James Burks, Jr., MD

Co-Director, Center for Wound Healing

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.

Ihab Aziz, MD

Dr. Aziz is board-certified by the American Board of Surgery, and holds his own private practice in the San Fernando Valley as a vascular and endovascular surgeon.

He earned his Doctor of Medicine degree from the School of Medicine at the Ain Shams University in Cairo, Egypt. He completed a vascular and endovascular surgery fellowship at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center in Torrance, Calif. Dr. Aziz also completed multiple general surgery residencies throughout his academic career, including a general surgery residency at the LAC+USC Medical Center in Los Angeles.

Dr. Aziz has been published in numerous research papers and peer reviewed journals. In addition, he is actively involved in several cardiac vasculature graft and stent research projects as a co-principal investigator. Dr. Aziz has been a member of organizations on the American College of Surgeons and the International Society for Endovascular Specialists, and is currently a member of the Society for Vascular Surgery.

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 been 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.

Zhen S. Huang, MD

Zhen Huang, MD specializes in vascular surgery. He has been a member of Valley Presbyterian Hospital's Medical Staff since August 2015.

Dr. Huang received his medical degree from Tufts University School of Medicine and completed his residency in General Surgery at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center at Harvard Medical School in Boston, Massachusetts. Dr. Huang completed his fellowship in Vascular Surgery at New York Presbyterian Hospital (Weill Cornell Medical College and Columbia University) in New York, New York.

Dr. Huang is an active member in several associations including American College of Surgeons, Society for Clinical Vascular Surgery, and Society for Vascular Surgery.

Dr. Huang has had many publications, and national and regional presentations. His most recent publication, in 2015, is titled, “Endovascular Interventions for Tibial Artery Occlusive Disease in Patients with Critical Limb Ischemia.” He has also conducted various research projects at Harvard Medical School, Tufts University School of Medicine, Weil Cornell Medical College, Cornell University, and The Rockefeller University. Aside from his publications and research experiences, Dr. Huang has been an instructor as well at the following institutions, Weill Cornell Medical College, Columbia University Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, and Cornell University.

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.

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 Association, 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.

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 abd 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.

Aaron Shelub, MD

Aaron Shelub, MD specializes in infectious disease. He has been a member of Valley Presbyterian Hospital’s Medical Staff since November 2008. He is a diplomate with the American Board of Internal Medicine in the subspecialties of internal medicine and infectious disease.

Upon completing his bachelor’s degree in Biology at UC Santa Cruz, Dr. Shelub moved to Tel Aviv, Israel, to earn his medical degree before returning to California and settling in the Los Angeles area. Dr. Shelub performed his residency in internal medicine at hospitals in Long Beach and Torrance, followed by a two-year fellowship in infectious disease at the University of California, Los Angeles combined campus program. He also conducted cutting-edge research into bacterial infections at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center and Olive View-UCLA Medical Center.

Over the years, Dr. Shelub has spoken at numerous regional medical facilities on such topics as Legionnaires’ disease; aspergillus sternal wound infections, osteomyelitis, coccidioidomycosis, paucibacillary tuberculosis, and other diseases and infections. In addition, Dr. Shelub serves as an Infectious Disease Physician in the Military, as well as participates in infection control, medical education, and antimicrobial stewardship committees at major hospitals throughout the San Fernando Valley region. Dr. Shelub also participates in conferences and continuing professional development through membership in several medical societies, including the Infectious Diseases Society of America and the Infectious Disease Association of California.