UFAI's Foot & Ankle Surgeons and Physical Therapists

Dr. Bob Baravarian is a Board-Certified Podiatric Foot and Ankle Specialist. A Diplomate of the American Board of Podiatric Surgery and one of only a handful of foot and ankle surgeons to have both foot and reconstructive rearfoot and ankle certifications as a Fellow of the American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons.

Dr. Baravarian is a member of UCLA Medical Group, chief of podiatric surgery at Santa Monica/UCLA medical center and Orthopedic Hospital, and an assistant clinical professor at the UCLA School of Medicine.  He is fluent in English, French, Spanish, Farsi, and Hebrew,

Podiatrist Dr. Baravarian is available for consultation at the Santa Monica and Sherman Oaks University Foot and Ankle Institute offices.

Dr. Gary B.Briskin is co-founder and co-director of The Foot and Ankle Institute, board-certified, and served his residency at Flint General Hospital in Michigan. He then established a practice in Century City Hospital, where he became chief of podiatric surgery.  Dr. Briskin also serves as an assistant clinical professor at the UCLA School of Medicine and is a Diplomat of the American Board of Podiatric Surgery and a Fellow of the American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons.

As a lifelong sports enthusiast, Dr. Briskin maintains a special passion for hockey and running. He parlays that same spirit into all aspects of podiatry: sports medicine, arthritis prevention, and reconstructive surgery.

Dr. Briskin is available for consultation at the Santa Monica and El Segundo University Foot and Ankle Institute offices.

After studying accounting and then leaning toward a physical therapy at Brigham Young University, Dr. Franson decided to pursue podiatry as his career. He then attended the School College of Podiatric Medicine in Chicago followed by a three-year residency program at the Greater Los Angeles VA and UCLA County Hospital.

Dr. Franson specializes in several areas including total ankle replacement and sports medicine. Treating athletes and weekend warriors like himself brings him a lot of joy. “I love being able to provide true relief to the physical problems that people come see me about. I am one of those people who truly enjoy the personal interactions with my patients.”

Podiatrist Dr. Franson is available for patient consultations at the Valencia office.

Dr. Charles Kelman made his choice to enter the field of podiatry during his final year of undergraduate study at the University of Michigan, where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in biology.

Now working out of our Westlake Village and Granada Hills locations, Dr. Kelman specializes in forefoot surgery, sports medicine, and rheumatology.

Dr. Gina Nalbandian specializes in reconstructive and revisional foot and ankle surgery, foot and ankle trauma, sports medicine, lapiplasty, and limb salvage.

The doctor brings to the staff a lifelong love of sports and a deep passion for helping patients to live active lives. Her interest in podiatry started while growing up and watching her brother suffer from flat feet. "It was tough seeing him in pain with no real options given."

“While looking into podiatry it was great to see doctors...

Dr. Johnson welcomes you to the Santa Barbara practice

Our newest podiatrist at University Foot and Ankle Institute is Dr. Abimbola Johnson, who relocated to the Los Angeles area from St. Paul, Minnesota.

Dr. Johnson took his undergraduate degree at Loyola University Chicago, where he played Division II rugby and was also involved in social justice clubs aimed at helping younger students prepare for college.

Upon graduation, he entered Scholl College of Podiatric Medicine, where he served as ...

Dr. Hoda Naei specializes in Sports Medicine. She is board qualified in foot surgery and is a part of the American Society of Radiologic Technologists. 

She loves sports and has participated in many — from basketball to martial arts. During her college years, she was an avid kickboxer. Her experience with a sprained ankle during her time as a kickboxer is what led her to specialize in Podiatry. 

Dr. Anna-Maria Burachek is a Fellow at the University Foot & Ankle Institute. Born in Cahul, Moldova, Dr. Burachek grew up in Sacramento, California. She completed her undergraduate studies at the University of California, Merced, and earned her medical degree from the Temple University School of Podiatric Medicine. Dr. Burachek then completed her residency at Montefiore Medical Center in the Bronx, New York. She currently resides in Santa Monica, California.

Her passion for podiatry began...

Dr. Kwon completed his undergraduate studies at Pace University in NYC and went on to earn his medical degree from the New York College of Podiatric Medicine (NYCPM). Dr. Kwon then completed his residency at Mount Sinai in New York.

His passion for podiatry stems from his lifelong love of soccer, a sport that introduced him to the importance of foot health and injury prevention. Due to his interests, he specializes in minimally invasive procedures but has experience with all lower extremity conditions and operations.

Gray O’Brien graduated with a Master’s in Physical Therapy from Long Island University and is a physical therapist licensed by the Physical Therapy Board of California.

A lifelong sports enthusiast,  Gray enjoys working with athletes of all levels with a special focus on orthopedic and sports rehabilitation. He specializes in foot and ankle pathologies and post-operative recovery.

Lydia has over 30 years of clinical experience in outpatient orthopedic and sports medicine physical therapy.

She takes pride in getting to know her client's personal needs and taking a hands-on approach to restore functional movement, balance, strength, and conditioning.

The UFAI Education Team is led by Dr. Bob Baravarian, DPM, FACFAS, Dr. Gary Briskin, DPM, FACFAS, and Dr. Justin Franson, DPM. They review all content published on this website, its blog, in-clinic patient materials, and all contributing writers’ content for medical and technical accuracy.