Pay My Dues
AAMS’ 9th Annual CME & CDE Fall Symposium – Presenters
The Art of Pain Management (CME)
Anna Arabyan, PharmD
Dr. Anna Arabyan is an adjunct lecturer at the USC Leonard Davis School of Gerontology, where she teaches courses on health, aging, and pain management. She studied gerontology in addition to her pre-pharmacy studies, and earned her Doctor of Pharmacy degree from USC. Arabyan has a particular interest in women’s hormonal health and palliative care.
Disclosure: Dr. Anna Arabyan, presenter for this educational event, has no relevant financial relationship(s) with ineligible companies to disclose.
Interventional Pain Management for Spinal Pain (CME & CDE)
Hripsime Avagyan, DO
Dr. Hripsime Avagyan is the founder of Greater LA Pain Specialists. She is double board-certified in Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine. Dr. Avagyan received her undergraduate degree from UCLA. Continuing her contributions to science at UCLA, Dr. Avagyan worked as a research associate and produced several publications. She attended Medical School at Touro University Nevada, where she graduated the top 10% of her class with high honors. After receiving her Medical Degree, Dr. Avagyan completed a 4-year residency in Anesthesiology at the University of Texas. During the culmination of her training in Anesthesiology, Dr. Avagyan decided to pursue Pain Medicine to broaden her skillset and better serve her patients and consequently, completed a fellowship in Pain Medicine at Loma Linda University Medical Center. Dr. Avagyan is very caring and compassionate. She brings nearly a decade of experience in Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine. She uses both conservative and interventional treatments to help patients with chronic pain and to improve their quality of life. Dr. Avagyan lectures regularly at various medical conferences and serves her community tirelessly. When she isn’t practicing medicine, she loves spending time with her family, jogging, cooking and playing the piano and violin.
Disclosure: Dr. Hripsime Avagyan, presenter for this educational event, has no relevant financial relationship(s) with ineligible companies to disclose.
New Updates on Heart Failure-Get with the Guidelines (CME)
Harry Balian, MD, FACC, FASCAI
Dr. Harry Balian received his Medical Degree from Chicago Medical School in 1997. He completed his Internal Medicine Residency at the University of California, Irvine where he also served as Chief Resident. Completed his Cardiology fellowship at the University of California, Irvine where he served as Chief Fellow. Dr. Balian completed his Interventional Cardiology and Vascular training at the George Washington University in Washington DC. Dr. Balian specializes in the treatment of heart disease, coronary artery percutaneous interventions and pacemaker insertions. He also performs peripheral vascular interventions including carotid stents, endovascular abdominal aortic aneurysm stents, renal stents and lower extremity angioplasties. Dr. Balian is board certified in Internal Medicine, Cardiovascular Diseases, Nuclear Cardiology, Interventional Cardiology and Vascular Medicine. Dr Balian is the Chairman of department of cardiology since 2015 and the Director of Structural Heart Program at Glendale Adventist, he started the TAVR (percutaneous aortic valve replacement) program since 2016. Dr. Balian is and has been a member of the Executive Committee of AAMS Since 2006. He is a fellow of the American College of Cardiology, the Society of Coronary angioplasty and Interventions and the American Heart Association. He has been the Medical Director of the Cardiac Cath Lab at Glendale Adventist Heart & Vascular Institute since 2006 and past Medical Director of the Peripheral Vascular Lab at St Vincent Hospital. He is an Associate Clinical Professor at Western University School of Medicine.
Disclosure: Dr. Harry Balian, presenter for this educational event, has no relevant financial relationship(s) with ineligible companies to disclose
Artificial Intelligence for Rapid Clinical Diagnosis in Oral Medicine (CDE)
Jouliana Davoudi Chegani, DDS, MS
Dr. Jouliana Davoudi Chegani is chief resident at USC Orofacial Pain and Oral Medicine Center. She received her BA and MS from the California State University of Northridge. She completed her DDS at USC Dental School in 2017. Following graduation, she found her passion in the specialty of orofacial pain and medicine. Dr. Chegani's interest in this field inspired her to create a tool to help clinicians treat patients promptly. Her work on this project earned her the USC Stevens Center for Innovation's Most Disruptive award. In addition, Dr. Chegani has been accepted for oral presentations and publications in oral surgery, oral medicine, oral pathology, and oral radiology. She is a wife and the mother of two incredible sons.
The Importance of Soft Tissue Management (CDE)
Martina Elenkova, DDS, MDM, MDS
Dr. Martina Elenkova is board certified in periodontology and dental implant surgery by the American Board of Periodontology. She is originally from Sofia, Bulgaria, where she first became a dentist, by completing her Masters in Dental Surgery, and graduating magna cum laude, from the Medical University of Sofia. Shortly after graduating, she came to the to the United States to complete her surgical residency in periodontology at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center (UTHSC) and the Memphis VA Medical Center. She earned a Masters in Dental Science from the Graduate Medical Education department at UTHSC. She was a clinical and laboratory instructor for dental students at UTHSC. Dr. Elenkova also completed the dental program and holds a Doctor of Dental Surgery degree from the University of California, Los Angeles. Dr. Elenkova is a published author, with her areas of research on the anti-inflammatory effects of vitamin D, as well as on the link between periodontal disease and osteoporosis. Dr. Elenkova is a member of the American Academy of Periodontology, and the American Board of Periodontology. She holds a conscious sedation permit from the Dental Board of California. On her free time, she enjoys crafts and interior designing, as well as photography and travelling with her family.
Pediatric Considerations for the General Dentist
Lucy Hallajian, DDS
Dr. Lucy Hallajian is board certified by the American Board of Pediatric Dentistry. She earned her undergraduate degree in Biological Sciences from the University of California Irvine, and thereafter, obtained her Doctorate of Dental Surgery from the University of California San Francisco, where she was the recipient of the ADEA Preventive Dentistry Scholarship. She moved back to Southern California and obtained her certificate in pediatric dentistry at the University of Southern California. During her program, she spent a year at Children's Hospital Los Angeles specializing in the oral health care of medically compromised children. Her passion for teaching led her to become an associate professor at The Herman Ostrow School of Dentistry and Attending Dentist at Children's Hospital Los Angeles where she presently trains residents and focuses on children with special health care needs. Dr. Hallajian is a published author, focusing on lasers as a tool for early caries detection. She is a member of the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry and the California Society of Pediatric Dentistry. She is currently in private practice in the Los Angeles area and on staff at Children's Hospital Los Angeles. In her spare time, she enjoys cooking, hiking, gardening, and traveling.
Better Sleep in 2022 (CME & CDE)
Eric J. Kezirian, MD, MPH
Dr. Eric Kezirian is a Professor of Sleep Medicine and Vice Chair in the USC Caruso Department of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery at the Keck School of Medicine of USC. He is one of the world’s leading surgeons and research specializing in snoring and obstructive sleep apnea surgery. He is also a past President of the International Surgical Sleep Society.
Disclosure: Dr. Eric Kezirian, presenter for this educational event is a consultant for Nyxoah, CryOSA, Berendo Scientific, Split Rock Scientific and has received a research funding from Inspire Medical Systems. All of the relevant financial relationships has been mitigated.
Navigating the Murky Waters of Employment / Wage & Hour Laws (CME & CDE)
Azniv Ksachikyan, Esq.
Ms. Azniv Ksachikyan was admitted to the California Bar in 1999. She graduated Summa cum laude from Occidental College in 1996, earning a B.A. in Politics (with Honors). At Occidental, Azniv completed a Richter Fellowship, during which she traveled throughout Armenia interviewing political leaders, social activists, university students and professional regarding the democratization of Armenia. Azniv earned her Juris Doctorate from University of California Hastings, College of the Law in 1999. At Hastings, Azniv served as Editor-In-Chief of the Constitutional Law Quarterly and an Extern for the Honorable Charles Breyer, Northern District of California. Until she ventured into her own private practice, Azniv was an attorney at Sonnenschein Nath & Rosenthal LLP and Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP. She litigated in a variety of practice areas, including business, labor/employment, insurance, trade secret misappropriation and trust & estates. Azniv currently serves as Of Counsel at MPC Legal. She specializes in the areas of business and labor/employment litigation.
The Latest Trends in Healthcare (CME & CDE)
Dr. Ramella Markarian
Dr. Ramella Markarian is an accomplished healthcare professional and has been serving as the Vice President of Business Development at Adventist Health Glendale since 2012. As a transformational executive and a visionary leader, Ramella has an impressive track record in hospital and healthcare administration and a history of surpassing ambitious organizational goals. She leads the hospital’s strategic growth and development and oversees physician recruitment and relations, marketing, community well-being, diabetes wound care- Hyperbaric and senior programs as well as other clinical and non- clinical service lines. Her expertise in conducting physicians’ needs analysis has allowed her to identify the healthcare needs/gaps in both Primary care and Specialty care in our markets, her dedication to fill those gaps and enhance the well- being of our community inspired her successfully recruit, engage, develop, and retain hundreds of well-trained and physicians to our community. Dr. Ramella Markarian is also known to many of us as community activist and a civic leader, her activities include 8 years serving as a commissioner on city of Glendale’s CDBG commission and two years of service at LA County’s Health Equity and Equality task force committee. Dr. Ramella Markarian holds a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration and a Master’s degree in Healthcare Administration from CSULA and a Doctorate degree in Leadership focused in Healthcare, from USC.
Navigating the Murky Waters of Employment / Wage & Hour Laws (CME & CDE)
Edgar Martirosyan, Esq.
Mr. Edgar Martirosyan holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science, with a concentration in International Relations, from the University of California, Los Angeles. He earned his Juris Doctorate from UCLA School of Law in 2008, where he served as a Staff Member for the Journal of International Law and Foreign Affairs. At UCLA School of Law, Edgar served as an Extern for the late Honorable Stephen Reinhardt of the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. Between 2007-2008, Edgar taught Comparative Law at the American University of Armenia and helped initiate the adoption of the LSAT as an admission criterion to the law program at the University. Edgar founded MPC Legal in 2013, focusing in the areas of wage and hour / employment litigation, business disputes, and personal injury. Edgar is admitted to practice before all Courts in California, the U.S. District Courts (Southern, Central and Northern Districts of California) and the United States Supreme Court.
Modern Day Depression and Anxiety: Examining Social Media’s Influence on a Diagnosis (CME & CDE)
Lara Shirikjian, DO
Dr. Lara Shirikjian is a board certified psychiatrist in Los Angeles County. She received her undergraduate training at the University of California, Los Angeles with a B.A. in International Development Studies. A course in world health at UCLA David Geffen School of Medicine confirmed her initial interest in attending medical school. She completed a post-baccalaureate pre-medical program at Scripps College, through the joint W.M. Keck Science Program at Claremont McKenna College. She attended medical school at Western University, College of Osteopathic Medicine in Pomona, California. She went on to an allopathic internship and residency program at Harbor UCLA Medical Center. She completed her residency in psychiatry at Harbor UCLA as Chief Resident. Currently, she is Principal Investigator and Medical Director at CNS: A division of Apex Innovative Sciences, conducting research on new medication for various neurological and psychiatric indications.
Disclosure: Dr. Lara Shirikjian, presenter for this educational event, is a speaker for Janssen. All of the relevant financial relationships has been mitigated.
Caring for the LGBTQ+ Community (CME)
Alen Voskanian, MD, MBA
Dr. Alen Voskanian is the Medical Director for Cedars-Sinai Medical Group (CSMG). He is board certified in Hospice and Palliative medicine and Family Medicine and an HIV specialist certified by the American Academy of HIV Medicine. Alen provides oversight of clinical, administrative and educational activities within CSMG, and enjoys developing collaborative relationships and facilitating strong team performance. Alen is focused on optimizing the patient centered nature of the practice and creating an environment that supports efficiency and clinical best practices. He served as in innovation advisor for the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation (CMMI). Alen is a graduate of UC Berkeley and UC Irvine Medical School. He completed his residency at UCLA, followed by a fellowship in HIV at AIDS Healthcare Foundation. He earned his Business of Medicine MBA from Indiana University, Kelley School of Business. In recognition of his high scholastic achievement, he was elected to Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Medical Society in medical school, and Beta Gamma Sigma International Honor Society in business school. He is the recipient of Cunniff-Dixon/Hasting Center’s physician award for excellence in end-of-life care, and a Fellow of the third class of the Health Innovators Fellowship and a member of the Aspen Global Leadership Network.
Disclosure: Dr. Alen Voskanian, presenter for this educational event, has no relevant financial relationship(s) with ineligible companies to disclose.
Intermittent Fasting: What it is, and the Effect on Weight Loss and Other Metabolic Parameters (CME)
Astkhik Zakian, PharmD
Dr. Astkhik Zakian is a Sr. Clinical Pharmacist at Anthem. Over the past 19 years, she has supported various initiatives involving Specialty Pharmacy and Pharmacy benefit designs. She is also an Assistant Adjunct Professor at USC’s Master of Science program, and teaches managed care and specialty pharmaceutical management electives at local pharmacy schools. Dr. Astkhik Zakian received her Bachelors of Science degree from UCLA, and her PharmD from the University of Southern California (USC). Dr. Zakian is an active member of Armenian American Medical Society, Academy of Managed Care Pharmacy, and the pharmacy community.
Disclosure: Dr. Astkhik Zakian, planner and presenter for this educational event, has no relevant financial relationship(s) with ineligible companies to disclose.
