in coordination with the
presents
Pulmonary/Critical Care Conference of the Desert
Mark your calendar!
June 1, 2024
Classic Club
75-200 Classic Club Blvd
Palm Desert, CA
Highlights from last year's conference!
The Speakers
FEATURED MEDICAL EXPERTS
Shahriyar Tavakoli, M.D., FCCP, MHA
Co-Chair
Shahriyar Tavakoli, M.D., FCCP, MHA
Co-Chair
Specialties
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Pulmonary Medicine
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Critical Care Medicine
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Neurocritical Care Medicine
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Civil Surgeon
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Dr. Tavakoli is Board Certified in Internal Medicine, Critical Care Medicine, Pulmonary Medicine and Neurocritical Care Medicine. Currently, he is an assistant professor at Loma Linda University Medical Center in the Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care, Hyperbaric, Allergy and Sleep Medicine. He remains active in the clinical practice of both pulmonary and critical care. He was Chair of the Critical Care Conference held at the Annenberg Center at Eisenhower Medical Center for 15 years. He is now pioneering a new educational foundation with the establishment of Desert Institute of Continuing Education, Inc. this being the second annual Pulmonary/Critical Care conference. He has also authored several publications within his field and is interested in teaching and clinical research.
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Ara Klijian, M.D.
Co-Chair
Specialties
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Cardio-Thoracic Surgeon
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Ara Klijian, MD, is the Director of the Minimally Invasive Cardiovascular and Thoracic Institute of San Diego and is an attending in Cardio-thoracic and Vascular Surgery at Sharp, Scripps Hospitals of San Diego, California. He specializes and is considered to be a pioneer in Awake Video Assisted Thoracic Surgery (AVATS). He also specializes in minimally invasive cardiac and thoracic surgery, lung and esophageal surgery for benign and malignant disease and advanced lung cancer resections. He has authored many publications and is very interested in teaching and clinical research. He is a member of the planning committee for the Pulmonary/Critical Care Conference of the Desert.
Ara Klijian, M.D.
Co-Chair
Junctional Hemorrhage Control
![Wisniewski-paul[1].jpg](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/22af24_d2af170a3d8648ccb699e7c140c09429~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_234,h_328,al_c,lg_1,q_80,enc_auto/Wisniewski-paul%5B1%5D.jpg)
Paul Wisniewski, DO
Trauma/Critical Care Surgeon
Junctional Hemorrhage Control
Specialties
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Trauma Surgeon
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Critical Care Medicine
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Dr. Wisniewski is the current Director of Trauma Services at Desert Regional Medical Center in Palm Springs. In addition, he was the Director of Navy Trauma Training Center at USC + LAC and he has held the position of Trauma Surgeon at multiple Southern California major Medical Centers and many military hospitals around the world, such as Kandahar, Afghanistan; Fallujah, Iraq and Okinawa, Japan. He has received many military honors and awards, the Romanian Emblem of Honor for Military Medicine, Navy Commendation Medal, and Combat Action Ribbon just to name a few. He is a rifle marksman and pistol expert. He is actively involved in teaching and has numerous publications and book chapters.
Ara Chrissian, M.D., FCCP, DAABIP
Diagnosis and Surgical Treatment of Lung Cancer
Specialties
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Internal Medicine
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Pulmonary Disease
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Critical Care Medicine
Dr. Ara A. Chrissian is a board-certified Interventional Pulmonologist and Intensivist, serving as faculty at Loma Linda University Medical Center, where he is the Director for Adult Bronchoscopy and Interventional Pulmonology.
Dr. Chrissian is also heavily involved in medical education. During his time at Loma Linda, he has served as the Associate Director of the Pulmonary and Critical Care fellowship and has been nominated for and received several awards and distinctions for teaching both residents and fellows. He has established and been involved in maintaining several innovative curricula, such as those for bronchoscopy, lung cancer, and critical care ultrasound. He also sits on national committees, including the Education Committee for the American Association of Bronchoscopy and International Pulmonology, for which he is the lead on multiple educational projects.
Diagnosis and Surgical Treatment of Lung Cancer
Management of Liver Failure in the ICU
Michael L. Volk, M.D., M.Sc., AGAF
Management of Liver Failure in the ICU
Specialties
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Internal Medicine
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Gastroenterology
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Transplant Hepatology
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Dr. Volk is the Robert and Gladys Mitchell Professor of Medicine, the Chair of the Division of Gastroenterology, and the Medical Director of Liver Transplantation at the Transplantation Institute at Loma Linda University. Soon he will be the Chair of Medicine at Baylor Scott and White/Baylor College of Medicine.
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Dr. Volk is board certified by the American Board of Internal Medicine in Gastroenterology and Transplant Hepatology. He has authored over one hundred publications of original research and has co-authored numerous reviews, editorials, and book chapters. Dr. Volk is the recipient of multiple Recognitions and Awards including Healthcare Visionary from the American Liver Foundation.
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David Chooljian, M.D., J.D.,
HEC-C
Controversies in Surrogate Decision
Making in the ICU
Specialties
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Internal Medicine
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Pulmonary Disease
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Critical Care Medicine
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Healthcare Ethics Consultation
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Dr. Chooljian is an Associate Professor at the Loma Linda University School of Medicine and an Academic Educator at the Loma Linda University School of Religion. He is currently a Staff Physician of Pulmonary & Critical Care Medicine with the VA Loma Linda Healthcare System. He is also a Facility Ethicist and Chief of the Ethics Consultation Service with the VA Loma Linda Healthcare System. Dr. Chooljian is board certified in healthcare Ethics Consultation, Critical Care Medicine, Pulmonary Medicine, and Internal Medicine.
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He has published and co-authored numerous publications, books, and chapters and has received multiple recognitions and awards. Dr. Chooljian is a member of numerous professional organizations such as the American College of Chest Physicians.
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Controversies in Surrogate Decision Making in the ICU
Diagnosis and Management of ILD for Non-Pulmonologists
Niranjan Jeganathan, M.D., MS
Diagnosis and Management of ILD
Specialties
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Critical Care Medicine
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Pulmonary Disease
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Internal Medicine
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Dr. Jegenathan is an Associate Professor at the Department of Medicine at Loma Linda University. At Loma Linda University Medical Center Dr. Jegenathan is the Pulmonary & Critical Care Attending Physician. He is board certified in Critical Care Medicine, Pulmonary Disease, and Internal Medicine from the American Boards of Internal Medicine. He is currently involved in multiple academic and administrative activities at LLU such as being the Medical Director of the Respiratory Care and Pulmonary Function Lab and the Medical Director of Pulmonary, Allergy and Sleep Clinics. Additionally, Dr. Jegenathan has authored numerous publications of original research as well as reviewing and editing multiple journals.
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Richard L. Villanueva, BSRT, NPS, ACCS
ARDS: Evidence Based Mechanical Ventilator Strategies
Specialties
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Respiratory Therapy in Critical Care Setting
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Management of Mechanical Ventilation
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Richard Villanueva is the Respiratory Therapy Supervisor at Riverside Community Hospital. He is also the CEO of Respiratory Pros Inc. which specializes in Pulmonary Function Technology. He has proficiencies in Respiratory Therapy in the Critical Care Setting, Management of Mechanical Ventilation, Airway Management, Bronchoscopy, and numerous others.
He is ECMO certified and received his BSRT from San Joaquin Valley College. He is credentialed with RRT-NPS-ACCS specialties by the National Board of Respiratory Care and is licensed as an RCP by the Respiratory Care Board of California. He has been published in Desert Health News and in the Career Education Review.
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ARDS: Evidence Based Mechanical Ventilator Strategies
Including DRMC Trauma Fellows
Brian Patterson, M.D.
Robert Fincher, M.D.
Critical Care Management of "Snakebite" Crotalid Envenomation
Damage Control Surgery
Agenda
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June 3 2023
6:45 am
Registration, Breakfast, & Exhibit Hall
8:00 am
Welcome and Opening Remarks
8:00 am
Frank R. Ercoli, M.D. Memorial Lecture by
Paul Wisniewski, D.O., Trauma/Critical Care Surgeon
Junctional Hemorrhage Control
9:00 am
Michael Volk, M.D., M.Sc., AGAF
Management of Liver Failure in the ICU
10:00 am
Break & Exhibit Hall
10:30 am
Ara Chrissian, M.D., FCCP, DAABIP & Ara Klijian M.D.,
Diagnosis and Surgical Management of Lung Cancer
11:30 am
DRMC Trauma Fellow (non-CME)
Brian Patterson M.D.
Ultrasound in Critical Care
12:00 pm
Lunch & Exhibit Hall
1:00 pm
David Chooljian, M.D., J.D., HEC-C
Role of Surrogate Decision Making in the ICU
2:00 pm
Niranjan Jeganathan M.D., MS
Diagnosis and Management of ILD for Non-Pulmonologists
3:00 pm
Break & Exhibit Hall
3:15 pm
Richard L. Villanueva, BSRT
Mechanical Ventilation Strategies When Treating ARDS
4:15 pm
DRMC Trauma Fellow (non-CME)
Robert Fincher M.D.
4:45 pm
Adjourn
Agua Caliente Resort Casino
32250 Bob Hope Drive
Rancho Mirage, CA 92270
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Agua Caliente Resort Casino Spa Rancho Mirage is a prized location for the savvy conference and meeting planner. The conference center boasts a modern, flexible 13,000 square-foot meeting space. For smaller events, the space can easily be converted into twelve individual meeting rooms. The conference center at Agua Caliente Resort Casino Spa Rancho Mirage also features a separate kitchen dedicated to servicing conference guests with quality and efficiency.
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