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Faculty Information

Gary D. Monheit, MD (Program Chair)

Associate Clinical Professor, Departments of Dermatology and Ophthalmology
University of Alabama Medical Center
Private Practice, Total Skin and Beauty Dermatology Center, PC
Birmingham, Alabama, USA

Dr. Monheit is Clinical Associate Professor in the Department of Dermatology and Ophthalmology at the University of Alabama Birmingham Medical Center. He is a fellow of the American Academy of Dermatology, American Society for Dermatologic Surgery, American Association of Liposuction Surgeons, American Association of Hair Restoration Surgeons, American Academy of Cosmetic Surgery, and American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, among others.

Dr. Monheit was president of the American Academy of Cosmetic Surgery in 2001 and serves on the board of directors. He is past president of the American Society for Dermatologic Surgery and also serves on its board of directors. He is a member of the International Society for Dermatologic Surgery, the Skin Cancer Foundation, and the Leader's Society of the Dermatology Foundation. He is a fellow of the American College of Mohs Micrographic Surgery and Cutaneous Oncology and has served on its board of directors.

Dr. Monheit is listed in Best Doctors in America 1995, 1998, and 2000-2008 and Best Doctors in the Southeastern United States 1997 and received recognition for development of programming from the American Academy of Cosmetic Surgery in 1998 and 1999. He also served as program director of the American Society for Dermatology Surgery Annual Meeting. Dr. Monheit is an assistant editor for the Journal of Dermatologic Surgery, serves on the editorial board of the Journal of Cosmetic Surgery and Cosmetic Dermatology, and is a regular contributor to the dermatologic literature. Dr. Monheit is board certified by the American Board of Dermatology and the American Board of Cosmetic Surgery. He has developed the well-recognized medium depth chemical I peel and other resurfacing techniques used today. He lectures nationally and internationally and has contributed more than 40 journal articles and numerous book chapters to the medical literature. Dr. Monheit had done extensive clinical research into fillers and toxins. His present clinical research interests include: photoaging skin and treatment with cosmeceutical agents, peels, lasers, and dermabrasion; filling agents for aging skin and scar conditions; and evaluation of photoaging skin.

Mitchel P. Goldman, MD

Voluntary Clinical Professor of Dermatology/Medicine
University of California, San Diego
Founder and Medical Director, Dermatology/Cosmetic Laser Associates of La Jolla, Inc.
La Jolla, California, USA

Dr. Goldman is an internationally respected dermatologic and cosmetic surgeon and the founder and medical director of, Dermatology/Cosmetic Laser Associates of La Jolla, Inc. A graduate of Boston University, summa cum laude, Phi Beta Kappa, and the Stanford University Medical School, Dr. Goldman is a Volunteer Clinical Professor in Medicine/Dermatology at the University of California, San Diego. Dr. Goldman is board certified by both the American Academy of Dermatology and the American Society of Cosmetic Surgery.

Dr. Goldman is a fellow of the American Academy of Dermatology, American Society for Dermatologic Surgery, American Society for Laser Medicine and Surgery, American Academy of Cosmetic Surgery, American College of Phlebology, and American Society of Liposuction Surgery. He is a member of more than 30 professional societies and serves as a medical consultant to numerous companies, including Allergan, Medicis Pharmaceuticals, Mentor, Obagi Medical Products, Sanofi-Aventis, Lumenis Laser Corporation, CoolTouch Laser Corporation, Angiodynamics, Bioniche Pharma, Quinnova Pharmaceuticals, Inc., and Galderma. Dr. Goldman holds practice/hospital affiliations with Scripps Memorial Hospital in La Jolla.

Dr. Goldman is an associate editor of numerous medical journals, including Dermatologic Surgery, Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, and Venous Digest. He has authored or co-authored 21 textbooks on cosmetic surgery, sclerotherapy, ambulatory phlebectomy, cutaneous laser surgery, cellulite, and dermatologic surgery, as well as more than 300 peer-reviewed publications and textbook chapters. Dr. Goldman lectures both nationally and internationally on innovative surgical and treatment techniques and is a recent recipient of the American Academy of Cosmetic Surgery's 21st Century Achievement Award. He resides in La Jolla.

Ava Shamban, MD

Assistant Clinical Professor of Dermatology
David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA
Los Angeles, California, USA
Private Practice, Laser Institute for Dermatology and European Skin Care
Santa Monica, California, USA

Ava Shamban, MD, board-certified dermatologist and owner of the Laser Institute for Dermatology and European Skin Care in Santa Monica, California, has a thriving medical practice along with a medical day spa. She is the featured dermatologist on ABC television's "Extreme Makeover." In addition, Dr. Shamban is also Assistant Clinical Professor of Dermatology at the University of California, Los Angeles.

Dr. Shamban has an extensive background in dermatological research, technology, and product development for skin rejuvenation and the treatment of acne. During the last year, she has used combinations of lasers paired with at-home treatments designed to more effectively address resistant cases of acne, scarring, and damage from extensive sun exposure. She has more than 10 lasers in her practice. Over the last year, she has begun several clinical studies on the use of lasers to treat acne as well as new types of fillers for facial wrinkles.

Ava Shamban grew up in Pacific Palisades, California, USA. In 1978, she graduated magna cum laude from Harvard University with an AB degree in psychology. After earning her MD degree in 1982 from Case Western Reserve University Medical School in Cleveland, Ohio, she completed a yearlong internship in internal medicine at Mount Sinai Medical Center in New York. In 1985, she moved back to Southern California.

As a dermatology resident in the late '80s, Dr. Shamban trained at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center, the county public health hospital located just south of Los Angeles. The facility there served a melting pot of immigrants from all over the world, so Dr. Shamban saw a wide variety of exotic tropical skin conditions as well as more common dermatological problems such as skin cancer, psoriasis, eczema, and acne. In addition to receiving the best training in the world for general dermatology, she performed bench research on collagen and elastin under the guidance of Jouni Uitto, MD, PhD.

As the mother of 3 young sons, Dr. Shamban chose to work part time. After her residency and for the next 5 years, she performed some of the first clinical research studies on alpha hydroxy acids. Cosmeceuticals—topical products backed by clinical studies and bench research to scientifically document textural and pigmentary improvements in the skin—are ubiquitous today, but were unheard of then. At this time, Dr. Shamban also presented papers and lectures throughout Europe and the United States on rejuvenation technologies and cosmeceuticals, while training on the first and subsequent generations of lasers. In 1996, Dr. Shamban ventured out on her own and set up her practice, The Laser Institute for Dermatology and European Skin Care. Located in St. John's Medical Center, her practice includes its own in-house medical day spa, Ava's at the Laser Institute, as well as the Acne Treatment Center and the AVA MD Medical Spa in Beverly Hills. In 2005, Dr. Shamban launched her new revolutionary skin care kit, Radical Departure. It is the first of its kind to deliver amazing skin smoothing results in a matter of 2 weeks.

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Faculty Information Gary D. Monheit, MD (Program Chair) Associate Clinical Professor, Departments of Dermatology and Ophthalmology University of Alabama Medical Center Private Practice, Total Skin and Beauty Dermatology Center, PC Birmingham, Alabama, USA Dr. Monheit is Clinical Associate Professor in the Department of Dermatology and Ophthalmology at the University of Alabama Birmingham Medical Center. He is a fellow of the American Academy of Dermatology, American Society for Dermatologic Surgery, American Association of Liposuction Surgeons, American Association of Hair Restoration Surgeons, American Academy of Cosmetic Surgery, and American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, among others. Dr. Monheit was president of the American Academy of Cosmetic Surgery in 2001 and serves on the board of directors. He is past president of the American Society for Dermatologic Surgery and also serves on its board of directors. He is a member of the International Society for Dermatologic Surgery, the Skin Cancer Foundation, and the Leader's Society of the Dermatology Foundation. He is a fellow of the American College of Mohs Micrographic Surgery and Cutaneous Oncology and has served on its board of directors. Dr. Monheit is listed in Best Doctors in America 1995, 1998, and 2000-2008 and Best Doctors in the Southeastern United States 1997 and received recognition for development of programming from the American Academy of Cosmetic Surgery in 1998 and 1999. He also served as program director of the American Society for Dermatology Surgery Annual Meeting. Dr. Monheit is an assistant editor for the Journal of Dermatologic Surgery, serves on the editorial board of the Journal of Cosmetic Surgery and Cosmetic Dermatology, and is a regular contributor to the dermatologic literature. Dr. Monheit is board certified by the American Board of Dermatology and the American Board of Cosmetic Surgery. He has developed the well-recognized medium depth chemical I peel and other resurfacing techniques used today. He lectures nationally and internationally and has contributed more than 40 journal articles and numerous book chapters to the medical literature. Dr. Monheit had done extensive clinical research into fillers and toxins. His present clinical research interests include: photoaging skin and treatment with cosmeceutical agents, peels, lasers, and dermabrasion; filling agents for aging skin and scar conditions; and evaluation of photoaging skin. Mitchel P. Goldman, MD Voluntary Clinical Professor of Dermatology/Medicine University of California, San Diego Founder and Medical Director, Dermatology/Cosmetic Laser Associates of La Jolla, Inc. La Jolla, California, USA Dr. Goldman is an internationally respected dermatologic and cosmetic surgeon and the founder and medical director of, Dermatology/Cosmetic Laser Associates of La Jolla, Inc. A graduate of Boston University, summa cum laude, Phi Beta Kappa, and the Stanford University Medical School, Dr. Goldman is a Volunteer Clinical Professor in Medicine/Dermatology at the University of California, San Diego. Dr. Goldman is board certified by both the American Academy of Dermatology and the American Society of Cosmetic Surgery. Dr. Goldman is a fellow of the American Academy of Dermatology, American Society for Dermatologic Surgery, American Society for Laser Medicine and Surgery, American Academy of Cosmetic Surgery, American College of Phlebology, and American Society of Liposuction Surgery. He is a member of more than 30 professional societies and serves as a medical consultant to numerous companies, including Allergan, Medicis Pharmaceuticals, Mentor, Obagi Medical Products, Sanofi-Aventis, Lumenis Laser Corporation, CoolTouch Laser Corporation, Angiodynamics, Bioniche Pharma, Quinnova Pharmaceuticals, Inc., and Galderma. Dr. Goldman holds practice/hospital affiliations with Scripps Memorial Hospital in La Jolla. Dr. Goldman is an associate editor of numerous medical journals, including Dermatologic Surgery, Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, and Venous Digest. He has authored or co-authored 21 textbooks on cosmetic surgery, sclerotherapy, ambulatory phlebectomy, cutaneous laser surgery, cellulite, and dermatologic surgery, as well as more than 300 peer-reviewed publications and textbook chapters. Dr. Goldman lectures both nationally and internationally on innovative surgical and treatment techniques and is a recent recipient of the American Academy of Cosmetic Surgery's 21st Century Achievement Award. He resides in La Jolla. Ava Shamban, MD Assistant Clinical Professor of Dermatology David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA Los Angeles, California, USA Private Practice, Laser Institute for Dermatology and European Skin Care Santa Monica, California, USA Ava Shamban, MD, board-certified dermatologist and owner of the Laser Institute for Dermatology and European Skin Care in Santa Monica, California, has a thriving medical practice along with a medical day spa. She is the featured dermatologist on ABC television's "Extreme Makeover." In addition, Dr. Shamban is also Assistant Clinical Professor of Dermatology at the University of California, Los Angeles. Dr. Shamban has an extensive background in dermatological research, technology, and product development for skin rejuvenation and the treatment of acne. During the last year, she has used combinations of lasers paired with at-home treatments designed to more effectively address resistant cases of acne, scarring, and damage from extensive sun exposure. She has more than 10 lasers in her practice. Over the last year, she has begun several clinical studies on the use of lasers to treat acne as well as new types of fillers for facial wrinkles. Ava Shamban grew up in Pacific Palisades, California, USA. In 1978, she graduated magna cum laude from Harvard University with an AB degree in psychology. After earning her MD degree in 1982 from Case Western Reserve University Medical School in Cleveland, Ohio, she completed a yearlong internship in internal medicine at Mount Sinai Medical Center in New York. In 1985, she moved back to Southern California. As a dermatology resident in the late '80s, Dr. Shamban trained at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center, the county public health hospital located just south of Los Angeles. The facility there served a melting pot of immigrants from all over the world, so Dr. Shamban saw a wide variety of exotic tropical skin conditions as well as more common dermatological problems such as skin cancer, psoriasis, eczema, and acne. In addition to receiving the best training in the world for general dermatology, she performed bench research on collagen and elastin under the guidance of Jouni Uitto, MD, PhD. As the mother of 3 young sons, Dr. Shamban chose to work part time. After her residency and for the next 5 years, she performed some of the first clinical research studies on alpha hydroxy acids. Cosmeceuticals—topical products backed by clinical studies and bench research to scientifically document textural and pigmentary improvements in the skin—are ubiquitous today, but were unheard of then. At this time, Dr. Shamban also presented papers and lectures throughout Europe and the United States on rejuvenation technologies and cosmeceuticals, while training on the first and subsequent generations of lasers. In 1996, Dr. Shamban ventured out on her own and set up her practice, The Laser Institute for Dermatology and European Skin Care. Located in St. John's Medical Center, her practice includes its own in-house medical day spa, Ava's at the Laser Institute, as well as the Acne Treatment Center and the AVA MD Medical Spa in Beverly Hills. In 2005, Dr. Shamban launched her new revolutionary skin care kit, Radical Departure. It is the first of its kind to deliver amazing skin smoothing results in a matter of 2 weeks.