AAMS’ 18th Annual HYBRID CME & CDE Las Vegas Getaway – CME Planning Committee Members

Vicken Sepilian, MD, FACOG
CME Planning Committee, Chair

Vicken Sepilian, MD, FACOG is board-certified in Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility, as well as Obstetrics and Gynecology.  He completed his residency in Obstetrics and Gynecology at Drexel University College of Medicine and his fellowship in Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility at the University of Texas.  While at the University of Texas, Dr. Sepilian received a Master of Science degree in Reproductive Medicine studying the impact of nutrition on reproductive health. Dr. Sepilian is the founder and medical director of American Fertility Specialists Medical Group and practices in Los Angeles and Glendale.  Dr. Sepilian is the former President of the Armenian American Medical Society (AAMS). In 2008, he launched the AAMS "Your Health" Community Education Program that continues to air live on TV making house calls to countless Armenian households.  In 2010, Dr. Sepilian was instrumental in launching the inaugural Glendale Health Festival and served as the Chairman of the organizing committee for the first two years. In 2012, Dr. Sepilian presided over a collaborative effort with colleagues in Canada of the ACMAO to train, staff and equip the Women's Health Clinic in Stepanakert, Artsakh. This collaborative effort by the AAMS, ACMAO, and the Ministry of Health of Karabagh continues to operate and provide preventative and essential health care to women free of charge. In 2013, as president of the AAMS, Dr. Sepilian Chaired the 11th Armenian Medical World Congress, a quadrennial international multispecialty conference that was very well attended and was one of the most successful ones to date. Dr. Sepilian currently serves on the Continuing Medical Education Committee, focusing his efforts on enhancing the experience for members.

Disclosure: Dr. Vicken Sepilian, planner for this educational event is a shareholder of Merck Pharmaceuticals and Organon Pharmaceuticals. All of the relevant financial relationships have been mitigated.

Arsinee Kalfayan, PharmD
CME Quality Improvement Chair

Arsinee Kalfayan, PharmD graduated from UCLA with a Bachelor’s of Science in Psychobiology.  In 1981, she received her Doctor of Pharmacy degree from the University California School of Pharmacy.  She practiced in a variety of corporations including Cardinal Health and Catholic Healthcare West as a hospital pharmacy director for over twenty years.  Since 2003, Dr. Kalfayan has been serving in the Armenian American Medical Society as a Continuing Medical Education planning committee member.

Disclosure: Dr. Arsinee Kalfayan, planner for this educational event owns Moderna stocks. All of the relevant financial relationships have been mitigated.

Garni Barkhoudarian, MD, FAANS
CME Planning Committee

Garni Barkhoudarian, MD, FAANS, is a board-certified, fellowship-trained neurosurgeon with a focus on skull base and minimally invasive endoscopic surgery. Dr. Barkhoudarian has particular interest and expertise in pituitary and parasellar tumors, brain tumors, skull-base tumors (including meningiomas, craniopharyngiomas, chordomas and schwannomas), intra-ventricular brain tumors, colloid cysts, trigeminal neuralgia, hemifacial spasm and other vascular compression syndromes. For virtually all tumors and intracranial procedures, Dr. Barkhoudarian applies the keyhole concept of minimizing collateral damage to the brain and its supporting structures using advanced neuroimaging and neuro-navigation techniques along with endoscopy to improve targeting and lesion visualization.

Along with Drs. Marisa Chang and Daniel Franc, Dr. Barkhoudarian leads the Pacific Facial Pain Center, which offers a 360-degree approach to trigeminal neuralgia, hemifacial spasm, glossopharyngeal spasm and other facial pain syndromes. This includes medication therapy, percutaneous procedures, stereotactic radiosurgery and endoscopic microvascular decompression of the trigeminal or facial nerves.

As Director of the Pacific Adult Hydrocephalus Center, he works with Dr. Daniel Franc to treat patients with various condition involving cerebrospinal fluid anomalies. This includes hydrocephalus (obstructive, acquired and normal pressure), colloid cysts, cerebrospinal fluid leaks, intracranial hypotension and idiopathic intracranial hypertension.

Dr. Barkhoudarian’s research interests include evaluating outcomes of pituitary and brain tumor surgery. He is also involved in the biomarkers research program for pituitary adenomas, meningiomas and metastatic brain tumors, as well as evaluating potential mechanisms and markers of invasive and atypical tumor progression. He is an investigator in a number of clinical trials evaluating the efficacy of various medical or chemotherapies for pituitary tumors and malignant brain tumors.

As director of the JWCI / PNI Microdissection Anatomy Laboratory, he conducts neuroanatomical analysis, advancing the procedures and technology used for minimally invasive surgery. Research fellows from around the world perform observational fellowships for periods of 3-6 months at a time, allowing them to learn these techniques and apply them in their home countries. In collaboration with Dr. Daniel Kelly, PNI Director, Dr. Barkhoudarian also oversees the Clinical Neurosurgical Fellowship.

Dr. Garni Barkhoudarian, planner for this educational event, a consultant for Vascular Technology, Inc. and Ceravasc, Inc. All of the relevant financial relationships has been mitigated.

Armond Kotikian, DDS, MD, FACS
CME Planning Committee

Armond Kotikian, DDS, MD, FACS is a Board Certified Oral and Maxillofacial surgeon in private practice in Glendale, CA. Presently he is the secretary of the Armenian American Medical Society. He completed dental school at UCLA. He then completed a 1-year residency in Hospital Dentistry at the Long Beach Veterans Administration Hospital.  Subsequently, he pursued a residency in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery. He earned his MD from Wayne State School of Medicine, did two years of general surgery and completed his Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery residency at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, in 2009. He is in private practice in Glendale and holds staff privileges at GAMC, Dignity Health GMH and Providence St. Joseph Medical Center. Dr. Kotikian is also an Assistant Professor at USC in the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery. Dr. Kotikian specializes in complicated dental implant cases, wisdom tooth extraction, and office anesthesia. In the hospital setting he performs facial trauma reconstruction, orthognathic surgery (corrective jaw surgery), treats obstructive sleep apnea patients, treats patients with oral pathology lesions and performs oral and maxillofacial reconstruction. Dr. Kotikian is a member of numerous organizations, including the American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons, California Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons and the Southern California Orofacial Academy. He routinely lectures on subjects related to his field at both the local and national level. Dr. Kotikian has been featured in the LA Times, Chicago Tribune, Glendale Newspress and many other local newspapers for his work in the field of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery. Dr. Kotikian has also been featured on CNN Headline News local edition, ABC 7 in LA and the Diane Sawyer nightly news on ABC.

Dr. Armond Kotikian, planner for this educational event, has no relevant financial relationship(s) with ineligible companies to disclose.

Arthur Ohannessian, MD
CME Planning Committee

Dr. Arthur Ohannessian obtained his medical degree from the University of California San Diego (UCSD) School of Medicine in 2008. He completed his specialty training in the field of Family Medicine at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA (DGSOM). Subsequently he joined the Department of Family Medicine at UCLA as Core Faculty in the Family Medicine Residency in 2011. He is currently a Health Sciences Assistant Clinical Professor at the DGSOM and the UCLA Family Medicine Residency Associate Program Director. In addition, he is the Division Chief and Medical Director for the UCLA Family Medicine Clinic at the Mid-Valley Comprehensive Health Center in Van Nuys, CA. He is a full-time clinician and educator who practices full spectrum Family Medicine in both the inpatient and outpatient settings. He serves adult, pediatric, and obstetric patients in both settings. He is active member of the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP), and has served in multiple leadership roles at the local, state, and national level. He currently serves on the Board of Directors for the California Academy of Family Physicians and is on the national AAFP Commission on Education. His academic interests include providing primary care services to underserved communities and developing legislative policy that address primary care workforce shortages. He is actively engaged in community advocacy through a variety of service projects at UCLA and is the Director of Project Health Education and Leadership (H.E.A.L) at UCLA.

Sherwin Hariri, MD, FAAAAI, FACAAI
CME Planning Committee

Dr. Sherwin Hariri, MD, FAAAAI, FACAAI is a board-certified allergist & immunologist in Beverly Hills, CA. He completed his undergraduate studies at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), where he received his BS with a major in physiological sciences and a minor in Armenian Studies. He received his Doctorate of Medicine from Saint Louis University School of Medicine in St. Louis, Missouri. Dr. Hariri completed his internal medicine residency at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, CA, after which he completed his specialty training in allergy & immunology at the UCLA West-LA VA fellowship program with pediatric rotations at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles. He is a clinical instructor of medicine at the David Geffen school of Medicine at UCLA, where he teaches allergists & immunologists in-training. Dr. Hariri is also an attending physician at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, where he sees and treats patients with complex allergic and immunologic diseases. Resident physicians from Cedars-Sinai rotate through his clinic, where he teaches them about his specialty. Dr. Hariri has published in several medical journals. He is a fellow of the American Academy of allergy, asthma, and immunology, as well as a fellow of the American College of allergy, asthma, and immunology. Dr. Hariri is the Medical Director at Beverly Hills Allergy, where he treats both adult and pediatric patients with allergic rhinosinusitis, asthma, eczema, food allergies, immunodeficiencies, and various other skin conditions and allergic diseases. Appointed to the list of super docs rising star featured in Los Angeles magazine.

Dr. Sherwin Hariri, planner for this educational event, has no relevant financial relationship(s) with ineligible companies to disclose.

Sarmen Sarkissian, MD
CME Planning Committee

Dr. Sarmen Sarkissian is board-certified in internal medicine and hematology and oncology. He completed his bachelor’s degree in chemistry at UCLA and earned his medical degree at the University of California, San Diego School of Medicine. He then completed his internship through a categorical internal medicine program and served his residency at Los Angeles County + USC Medical Center. It was there that he developed an interest in oncology and hematology and subsequently completed his fellowship training at the University of California, Irvine Chao Family Comprehensive Cancer Center. Dr. Sarkissian is a practicing hematologist and oncologist, serving the cities of Ventura, Simi Valley, and Long Beach. He is also affiliated with City of Hope as an associate professor.

Disclosure: Dr. Sarmen Sarkissian, planner and presenter for this educational event, is on the speakers’ bureau for Lilly.

Talar Tejirian, MD, FACS
CME Planning Committee

Dr. Talar Tejirian is a board-certified general surgeon in Los Angeles. She graduated Summa Cum Laude and with College Honors from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) with a double major in psychology and neuroscience. She received her medical degree from the University of San Francisco, California (UCSF) which ranks in the top five medical schools in the United States. She completed five years of general surgical residency at the Kaiser Permanente Los Angeles Medical Center after which she did fellowship training in minimally invasive surgery at the University of California, Los Angeles. For over 10 year, she dedicated her professional time to treating patients with a variety of surgical problems. She is a fellow of the American College of Surgeons and a clinical instructor for medical students from UCLA. She was also involved in training resident surgeons and performing research that has been published in peer-reviewed medical journals such as the Journal of the American College of Surgeons and the Journal of Colon and Rectal Surgery. Additionally, she had authored book chapters, include a chapter in the SAGES Hernia Manual. Dr. Tejirian has lectured on topics involving hernia repair and abdominal wall reconstruction at surgical conferences both in the United States and internationally. She is a member of the International Hernia Collaboration and the Americas Hernia Society. In the Americas Hernia Society, she holds leadership positions as Co-chair Communications Committee. Dr. Tejirian brought The International Hernia Collaboration’s Comprehensive Hernia and Abdominal Wall Reconstruction Course to Armenia in 2019. As course director, she gathered international experts in hernia repair to teach topics of great interest to the general and hernia surgeon, including many facets of inguinal and ventral hernia repair. Currently, Dr. Tejirian has retired from clinical practice due to a physical disability. However, she remains active in the field of surgery. Her passion is now focused on promoting health and wellness for surgeons and for the public at large. She is writing and speaking about surgeon physical health and injury prevention.

Dr. Talar Tejirian, planner for this educational event, has no relevant financial relationship(s) with ineligible companies to disclose.

Astkhik Zakian, PharmD
CME Planning Committee

Dr. Astkhik Zakian is a Sr. Clinical Pharmacist at IngenioRx, Anthem’s pharmacy benefit manager (PBM). She has over 17 years of clinical and operational experience working at Anthem’s health plan and PBM, to support various initiatives involving Specialty Pharmacy and Pharmacy benefit designs. Dr. Astkhik Zakian received her Bachelor’s of Science degree from UCLA, and her Pharm.D. from the University of Southern California. Dr. Zakian is an active member of the Armenian American Medical Society, Academy of Managed Care Pharmacy, and other medical and pharmacy communities. She has provided countless guest lectures at CME seminars, California pharmacy schools and at other medical professional settings.

Dr. Astkhik Zakian, planner and presenter for this educational event, has no relevant financial relationship(s) with ineligible companies to disclose.