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Our Work / Volunteer Medical Team


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Our Work
 
Volunteer Medical Team
Amanda Gosman, M.D.
Volunteer Plastic Surgeon and Fresh Start Surgical Gifts Clinic Director
Dr. Gosman at UCSD

Dr. Amanda Gosman has been a vital component of Fresh Start Surgical Gifts since she began volunteering with Fresh Start Surgical Gifts in 2006. Since then, Dr. Gosman has volunteered more than 350 hours and has donated well over $270,000 in free medical services to Fresh Start Surgical Gifts' patients. In 2009, Dr. Gosman became the volunteer Clinic Director of the Fresh Start Surgical Gifts Clinic at Rady Childresn's Hospital and in 2010, Dr. Gosman was named a Healthcare Champion by the San Diego Business Journal and a Local Hero by Bank of America.

Dr. Gosman is an Assistant Professor of Surgery, the Director of Pediatric Plastic Surgery, and the Residency Training Program Director at the University of California, San Diego. Dr. Gosman has advanced training in international plastic surgery as well as craniofacial and pediatric plastic surgery and her primary special interests are cleft lip and palate surgery, pediatric and adult craniofacial surgery, pediatric and adult reconstructive surgery including microsurgical facial reanimation and perforator flaps, and adult aesthetic surgery.
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Michael Brucker, M.D.
Volunteer Plastic Surgeon and Medical Program Director
Brucker Plastic Surgery

Dr. Michael Brucker is one of Fresh Start Surgical Gifts' key volunteer surgeons. Dr. Brucker has participated in over 31 Surgery Weekends and has committed over 394 hours performing surgeries and other medical appointments and procedures for Fresh Start Surgical Gifts. Dr. Brucker was also awarded the Outstanding Physician Award for 2005 and was the 2005 Combined Health Agencies (CHAD) Volunteer of the Year.

Dr. Brucker has his own private plastic surgery practice in La Jolla and received his M.D. from Northwestern Medical School.
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Steven Cohen, M.D.
Volunteer Plastic Surgeon
FACESplus

Dr. Steven Cohen's passion for craniofacial plastic surgery has helped transform the lives of countless Fresh Start Surgical Gifts' patients. Dr. Cohen has been a volunteer with Fresh Start Surgical Gifts since 2006 and has participated in over 23 Surgery Weekends. Fresh Start Surgical Gifts also named Dr. Cohen as "Outstanding Surgeon of the Year" in 2009 for his devotion to Fresh Start Surgical Gifts and its patients.

Dr. Cohen has been a strong advocate for transforming San Diego into a prime hub for craniofacial plastic surgery - before Dr. Cohen became the Chief of Craniofacial Surgery and the Surgical Director of the Craniofacial Center at Rady Children's Hospital in San Diego, many complex cases were transferred to UCLA or LA Childresn's Hospital. Today, Dr. Cohen and his team now perform more than 80 complex surgeries each year and the department is one of the top 10 centers in the United States. Dr. Cohen also has his own private practice in San Diego and has been voted by his peers as one of "San Diego's Top Doctors" for six years.
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Jeffrey Umansky, M.D.
Volunteer Plastic Surgeon
Umansky Medical Center for Plastic Surgery

Dr. Jeffrey Umansky is a highly accomplished San Diego plastic surgeon who dedicates his free time to ensuring that children with deformities receive the highest quality of medical care. Dr. Umansky has been a volunteer with Fresh Start Surgical Gifts since 2009 and has participated in over 23 Surgery Weekends - Dr. Umansky's expertise has resulted in many patients with renewed self confidence and a brighter outlook on life.

Dr. Umansky has his own private practice in La Jolla, The Umansky Medical Center for Plastic Surgery, and received his M.D. from University of California at Los Angeles, School of Medicine.
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Salvatore Pacella, M.D., MBA
Volunteer Plastic Surgeon
Dr. Pacella at Scripps Clinic

Dr. Salvatore Pacella is a prestigious plastic surgeon at Scripps Clinic in San Diego. Dr. Pacella's practice includes all aspects of cosmetic, plastic, and reconstructive surgery, with a specialized interest in facial and oculoplastic (eyelid) surgery. Dr. Pacella has been a volunteer with Fresh Start Surgical Gifts since 2009 and has participated in over 20 Surgery Weekends - his surgical expertise has assisted in many microtia surgeries and transformed the lives of countless children.

Dr. Pacella received his M.D. from the University of Rochester School of Medicine and has had extensive training at many prestigious universities and surgical practices. Having a specialized interest in health care economics and efficiency of health care delivery, Dr. Pacella also obtained an M.B.A. at The Stephen M. Ross School of Business at The University of Michigan, widely recognized as one of the nation’s top business schools. His experiences there have augmented his mission to provide the highest quality, patient-centered care in cosmetic and plastic surgery.
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James Chao, M.D.
Volunteer Plastic Surgeon
Dr. Chao at UCSD

Dr. James Chao is an Associate Professor of Surgery in the Division of Plastic Surgery at University of California, San Diego. Dr. Chao's special interests include cosmetic and reconstructive surgery of the hand and upper extremity, body contour surgery, and the development of new technologies in the field of plastic surgery. Dr. Chao has been an invaluable resource to Fresh Start Surgical Gifts and has been a volunteer since 2005 and has participated in over 26 Surgery Weekends. At a recent Surgery Weekend, Dr. Chao performed reconstructive surgery on a young girl with Aperts Syndrome which caused her to have fused hands and feet.
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Marion Katz, RN, CPNP
Volunteer Pediatric Nurse Practitioner
Graybill Medical Group

Marion Katz has been a volunteer with Fresh Start since 2002 and has been an invaluable addition to the Fresh Start Volunteer Medical Team and is also an active participant on the Fresh Start Board of Directors. Mrs. Katz is also the pediatric provider for the Flying Samaritans' monthly medical clinic in Bahia De Los Angeles located in Baja California.

Marion received her nursing degree from SUNY Farmingdale College in New York and her Masters Degree in nursing from Stony Brook University in New York.  A native of New York, Marion has been living in California since 2000 with her husband, three adult daughters, and two grandchildren.
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Shrilekha Champaneri, M.D.
Volunteer Anesthesiologist

Dr. Shrilekha Champaneri has been a volunteer anesthesiologist with Fresh Start Surgical Gifts since 2004 and has participated in over 43 Surgery Weekends. Dr. Champaneri was named the Outstanding Anesthesiologist of 2005 and her commitment to Fresh Start Surgical Gifts has helped transform the lives of countless patients.
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Sidney Merritt, M.D.
Volunteer Anesthesiologist
Dr. Merritt at UCSD

Dr. Sidney Merritt is a key volunteer anesthesiologist for Fresh Start Surgical Gifts. Dr. Merritt has been a volunteer with Fresh Start Surgical Gifts since 2007 and has volunteered over 120 hours at over 16 Surgery Weekends. Dr. Merritt's enthusiasm for Fresh Start Surgical Gifts has also encouraged additional medical professionals to volunteer with Fresh Start Surgical Gifts.

Dr. Merritt is an anesthesiologist at University of California, San Diego and also volunteers with Interface.
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