School of Medicine
Showing 1-92 of 92 Results
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Fabiana Aellos
Postdoctoral Scholar, Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
Current Research and Scholarly InterestsMy background in implantology and periodontology, combined with my microsurgical skills, has allowed me to tackle complex oral surgeries and intricate procedures. These skills have been instrumental in advancing the field and, more importantly, in improving the outcomes and well-being of my patients.
I've always believed in bridging the gap between fundamental research and its practical application in clinical settings. By amalgamating my clinical experiences with laboratory investigations, I've contributed to the development of surgical models that closely mimic human diseases and conditions. This approach enhances our understanding of how tissues respond to surgical interventions, paving the way for more effective treatments.
My research into mucosal integration of percutaneous implants and the role of Wnt signaling in implant osseointegration seeks to optimize the interaction between implants and surrounding tissues. This improved integration not only bolsters the stability of dental implants but also ensures their long-term success, ultimately enhancing the quality of life for our patients. My involvement in regenerative medicine research is driven by a passion for developing innovative strategies for tissue repair and regeneration. This work has the potential to revolutionize how dental professionals address challenges such as bone defects and periodontal tissue loss, leading to better patient outcomes.
One of my greatest joys is nurturing the next generation of dental professionals. Through my dedication to training and mentoring undergraduate and pre-dental students, I aim to equip them with advanced research and clinical skills. Fostering curiosity and empowering young minds to contribute to scientific advancements in dentistry is a responsibility I hold close to my heart.
I'm grateful for the international grants and collaborations that support my work. These resources not only enable my research but also contribute to the broader progress of our research laboratory. Together, we pursue innovative projects that have the potential to impact dental care on a global scale.
Recognizing the importance of effective communication, I've committed myself to enhancing my communication skills and engaging in professional development activities. Effective communication is key to translating research findings into clinical practice, influencing dental policies, and sharing knowledge within our professional community.
As I gaze into the future, I envision a dentistry landscape where my work may lead to more advanced and efficacious dental treatments, refined surgical techniques, and enhanced patient care. In the challenging realm of bone-anchored percutaneous implants, plagued by the persistent issue of implant failure due to infections at the soft tissue-implant interface, I confront this concern head-on. My mission is to meticulously investigate the biological and biophysical intricacies of this interface, with the aim of enhancing its barrier function through innovative strategies.
My journey from the confines of clinical practice to the expansive realms of research has been underpinned by a humble desire—a desire to forge a lasting impact on the field of dentistry, to ignite the flames of curiosity in future generations of dentists, and to contribute to the enhancement of dental care for all. -
Somayeh H. Ahmad, DDS, Dr. Med. Dent.
Instructor, Surgery - Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery
Current Research and Scholarly InterestsDentistry
Dental Oncology
Dental Surgery
Special Needs Dentistry -
Nicholas Bene, MD
Clinical Assistant Professor, Surgery - Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery
BioDr. Nick Bene is a Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeon who serves as the Director of Gender Affirmation Surgery at Stanford Medicine.
He earned his medical degree from Tufts University and completed his residency in Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery at Lahey Clinic in Boston, MA. Driven by a commitment to gender care, Dr. Bene pursued a dedicated fellowship in Advanced Gender Affirmation Surgery at Oregon Health & Science University in Portland, OR.
Bringing comprehensive surgical expertise in facial, chest, body and genital affirmation procedures, Dr. Bene is dedicated to providing exceptional care for gender diverse people.
He prioritizes a collaborative approach during consultations, working closely with patients to develop personalized surgical plans through informed decision-making and empowerment.
Dr. Bene’s research interests include patient-centered outcomes, innovative surgical techniques, improving access to affirming care and reducing complications in gender affirmation surgery. He is also committed to advancing education within residency and fellowship programs.
A native of Hong Kong, Dr. Bene is fluent in Cantonese. -
John B. Brunski
Senior Research Engineer, Surgery - Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
BioJohn B. Brunski is currently Senior Research Engineer in the Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Department of Surgery, School of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, CA. From 1977 to December 2009, he was Professor in the Department of Biomedical Engineering at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy, NY. He received his B.S. degree at the University of Pennsylvania, his M.S. degree at Stanford University, and his Ph.D. at the University of Pennsylvania, all in Metallurgy and Materials Science. Dr. Brunski’s 1977 Ph.D. thesis identified factors responsible for development of fibrous tissue vs. bone at the oral implant interface, and it was the first doctorate degree to be granted for dental implant research at an engineering school in the US.
Dr. Brunski’s research has largely focused on bioengineering aspects of dental and orthopaedic implant design, bone-implant interactions, and the biomechanics of bone healing. Dr. Brunski is one of the Principal Investigators of an ongoing R01 research grant from NIH to Stanford University and the University of Montreal entitled “Mechanobiology at healing bone-implant interfaces.” Dr. Brunski has authored over 30 textbook chapters on oral implants, bone, and related topics, plus 125 papers and extended abstracts. He has also delivered over 160 public presentations on these and related topics at national and international meetings, including many keynote lectures. Over his career, Dr. Brunski has been the Principal Investigator or co-investigator on over 20 research grants.
For more than 10 years Dr. Brunski was a Consultant to the Dental Devices Panel of the FDA. From 2009-2012 he was a member of the Musculoskeletal Tissue Engineering (MTE) Study Section of the NIH. Dr. Brunski has also professionally consulted for over 20 legal firms and corporations on topics ranging from patent infringement to product design and product liability. Dr. Brunski serves as Section Editor for Biomechanics and Biomaterials for the International Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial Implants. He has also served on the editorial boards of Clinical Oral Implant Research, J Dent Research, J Biomechanics, and other journals, and has served as a reviewer for many other journals including Bone, J Orthopaedic Research, and J Biomechanical Engineering.
Dr. Brunski has received a number of awards for innovation and excellence in teaching and engineering education, including being a member of a 10-person Rensselaer team that won the first Boeing Outstanding Educator Award in 1995. Also, he was part of a Rensselaer faculty team that won the Premier Award for Excellence in Engineering Education Courseware, Dec. 2000, sponsored by NEEDS and John Wiley and Sons, as well as the 2001 American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) Curriculum Innovation Award.
For his research, Dr. Brunski received the Isaiah Lew Memorial Research Award from the American Academy of Implant Dentistry Research Foundation in 2001, being only the third engineer to receive this award. In 2006, Dr. Brunski was appointed as the first William R. Laney Visiting Professor at the Division of Prosthodontics at the Mayo Foundation in Rochester, NY, and also received the Jerome M. and Dorothy Schweitzer Research Award from the Greater New York Academy of Prosthodontics, New York City, NY. In 2007 Dr. Brunski was the recipient of the Anders Tjellström Award from the Craniofacial Osseointegration and Maxillofacial Prosthetics Rehabilitation Unit, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. In 2008 he received the Astra Tech Scientific Award for Applied Research in Osseointegration. -
Crystal Chang, D.D.S.
Clinical Assistant Professor, Surgery - Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery
BioDr. Crystal Chang is a Hospital Dentist and Clinical Assistant Professor in Dental Medicine & Surgery. She focuses on maintaining oral health through the management of infection, trauma and secondary comorbidities to the dentition and its supporting structures. She performs medically necessary dental surgery in the context of cardiac disease, orthopedic surgery, cancer therapy and organ transplants. Dr. Chang is also a Diplomate of the American Board of Dental Sleep Medicine and provides oral appliance therapy for obstructive sleep apnea.
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James Chang, MD
Johnson and Johnson Professor of Surgery
Current Research and Scholarly InterestsMy role in research is to apply novel advances in tissue engineering and microsurgery to the clinical problems of hand trauma, peripheral nerve injuries, and congenital hand problems. I am interested in developing new tissues and techniques that will allow optimal reconstruction of form and function to those patients requiring reconstructive surgery.
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William Choi, D.M.D.
Clinical Associate Professor, Surgery - Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery
BioClinical focus in Hospital Dentistry serving as needed for hospital inpatients, dental oncology, adults with disability and emergency room patients who need dental consultation or treatment.
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HyeRan Choo
Clinical Associate Professor, Surgery - Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery
BioDr. HyeRan Choo is a Clinical Associate Professor of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery in the Department of Surgery at Stanford University School of Medicine. She is Director of Neonatal and Pediatric Craniofacial Airway Orthodontics and Dental Sleep Medicine at Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital Stanford. She also directs the Neonatal and Pediatric Craniofacial Airway Orthodontic Fellowship in the Department of Surgery / Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery. She is a Faculty Fellow of the Stanford Byers Center for Biodesign.
After graduating from Seoul National University with a combined degree in Natural Sciences and Dental Surgery in 2002, Dr. Choo received her Dental Medicine degree from the University of Pennsylvania. She completed her orthodontic residency and Masters in Science degree program at the University of Alabama in Birmingham. Following her Craniofacial Fellowship at the Clinical Center of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) / National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR), Dr. Choo was recruited as a full-time faculty member at the University of Pennsylvania and The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. Dr. Choo joined the faculty of Stanford University School of Medicine in 2016. Dr. Choo is a board-certified craniofacial orthodontist by American Board of Orthodontics since 2008 and became a diplomate of the American Board of Dental Sleep Medicine in 2021.
Dr. Choo’s areas of expertise are non-surgical airway management and facial reconstruction for newborns with cleft and/or Robin Sequence in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. Her treatments utilize simple custom-fabricated orthodontic devices to establish a healthy environment to correct neonatal orofacial abnormalities with great respect for natural growth potential of each neonate. She also practices the full scope of pediatric obstructive sleep apnea management as well as orthodontics and dentofacial orthopedics for patients with cleft and craniofacial abnormalities in a multi-disciplinary clinical setting.
Dr. Choo’s treatment philosophy is based on a fundamental understanding of facial growth and oral functions (Biocreative Orthodontic Strategy). Her research focuses on translation of health innovation technology for the advancement of infant orthodontics. She also pioneers the development of skeletal anchorage-based orthodontic and orthopedic treatment strategies for pediatric sleep apnea patients. -
Kirk Churukian
Clinical Assistant Professor, Surgery - Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery
BioKirk A. Churukian MD, FACS is board certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery. Dr. Churukian completed training in general surgery, plastic surgery, and hand surgery. He was board certified in general surgery and is currently board certified in plastic surgery.
Dr. Churukian is a member of several local, state, and national professional societies and has practiced in the Los Gatos/San Jose areas for more than 20 years. He tries to bring a friendly, creative, and patient focused approach to his cosmetic and reconstructive surgery practice.
In addition to his private cosmetic practice, Dr. Churukian serves the community as a trauma specialist at San Jose Regional Medical Center. At this level II Trauma Center, he specializes in facial and orbital fracture repair and complex reconstructive surgery of the trunk and extremities. He also maintains an ongoing commitment to enhancing self-image with breast reconstruction for cancer survivors.
Dr. Churukian grew up as a first generation eldest son of Armenian parents in Southern California and attended the University of Southern California, graduating with a degree in Psychobiology. Always interested in athletics, He participated in swimming and water polo throughout high school and played club water polo in college. This interest in aquatics was transferred to his children, all of whom are swimmers, and two of whom are avid water polo players. He currently resides in Menlo Park, California and is currently still married to his first wife ;-). He enjoys supporting Stanford athletics, except when the USC Trojans come to town! -
Cristin Louise Coquillard
Affiliate, Department Funds
Fellow in Surgery - Plastic and Reconstructive SurgeryBioDr. Cristin Coquillard is a current Hand Surgery Fellow. She grew up in Mountain View, CA and attended the University of Washington, where she received a BS in Cell and Molecular Biology and a minor in Chemistry. She then spent several years as a Clinical Laboratory Scientist and later as a supervisor in the Stanford Histocompatibility, Immunogenetics, and Disease Profiling Laboratory before pursuing a career in medicine. She received her medical degree from the University of Kentucky, where she was elected to AOA and graduated with high distinction, before completing her Integrated Plastic Surgery Residency at Northwestern University in Chicago. She is excited to be at Stanford as a hand fellow for the completion of her training, and to return to the Bay Area.
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Catherine Curtin MD
Professor of Surgery (Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery) and, by courtesy, of Orthopaedic Surgery
Current Research and Scholarly InterestsMaintaining and optimizing upper limb function in people with spinal cord injury and other nerve disorders.
Improving pain and general well being after severe hand injuries.
Improving treatment and recognition of pain. -
Serena DeTata
Temp - Non-Exempt, Surgery - Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
Current Role at StanfordHealthcare Sustainability Research Assistant
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Paige Fox, MD, PhD, FACS
Associate Professor of Surgery (Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery)
BioDr. Paige Fox is Board Certified Plastic Surgeon who specializes in hand surgery, reconstructive microsurgery including facial reanimation, as well as peripheral nerve and brachial plexus surgery. She is an Associate Professor in the Division of Plastic and Reconstructive surgery in the Department of Surgery. She works with adult and pediatric patients. Her lab focuses on wound healing and nerve compression. She has clinical research interested in optimizing care of upper extremity and nerve disorders both in the US and internationally. Dr. Fox has a passion for sustainability and health care's effect on the environment. She is involved in efforts to green the OR and the clinics at Stanford.
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Dyani Gaudilliere
Clinical Associate Professor, Surgery - Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery
BioDr. Dyani Gaudilliere specializes in Dental Surgery and Oral Oncology in a hospital setting. As a hospital dentist she performs surgical treatment of infection and trauma to the teeth and supporting alveolar bone. She also performs medically necessary dental clearance and extractions in the context of larger medical conditions, such as cardiac disease, joint replacement, or organ transplantation. As an oral oncologist, she specializes in surgical dental treatment prior to, during, and following radiation therapy and chemotherapy.
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Geoffrey Gurtner
Johnson & Johnson Distinguished Professor of Surgery, Emeritus
Current Research and Scholarly InterestsGeoffrey Gurtner's Lab is interested in understanding the mecahnism of new blood vessel growth following injury and how pathways of tissue regeneration and fibrosis interact in wound healing.
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Jill Helms
Professor of Surgery (Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery)
Current Research and Scholarly InterestsDr. Helms' research interests center around regenerative medicine and craniofacial development.
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Rod Hentz
Professor of Surgery, Emeritus
Current Research and Scholarly Interests1. Nerve regeneration and repair, evaluation of repair methods, modalities to enhance peripheral nerve regeneration, development of improved methods to analyze nerve regeneration.
2. Implementation of functional neuromuscular stimulation to paralytic deformities.
3. Computer modeling of upper limb function. -
Franco Hernandez
Clinical Assistant Professor, Surgery - Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery
BioDr. Franco Hernandez was born and raised in Southern California. He graduated from the University of California, Riverside where he obtained a Bachelor’s in Economics, graduating with honors. He went on to complete his Doctorate of Dental Surgery at the University of Southern California where he spent dedicated time as a selective student with emphasized training in the areas of Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery, Dental Anesthesia, and Public Health. Following graduation, he began his post-graduate training as an Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery intern at Parkland Memorial Hospital / UT Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas, one of the largest level 1 trauma centers in the state of Texas. He continued his training at Stanford University Medical Center where he completed a Dental Medicine, Oral & Maxillofacial clinical instructorship.
Dr. Hernandez diagnoses, treats, and manages a variety of conditions including: odontogenic infection, dentoalveolar trauma, edentulism (partial and complete), non-malignant oral lesions, benign cysts/tumor of the maxilla/mandible, osteonecrosis of the maxilla/mandible, temporomandibular disorders (TMD), and orofacial pain. He routinely performs surgical dental extractions, oral rehabilitation with dental implants, removal of 3rd molars (“wisdom teeth”), bone grafting, excision of benign maxillary/mandibular cysts, as well as management of TMD and Orofacial pain. As a Dental Oncologist, he specializes in dental procedures and surgeries prior to, during, and following head & neck radiation therapy and chemotherapy. As a Hospital Dentist, he performs medically necessary dental procedures and surgeries in the context of extensive cardiac disease, major organ failure/transplant cases, major systemic disease, cancer therapy, and orthopedic surgery. -
David Kahn, M.D.
Clinical Associate Professor, Surgery - Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery
Current Research and Scholarly InterestsCosmetic surgery and the study of changes associated with the aging appearance of the face.
1. Analysis and development of new procedures for aesthetic surgery of the face
2. Analysis of the changes the face undergoes with age in the bone and soft tissues
3. Analysis of techniques for rhinoplasty
4. Evaluation of optimal techniques for aesthetic and reconstructive breast surgery -
Nathan Kalinowski, D.M.D.
Clinical Assistant Professor, Surgery - Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery
BioDr. Nathan Kalinowski is a Hospital Dentist and Clinical Assistant Professor in Dental Medicine and Surgery. He performs medically necessary dental clearance and extractions for patients preparing for cardiac surgery, radiation therapy, or organ transplantation. He also performs surgical treatment of infection and trauma to the teeth and supporting alveolar bone including reconstruction using dental implants.
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Amy Ladd, MD
Elsbach-Richards Professor of Surgery and Professor, by courtesy, of Medicine (Immunology & Rheumatology) and of Surgery (Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery)
Current Research and Scholarly InterestsResearch Interests
1. The kinematics and forces associated with thumb carpometcarpal (CMC) function and pathology
2. The anatomy, microstructure, and immunofluorescent characteristics of the thumb CMC joint
3. Pathomechaniics of CMC arthritis: biomechanical wear, injury, genetic, and environmental causes
4. Biomechanics of the golf swing
5. Archiving, vitalizing, and innovating medical and surgical knowledge, most recently with innovative iBook monographs -
Farrah Chang Liu
Affiliate, Department Funds
Resident in Surgery - Plastic and Reconstructive SurgeryBioPlastic and Reconstructive Surgery Resident
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Dr. Michael T. Longaker
Deane P. and Louise Mitchell Professor in the School of Medicine and Professor, by courtesy, of Materials Science and Engineering
Current Research and Scholarly InterestsWe have six main areas of current interest: 1) Cranial Suture Developmental Biology, 2) Distraction Osteogenesis, 3) Fibroblast heterogeneity and fibrosis repair, 4) Scarless Fetal Wound Healing, 5) Skeletal Stem Cells, 6) Novel Gene and Stem Cell Therapeutic Approaches.
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H. Peter Lorenz, MD
Professor of Surgery (Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery)
Current Research and Scholarly InterestsWe have three areas of current investigation:
1) Scarless skin wound healing biology
2) Dot stem cell tissue regeneration biology
3) Novel stem cell therapy for tissue engineering -
Anna Luan
Clinical Assistant Professor, Surgery - Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery
BioDr. Anna Luan received her Bachelor and Master of Science degrees in Bioengineering at the University of California, San Diego. She obtained her medical degree and continued on to complete residency in Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery at Stanford. During this time, she was a Donald Laub fellow in global reconstructive surgery with ReSurge International, and was the Ron Milliken Resident Teacher of the Year. Following residency, she completed the combined orthopaedic/plastic surgery Hand and Upper Extremity fellowship at Massachusetts General Hospital/Harvard, with further experience in hand and wrist trauma, peripheral nerve surgery, and complex upper limb reconstruction. She is currently a Clinical Assistant Professor in the Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery within the Department of Surgery.
Her research interests are in innovation and translational research, clinical outcomes, and global surgery. She has particular interests in improving patient care and outcomes by leveraging advanced technologies such as artificial intelligence, including machine learning and deep learning. She is an Affiliated Faculty of the Stanford Center for Artificial Intelligence in Medicine and Imaging (AIMI). -
Travis Miller, MD
Clinical Assistant Professor, Surgery - Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery
BioDr. Travis Miller is a fellowship-trained plastic and reconstructive surgeon at Stanford Health Care. He is a Clinical Assistant Professor in the Department of Surgery, Division of Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery at Stanford University School of Medicine.
Dr. Miller specializes in plastic surgery from head to toe with additional training in hand and microsurgery. He treats a multitude of conditions of the hand and upper extremity, including carpal tunnel syndrome, trigger finger, hand and wrist fractures, wrist pain and instability, arthritis, cubital tunnel syndrome, Dupuytren’s, and brachial plexus injury. He specializes in complex reconstruction all over the body using both local tissues and free tissue transfer. He has a special interest in peripheral nerve surgery, including treating nerve compression syndromes, tumors, traumatic injuries, amputation pain, neuromas, and migraines. He also performs aesthetic surgery, and for all his patients he strives to achieve their functional and cosmetic goals.
Dr. Miller received his medical degree from the University of Texas Southwestern Medical School where he graduated first in his class. He completed his residency in plastic and reconstructive surgery through Stanford University School of Medicine. Before pursuing a fellowship in Hand and Microsurgery at the University of Washington, he also completed an in-residency fellowship at the Buncke Clinic in San Francisco, widely considered the birthplace of microsurgery.
Dr. Miller has an extensive research background. He collaborated with a team that invented and patented a medical device used for coiled surgical tools and catheters. In addition to book chapters and monographs, he has written numerous peer-reviewed journal manuscripts that have been published in journals such as The Journal of Hand Surgery, The Journal of Surgical Oncology, Microsurgery, and Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery. Dr. Miller has presented his research at regional, national, and international meetings. -
Anita Tanniru Mohan MBBS PhD MBA
Clinical Assistant Professor, Surgery - Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery
BioAnita Mohan MBBS PhD MBA is a Clinical Assistant Professor in the Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery. Dr Mohan graduated medical school from Imperial College London together with a bachelors with honors in Management (BSc). After completing core surgery residency training in London in the United Kingdom, she completed a clinical fellowship in plastic surgery, hand surgery and burns in Cape Town, South Africa. This was followed by plastic surgery training in Cambridge, United Kingdom. During her plastic surgery training program, Dr Mohan was awarded the Royal College of Surgeons (England) Blond McIndoe research scholarship which she used to pursue a post-doctoral research fellowship at the Mayo Clinic, Rochester Minnesota. In this time Dr Mohan completed her PhD from the University of Cambridge (U.K.) on the study of perforator anatomy and physiology of the microcirculation in breast reconstruction, for which she received the Royal College of Surgeons of England Aris and Gale Lectureship. Dr Mohan also worked in the lab at Mayo Clinic in the study of nerve regeneration in facial allotransplantation. Dr Mohan then went on to complete an integrated plastic surgery residency at the Mayo Clinic, Rochester Minnesota. Dr Mohan also completed her Masters in Business Administration (MBA) from the University of Minnesota during her residency training. Dr Mohan completed advanced training in reconstructive microsurgery at Stanford University and studied medical innovation in the Stanford Biodesign program.
Dr Mohan has a joint appointment at the Veteran’s Affairs Hospital in Palo Alto and Stanford University campus. Dr Mohan currently also performs a broad scope of plastic surgery, both reconstructive, microsurgery and aesthetic procedures. Her practice includes complex reconstructive surgery, microsurgical reconstruction and supermicrosurgery techniques for primary and secondary lymphedema; gender affirming top surgery including masculinization procedures with neurotization for sensory preservation; breast augmentation for cis and transgender woman (implant, autologous fat and autologous flap-based reconstruction), breast reduction; mastopexy; facial, breast and body contouring procedures following massive weight loss and gender affirming surgery; abdominal wall reconstruction; sarcoma reconstruction; skin cancer reconstruction; complex chest wall reconstruction, and microsurgical esophageal reconstruction.
Dr Mohan’s research interests include the study of microcirculation, lymphedema and lipedema research, clinical outcomes following gender affirming top surgery and massive weight loss and surgical simulation training for microsurgery. -
Arash Momeni, MD, FACS
Associate Professor of Surgery (Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery)
Current Research and Scholarly InterestsDr. Momeni's research focuses on clinical outcomes after microsurgical reconstruction, with a particular emphasis on VTE prevention.
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Rahim Nazerali, MD, MHS, FACS
Clinical Associate Professor, Surgery - Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery
BioDr. Nazerali specializes in complex reconstruction, microsurgery, and aesthetic and cosmetic surgery. He excels at breast reconstruction using free autologous tissue and performs advanced techniques such as the minimally invasive superficial inferior epigastric artery (SIEA) flap, as well as the deep inferior epigastric artery perforator (DIEP) flap procedure. In addition to autologous reconstruction, Dr. Nazerali utilizes the latest techniques in implant-based breast reconstruction. His techniques and results have made him a leading instructor and lecturer at national and international institutions, societies and conferences.
In addition to breast reconstruction, Dr. Nazerali performs both aesthetic as well as whole body reconstructive procedures. He has a busy aesthetic practice focusing on breast augmentation, face and body rejuvenation as well as body contouring. In his reconstructive practice, he specializes in abdominal wall reconstruction as well as post-trauma tissue transfers. For every patient in his care, his goal is to optimize restoration of both form and function.
To help advance the field of plastic and reconstructive surgery, Dr. Nazerali conducts research into outcomes of breast reconstruction, augmentation, and reduction. Dr. Nazerali has published widely: well over 100 journal articles and conference proceedings. Topics include breast reconstruction after radiation; advances in surgical technique; and, the use of virtual, augmented, and mixed reality systems in plastic surgery practice and education. His work has appeared in Annals of Plastic Surgery, Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Surgery, the European Journal of Plastic Surgery, the Aesthetic Surgery Journal, and elsewhere.
Dr. Nazerali focuses not only on improving his patient’s lives but also our ability to deliver care as an institution. He is on the Medical Executive Council at Stanford Healthcare, serves as a committee member in the American Society of Plastic Surgeons as well as the California Society of Plastic Surgeons. In his spare time, he volunteers his time to provide reconstructive surgical services to adults and children in need worldwide.
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Dung Nguyen
Clinical Professor, Surgery - Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery
BioDr. Dung H Nguyen is currently the Director of Breast Reconstruction at the Stanford Women’s Cancer Center and the Director of Adult Plastics Clinic at Stanford Healthcare. She graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry and highest academic honor and distinction from U.C. Davis. She earned a Pharm.D degree from U.C.S.F. School of Pharmacy and a MD degree from U.C.S.D. She then did a residency in general surgery and a residency in Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery at the University of Southern California (USC) Medical Center. She further completed a fellowship in microsurgery from Chang Gung Memorial Hospital in Taiwan, one of the largest reconstructive surgery centers in the world. She was recruited to Stanford from Cedar Sinai Medical Center in 2012, and is currently a Clinical Professor in the Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery at Stanford University.
Dr. Nguyen specializes in aesthetic and reconstructive breast surgery, surgical treatment of lymphedema including vascularized lymph node transfer and lymphaticovenous anastomosis, and complex tissue reconstruction utilizing microsurgery and supermicrosurgery. She also has interest in cosmetic surgery, including facial rejuvenation and body contouring procedures.
In addition to her clinical commitment, Dr. Nguyen has basic science and clinical research interests in lymphedema and breast reconstruction. She has published articles in peer review journals, presented at national and international professional meetings and has authored book chapters in various plastic surgery textbooks. She also enjoys volunteering on overseas medical missions and participating in medical charity activities. -
Gary K. Roberts, D.D.S.
Clinical Assistant Professor, Surgery - Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery
BioDr. Roberts has performed hospital dentistry and surgery at Stanford University Medical Center and Lucile Packard Children's Hospital since 1995. He is also on the faculty at University of the Pacific School of Dentistry. He treats a variety of oral and maxillofacial conditions, including dental trauma and infection, dental implant and restorative reconstruction, surgical tooth extraction, bone and tissue grafting, conventional and surgical endodontic procedures, dental oncology care of cancer patients, as well as orofacial pain treatment.
He has presented CME lectures and Grand Rounds to numerous Departments at Stanford, as well as teaching Residents and Fellows at Stanford Medical School and the Palo Alto VA. He also lectures in the Physician Assistant Program at Stanford.
During his nearly a quarter of a century of military service, he was one of the leading researchers on combat trauma and the pathophysiology of projectile wounds. He currently serves as a member of the Council on Peer with the California Dental Association and is an Anesthesia Evaluator for the California State Dental Board. Dr. Roberts is frequently asked to speak on a variety of topics to organizations both in the US and internationally. -
Subhro K. Sen, MD
Clinical Associate Professor, Surgery - Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery
BioSubhro K. Sen, MD, Clinical Associate Professor in the Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, graduated from Northwestern University with a degree in biomedical engineering. He went on to receive his medical degree from the Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine. After medical school, he completed a yearlong peripheral nerve research fellowship under Dr. Susan Mackinnon at the Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis. He completed his postgraduate training in general surgery at Indiana University, followed by plastic and reconstructive surgery at Johns Hopkins University. He finished his training with a hand and upper extremity surgery fellowship at Stanford University.
Dr. Sen’s general clinical interests are in reconstructive surgery, microvascular surgery, and hand and upper extremity surgery. His practice includes: post-traumatic extremity reconstruction; post-oncologic reconstruction of the head and neck, trunk and extremities; perforator flap surgery; and melanoma surgery. He is medical director of the Advanced Wound Care Center at Stanford Health Care. As a hand surgeon in the Robert A. Chase Hand and Upper Limb Center, he has interests in hand trauma, degenerative conditions, peripheral nerve injuries, and complex upper extremity flap reconstruction.
In addition to his clinical practice, Dr. Sen is involved in research, publication, and teaching. His peer-reviewed research includes studies on extremity reconstruction, peripheral nerve regeneration, and he has authored a number of book chapters on a variety of plastic and hand surgery topics. He has a strong interest in medical device innovation and is currently a faculty fellow in the Stanford Byers Center for Biodesign.
Dr. Sen is certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery and the American Board of Surgery. He is a member of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, the American Society for Surgery of the Hand, and the American Society of Reconstructive Microsurgery. -
Clifford Charles Sheckter
Assistant Professor of Surgery (Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery)
BioDr. Cliff Sheckter is a California native, growing up in the rural Eastern Sierra. He graduated from UCLA with a BS in Anthropology and earned summa cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa honors. He attended USC (Keck) for medical school on an academic scholarship and graduated valedictorian with Alpha Omega Alpha honors. He fell in love with burn care while at USC/LA General Medical Center and completed surgical training at Stanford. While in residency, he pursued a fellowship/postdoc in Health Systems Design at Stanford’s Clinical Excellence Research Center (CERC). He earned an MS in Health Policy from Stanford, focusing on health economics. He received additional training in Surgical Critical Care and Burn Surgery at the University of Washington.
Dr. Sheckter is a health services and health policy researcher. His work focuses on burn prevention, health economics in surgical care, and health equity outcomes in burn care. He has authored over 130 articles and numerous book chapters. His research has been published in JAMA, JAMA Network Open, JAMA Surgery, Annals of Surgery, Journal of Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery, Burns, and Journal of Burn Care & Research. His work has been featured in USA Today and the New York Times. He was the recipient of a career development award from the NIH and has funding from the Plastic Surgery Foundation. Dr. Sheckter was awarded the American Burn Association (ABA) Traveling Fellow for 2023 and has won top abstract at the ABA Annual Meeting multiple times. He is an active member of the ABA Burn Prevention and Research Committees.
Dr. Sheckter is one of a few surgeons double-board certified in Surgical Critical Care and Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery. He practices critical care medicine as an intensivist in the Stanford Surgical ICU. He is the Director of the Regional Burn Center at Santa Clara Valley Medical Center which is the only burn/trauma center for the San Francisco Bay Area. He performs scar reconstruction using surgical and laser techniques. -
Dennis Shem
Clinical Assistant Professor, Surgery - Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery
BioDr. Shem is a Clinical Assistant Professor in the Section of Dental Medicine and Surgery at Stanford University. He trained in Dental Oncology at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, focusing on oral complications of cancer therapy and non-surgical management of patients with osteoradionecrosis (ORN) and medication-related osteonecrosis of the jaw (MRONJ). He also trained in Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology at Columbia University and has expertise in diagnosing and managing oral mucosal diseases.
A hospital dentist and dental oncologist, he evaluates patients before and after organ and stem-cell transplant, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, and bisphosphonate therapy, and performs medically necessary dental treatment. -
Sarah Sorice, MD
Clinical Assistant Professor, Surgery - Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery
BioDr. Sorice-Virk is a board-certified, fellowship-trained plastic and reconstructive surgeon with the Stanford Health Care Cancer Center and a clinical assistant professor in the Department of Surgery, Division of Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery. She is medical director of the Stanford Health Care Breast Reconstruction Program in the East Bay. Dr. Sorice-Virk completed her medical degree at New York University School of Medicine. She then went on to do her residency in Plastic Surgery and fellowship in Advanced Wound Care at Stanford University School of Medicine. Finally, this was followed by a fellowship in Advanced Reconstructive Microsurgery at the University of Pennsylvania.
Dr. Sorice-Virk’s clinical interests include complex reconstruction after cancer and trauma while keeping optimal aesthetic outcomes as a top priority. She performs a wide range of procedures, including breast reconstruction and other cancer reconstruction such as gynecologic, colorectal and orthopedic among others, breast-conserving surgery, cosmetic plastic surgery, reconstructive plastic surgery, and body contouring. Patients of Dr. Sorice-Virk benefit from a personalized and compassionate care approach. In addition to offering the entire gamut of standard reconstructive modalities, she uses cutting edge surgical techniques, such as perforator flaps (i.e. DIEP flap), hybrid breast reconstruction (i.e. the combination of free flap transfer and implant placement), and breast neurotization to restore breast sensation and in conjunction with the breast surgeons, expanding indications for nipple sparing mastectomies to improve aesthetic outcomes for more patients.
Research interests of Dr. Sorice-Virk include plastic surgery/breast reconstruction outcomes and integrative medicine in plastic surgery. She serves as the principal investigator for multiple research projects and has received grant funding from several organizations.
Her published work includes numerous papers, book chapters, and abstracts, and she has presented her findings at national and international conferences. Additionally, Dr. Sorice-Virk is an ad hoc peer reviewer for Annals of Plastic Surgery and Microsurgery.
Dr. Sorice-Virk is a member of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons and the American Society for Reconstructive Microsurgery. -
Antonio Tomasso
Postdoctoral Scholar, Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
BioAntonio Tomasso is an NWO Rubicon Postdoctoral Scholar. As part of his MSc in Medical Molecular and Cellular Biotechnology at Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, he explored the immunomodulatory and neurotrophic roles of neural stem cells (NSCs) following spinal cord injury. As a Research Assistant at Karolinska Institute, he delved into the signaling pathways required for NSC activation and migration after spinal cord injury, and the limited regenerative abilities of mouse and human heart.
During his PhD, he investigated the molecular mechanisms of tissue regeneration in planarians, axolotls and spiny mice. He conducted research as a Visiting Fellow at the University of Kentucky and the Hubrecht Institute.
His research demonstrated that MAPK/ERK signaling acts as a molecular switch between regeneration and fibrosis in adult mammals and can be activated to stimulate a regenerative response, including new hair follicle formation, in scarring wounds.
He contributed to a pioneering study showing that spiny mice can recover heart function after infarct through enhanced angiogenesis, ECM remodeling and epicardium regeneration. He also played a key role in spatial transcriptomic studies that defined regenerative and fibrotic gene signatures in spiny mice, laboratory mice and gerbils.
He earned a PhD cum laude in Molecular and Cellular Life Sciences at the Max Planck Institute for Molecular Biomedicine.
He has been awarded an NWO Dutch Research Council Rubicon Postdoctoral grant to conduct research on the molecular drivers of fibroblast activation in wound healing and organ fibrosis.
His ultimate research aim is to crack the code of tissue regeneration and rejuvenation, reversing organ scarring and preventing fibrosis in injuries and pathological conditions, through the identification of therapeutic targets for enhanced tissue repair and functional recovery.
Driven by his innate curiosity and passion for science, he loves tackling new challenges, thinking outside the box, and building interdisciplinary collaborations to push forward the boundaries of knowledge.
His career goal is to serve as a group leader, committed to DIBEJ, fostering a collaborative environment where everyone can thrive, achieve their goals and leave a lasting impact through community-building and scientific discoveries for the benefit of humankind. -
Liming Zhao
Postdoctoral Scholar, Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine
Postdoctoral Scholar, Plastic and Reconstructive SurgeryBioDr. Zhao is currently a postdoctoral scholar at Stanford University. He received his MD degree from Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology in 2018.
