General Practitioners

• Medical Weight Loss
• Nutritional Counseling
  Treatment Alternatives - I may use and disclose health information to tell you about or recommend possible treatment options or alternatives that may be of interest to you. For example, I may use your information to determine whether you qualify for a nutritional counseling program.
• Colonoscopy
  There are many steps that may be taken to lower the risk of developing colorectal cancer. Individuals may decrease their chances of developing this disease by eating a healthy low fat diet, high in fiber and antioxidants, drinking alcohol only in moderation, exercising regularly, maintaining a healthy weight and refraining from smoking. For individuals at high risk for developing colorectal cancer, medications and surgery may be recommended. Everyone at high risk or 50 years of age and older, and African-Americans 45 years of age and older, should undergo a regularly scheduled colonoscopy, both to screen for cancer and to remove suspicious colorectal polyps at the earliest stage possible.
• Constipation
• Diarrhea
• Immunizations
  Statistics show that health risks after recovery from a splenectomy are greater during the first two post-surgical years and that children who have had the procedure are at greater risks than adults.

Gynecologists

• Endometriosis
• Pregnancy

Internists

• Colon Cancer
  Colorectal cancer, also known as colon cancer, develops in either the large intestine or the rectum. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), colorectal cancer is the second leading cause of cancer deaths in the United States.
• Endoscopy
  An abdominal hernia is frequently diagnosed through physical examination, but confirming diagnostic tests are often run, particularly when the patient is obese and physical examination if inconclusive. Such diagnostic tests may include abdominal X-rays or ultrasound. When a hiatal hernia is suspected, the patient may undergo an upper endoscopy, a barium swallow or an esophageal manometry or pressure study. Blood tests may also be required.

Psychiatrists

• Mental Health
  This notice advises you about the ways in which I may use and disclose health information about you. It also describes your rights to access and control your health information. 'Health Information' is information about you, including demographic information, that may identify you and that relates to your past, present or future physical or mental health or condition and related health care services. This notice also describes your rights and explains certain obligations I have regarding the use and disclosure of health information.

Endocrinologist

• Diabetes Care
• Hypothyroidism
  Most thyroid surgeries are very successful, but the majority of patients develop hypothyroidism as a consequence of the procedure. This will require ongoing treatment with hormone therapy, but is not usually problematic. The patient may also need follow-up treatment with radioactive iodine to shrink thyroid tissue either because hyperactivity of the gland continues to be an issue or in order to stem the growth of a thyroid cancer.
• Thyroid
  There are several types of thyroid surgery, all involving partial or total removal of the gland. Which surgery is performed depends on the reasons for the procedure. The types of surgery for thyroid disease include...
• Thyroid Cancer
  Thyroid surgery is used to treat a variety of thyroid conditions such as thyroid cancer, thyroid nodules, or Graves' disease, an immune disorder that results in hyperactivity of the gland. When the thyroid gland produces too much thyroid hormone for any reason, the condition is called hyperthyroidism. Hyperthyroidism results in the speeding up of the body's metabolism. This increased metabolic rate can have serious medical consequences, resulting in any or all of the following symptoms...

Radiologist

• Ultrasound
  An umbilical hernia is usually easy to diagnose with physical examination since the protruding tissue can be palpated. It is often possible for the protrusion to be pushed manually back into the abdomen, but as long as that section of the abdominal wall remains weak, the hernia will recur. In an obese individual, the umbilical hernia may be more difficult to find. In such a case, or when a complication is suspected, a diagnostic test, such as an X-ray or an ultrasound, may be administered.
• MRI
  These symptoms may be present for reasons not connected to the adrenal glands, often complication diagnosis. Whether the presenting symptoms are indicative of adrenal disease can only be determined by the physician. The doctor will do a full exam, a urinalysis, blood tests and diagnostic imaging, such as a CT scan or MRI, to determine whether adrenal disease is the underlying cause of the symptoms.
• X-Rays
• Computed Tomography
  An injury to the diaphragm is often difficult to diagnose since the symptoms may be similar to those found in other conditions. Diagnostic tests including X-ray, CT scan or ultrasound may be employed to pin down the cause of symptoms. Under certain circumstances, an exploratory laparotomy, a surgical procedure in which a large incision is made in the abdomen, may be performed to make an accurate diagnosis and immediate repair.
• Chemotherapy
  Depending on the stage and severity of the skin cancer, in addition to removal of the growth, chemotherapy and radiation may be recommended.
• Radiation Therapy
  Radiation therapy may be an option for treating deeper tumors, or for treating squamous cell carcinoma in people who cannot undergo surgery. Squamous cell carcinoma can usually be treated successfully if detected early and removed quickly

Surgeons

• General Surgery
  Dr. Pejman Babakhanlou earned his Bachelor of Science degree, cum laude, in Cell and Molecular Biology from California State University, Northridge in Northridge, California. He received his medical degree from the Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Wisconsin. He continued his training with his residency in General Surgery at Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio.
• Wound Care
• Minimally Invasive Surgery
  Dr. Ellyn A. Smith earned her Bachelor of Science degree, in Biochemistry and graduated from the College of Charleston, SC. After working at the Medical University of South Carolina, in antibiotic resistant bacteria, she pursued her medical career. She received her medical degree from the State University of New York, University at Buffalo. She continued her training with her residency at St. Luke's University Health Network in Bethlehem, PA., and completed a minimally invasive surgery fellowship at the University of California-Irvine. Dr. Smith is committed to treating a variety of abdominal conditions with less invasive surgical options. In her spare time, she enjoys playing tennis, hiking and spending time with family.
• Gangrene
  To repair a hernia of any type surgery is necessary. Surgery is usually recommended when hernias are large or are interfering with the patient's normal activities, but may also be undertaken prophylactically to prevent the danger of future incarceration or strangulation. When strangulation occurs and blood flow is cut off to the patient's tissue, that tissue begins to die and gangrene is a possible consequence. Once this happens, emergency surgery is required.
• Robotic Surgery
  Dr. Hou is a native Southern Californian.  She attended school in Chicago and then did her surgical residency in Ohio.  She stayed in Ohio for 2 years at a surgical oncology practice involving mainly breast cancer.  She was very involved in education and was a teaching staff in a residency program in Ohio as well as an associate professor of surgery at the University of Tennessee, Memphis for 6 years.  She actively pursued minimally invasive surgery and single site surgery at that time.  She has also trained in robotic surgery.  She finally came back to California and is now in private practice.
• Laparoscopy
  Laparoscopy is a minimally invasive surgical procedure used to diagnose and treat conditions in the abdominal and pelvic areas. During a laparoscopic procedure, a thin tube with a camera on the end, known as a laparoscope, is inserted through a tiny incision to allow the doctor to closely examine the organs of the area. Surgical instruments can be inserted through additional incisions to treat any identified problems or to retrieve tissue specimens.
• Mohs Surgery

Plastic Surgeons

• Breast Reconstruction
  The goal of breast reconstruction, which many women opt for after having a mastectomy, is to match the appearance of the other breast, and to eliminate the need for an external prosthesis. Reconstruction, which may involve a breast implant or skin grafts, can be performed at the same time as the mastectomy or at a later date.
• Laparoscopic Surgery
  Although there are many advantages to the laparoscopic approach, it is possible that particular patients may not be good candidates for laparoscopic surgery. Often, this is because the patient has a history of rejecting products like the surgical mesh normally used in such procedures. There may also be a complication that arises during the laparoscopic procedure that requires a switch to open surgery.

Dermatologists

• Skin Cancer
  Basal cell carcinoma a common type of skin cancer that occurs in the basal cell layer of the skin. It is the most common type of skin cancer in people with fair skin, and it usually occurs on areas of the skin that have been exposed to the sun, such as the face. Basal cell carcinoma rarely spreads to other parts of the body but is still a serious condition that requires prompt treatment.
• Cyst
• Lesions
  During a esophagogastroduodenoscopy, also known as an EGD, a thin tube, with a camera, is inserted and threaded to the esophagus. The lining of the esophagus, stomach and duodenum are visually examined for inflammation, lesions or breaks in the lining. A sample of tissue may be taken for biopsy.

Physical Therapists

• Sports Medicine
  Common causes of spleen rupture are motor vehicle accidents and contact sports injuries. In these cases, the splenectomy is an emergency surgical procedure because the internal bleeding caused by a ruptured spleen may be life-threatening.