Meet Our Team

Routine and complex ventral hernia repair, abdominal wall reconstruction

    • Degrees

      • B.A., 1999, University of Colorado
      • M.M.S., 2002, MCP Hahnemann University
      • M.D., 2006, Albany Medical College
    • Areas of interest

      • Hernia repair
      • Abdominal Wall Reconstruction (AWR)
      • Minimally Invasive Surgery
      • Robotic-assisted Surgery
      • Gastrointestinal (GI) Surgery
      • General Surgery
    • Degrees

      • Ph.D., 1982, University of California
      • M.D., 1984, George Washington University
    • Areas of interest

      • Hernia Repair
      • Abdominal Wall Reconstruction (AWR)
      • Gastrointestinal (GI) Surgery
      • General Surgery
      • Surgical Nutrition
    • Vahagn C. Nikolian, M.D.
    • Assistant Professor of Surgery
    • Digestive Health, Surgery and Abdominal wall reconstruction (AWR) Portland
    • Degrees

      • B.A., 2007, University of Southern California
      • M.D., 2012, Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California
    • Areas of interest

      • Outcomes in abdominal wall reconstruction
      • Robotic and laparoscopic approaches for hernia repair
      • Telemedicine and digital health strategies in surgery
      • Telesurgery and artificial intelligence in surgery
      • Surgical education and coaching
    • Degrees

      • M.D., 2018, Medical University of South Carolina
      • B.S., 2014, Wofford College
    • Areas of interest

      • Hernia repair
      • Abdominal Wall Reconstruction (AWR)
      • Digestive Surgery
      • Gallbladder Surgery
      • Laparoscopic Surgery

Routine hernia repair

Hiatal and paraesophageal hernia repair

Clinical support staff

Kennedy Emerson, PA-C
Physician Assistant

Alexis Yeaman
PAS Resource Specialist

Kathleen Forgue, R.N.
Clinical Nurse

Ailie Balke
Medical Assistant

Debbie Sabala, R.N.
PAS Resource Specialist