Core Team

Dr. Peyman Benharash is a distinguished expert in treating acquired cardiac diseases in adults, offering a comprehensive range of procedures from traditional surgeries to minimally invasive and catheter-based therapies. As the director of the ECMO Program at UCLA, he has significantly expanded access to this vital technology across Southern California. Recently, he introduced minimal access arrhythmia surgery at UCLA, effectively treating atrial fibrillation with reduced pain and blood loss. 

His research focuses on health services using national databases, particularly cardiovascular outcomes. Dr. Benharash’s laboratory pioneers the development of noninvasive physiologic sensors and physics-based models for virtual surgery. He is committed to advancing patient care through interdisciplinary innovations. 

Dr. Areti Tillou is a full-time academic surgeon at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, board-certified in surgery and surgical critical care, with expertise in trauma and acute care surgery. Within the Department of Surgery, Dr. Tillou serves as Vice Chair for Education and is the founding Director of the UCLA Department of Surgery Accredited Education Institute (AEI), part of the Center for Advanced Surgical and Interventional Technology (CASIT). 

Dr. Tillou earned her medical degree from the University of Athens Medical School in 1989. She completed her surgery residency and internships at Baylor College of Medicine, followed by fellowships in Surgical Critical Care at Tulane University School of Medicine (2001) and Trauma at LAC + USC Medical Center (2003). She has been board-certified in Surgery and Surgical Critical Care by the American Board of Surgery since 2003. 

In addition to these roles, Dr. Tillou serves as an Assistant Designated Institutional Official at the David Geffen School of Medicine and is the Southern California State Chair for the Committee on Trauma of the American College of Surgeons. 

Dr. Bijan Najafi is the Research Director at the UCLA Center for Advanced Surgical and Interventional Technology (CASIT) and a tenured Professor of Surgery at UCLA. Renowned for his expertise in medical devices and digital health technologies, Dr. Najafi focuses on enhancing healthcare access and extending care beyond traditional hospital settings. His research spans aging, chronic disease management, and the development of innovative solutions for remote patient monitoring and decentralized clinical trials.  

Dr. Najafi has authored over 300 peer-reviewed publications and is recognized among the top 2% of scientists worldwide in the field of digital health, diabetic foot, and neuropathy. With a passion for interdisciplinary collaboration, he is dedicated to translating the latest research into practical, impactful healthcare innovations. In recognition of his significant contributions to digital health technologies aimed at preventing falls and limb gangrene, he was inducted into the AIMBE College of Fellows in 2023. Throughout his career, he has mentored over 500 individuals.