Introduction to Lasers (Non-CME)

Dr. H. Ray Jalian is a Board Certified Dermatologist with the American Board of Dermatology specializing in laser surgery, general, and cosmetic dermatology. He is well known nationally having been an invited speaker at numerous national meetings, and written extensively about Lasers and Cosmetic Procedures in leading medical journals and textbooks. Dr. Jalian completed his medical education and dermatology residency at the University of California, Los Angeles where he served as Chief Resident in Dermatology. Following residency, Dr. Jalian completed a rigorous fellowship at the Wellman Center for Photomedicine at Massachusetts General, Harvard Medical School, the leading institution for development and advances in laser technology. During his training there, Dr. Jalian not only focused on developing and refining his clinical skills, but also lead numerous clinical trials investigating novel treatments for acne vulgaris, tattoo removal, and birthmarks. Upon his return to Los Angeles, Dr. Jalian accepted a position at the University of California, Los Angeles as an Assistant Clinical Professor and Associate Director of the Santa Monica/UCLA Laser and Cosmetic Center. He is currently in Private Practice in Los Angeles, CA.

Dr. Nazanin Saedi is currently an Assistant Professor in the Department of Dermatology and Cutaneous Biology at Thomas Jefferson University, and she serves as Director of Laser Surgery and Cosmetic Dermatology. She graduated cum laude with a bachelor’s degree from Princeton University. She completed her medical education at The George Washington University School of Medicine, where she graduated with distinction and with Alpha Omega Alpha honors. Dr. Saedi completed her dermatology residency at the University of California, Irvine, and she completed her fellowship training at SkinCare Physicians in Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts. Dr. Saedi has authored over 100 peer-reviewed publications and book chapters. She lectures nationally and internationally on laser surgery and cosmetic dermatology.

Dr. Christopher B. Zachary, MBBS, FRCP, is a dermatologist specializing in cutaneous oncology and reconstruction, cosmetic and laser surgery, and is Professor and Chair Emeritus, department of dermatology, University of California-Irvine. Dr. Zachary is often featured as an invited speaker at national and international symposia and is sought out by the media (e.g. NY Times, CNN, and Today Show) for his candid comments. His ability to critique has drawn some ire, but so far his humor and English accent have saved him from his detractors. His interest in lasers has led to considerable industry supported research in optimal systems for cutaneous laser surgery. He has been the program director for the Mohs College and the American Society for Laser Medicine and Surgery Annual Conferences. He is a past president of the Association of Academic Dermatologic Surgeons. He is an educational innovator having founded the internet based e-Learning site www.MDlive.net. He has written and edited his share of papers and books.

Dr. Zachary was born in Yorkshire, England, and educated at Ratcliffe College, Leicester, United Kingdom. Following his medical school education at the Royal Free Hospital, University of London, he subsequently trained in internal medicine and dermatology. During his time at the Institute of Dermatology, Guys and St. Thomas' Hospitals, he gained an interest in dermatologic surgery. His formal surgical education was received at the department of dermatology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor. He returned to the United Kingdom in 1986 to set up the first Mohs and laser surgery unit in London. In 1988 he was recruited to the department of dermatology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, as director of the Cutaneous Surgery and Laser Center where he spent the next 9 years. In 1997, he sold his boat and lakeside cabin, and moved West, to the University of California, San Francisco, where he spent 9 splendid years with his friend and colleague Roy Grekin, M.D. as clinical professor and co-director of the Cutaneous Surgery and Laser Center, UCSF, San Francisco. In 2005, he accepted the position as Professor and Chair, department of dermatology at the University of California-Irvine where he currently resides. In 2020 he stepped down from the Chair position, and remains full time in the department. This and his family are his main current projects.

E. Victor Ross, M.D., CAPT MC, USN (ret) attended Mississippi State University where he graduated summa cum laude with a B.S. in physics. He obtained his medical degree from the Tulane University School of Medicine where he was a junior year inductee into Alpha Omega Alpha. Following internship, Dr. Ross went to Sasebo, Japan as a General Medical Officer. In 1992, he completed a three-year dermatology residency at the National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda. In 1994, he was the first Navy-sponsored fellow in photomedicine and lasers at the Massachusetts General Hospital. While there, he conducted basic research experiments and human clinical trials in photodynamic therapy and novel laser applications in dermatology. He was honored as the 2001 Navy Recipient of the Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff Award for excellence in Military Medicine.

Dr. Ross is presently the director of the Laser and Cosmetic Dermatology Center at Scripps Clinic in San Diego. He also served on the boards of the American Society for Laser Medicine and Surgery (president in 2008), the American Society for Dermatologic Surgery, and the American Society for Cosmetic Dermatology and Aesthetic Surgery. His special interests are fractional laser skin rejuvenation, photodynamic therapy, non-ablative skin remodeling, laser management of scars, laser treatment of acne, and laser hair reduction in dark skinned patients. He is the author of over 100 articles and nine book chapters. Presently, Dr. Ross is investigating novel approaches in pigment quantification as well as conducting comparative trials of picosecond laser sources, novel RF technologies in skin rejuvenation, photon recycling, and laser assisted acne treatments.

Aria Vazirnia, M.D., M.A.S. is a board-certified dermatologist practicing in Los Angeles, California. He graduated summa cum laude from UCLA and received his master's degree, his medical degree and his dermatology residency training at UC San Diego. During residency, he served as the ASLMS Resident/Fellow Student Board Representative. Following residency, he went onto pursue an ASDS-accredited fellowship in lasers and cosmetics at Harvard Medical School, Massachusetts General Hospital, and Wellman Center for Photomedicine where he worked with the pioneers and inventors of the energy-based devices that are widely used today.