Chapter Town Hall: Pacific: Clinical Hyperbaric Medicine

Brenda Freymiller is a Wound, Ostomy, and Continence Nurse from Salt Lake City, UT. She has been a WOC Nurse for 20 years.

Enoch Huang, MD, MPH&TM, FACEP, FUHM, FACCWS is the Program Medical Director for Hyperbaric Medicine and Chronic Wound Care at Legacy Emanuel Medical Center in Portland, OR. He graduated Princeton University with a degree in Chemistry. He attended medical school at Tulane University School of Medicine where he also obtained a Masters degree in Public Health and Tropical Medicine. He completed a residency in Emergency Medicine at the University of California, Irvine and went on to complete a fellowship in Undersea and Hyperbaric Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania. He is board-certified in Emergency Medicine as well as Undersea and Hyperbaric Medicine. He is the founder and past-president of the Columbia Wound Care Community – a multi-disciplinary, multi-hospital group of wound care providers in the greater Portland metropolitan area. He is the Past-President of the Undersea and Hyperbaric Medical Society.

Dr. Gelly has been involved in hyperbaric medicine and wound care since 1991. Past positions have included Medical Directorships at academic and community hyperbaric medicine and wound care programs. She started a non-hospital affiliated hyperbaric medicine center which was one of the first UHMS accredited centers. She has been actively involved in billing and reimbursement issues for both facilities and physicians. Until recently, she was the Medical Director of Hyperbaric Physicians of Georgia, a group of physicians dedicated to the practice of hyperbaric medicine and wound healing, with 5 subspecialty boarded physicians in its membership. In addition to lecturing nationally on hyperbaric medicine and wound healing for many years, she was the president of the Gulf Coast Chapter of the UHMS from 2005-2007. Currently, she serves as the Emeritus Medical Director of Hyperbaric Physicians of Georgia, and as C.E.O. for HyperbaRXs.

Jacquline started her career in hyperbaric medicine in 2015 at UCSD. In 2020, she relocated to Portland, Oregon where she is currently the technical and safety director at Legacy Emanuel. 

UHMS Executive Director.

Certified healthcare executive and Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives having extensive healthcare operations management experience and physician engagement.

Developing teams to overcome operational and financial under-performance in the healthcare arena.

Luis Cajas-Monson is a highly qualified and experienced board certified vascular surgeon who has dedicated his career to providing the best possible care to his patients. He was born and raised in Guatemala and showed a keen interest in medicine after having to be hospitalized himself during his teen years.

Dr. Cajas completed his undergraduate studies at Oregon State University, where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Biochemistry and Biophysics. He graduated summa cum laude. He then went on to pursue his medical degree at one of the most prestigious medical schools in the country – John Hopkins University School of Medicine on a full scholarship. He also obtained a masters in public health (MPH) from the Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health. This experience provided him with a solid foundation in the latest medical techniques and advancements, and equipped him with the skills and knowledge needed to succeed as a physician.

After completing his medical degree, Dr. Cajas embarked on a general surgery residency at the University of California, San Diego (UCSD). This intensive training program allowed him to develop his surgical skills and gain practical experience in a variety of procedures, including open and minimally invasive surgeries. During this time, he also developed a strong interest in the field of vascular surgery and decided to specialize in this area.

After working for one year as a general surgeon in El Centro Regional Medical Center (ECRMC), Dr. Cajas’s journey continued with a vascular and endovascular fellowship at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota. This experience was invaluable for his growth as a surgeon, and allowed him to work alongside some of the leading experts in the field. He was exposed to the latest surgical techniques, and was able to observe and participate in a wide range of complex procedures. He was also able to develop his own expertise in this field and hone his skills to a high level.

Today, Dr. Cajas is a board certified vascular surgeon and is highly respected by his peers and patients. He is known for his exceptional surgical skills, attention to detail, and compassionate bedside manner. He has performed hundreds of surgeries, and has a reputation for delivering excellent patient outcomes. He is dedicated to staying at the forefront of his field, and is continually educating himself on the latest developments and advancements in vascular surgery.

In addition to his clinical work, Dr. Cajas is also actively involved in medical research. He has published numerous articles in leading medical journals, and has presented his work at conferences and symposiums both nationally and internationally. He is committed to advancing the field of vascular surgery, and to improving the care and treatment options available to patients. Given Dr. Cajas’s background and being a native Spanish-speaker, he is interested in bringing care to underserved communities. He continues to provide services at ECRMC in the Imperial Valley.

Dr Cajas’s clinical interests include aortic aneurysms, peripheral arterial disease, dialysis access, carotid artery stenosis, visceral and peripheral arterial aneurysms, and venous disease.
Outside of work Dr. Cajas enjoys running, hiking, playing guitar, and spending time with his wife and three children.

Marc Robins, DO, MPH, FUHM is the Senior Medical Director for the Wound & Hyperbaric Shared Services for the Intermountain Healthcare System in Utah. He is the current President of the UHMS and has served as Co-Chair for the Quality Utilization, Authorization and Reimbursement Committee and on the Education Committee for the UHMS.  He is an Associate Fellow of the Aerospace Medical Association (AsMA) and has served on the Science and Research committee AsMA since 2001-20. He is boarded in Hyperbaric Medicine, Aerospace and Occupational Medicine and Family Practice and retired as a Colonel from the USAF after a 20-year career in Aerospace Medicine.

Nicki Vedenoja is Sharp Grossmont Hospital’s Supervisor of Ambulatory Care. She brings with her 16 years of nursing experience in a variety of settings. After graduating from the University of Alaska, Anchorage, she started her nursing career in her hometown on a busy Med-Surg/Oncology floor.                                                                                             
After several years, her husband suggested a move to Southern California, she didn’t hesitate the decision to leave the cold behind and quickly found work in San Diego. In 2021 she was hired to coordinate the development of Sharp Grossmont Hospital’s Limb Preservation Program.

The program aims to reduce amputation rates among patients with diabetes and peripheral vascular disease. Nicki served as a patient advocate and point-of-contact for her patients, helping to connect them with resources; ensuring they are compliant with medications; and attending follow-up appointments. She was later promoted to supervise the program as well as the hospital’s Outpatient Wound Center, Hyperbaric Department, Sleep Medicine and a multidisciplinary clinic. When not at work, she enjoys spending time with her husband and two children, camping in her restored vintage trailer and traveling abroad.

Patrick R. Cook, DO, FACS, RPVI, provides expert vein and vascular treatments to patients at Vascular Associates of San Diego, located in La Mesa, California, and serving all of San Diego County.

Dr. Cook grew up in Walnut, California, and completed his undergraduate degree at the United States Military Academy at West Point, New York, in 1992 with a Bachelor of Science in biology. Upon graduation from the academy, he attended the U.S Army School of Aviation and served as a scout helicopter pilot. He subsequently attended medical school after being awarded a Health Professions Scholarship and received his medical degree from the Western University of Health Sciences in Pomona, California, in 1998.

Following medical school, Dr. Cook moved to El Paso, Texas where he completed five years of general surgical training at William Beaumont Army Medical center. As a practicing board-certified General Surgeon, he was then stationed at Ft. Benning, Georgia, where he served as the Chief of General Surgery and was deployed three times to both Iraq and Afghanistan.

He then returned to southern California and completed his two-year fellowship in vascular and endovascular surgery at the University of California – San Diego (UCSD) and Scripps Green Hospital. His vascular training included both surgical and interventional radiological training.

After completing his training in 2008, Dr. Cook returned to active duty and moved back to El Paso, Texas as a board-certified Vascular Surgeon. He held several positions over his eight years there to include Chief of Vascular Surgery, Chief of the Department of Surgery, and served as the Consultant to the Surgeon General for Vascular Surgery. He deployed again two additional times to both Iraq and Afghanistan.

Dr. Cook subsequently retired from active duty in the rank of Colonel and moved back to the San Diego area to join Vascular Associates of San Diego.

Dr. Cook is an Assistant Professor of Surgery at both Texas Tech University and Uniformed Services University of Health Sciences. He has published multiple articles in peer-reviewed journals and presented his research at several national and regional meetings. In addition, he has published book chapters on various subjects within vascular surgery.

His major areas of interest are the treatment of arterial and venous disease. This includes stent-graft repair of thoracic, abdominal aortic and popliteal aneurysmal disease, endovenous ablation for varicose veins, and open and endovascular treatment of carotid and peripheral arterial disease.

Dr. Peter Witucki, MD is a Undersea & Hyperbaric Medicine Specialist in San Diego, CA and has over 28 years of experience in the medical field. He graduated from Loyola University Of Chicago/Stritch School Of Medicine medical school in 1994. He is affiliated with UCSD Medical Center.  Dr. Witucki joined the faculty of the Department of Emergency Medicine at UCSD in 2003. He works clinically in the Emergency Dept as well as at the Hyperbaric Chamber and holds board certifications in both specialties. He was a former Diving Medical Officer in the US Navy and has worked with SEALs, Explosive Ordnance Disposal and Submarine Forces in both an active and reserve capacity. He serves on the San Diego Diver Death Review Committee helping to investigate diving deaths in our county. He also serves on the Board of Directors for the Undersea and Hyperbaric Medical Society. His academic and research interests include medial education and diving medicine.

Richard, widely knows by the nickname, "Gus", has over fourty-eight years experience in clinical, supervisory, teaching, staff and middle management positions in acute care hospitals.

This experience includes forty years as a Respiratory Therapist, twenty years as EMT-I, twenty-three years as a Naval Reserve Hospital Corpsman, twenty-three years in Hyperbaric Medicine, eighteen years’ experience in wound and burn care, and nineteen years as a Registered Nurse.

Experience in hyperbaric medicine has included Technical Director, Program Director, Nurse Manager and Critical Care Educator specific to hyperbaric medicine.

Member and Special Expert for the National Fire Protection Association, NFPA 99 Technical Committee, Hyperbaric and Hypobaric Facilities –March 20, 2023 to Present

Currently, Gus teaches hyperbaric medicine across the U.S. and beyond, serves as the Principle for R.B. Gustavson Consultants, LLC, and is studying with Walden University Online, looking forward to earning his Doctor of Public Health.

Seth presently serves as the Sharp Grossmont Hospital Hyperbaric Program Lead and Safety Director. Within the Hyperbaric Department, Seth supervises chamber operations, daily patient care, maintenance, and training. He has an extensive background as a diver, with more than 22 years of experience. He holds certifications as a Hyperbaric Technologist, Diver Medic, and Hyperbaric Safety Director. Seth is a certified Commerical Diver through the Association of Commerical Divers International; as a commercial diver, he worked predominately as a US Navy contractor and minefield maintenance diver. He is also certified as a Course Director and Emergency First Response Instructor-Trainer through the Professional Association of Diving Instructors; he has certified more than 500 recreational divers. Seth is a graduate of the US Naval Academy and National University Polytechnic Institute. 

Dr. Yvette Canaba, MD is a podiatry specialist in Santee, CA. She is affiliated with Sharp Grossmont Hospital.