18300 Roscoe Blvd

Northridge, CA 91328

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August 2007Area Code 818

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Agoura HillsCalabasasCanoga ParkChatsworthHidden Hills GlenviewGranada HillsNorthridgeOak ParkPorter RanchResedaTarzanaWest Hills Westlake VillageWinnetka

Woodland Hills

Community Coverage Area:

To recycle this directory call 1-800-953-4400

San Fernando Valley WestAT&T California

Consult the AT&T San Fernando Valley West Yellow Pages, where Northridge Hospital is featured on the cover and inside for additional healthcare resources. 818-885-8500

Imagine rushing to your local Emergency Department (ED) for a repeat visit. The moment you arrive at Northridge Hospital

Medical Center’s ED, you can rest assured you’ll now be treated quicker than ever before. With our new electronic medical

record system, the emergency staff can immediately access your Emergency Department medical history. No longer having to

search for charts or decipher handwritten orders, the staff can better assess your condition, monitor your vital signs and

deliver safer and higher quality care in the blink of an eye.

Northridge Hospital is the first in the San Fernando Valley to have this

complete electronic patient medical record system, which allows the

emergency team to access patients’ status, available beds and important

medical alerts directly from any computer in the department.

“The electronic medical record system significantly improves communication

between caregivers in the ED. It provides access to the most up-to-date

information on a patient, allowing the care team to truly work with greater speed and efficiency,” says Stephen Jones, MD,

Medical Director of the ED. “Most importantly, order turnaround time is decreased and medical errors are avoided. With

quick access to valuable medical information, patient visit time is

shortened, thereby increasing patient satisfaction.”

The system also improves workflow and saves time because the

emergency staff can complete medical orders at the bedside instead

of the nursing stations. What’s more, ED caregivers can view laboratory

and/or X-ray results instantly to determine their next steps.

In addition, the electronic medical record system allows for secure and

safe storage of patient information, which is vital in the event of a fire or

disaster. If there is a power failure, patient records can still be immediately

accessed because the entire Hospital, including the ED, is automatically

switched to back-up generator power. It’s all part of our ongoing effort to

deliver fast, safe and effective care to every patient.

The Emergency Department at Northridge Hospital Medical Center is adesignated Level II Trauma Center and treats 50,000 patients annually,including more than 1,000 trauma victims.

emergency D E P A R T M E N T

Emergency Department Goes Paperless Safety + Speed = Satisfaction

FALL 2007

patient’s best friendunconditional love

natural connectionhealing process

Proven Patient Satisfaction: “The high-tech touch screen computer system was very efficient from check-in to check- out and all personnel who used it seemed very well trained. It added to the balance of personal and professional care, which was truly exceptional!”– Kathryn Bess, satisfied patient, Northridge

It may look like a video game, but the Emergency

Department’s new triage screen is scoring big with

staff, including John McConnellogue, MD, Emergency

Physician, and Joy Hankowski, RN, who can view

patient status, bed availability and important medical

alerts all at once.

ON THE COVERPaws That Refresh

Pediatric patient Hillary Durant of Sunland enjoys her

visit with pet therapy dog, Molly, whose owner is Ginny

Mills, Volunteer Coordinator, Pet Therapy program. The

use of therapy pets

has been shown to

help reduce stress

for pediatric patients

and their families.

Learn more about

this tail-wagging

program on page 6.

When choosing a hospital, you want to know that your

comfort and safety are a number one priority. At

Northridge Hospital Medical Center, we carefully

review new services and technologies available in the health-

care industry that can further improve our patient care.

Then, we implement those that are not only proven to

have a positive impact on our patients, but those that

might delight them as well.

Consider our Pet Therapy program affectionately named

Paws That Refresh. While our dedicated hospital staff treats

medical conditions, these four-legged friends care for our

patients’ souls and warm their hearts.

To further ensure each patient’s comfort, our nursing

staff has adopted several recent measures. For example,

Patient Rounding involves visiting patients at least once

per hour during the day and several times at night to check

on their pain level, ensure they are positioned comfortably

and have everything they need. Nurses even keep track of

individual preferences, such as favorite foods and sleeping

habits. We have also implemented “administrative rounding”

where members of our leadership team make regular visits

to patients to assure their satisfaction.

In addition, Northridge Hospital is participating in a national

initiative that’s evidence based in saving lives. When time

is of the essence, our newly created Rapid Response Teamrushes to a patient’s bedside in four minutes or less of

being paged to provide immediate medical attention. The

implementation of this team is paramount to patient safety

because it can prevent a more serious medical condition

before it develops.

You’ll learn about these programs, services and more in

this issue of HealthSpeak. In addition, you can turn to page

10 where you’ll find a complete list of Northridge Hospital’s

physicians and their specialties to make choosing a doctor

easier. You can also call Northridge Hospital’s Free Find-A-Physician line at 818-908-8677 or visit our website at

www.NorthridgeHospital.org.

Michael L. WallPresident

let ter from the P R E S I D E N T

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Information contained in this publication is not intended for the purpose of diagnosis or prescribing. Please consult your physician before taking on any

form of medical treatment, exercise program or dietary guidelines.

HEALTHSPEAK is published by Northridge Hospital Medical Center Marketing

Department three times a year as a service to the community.

Teddi Grant, V.P., Marketing Communications; Carey Stanton, MarketingCommunications Director; Tracie Gipson, Marketing Communications Specialist; Teresa Unsinn, Office Manager; Robert Silber, Media ProductionServices Manager

contact us

Northridge Hospital Medical Center

18300 Roscoe Blvd.

Northridge, CA 91328

www.NorthridgeHospital.org

Main Number: 818-885-8500• Community Education Line: 818-885-5488• Job Line: 818-885-5363• Job Website: NorthridgeHospital.org/careers

FREE Find-A-Physician: 818-908-8677

Physician Directory: www.NorthridgeHospital.org

northr idge H O S P I T A L

“IN A WORD”

“miraculous”

Diane Arklin, Patient’s Mother

“The Center for Rehabilitation Medicine aided in my son’s remarkable recovery.”

“After a dirt-bike accident, my 15-year-old son Ryan suffered spinal cord damage and injured vertebrae.

Northridge Hospital’s Center for Rehabilitation Medicine was recommended by the hospital that

performed his surgery and by our local U.S. Congressman Howard “Buck” McKeon who called us

from Washington, D.C., saying ‘the Rehab program at Northridge Hospital is known as one of the best

in the nation.’

Today, I am thrilled to share that Ryan continues to improve his motor skills. He is able to walk and just recently received

his driver’s license. The care he received from Kevin Pidgeon, MD, was amazing! We also appreciated the exemplary care

from the team of occupational therapists, physical therapists and nurses—namely Physical Therapist Gary Quist who hits

the stratosphere mark with his knowledge. He’s just one of many people who make a difference at Northridge Hospital’s

miracle-working facility.”

“rewarding”

Jean Cosby, Auxiliary Member and 2007 Volunteer of the Year

“If anyone at Northridge Hospital needs me, all they have to do is call and I’m there!”

“I’ve always liked the idea of working for a hospital because you get to take care of people. So when

I retired, I jumped at the opportunity to volunteer at Northridge Hospital. I like everything I do here,

but what I enjoy most is meeting new people and learning about them. I’m one of many volunteers who bring complimentary

coffee to patients in the Hospital waiting rooms. Many of them recognize us and look forward to the visits.

I’ve also developed friendships with my fellow volunteers and their families. I sometimes take them to doctor’s appointments

and visit them at home. I’m happy to step in whenever I’m needed. Helping others is so rewarding for me and all of the

hundreds of hospital volunteers.”

“collaboration”

Cornelis Van Dop, MD, Pediatric Endocrinology

“The nursing staff at Northridge Hospital is a wonderful attribute to me and our young patients.”

Out of my 22 years practicing pediatric endocrinology, I’ve spent 10 with Northridge Hospital. I

particularly like working at this facility because the consulting physicians here help diagnose and

treat the complicated medical problems that sometimes present. Also, the nursing staff in Pediatrics, Babies First and

the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit work so well together—not only amongst themselves, but with me and my patients.

Their excellence and commitment to taking the best possible care of patients enables us all to make progress. Of course,

it helps to have our patients’ parents on our side too. Watching a child get well is the best part of my job, and I’m glad

to work with a team who feels the same way.”

Features key individuals who are a valuable

part of the Northridge Hospital family or

those who have been touched by the Hospital

summarizing their experiences in a word.

Improving Patient Care

Northridge Hospital Medical Center is a 411-bed nonprofit, community-based hospital offering a full spectrum of healthcare programsand centers of excellence. We are affiliated with Catholic Healthcare West (CHW) and share with them a long and rich legacy of caring.

indiv idual ized C A R E educat ional A D VA N C E M E N T

Back to School: Empowering Nurses with Educational Advancement

When you’re not feeling well, it’s the special touches

that count—like having everything you need for

comfort within reach. That’s just one of many goals

included in four new measures recently implemented by

Northridge Hospital Medical Center’s nursing leadership.

The measures focus on personalized care through increased

one-on-one communication. By engaging patients as active

participants in their treatment and recovery plan, better

outcomes can be achieved.

“Since nurses have the highest level of interaction with patients,

they have the greatest opportunity to truly impact patients’

experiences,” explains Ann Dechairo-Marino, PhD, RN, Senior

Vice President, Patient Care Services.

“The new measures ensure patients that their comfort and

safety are our top priorities while also empowering nurses with

successful tools to improve care,” adds Andrea Collier, MSN,RN-BC, Director of Nursing Practice. “Since put into action,

patient response has been favorable.”

PERSONALIZED CARE TIMES FOURROUNDING:Nurses no longer wait to be called, but rather anticipate

the needs of their patients by visiting them each hour or

more during the day and several times at night. Our nurses

ensure that important elements of care are addressed such

as pain control, bathroom needs, body positioning, and

that necessary items are within reach.

BEDSIDE REPORTING:Traditionally, at the change of each nursing shift, a patient

report was given to the incoming nurse at the nursing station.

Now, at the change of shift, the patient’s status and care

are discussed at the patient’s bedside thereby facilitating

interaction between the nurses and patients. This is an

important time for patients and their families to ask

questions about their care.

INDIVIDUALIZED PATIENT REFERENCES:Much like a fine hotel, we enhance your hospital stay with

your personal preferences and comfort needs. Food and beverage

favorites, temperature preferences, and sleep schedules are

written down so that caregivers can respond appropriately to

the patient’s needs.

DISCHARGE PHONE CALLS:In an effort to continually improve, we solicit our patients’

perception of their care through a follow-up telephone call

and a mail-in survey to discuss their satisfaction.

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Many of Northridge Hospital Medical

Center’s (NHMC) nurses are hitting the

books once again—and for good reason.

“In assisting our nurses to further develop

their critical thinking skills and applying

knowledge and principles to patient care

through a variety of innovative nursing

education programs, we are in a way

addressing the nursing shortage,”

explains Ann Dechairo-Marino, PhD, RN,

Senior Vice President, Patient

Care Services.

While Northridge Hospital boasts many

highly-educated nurses who hold bachelor

degrees or higher in nursing, some have

taken their education a step further by

pursuing advanced certifications in areas

such as critical care, labor and delivery,

emergency nursing, rehabilitation,

surgery, and others.

VERSANT: RN Residency ProgramNorthridge Hospital has partnered with

Versant, a non-profit public benefit

corporation of expert nurse educators

and researchers, to offer its comprehensive

education and training program designed

to increase the confidence and competency

levels of a beginning-level staff nurse.

Northridge Hospital is the first site in

California to offer Versant’s adult care

training program and was originally

one of only two test sites in the nation.

The Versant Adult Care RN Residency

Program enhances the skills and

confidence of new nursing graduates,

which leads to improved patient care

and outcomes.

“I chose Northridge Hospital because

of the Versant Residency program. It has

superseded my expectations,” says recent

Versant graduate Jaime DeLoera, RN.

“The program taught us how to apply

everything we learned in nursing school

to real-world situations. I have built a

strong foundation and feel confident

about my skills.”

Since the Versant residency began at NHMC

in November 2004, 57 nurses have gradu-

ated from the program. More importantly,

at a time when most hospitals are

loosing nurses, Northridge Hospital has

realized a dramatic reduction in new

graduate staff turnover. Judy Sumner,RN, BSN, PHN, RN Residency Program

Manager, emphasizes, “It’s really a

cultural change – not only are we investing

in our new graduate nursing staff, but

we are elevating the nursing profession

as a whole. We’re producing safe, self-

assured and competent nurses.” The

RN Residency Program is now available

at Northridge Hospital in both adult and

pediatric nursing specialties, including

pediatric and neonatal intensive

care areas.

Northridge Hospital CombatsNursing Shortage with Mount St. Mary’s Northridge Hospital has awarded nearly

$100,000 in forgivable loans to nursing

students at Mount St. Mary’s College in

Los Angeles in an effort to attract quality

nurse candidates and ease a staffing

shortage. Four Mount St. Mary’s students

will each be granted loans of $24,000.

One student will be selected from the

college’s traditional Bachelor of Science

in Nursing program and three others

from the accelerated Bachelor of

Science in Nursing program. After they

graduate, the nurses will work for

Northridge Hospital for two years. In

exchange for this commitment, their

loans will be forgiven. “We are combating

a severe nursing shortage locally and

throughout the state,” says Ann. “This

is one progressive step to help solve

the problem.”

Advanced Degree PartnershipCatholic Healthcare West (Northridge

Hospital’s Health System) and Holy

Names University, a Catholic university

in Oakland, have formed a partnership

to offer a Bachelor of Science Degree

in Nursing (BSN) program for current

employees via interactive video confer-

encing at the Hospital. This program

emphasizes critical thinking and ethical

decision-making. Staff nurses who have

earned a Masters of Science in Nursing

(MSN) have stepped up to serve as adjunct

faculty for the program, coordinated by

Linda Zech, RN, MSN, CWOCN. It

prepares students to become exceptional

healthcare professionals who care for

their patients and their families using

a holistic evidence-based approach.

Nursing today demands proven knowledge,

strong decision-making skills and a high

degree of compassion. “By offering our

nurses such valuable educational tools,

we are investing in their future with us,”

concludes Marilyn Eisz, RN, MN,

Director of Education Services.

For employment opportunities atNorthridge Hospital Medical Center,please visitwww.NorthridgeHospital.org/Careers orcall the Job Line at 818-885-5363.Sean Schray, 38, a Department of Water and Power employee

hospitalized following an electrical injury is examined by

Maria Vaca, RN, in the CardioVascular Center before the two

discuss his personal care preferences.

Our Patients Come FirstStriving to Provide All the Comforts of Home

Going MagnetNorthridge Hospital is currently pursuing the prestigiousand rigorous Magnet designation. The national MagnetRecognition Program acknowledges healthcare organizationsthat provide nursing excellence and innovations inprofessional nursing practices and strategies. In 2005, US News & World Report even added Magnet status to its criteria for choosing America’s Best hospitals.

In an effort to meet this esteemed Magnet criteria,Northridge Hospital recently created nursing unit-basedcouncils made up of staff nurses. These councils givenurses a more formal voice to make decisions that affect their patients and professional practice. “Staff nurses are empowered to become more involved with management decisions and job functions,” says Ann. “Like all journeys, this one requires planning and preparation. We will continue to make changes that reflect the true and deep commitment of NorthridgeHospital to the professional practice of nursing.”

Clinical Supervisor Saba Jamalpanah, RN, BSN,(far left) teaches real-life nursing skills to

recent graduates from West Coast University

who are enrolled in the LVN to RN program.

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Avisit from a friendly dog can be just the right medicine.

Consider the milestone a young patient made after

receiving a visit from a pet therapy dog at Northridge

Hospital Medical Center. “We witnessed this pediatric rehabilitation

patient speak for the first time since his injury when a pet

therapy dog visited him,” recalls pediatrician, HooshangSemnani, MD, Pediatrics Intensive Care Unit Medical Director.

While pets can easily invoke feelings of comfort, joy and

playfulness, Dr. Semnani also believes “there is a natural

connection between dogs and humans, especially children.”

Perhaps that’s why Paws That Refresh, Northridge Hospital’s

pet therapy program is such a success. Accompanied by its

trained owner-volunteer, a pet therapy dog will visit most of

the medical floors, twice daily, delivering unconditional love

to the bedside of our patients.

Paws That Refresh launched in 2000 as a small program with

just one dog named George and his owner David Nathanson.

Since then, it has blossomed into a full-fledged service thanks

to co-coordinator Ginny Mills, who has run pet visitation programs

at hospitals for about nine years, five of them at Northridge

Hospital. Today, our program has more than nine volunteers

and 10 dogs that dispense warm affection to patients five

days-a-week.

These dogs are no ordinary pets—the docile and affectionate

animals have participated in special training before qualifying

as a pet volunteer. All of them are certified therapy dogs by

one of two organizations—Therapy Dogs Inc. or the Delta

Society, which require dogs to be well-trained, good-natured

and enjoy attention.

The volunteer-owners and their dogs must also adhere to strict

infection prevention policies through consistent grooming

before and after each trip to the hospital. During visits with

patients, the dogs may sit or stand next to the bed or in a

chair. And upon patient request, the dog can even sit on the

bed with them once a separate sheet has been laid down.

Ginny who owns two of the dogs knows that the program

provides benefits to patients who may be feeling lonely,

depressed or anxious about their hospitalization. “We see

patients instantly brighten up when the dog enters their

room,” she affirms.

“I enjoy seeing the enthusiastic response from our patients. It

gives them a glimpse of the outside world,” adds Mary Grim,

Director of Volunteers. “Everyone has such a warm and positive

reaction when they see these ambassadors of good cheer

coming. The effect is transformational.”

Research on the health benefits of pet therapy has been widely

publicized. When used in a therapeutic environment, pets have

been shown to decrease blood pressure, ease pain or anxiety

and enhance both short and long-term memory. Psychological

benefits include building a rapport with healthcare providers,

decreasing stress, and improving self-esteem and motivation.

Northridge Hospital is finding that the pet visitation program is

especially beneficial to pediatric patients who are often frightened

by their hospitalization and may miss their own pet at home.

In fact, pet therapy dogs can serve as a useful distraction when

a reluctant pediatric patient must undergo medical testing.

Recently, a nurse was having a difficult time taking a young

patient’s blood pressure so she requested a pet therapy visit.

“Petting the dog was a wonderful distraction for the young lad,”

recalls Ginny. “I feel like we get as many blessings as we give

when we bring the dogs to patients.”

Since pet therapy can be particularly advantageous for patients

who have suffered a stroke or traumatic brain injury, the Centerfor Rehabilitation Medicine provides inpatients with a special

opportunity to interact with trained pets. Therapists use a weekly

formalized pet therapy program to improve a patient’s memory,

attention, verbal expression, and social interaction. Visits from

the four-legged friends can even encourage patients to use their

hands to stroke their soft fur, take a walk or speak.

“Pet therapy is especially beneficial to our patients with

speech deficits,” explains Speech Therapist Allison Abramson,MS, CCC-SLP. “The pets engage these patients who are often

uncommunicative or reserved, helping to facilitate speech. And,

our patients will often remember the pets’ names, which is a

great memory activity.” Allison also says the pet visitation

provides a relaxed atmosphere for patients, making them more

comfortable and more likely to interact with the therapists and

each other.

Consider spinal cord injury patient Michael Lee, who owns a

computer consulting business. During his lengthy stay, he began

missing his own dogs, Gizmo and Cinnamon. When he received

a visit from Molly, a vivacious Golden Retriever, he was thrilled.

“Having the dogs visit brings me comfort and joy – the same joy

my own dogs bring,” he says. “Seeing them makes me smile

and I feel that sense of unconditional love that only animals

can bring.”

John Alfenito, co-coordinator of Paws That Refresh, agrees, “The

dog visits bring a sense of normalcy into an abnormal situation.

When a dog visits a patient, it’s like being home for five minutes.”

For more information about the volunteer pet program Paws That Refresh, please call 818-885-8500, ext. 2782. NorthridgeHospital also offers several other opportunities to volunteerthroughout the facility. For information on volunteer programs,please call 818-885-8500, ext. 2961. For more information onthe Rehabilitation programs at NHMC, please visit our website at www.NorthridgeHospital.org.

A Dose of Puppy Love - Pet Visits Help Patients Heal

Pet therapy volunteer/owners with the Paws That Refresh dogs: Jo Humphrey and Nick; Shari Seinfeld and Zoey; Ginny Mills and

Molly; Judy Ransdell and Chloe; David Nathanson and George; Pam Alfenito and Wizard; and Jean Kerr and Allie.

Michael Lee is delighted to receive a visit from pet therapy dog

Molly. Stroking a dog can facilitate range of motion in the upper

extremities of spinal cord injury patients.

Orthopedic patient Irinea Ruelas of North Hollywood is

delighted to receive a visit from Wizard, one of 10 pet

therapy dogs at Northridge Hospital whose mere presence

can alleviate pain, anxiety and stress.

Howling About Pet Therapy BenefitsNorthridge Hospital is one of many medical centersnationwide with a volunteer pet visitation program, which greatly contributes to the emotional and physical healing process. Pet therapy is proven to:

• decrease blood pressure• ease pain or anxiety • improve both short- and long-term memory• encourage social interaction• enhance communication with healthcare providers • decrease stress• improve self-esteem and motivation• encourage stroke or traumatic brain injury patients to

use their hands, take a walk or even speak

P AW S T H A T R E F R E S H

“Beep, beep, beep!” Northridge Hospital Medical Center’sRapid Response Team’s (RRT) pagers sound off and they rushinto action. Each of them knows that every second countsbecause someone’s life may be at stake.

proact ive C A R E

Rapid Response Team Saves Lives

Northridge Hospital created this team in response

to the Institute for Healthcare Improvement’s

100,000 Lives Campaign, an effort to enlist

our nation’s hospitals to implement changes

in care proven to prevent avoidable deaths—

and it’s working.

“The Rapid Response Team has been very

successful in decreasing the number of Code

Blues (cardiac or respiratory distress) outside

of the Intensive Care and Critical Care Units since

the team was implemented in October 2005,”

states Elsie Crowninshield, RN, Clinical Director

of Critical Care and CardioVascular Services.

That’s because the RRT responds at the first

sign of a patient’s worsening condition and

BEFORE a serious medical emergency can

develop. The responding team consists of two

highly skilled and trained specialty critical care

nurses and a respiratory therapist. The moment

a patient’s vital signs begin to decline, a nurse

will initiate an emergency page to the RRT.

The team arrives within three to four minutes,

assesses the patient’s condition and offers

care above and beyond the unit nurse.

This new approach to healthcare increases

patient monitoring and exemplifies the Hospital’s

commitment to provide safe and immediate care.

“We are specially trained to identify and respond

to patients before a cardiac arrest—assessing

their airway, breathing and consciousness, and

administering appropriate treatment to stabilize

them,” explains Paul Solovay, RT.

“With the Rapid Response Team, we’ve seen a

reduction in the number of patients transferred

to the Intensive Care Unit with anoxic (without

oxygen) brain injuries as a result of cardiac arrest,”

adds Gordon Dowds, MD, Medical Director

of Critical Care. In fact, the RRT is not only

effective in preventing cardiac arrest, but it

is also improving patient outcomes by reducing

the chances a critically ill patient will experience

an unplanned complication during their

hospital stay.

Learn the early warning signs of cardiac arrest and CPR Basics in our Health & Wellness Library at www.NorthridgeHospital.org.

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8-9

cl in ical S O C I A L W O R K E R S

Sometimes the Best Medicine Is Peace of Mind

The Night Shift RRT members are Cornelius Dudusola, RT; Karla Waterhouse, RN;

Jessica Michinock, RN; Esther Hallowanger, RN; Jigna Kumar, RN, Clinical

Supervisor; and Mary Garcia, RN, (l-r).

Ready to respond at a pager’s notice, RRT day shift members include: Front row:

Gina Moss, RN, Relief Charge Nurse; Leela Skorstad, RN, Clinical Supervisor;

Maria Price, RN, Relief Charge Nurse; second row: Lori Preciado, RN, Program

Manager, Critical Care Services; Ed Lopez, RT, Director of Cardiovascular Services;

Alla Melman, RN; Joe Tongson, RT; Judy Fong, RN; third row: Greg Cousin, RT,

Program Manager, Respiratory Services; Elsie Crowninshield, RN, Director of

Critical Care Services; Paul Solovay, RT; and Marirose Vacarro, RN, (l-r).

A78-year old retired school teacher who lives alone with

his beloved cat became very worried about his pet while

hospitalized at Northridge Hospital Medical Center.

Understanding the patient’s predicament, his social worker

Eileen Sudeck, BSW, contacted the Van Nuys Police Department

for help. “I worked with the police department to have an officer

go to the patient’s home, retrieve his cat and take it to a

pet boarding facility until the patient was released from the

hospital,” she recalls.

“I was so surprised that my social worker was able to help me in

this way,” says this former patient. “She showed such concern—

not only for me, but the thought of my cat not having anyone to

care for her at home. I wasn’t sure anyone could help.”

Dedication, compassion and a true advocacy for their patients—

that is what patients at Northridge Hospital can expect from

their clinical social workers who are uniquely skilled to assist

patients with concerns beyond their medical status.

Clinical social workers are assigned to specific programs or

units within the hospital where they provide more specialized

expertise. They address the unique needs of patients in the

oncology, pediatric, medical/surgical and critical care areas

of the hospital where grief counseling and family counseling

services are often vital.

With the ultimate goal of providing peace of mind, an essential

factor in the healing process, clinical social workers help patients

and their families deal with a critical illness or diagnosis, a

disabling accident or the death of a loved one.

As a maternal child social worker, Elizabeth Tarantini, LCSW,

helps parents with premature or special needs babies prepare

emotionally for admission to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit(NICU). “Every NICU parent receives a visit from a clinical

social worker after delivery,” says Elizabeth. “We are also available

to assist with adoption issues and offer support to teen parents

by connecting them with additional community resources.”

Recently, Elizabeth assisted a family with the coordination of

Social Security benefits for their infant. She helped the father

obtain adequate leave from his employer and provided grief

counseling to the family. “Parents of critically ill newborns often

feel scared, upset, guilty, and sad,” she explains. “I do whatever

I can to make a situation easier on them. Family conferences

with the medical team can also be empowering to the family

and guide them through a difficult time.”

As a pediatric social worker who is also a member of the

Disciplinary Team, Eileen Escudero, MSW, provides emotional

and practical support to young patients and their families. “We

help both the child and family adjust to having a sick child and

cope with the lifestyle changes associated with that,” she

describes. “These families are in a crisis situation and we want

to provide the best comprehensive care that the

child and parents deserve.” Trained in mediation,

Eileen often serves as an advocate for the family

and can help resolve family conflicts.

The Social Services Department provides support

to the community as well. Fran Onderwyzer, LCSW,has been leading a breast cancer survivor support

group at Northridge Hospital for more than 10

years where women meet bimonthly to share their

stories and foster hope. “My goal is to make a

difference in their lives. To focus on living life to

the fullest, not just surviving. We work using the

power of positive thinking and humor.” She adds,

“When one of the women becomes ill or hospitalized,

we rally around her with phone calls, visits

and prayers.”

And sometimes, clinical social workers like Eileen will even

take their job a step further to ensure an adored cat remains

safe and sound until the owner returns.

The compassionate members of our Social Services Department

include: Audrey Myers, LCSW; Eileen Escudero, MSW;

Director Randi Young, MBA, RN, CRRN; Angie Martinez, MSW;

Elizabeth Tarantini, LCSW; and Eileen Sudeck, BSW, (l-r).

(Not pictured: Fran Onderwyzer, LCSW, and Penny White, MSW)

What Do Clinical Social Workers Do?Clinical social workers offer physical, psychosocial, psychological,and social support to patients and their families with:

• grief counseling• crisis intervention • referrals to community resource agencies such as

transportation, housing and support groups • alternatives and referrals to outside agencies for help

coping with loss of independence or mobility

Clinical social workers also lend assistance to case managersand other health providers to evaluate the best dischargeoptions while considering financial and family resources.

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Allergy & ImmunologyJacob Offenberger, M.D.

Joseph Shapiro, M.D.

Bariatric SurgeryMark Paya, M.D.

Donald Waldrep, M.D.

CardiologyDavid Aliabadi, M.D.

Kevin Ariani, M.D.

Ramesh Arora, M.D.

Babak Azarbal, M.D.

Adel El-Bialy, M.D.

Zouheir Elias, M.D.

Jane Frey, M.D.

Ravi Gupta, M.D.

Leo Kassabian, M.D.

Samuel Kojoglanian, M.D.

Roman Leibzon, M.D.

Hanan Lobel, M.D.

James Ong, M.D.

Madras Padmanabhan, M.D.

Ganesa Pandian, M.D.

Jack Patterson, M.D.

Richard Pego, M.D.

Leo Polosajian, M.D.

J. Nathan Rubin, M.D.

Jahandar Saleh, M.D.

Matthew Schwinger, M.D.

Munaf Shamji, M.D.

Alan Shiener, M.D.

Shivdyal Singh, M.D.

Kenneth Tam, M.D.

Ara Tilkian, M.D.

John Tsakonas, M.D.

Arash Vahdat, M.D.

Raj Wick, M.D.

Isaac Wiener, M.D.

Ting Yee, M.D.

Robert Zucker, M.D.

Cardiology, InterventionalDavid Aliabadi, M.D.

Kevin Ariani, M.D.

Zouheir Elias, M.D.

Samuel Kojoglanian, M.D.

Jack Patterson, M.D.

Munaf Shamji, M.D.

Ara Tilkian, M.D.

Raj Wick, M.D.

Cardiac ElectrophysiologyJames Ong, M.D.

Leo Polosajian, M.D.

Isaac Wiener, M.D

Child/Adolescent PsychiatryEric Foxman, M.D.

Romeo Isidro, M.D.

George McAuley, M.D.

Ronald Sager, M.D.

DentistryRobert Berrios, D.D.S.

Ronald Koslowski, D.D.S.

Harvey Lapin, D.D.S.

Lee Logan, D.D.S.

George Maranon, D.D.S.

Afshin Mazdeyasnan, D.D.S.

Robert Merin, D.D.S.

Louis Schwarzbach, D.M.D.

Alan Stein, D.D.S.

Dentistry, PediatricsEdward Dove, D.D.S.

Stephen Hirano, D.D.S.

Joseph Sciarra, D.D.S.

Thanh Tam Ton, D.D.S.

DermatologyMichael Borok, M.D.

William Coleman, M.D.

David Friedman, M.D.

Evelyn Jankowski, M.D.

Steven Naltsas, M.D.

C. Julian Omidi, M.D.

LawrenceOsman, M.D.

EndocrinologySawsan Barakat, M.D.

Andy Dang, M.D.

Mark Greenstadt, M.D.

Elise Kwon, M.D.

Narmeen Nabil, M.D.

Nicholas Panagiotis, M.D.

Ellen Tamagna, M.D.

Family PracticeUrsula Baffigo, M.D.

Joey Brett, M.D.

Kathy Cairo, M.D.

Thomas Conklin, M.D.

Fausto Cordero, M.D.

George Danial, D.O.

Pamela Davis, M.D.

Mark Dechter, M.D.

John Dingilian, M.D.

Kiran Dua, M.D.

Elizabeth Eddy-Bertrand, M.D.

Hazim El Meligy, M.D.

Gilbert Fernando, M.D.

David Hernandez, M.D.

Susan Hopkins, M.D.

Lloyd Ito, M.D.

Mary Kasem, M.D.

Ata Kashani, M.D.

Christopher Kuhlman, M.D.

Parviz Lahiji, M.D.

David Lavian, M.D.

Gary Lawson, M.D.

Jay Madhure, M.D.

A. David Matian, D.O.

Gordon McGregor, M.D.

Brooks Michaels, M.D.

David Morrow, M.D.

Tuan Nguyen, M.D.

Richard Niemeyer, M.D.

Mehran Okhovat, M.D.

YongMoon Park, M.D.

Himadri Patel, D.O.

Surinder Puri, M.D.

Howard Sawyer, M.D.

Mark Schenkel, M.D.

Tigalat Shalita, D.O.

Ileana Shaw, M.D.

Pedram Shirzad, D.O.

Philip Shore, M.D.

Gary Standke, M.D.

Richard Stringham, M.D.

Gregory Tenn, M.D.

Terence Thompson, M.D.

James Ting, M.D.

Boris Vaisman, M.D.

Sofia Vaisman, M.D.

Cesar Vega, M.D.

Sol Weiss, M.D.

Hwe-Seung Lucy Whang, M.D.

David Yamada, M.D.

Kyung Yoo, M.D.

Filiberto Zadini, M.D.

Maurice Zagha, M.D.

Joni Zapata, M.D.

Gastroenterology (GI)Moe Amadpour, M.D.

Calin Arimie, M.D.

Jihad Batah, M.D.

Magued Beshay, M.D.

Carl Blau, M.D.

Elmer Chang, M.D.

Nagaraja Chetty, M.D.

Ron Chitayat, M.D.

Saleem Desai, M.D.

Neil Fagen, M.D.

Richard Garrett, M.D.

Richard Gordon, M.D.

Kenneth Hepps, M.D.

Piyush Jogani, M.D.

Gustavo Machicado, M.D.

Michael Madievsky, M.D.

Robert Moghimi, M.D.

Mysore Nagaraja, M.D.

Mahendra Patel, M.D.

Yeong An Sheu, M.D.

Mark Tsai, M.D.

General SurgeryWalid Arnaout, M.D.

Ihab Aziz, M.D.

Gene Carp, M.D.

Charles Chidsey, M.D.

Dantae Davies, M.D.

Scott Fields, M.D.

Said Hemmati, M.D.

Adel Jabour, M.D.

Harold Marks, M.D.

Zahi Nassoura, M.D.

Scott Patterson, M.D.

Mark Paya, M.D.

Fuad Rafidi, M.D.

Peter Richman, M.D.

Shawki Saad, M.D.

Maher Sadra, M.D.

Christojohn Samuel, M.D.

Min Sauk, M.D.

Donald Waldrep, M.D.

Laurence Weekes, M.D.

GeriatricsMerlyn Asuncion, M.D.

Michael Flagg, M.D.

David Hernandez, M.D.

Gynecologic OncologyScott Eisenkop, M.D.

W. Michael Lin, M.D.

Finding Dr. Right And the Best HospitalNorthridge Hospital Medical Center has more than 600 physicians in 55 specialties.

Below you’ll find a list of experts who are committed to keeping you healthy. You can

also find a list of doctors on our website at www.NorthridgeHospital.org. If you

need help selecting a physician, please call Northridge Hospital Medical Center’s

FREE Find-A-Physician line at 818-908-8677.

2007 physician L I S TNorthridge Hospital Medical Staff President Lamya Jarjour, MD

GynecologyRobert Boostanfar, M.D.

Green Hsueh, M.D.

Tina Koopersmith, M.D.

John Lynch, M.D.

Alison Peck, M.D.

Peyman Saadat, M.D.

Jeffrey Steinberg, M.D.

Hematology/OncologyBahareh Bahadini, M.D.

Phillip Chatham, M.D.

J. Gary Davidson, M.D.

Sheldon Davidson, M.D.

Albert Dekker, M.D.

Thomas Joseph, M.D.

Suzy Melkonian, M.D.

Shamel Sanani, M.D.

Carl Singerman, M.D.

Monisha Singh, M.D.

Draupadi Talreja, M.D.

Rangachari Vasan, M.D.

Infectious DiseaseE. Duane Carmal, M.D.

Wendy Clough, M.D.

Milan Fiala, M.D.

John Li, M.D.

Belen Matias, M.D.

Richard Meyer, M.D.

Alan Nazarian, M.D.

Sonia Richards, M.D.

Ann Shahwan, M.D.

Malini Soogoor, M.D.

Jon Willen, M.D.

Samuel Wilson, M.D.

Edwin Yellin, M.D.

Internal MedicineJacob Ahdoot, M.D.

Tarek Ahmed, M.D.

Jaime Altamirano, M.D.

Mark Amico, M.D.

Parviz Amini, M.D.

Ajit Arora, M.D.

Merlyn Asuncion, M.D.

Shahab Attarchi, M.D.

Hooshang Azadeh, M.D.

Masoud Azizad, M.D.

Gholamreza Bonabi, M.D.

Victoria Borovsky, M.D.

Christopher Buttelman, M.D.

Kook Chang, M.D.

Christopher Chow, M.D.

Michael Damavandi, D.O.

Alan Darush, M.D.

Stephen Denq, M.D.

Siamak Etehad, M.D.

Nabil Feghali, M.D.

Robert Finkelstein, M.D.

Michael Flagg, M.D.

Poonam Gorakshakar, M.D.

Jeremy Grosser, M.D.

Shehnaz Habib, M.D.

Christopher Hage, M.D.

Jimmy Hwang, M.D.

Miles Jakl, M.D.

Wen-Cheng Jen, M.D.

William Josephson, M.D.

Sikander Kajani, M.D.

Minas Kochumian, M.D.

Allan Kurtz, D.O.

Richard Landers, M.D.

Jeffery Lee, M.D.

Duck Lim, M.D.

Jay Lin, M.D.

Thomas Long, M.D.

Lenna Martyak, M.D.

Teresa Merced, M.D.

Alexander Michaelson, M.D.

Hanriet Minasian-Arakel, D.O.

David Mohamadi, M.D.

Elliot Munjack, M.D.

Jaganath Naidu, M.D.

Michael Nelson, M.D.

Ram Nemani, M.D.

Jean Partamian, M.D.

Riga Pemba, M.D.

Mai Phan, M.D.

Vagharshak Pilossyan, M.D.

Fares Rabadi, M.D.

Frederick Russo, M.D.

Mariver Salcedo, D.O.

Michael Sanchez, M.D.

Terry Stanger, M.D.

Draupadi Talreja, M.D.

Lou Ellen Wilson, M.D.

Mark Winkler, M.D.

H. Norman Xu, M.D.

Si-Eup (Paul) Yoo, M.D.

Maternal/Fetal MedicineWaleed Doany, M.D.

Khalil Tabsh, M.D.

NeonatologyRochelle Feldman, M.D.

Saba Gaffar, M.D.

Theodore Glatz, M.D.

Barry Halpern, M.D.

Cecilia Lev, M.D.

NephrologyOmaran Abdeen, M.D.

Abdul Abukurah, M.D.

Vinod Assomull, M.D.

Mugurdich Balabanian, M.D.

Frank Chou, M.D.

Anant Desai, M.D.

Renee Dua, M.D.

Kamal Gandhi, M.D.

Shahrouz Ghodsian, M.D.

Isaac Gorbaty, M.D.

Lawrence Guziel, M.D.

Irma Harriman, M.D.

Abdalla Mallouk, M.D.

Moufid Nemeh, M.D.

Elias Paikal, M.D.

Ram Patak, M.D.

Marie-Therese Pean, M.D.

Hamid Sadeghi, M.D.

Leon Schoenfeld, M.D.

Parag Shah, M.D.

Allan Shook, M.D.

Balbir Singh, M.D.

Kant Tucker, M.D.

NeurologyAmy Alkire, M.D.

David Brandes, M.D.

Robert Cohenour, M.D.

Victor Hogen, Jr., M.D.

Edward Jeon, M.D.

Wei Mi, M.D.

Kanwal Nayyar, M.D.

Meril Platzer, M.D.

Dolly Roy , M.D.

Vivek Savur, M.D.

Yuriy Verpukhovskiy, M.D.

LawrenceWeinberg, M.D.

Jenny Zhu, M.D.

Ronald Ziman, M.D.

NeurosurgeryFredric Edelman, M.D.

Tooraj Gravori, M.D.

Sherwin Hua, M.D.

Deborah Hyde, M.D.

Wallace Korbin, M.D.

John Lee, M.D.

Mark Liker, M.D.

Mehmet Ozgur, M.D.

Kenneth Richland, M.D.

Asher Taban, M.D.

Sasan Yadegar, M.D.

Obstetrics/GynecologyVeronica Abusleme, M.D.

David Ahdoot, M.D.

Federico Alva, M.D.

Anton Ambrose, M.D.

Neda Ballon-Reyes, M.D.

Marlon Brooks, M.D.

Lisbeth Chang, M.D.

LiChing Chen, M.D.

Martin Cooper, M.D.

Bijan Daneshgar, M.D.

George Delshad, M.D.

Waleed Doany, M.D.

Heba Farag, M.D.

Mojan Gabbay, M.D.

Kevin Gallivan, M.D.

Glenn Grossman, M.D.

Gordon Hanusek, M.D.

Kamrooz Houman-Tabibzad, M.D.

Lamya Jarjour, M.D.

Mee Sook Kim, M.D.

Frederick Kohn, M.D.

Jirair Konialian, M.D.

Shahram Kossari, M.D.

Rafik Latif, M.D.

Eldridge Pearsall, M.D.

Leo Peress, M.D.

Kevin Pezeshki, M.D.

Michael Potruch, M.D.

Carlos Rodriguez, M.D.

Jack Sakai, M.D.

Kamran Torbati, M.D.

Dafna Trites, D.O.

Antero Velez, M.D.

Tina Verder, M.D.

Farid Yasharpour, M.D.

OphthalmologyBruce Becker, M.D.

Dorothy Calvin, M.D.

W. Scott Calvin, M.D.

Andrew Chang, M.D.

Michael Dalali, M.D.

Kenneth Diddie, M.D.

Robert Engstrom, M.D.

Marshall Graditor, M.D.

Sheryl Handler, M.D.

Jamshyd Karlin, M.D.

Patrick Keating, M.D.

David Kim, M.D.

Mark Kramar, M.D.

Sandy Lee, M.D.

Sangeeta Logani, M.D.

Sanjay Logani, M.D.

Michael Lynch, M.D.

Erick Morales, M.D.

Leon Partamian, M.D.

Steven Rauchman, M.D.

Robert Schwarcz, M.D.

Robert See, M.D.

Kayur Shah, M.D.

David Shultz, M.D.

Mitchell Shultz, M.D.

Robert Smyth-Medina, M.D.

Steven Stiles, M.D.

Vinh Tran, M.D.

Richard Yook, M.D.

Oral/Maxillofacial SurgeryGabriel Aslanian, D.D.S., M.D.

Ted Feder, D.D.S.

Fred Haim, D.D.S.

Robert Hale, D.D.S.

James Jensvold, D.D.S.

Susan Lee, D.M.D., M.D.

Robert Relle, D.D.S.

Christopher Upham, D.D.S.

Orthopedic SurgeryShirzad Abrams, M.D.

George Balfour, M.D.

Babak Barcohana, M.D.

Saul Bernstein, M.D.

Tarek Bittar, M.D.

Hrair Darakjian, M.D.

David Feingold, M.D.

Jerome Friedland, M.D.

Brian Grossman, M.D.

Vincent Gumbs, M.D.

Edwin Haronian, M.D.

David Heskiaoff, M.D.

James Kayvanfar, M.D.

John Kayvanfar, M.D.

InSoo Kim, M.D.

John King, M.D.

Michael Lee, M.D.

Benjamin Lesin, M.D.

Richard Nussbaum, M.D.

This list contains all physicians on Northridge Hospital’s medical staff with the exception of in-house (or contracted) physician groups.

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2007 physician L I S T

Orthopedic Surgery (cont’d)Gerald Paul, M.D.

William Rumack, M.D.

Shaik Saheb, M.D.

Steven Schopler, M.D.

Michael Shapiro, M.D.

Domenick Sisto, M.D.

Gregg Sobeck, M.D.

OtolaryngologyRonald Accomazzo, M.D.

Kamyar Amini, M.D.

James Andrews, M.D.

George Anterasian, M.D.

Jeffrey Feinfield, M.D.

Marc Kerner, M.D.

Termsak Kusonruksa, M.D.

Lawrence Pleet, M.D.

John Roesler, M.D.

Lawrence Stein, M.D.

Pain ManagementJessica Boston, M.D.

Morris Jagodowicz, M.D.

Jonathan Kohan, M.D.

Philip Morgan, M.D.

Imad Rasool, M.D.

Andrew Seltzer, M.D.

PediatricsBhavana Arora, M.D.

Behzad Behmanesh, M.D.

Catherine Cho, M.D.

Hasan Chowdhury, M.D.

Pamela Colby, M.D.

Thomas Connolly, M.D.

Janesri De Silva, M.D.

Elizabeth Evans, M.D.

Tanya Falkowski, M.D.

Farideh Farrohi, M.D.

Maurice Fields, M.D.

Irma Gonzalez, M.D.

Charles Goodman, M.D.

William Groves, M.D.

Elisha Hicks, M.D.

Gloria Hierro, M.D.

Gina Johnson, M.D.

Garabed Kayekjian, M.D.

Clement Kim, M.D.

Kyu Kim, M.D.

Peter Kim, M.D.

Rhodora Kim, M.D.

Milton Kolchins, M.D.

Michael Land, M.D.

Jong Lee, M.D.

Hadar Levgur-Fields, M.D.

Maya Levy, M.D.

Rene Lim, M.D.

Victor Lopez, M.D.

Victoria Millet, M.D.

Guiragos Minassian, M.D.

Jennifer Moffett, M.D.

Hamid Moradi, M.D.

Stephen Nathanson, M.D.

Christine Park, M.D.

Louella Peckson, M.D.

Frank Peng, M.D.

Jayvee Regala, M.D.

Barbara Rodriguez, M.D.

Mehboob Sachani, M.D.

Pedram Salimpour, M.D.

Pejman Salimpour, M.D.

Ralph Salimpour, M.D.

Ana Saravia, M.D.

Hooshang Semnani, M.D.

Lidia Shadrick, M.D.

Mona Shah, M.D.

Steven Shoham, M.D.

Seymour Silverberg, M.D.

May Tang, M.D.

Bellaflor Trompeta, M.D.

Buenflor Uy, M.D.

Mojdeh Zafaranchi, M.D.

Pediatric AllergyJacob Offenberger, M.D.

Seymour Silverberg, M.D.

Pediatric CardiologyJoseph Ahdoot, M.D.

Lennis Burke, M.D.

Timothy Casarez, M.D.

Brian Fagan, M.D.

Elizabeth De Oliveira, M.D.

David Ferry, M.D.

Vahid Hekmat, M.D.

Nancy Kim, M.D.

Robert Loitz, M.D.

Irving Tessler, M.D.

Jeffrey Wong, M.D.

Pediatric Critical CareCesar Chavarria, M.D.

Farrukh Mirza, M.D.

Hooshang Semnani, M.D.

Angela Slaughter, M.D.

Pediatric EndocrinologyYale Doberne, M.D.

Cornelis Van Dop, M.D.

Pediatric GastroenterologySaied Dallalzadeh, M.D.

Larry Eisenberg, M.D.

Pediatric Infectious DiseaseVictoria Millet, M.D.

Pediatric NephrologyElizabeth Evans, M.D.

Pediatric NeurologyDaniel Shewmon, M.D.

Pediatric Orthopedic SurgeryKeith Brookenthal, M.D.

John King, M.D.

Pediatric SurgeryJames Atkinson, M.D.

Daniel DeUgarte, M.D.

James Dunn, M.D.

Stephen Shew, M.D.

Physical Medicine & RehabJessica Boston, M.D.

Thomas Hedge, M.D.

Andrew Kochan, M.D.

Alex Lin, M.D.

Sion Nobel, M.D.

Kevin Pidgeon, M.D.

Joel Rosen, M.D.

Plastic SurgeryBruce Ascough, M.D.

Fadi Chahin, M.D.

Mohammad Khosravi, M.D.

Kwan Kim, M.D.

Lloyd Krieger, M.D.

Jacob Saleh, M.D.

Zareh Vartivarian, M.D.

PodiatryJoseph Borden, D.P.M.

David Day, D.P.M.

Arthur Fass, D.P.M.

Stefan Feldman, D.P.M.

Armen Hagopjanian, D.P.M.

Andrew Katz, D.P.M.

Charles Kelman, D.P.M.

Leslie Levy, D.P.M.

Thomas Neuman, D.P.M.

Maurice Perry, D.P.M.

Mary Schuh, D.P.M.

Vladimir Zeetser, D.P.M.

PsychiatryNareshkumar Arulampalam, M.D.

Daniel Bennett, M.D.

Matthew Cohen, M.D.

Eric Foxman, M.D.

Michael Frankel, M.D.

Sidney Gold, M.D.

Douglas Hasu, M.D.

Romeo Isidro, M.D.

Walter Jacobson, M.D.

Kiran Kamat, M.D.

Stephen Klevens, M.D.

Galina Lensky, M.D.

Gary Levinson, M.D.

Mehboob Makhani, M.D.

George McAuley, M.D.

Ronald Sager, M.D.

Veena Vadmal, M.D.

Maurice Zeitlin, M.D.

PsychologyThomas Glennon, Ph.D.

Elliot Goldstein, Ph.D.

Stephen Howard, Ph.D.

William Josephs, Ph.D.

Mary Kelso, Ph.D.

Steve Kudler, Psy.D, FPPR

David Lopata, Ph.D.

Sandra Rudnick, Ph.D.

Ellen Shirman, Ph.D.

Robert Tomaszewski, Ph.D.

Douglas Young, Ph.D.

Pulmonary MedicineRoger Amerian, M.D.

Ashim Arora, M.D.

Gordon Dowds, M.D.

Thomas Ence, M.D.

Gurdip Flora, M.D.

Jean Hawkins, M.D.

Garbis Kassabian, M.D.

Vijay Kumar, M.D.

M. Reza Nahed, M.D.

Robert Robertson, M.D.

Robert Thompson, M.D.

Ronald Tung, M.D.

S. Thomas Yadegar, M.D.

Radiation OncologyLisa Chaiken, M.D.

David Huang, M.D.

David Khan, M.D.

Robert Kwon, M.D.

Robert Lum, M.D.

Afshin Safa, M.D.

Michael Steinberg, M.D.

Kenneth Wong, M.D.

Uri Zisblatt, M.D.

RheumatologyXavier Caro, M.D.

Joshua Levy, M.D.

Jenny Oh, M.D.

Boris Ratiner, M.D.

Paul Sussman, M.D.

Charles Weidmann, M.D.

Spinal Cord Injury MedicineThomas Hedge, M.D.

Thoracic/CardiovascularSurgeryAzmi Atiya, M.D.

Mehdi Fakhrai, M.D.

Farshad Malekmehr, M.D.

Michael Soltero, M.D.

Roderick Yasuda, M.D.

UrologyGary Alford, M.D.

Bassam Bejjani, M.D.

Daniel Cosgrove, M.D.

Malcolm Cosgrove, M.D.

Richard David, M.D.

Ganeshalingam Devendra, M.D.

Jerry Garrett, M.D.

Ronald Kaplan, M.D.

Mansoor Karamooz, M.D.

Robert Klein, M.D.

John Lam, M.D.

Joseph Navon, M.D.

S. Daniel Niku, M.D.

Elsie Perer, M.D.

Muni Reddy, M.D.

Shashi Reddy, M.D.

Jacinto Rios, M.D.

Arthur Vatz, M.D.

Youssef Youssef, M.D.

Vascular SurgeryIhab Aziz, M.D.

Adel Jabour, M.D.

Zahi Nassoura, M.D.

Fuad Rafidi, M.D.

Shawki Saad, M.D.

Robert Wagmeister, M.D.

Once you’ve chosen a doctor,

be sure to keep him or her

informed whenever you visit

another physician or behavioral

health specialist. It’s essential

that your primary care doctor

is aware of any condition(s)

you are being treated for and

medications you are taking

because either could affect

your health.

Be Choosy:Your HealthMattersIt’s equally important to choose the right doctor

and the right hospital. Don’t wait until you need

to visit a healthcare facility. The Joint Commission

(TJC) offers the following tips for selecting a

quality hospital:

• Does the hospital accept your health plan?

• Do the services and specialties provided by the

hospital meet your specific medical needs?

• Does it have convenient visiting hours?

• Is the hospital accredited by The Joint Commission?

Northridge Hospital has met the standards to become

Joint Commission accredited. TJC accreditation means

the organization voluntarily sought accreditation and

met national health and safety standards. The Joint

Commission provides onsite surveys to review all

areas of the hospital affecting patient care, including

pharmaceutical services and infection control procedures.

For more information on choosing the right hospital, log on to The Joint Commission’s website at www.jointcommission.org.

Northridge Hospital Medical CenterHealth Plan & Government Contracts

Contracted Health PlansAetna

Affiliated Health Funds

Beech Street

Blue Cross

Blue Shield

Capp Care

Care 1st

Choice Care

CIGNA

Community Care Network (CCN)

First Health

Health Net

Interplan

Kaiser

One Health Plan

PacifiCare

PacifiCare Behavioral Health

Private Healthcare Systems, Inc.

SCAN

Secure Horizons

UHP

United Health Care

Universal Care

Value Options

Government PlansMedi-Cal

MediCare

Healthy Families, with select

health plans

FIND-A-PHYSICIANIt is easy to find the right physician for you—just log

on to www.NorthridgeHospital.org. You can also call

818-908-8677. Best of all, it is a FREE service.

Northridge Hospital Medical Center

Medical Staff

Officers/Department/Committee Chairs

July 2006 - June 2008

Medical Staff OfficersPresident: Lamya Jarjour, M.D.

President-Elect: Hooshang Semnani, M.D.

Secretary: Philip Shore, M.D.

Treasurer: Garbis Kassabian, M.D.

Past President, 04-06: Ronald B. Ziman, M.D.

Past President, 02-04: Leon G. Partamian, M.D.

Clinical Department ChairsDepartment of Dentistry: Joseph Sciarra, D.D.S.

Department of Family Practice: Susan Hopkins, M.D.

Department of Medicine: Mark Amico, M.D.

Department of OB/GYN: Neda Ballon-Reyes, M.D.

Department of Pediatrics: Elizabeth Evans, M.D.

Department of Psychiatry: Stephen Klevens, M.D.

Department of Surgery: Adel Jabour, M.D.

Clinical Department Vice ChairsDepartment of Dentistry: Lee Logan, D.D.S.

Department of Family Practice: Gregory Tenn, M.D.

Department of Medicine: Kevin Ariani, M.D.

Department of OB/GYN: Kevin Pezeshki, M.D.

Department of Pediatrics: Farideh Farrohi, M.D.

Department of Psychiatry: Maurice Zeitlin, M.D.

Department of Surgery: Asher Taban, M.D.

This list contains all physicians on Northridge Hospital’s medical staff with the exception of in-house (or contracted) physician groups.

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support G R O U P S

Bereavement Group Second and fourth Wednesday of each month, 6 - 7:30 p.m.Call 818-885-5351 to register

Brain Injury Support Group for Survivors & CaregiversMeets once a week on Tuesdays, 7 - 8:30 p.m.or Wednesdays, 3 - 4:30 p.m.Call 818-885-8500, ext. 3797

Brain Tumor Support Group Second Wednesday of each month, 12:30 - 2 p.m.Call 818-885-8500, ext. 2833

Breast Cancer Support GroupSecond and fourth Tuesday of each month, 7 - 8:30 p.m.Call 818-885-8500, ext. 2833

Breastfeeding Support Group Providing support and encouragement to breastfeeding

women to reduce and prevent problems that can undermine

successful breastfeeding.

Wednesdays, 10 - 11:30 a.m.Call 818-885-8500, ext. 2298

Cancer Support and Healing (En Español)Tuesdays, 6 - 7 p.m.Call 818-885-8500, ext. 2833

Cardiac Rehab Support GroupSecond Thursday of each month, Noon - 1 p.m.Call 818-885-5489 to make a reservation

Chronic Pain Support GroupTuesdays, 11 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. Call 818-885-8500, ext. 3680

Dementia Caregivers Support GroupFirst and third Wednesday of each month, 7 p.m.Call 818-872-3213

Fibromyalgia Support GroupSecond Monday of each month, 6:30 - 8:30 p.m.Call 818-886-8730

Huntington’s Support GroupIn partnership with the Huntington’s Society of America, Los Angeles and the Los Angeles Caregivers Resource Center

Last Sunday of each month, 6 - 8 p.m.Call toll-free 888-443-7252

Liver Disease Support GroupFirst and third Wednesday of each month, 7:30 - 9:30 p.m.Call the American Liver Foundation at 310-670-4624

Making Today MeaningfulA general cancer support group for men and women.

First and third Wednesday of each month, 12:30 - 2 p.m.Call 818-885-8500, ext. 2833

Multiple Sclerosis Support Group Second Wednesday of each month, 10 - 11:30 a.m.Call 818-885-8500, ext. 2782

Parkinson’s Support GroupVarious topics and monthly support group

Third Monday of each month, 3:30 - 5:30 p.m.Call 818-776-1183

Young Onset Parkinson’s Disease Support GroupSecond Saturday of each month, 11 a.m. - 1 p.m.Call the APDA at CARE toll-free 866-499-2732

Polio Support GroupVital information and support for post-polio syndrome (PPS)

individuals, a condition that may develop several decades after

a person has had polio.

Last Sunday of each month, 12:30 - 3 p.m. Call 818-996-8733

Sleep Apnea (CPAP) Support GroupFirst Wednesday, every other month of October, December and January 6 - 7 p.m.Call 818-885-8500, ext. 2782

Spinal Cord Injury Support GroupThursdays, 3 - 4:15 p.m. Call 818-885-8500, ext. 3656

Stroke Support Group for Survivors & CaregiversWednesdays, 3 - 4 p.m.Call 818-885-8500, ext. 4865

Trigeminal Neuralgia Support GroupIn partnership with the Trigeminal Neuralgia AssociationFor Trigeminal Neuralgia and related facial pain sufferers to

obtain information, encouragement and treatment explanations.

Fourth Wednesday of each month, 1 - 2:30 p.m.Call 818-885-8500, ext. 2565

Weight Loss Surgery Support GroupAll patients and prospective patients are welcome to join. Learn

about follow-up care and help us plan future events. Sessions are

focused on group discussion. Please address personal questions

at your follow-up appointment with your doctor.

First Saturday of each month, 11 a.m. - Noon Call toll-free 877-448-4448

WYNGS Support GroupFor those living with spinal cord injuries.

Second Wednesday of each month, 4 p.m.Call WYNGS at 818-267-3031

WYNGS Alas d’Esperanza (meeting conducted in Spanish)Third Wednesday of each month, 6:30 p.m.Call WYNGS at 818-267-3031

Please call to register for the support group before initial participation. Room location and other information will be given during the time of registration. All support groups meet at Northridge Hospital Medical Center.

JCPenney, Macy’s, Macy’s Men’s & Home, Sears, Pacific Theatres

Tampa at Nordhoff, Northridge, CA818-701-7051

northridgefashioncenter.com

Visit our great selection of stores and restaurants,

such as Abercrombie & Fitch, Ann Taylor Loft,

Banana Republic, Cache, Coach, Fossil,

GAP/GAP Body, One Thousand Steps, Swarovski,

Up Against the Wall, Victoria’s Secret,

Cost Plus World Market, California Pizza Kitchen,

Red Robin, Wood Ranch BBQ & Grill and more!

The Northridge Hospital Foundation invites you to Steppin’ Out, ourannual black tie gala, which will benefit the Campaign for CancerCare. The event will feature Comedian Wayne Cotter and a “blastfrom the past” rock ‘n’ roll performance by Captain Cardiac and the Coronaries. Steppin’ Out will also honor Dana, David and CarolePump for their generosity and commitment to Northridge HospitalMedical Center, specifically the Carole Pump Women’s Center andthe The Harold and Carole Pump Department of Radiation andOncology. Guests will enjoy cocktails, a gourmet dinner, entertainment,and silent and live auction items, including cruises, and trips toPuerto Vallarta, San Francisco, and the Grand Canyon.

Universal Hilton Hotel • Friday, October 12Individual tickets $375

Table sponsorships are available

For more information or to purchase tickets, call NorthridgeHospital Foundation at 818-885-5431, ext. 3.

Northridge Hospital Foundation is a nonprofit charitable organization dedicated to supporting solely the charitable purposes and activities of Northridge Hospital MedicalCenter. Each year, the Foundation allocates more than $1 million to the Hospital forcapital projects and programs.

Northridge Fashion Center: FREE ScreeningsNorthridge Hospital Medical Center presents monthly health tests

at Northridge Fashion Center, CENTER COURT, UPPER LEVEL,

located at 9301 Tampa Ave, Northridge, CA 91324. All screenings

are FREE unless noted. Visit www.NorthridgeFashionCenter.com or

www.NorthridgeHospital/BetterHealth.org for more details.

All events are held from Noon - 4 p.m.

SEPTEMBER

- Body Fat Analysis & Weight Loss TipsFriday, September 14

- Breast Cancer: Learn How to Do a Breast Self-exam Saturday, September 15

OCTOBER

- Breast Cancer: Learn How to Do a Breast Self-exam Friday, October 5

- Tips for Emotional Health Saturday, October 6

NOVEMBER

- Healthy Holiday Nutrition for Parents and ChildrenFriday, November 9

- First Aid and Safety TipsSaturday, November 10

DECEMBER

- Stroke Awareness: Learn your risk, signs of a stroke and what to doFriday, December 14

health test S C R E E N I N G S

FREE Gift Offer!The Carole Pump Women’s Center is

offering a specially selected, lovely FREE gift

to the first 300 women who schedule a

mammogram during the month of October.

We now offer digital mammography and

appointments are scheduled every 10 minutes

for added convenience. To ensure you remain

in good health, you can also schedule your

bone density screening at the same time.

To qualify for this free offering, you must be 40 years of age or older. Please ask your doctor for a referral.

You can receive prevention tips for the five top health issues forwomen (breast cancer, heart disease, obesity, type 2 diabetes, andosteoporosis) by visiting our website at www.NorthridgeHospital.organd clicking on “Health and Wellness.”

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