went on to complete his Podiatric Surgery residency at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center and then completed a fellowship in Limb Salvage at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center and subsequently a Reconstructive foot and ankle surgery fellowship at the University of Texas Health Science Center San Antonio. His training focused on traumatic foot and ankle injuries, deformity correction, diabetic Charcot reconstruction, and soft tissue coverage of the diabetic foot. Dr. Belczyk has also completed fellowships on external fixation in Russia and Greece. He also completed an AO fellowship in Switzerland.

Dr. Belczyk is board certified with the American Board of Podiatric Medicine. He is an active member of several associations including American Board of Podiatric Surgery, American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons and American Podiatric Medical Association.

He actively participates in resident education and clinical research. He is the founder and fellowship director at the Center for Foot Surgery in Oxnard, California. He has authored over 50 publications in peer reviewed journals and book chapters in the field of 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.

James Burks, Jr., MD

Dr. Burks is board-certified by the American Board of Surgery and the American Board of Vascular Surgery and specializes in vascular and endovascular surgery.

After receiving his undergraduate degree from Carnegie-Mellon University, he earned his Doctor of Medicine degree from the School of Medicine at New York University, where he was elected into Alpha Omega Alpha, a national honor society for medical students. His general surgical training and chief residency were completed at the Columbia University School of Medicine and Columbia-Presbyterian Hospital in New York City. Dr. Burks completed his vascular and endovascular fellowship at Mount Sinai Medical Center in New York.

He has been in practice for more than a decade and has held many leadership roles, such as Chief of Vascular Surgery and Chairman of the Peripheral Vascular Interventions Credentials Committee at South Miami Hospital. He has published numerous research papers in peer-reviewed journals. He also holds an MBA from the University of Miami.

Alex Dawoodian, DPM

Alex Dawoodian, DPM specializes in podiatry surgery and has been a member of Valley Presbyterian Hospital since July 2018.

Dr. Dawoodian earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Biological Sciences from University of California, Irvine. After finding his path in medicine, Dr. Dawoodian completed his medical education at Western University of Health Sciences earning his degree in Doctor of Podiatric Medicine. Upon graduation, he completed his surgical residency of foot and ankle reconstruction at St. Vincent Charity Medical Center in Cleveland, Ohio. Throughout his time in residency Dr. Dawoodian developed an interest in diabetic limb salvage and reconstruction and enveloped countless hours in various surgical techniques that would offer tools to help with complex limb threatening diseases.

After completing residency, Dr. Dawoodian completed a fellowship in diabetic limb salvage with the Center of Foot Surgery under the direction of Dr. Ronald Belczyk, DPM. Now, Dr. Dawoodian practices in multiple hospitals in southern California serving the community with all types of foot and ankle issues.

Sammy Eghbalieh, MD

Sammy Eghbalieh, MD specializes in vascular, endovascular, and minimally invasive vascular surgery. He has been a member of Valley Presbyterian Hospital's Medical Staff since 2015.

Dr. Eghbalieh received his Bachelors degree from UCLA, graduating summa cum laude and ranked in the top 1 percent of his class, being awarded Bruin Senior of the Year. He received his medical degree from the UCLA David Geffen School of Medicine. He completed general surgery training at Yale University School of Medicine Affiliate Hospitals - Saint Mary's, conducting numerous academic research investigations for publication. His research contributions have received awards and recognized regionally and nationally. Following general surgery training, Dr. Eghbalieh completed fellowship in Vascular, Endovascular and Minimally Invasive Vascular Surgery at the prestigious Vascular Group at Albany Medical Center, New York, where he performed complex vascular and limb-salvage procedures.

Dr. Eghbalieh is a member of multiple medical staff committees and now serves at the Representative for Southern California Vascular Focus Group. He currently serves as the president of the Southern California Vascular Group.

Samuel Kashani, MD

Samuel Kashani, MD is board-certified in general surgery by the American Board of Surgery with expertise in pressure ulcer management and the use of alternative tissues to cover wounds. He has specialties in both robotic surgery and undersea and hyperbaric oxygen therapy and medicine. Dr. Kashani has been a member of Valley Presbyterian Hospital’s Medical Staff since February 2009

He received his medical degree from Rosalind Franklin University in Chicago, Illinois, and completed his residency at UCSF – East Bay Surgery Program in Oakland, California. Dr. Kashani completed his fellowship in minimally invasive, advanced laparoscopic, and bariatric surgery from Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, California.

Dr. Kashani is an active member of various societies including American Society for Metabolic & Bariatric Surgery, Society of American Gastrointestinal and Endoscopic Surgeons, American College of Surgeons and American Medical Association.

Dr. Kashani devotes his time to mentoring students and residents as an assistant clinical professor of podiatric medicine and surgery at the Western University of Health Sciences, and as an assistant clinical professor at the UCLA School of Nursing.

Besides his medical practices in the United States, Dr. Kashani has devoted his time and skills to free medical missions internationally and supports the art community by establishing and sponsoring a non-profit art gallery in the Los Angeles area.

Richard J. Sarte, DPM, FACFAS

Richard Sarte, DPM, FACFAS specializes in podiatry and is board-certified by the American Board of Foot and Ankle Surgery and the American Board of Podiatric Medicine. He has been a member of Valley Presbyterian Hospital’s Medical Staff since February 2011.

Dr. Sarte earned his Doctor of Podiatric Medicine degree from California College of Podiatric Medicine in San Francisco, California. He completed his podiatric medicine and podiatric surgery residencies at the Southern California Podiatric Medical Center. He is a fellow at the American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons and a diplomate of both the American Board of Foot and Ankle Surgery and the American Board of Podiatric Medicine.

Dr. Sarte is a member of the Academy of Physicians in Wound Healing (APWH). He joined APWH as a Fellows- Certified and has a certification in wound care (FAPWHc).

Dr. Sarte was a former assistant Clinical Professor at Los Angeles County/USC Medical Center/CCPM Southern Campus . He participated in the training of podiatric medical students and residents.

Renée Shepherd, DPM, AACFAS

Renée Shepherd, DPM AACFAS specializes in podiatry surgery and has been a member of Valley Presbyterian Hospital since September 2019.

Dr. Shepherd received her Bachelor of Science degree from Bethany College West Virginia. During those years she found her love for foot and ankle surgery and then attended Kent State University College of Podiatric Medicine. After graduating with her Doctor of Podiatric Medicine degree, she completed her three-year surgical residency at Heritage Valley Beaver, outside of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

Dr. Shepherd is a fellowship trained foot and ankle surgeon who is well rounded in forefoot and rearfoot surgeries with diversity including diabetic limb salvage/reconstruction, sports medicine, and trauma. She has been affiliated with the hospital's wound care centers and orthopedic practice. As a former college athlete and sports fanatic, she has a special interest in orthopedic sports medicine with dedication to getting her patients back to their goals in life.

She has publications in scientific journals and presented at national conferences. She continues to dedicate time towards research and education, allowing her to offer the most up to date and innovative podiatric practices there are to offer.

Syamak Yamini, DPM

Syamak Yamini, DPM, specializes in Podiatry. He is board-certified by the American Board of Foot and Ankle Surgery. He has been a member of the Valley Presbyterian Hospital’s Medical Staff since March 2016.

Dr. Yamini earned his Doctor of Podiatric Medicine degree from the California School of Podiatric Medicine at Samuel Merritt College. He completed his podiatric medicine and surgery residency at Olive View – UCLA Medical Center in Los Angeles, California.

Dr. Yamini is a member of the American Podiatric Medical Association, California Podiatric Medical Associatio n, Los Angeles Podiatric Medical Society and a fellow of the American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons. He is also an attending physician at the VA Greater Los Angeles.