Meet Our Team

Dr. Polyxene Kokinos

Board Certified General and Vascular Surgeon
Registered Physician in Vascular Interpretation (RPVI)

Dr. Polyxene (Polly) Kokinos founded South Bay Vascular Center & Vein Institute in 1997. She is Board Certified in both General Surgery and Vascular Surgery and has dedicated her entire career to serving the South Bay community as an independent physician—so she can deliver truly personalized, patient-centered care.

Dr. Kokinos has been recognized by her peers as one of the pre-eminent vascular surgeons in Northern California and an overall leader in her field. She has served as the chair of the Cardiovascular Surgery department at the Columbia Good Samaritan Hospital in San Jose and as the medical director for the wound care centers at O’Connor Hospital in San Jose and Saint Louise Hospital in Gilroy.

Dr. Ignatius H. Lau

Board Certified Vascular Surgeon

Dr. Ignatius Lau grew up in Portland, Oregon. He attended the University of Washington in Seattle for college and Stony Brook University in Long Island for medical school. He then went on to train in vascular surgery at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City. During his time in New York, he performed over 1600 cases involving aortic, peripheral, venous, and carotid surgery. He has a special interest in limb salvage and treating patients with peripheral arterial disease and has extensive training and experience in treating the full spectrum of vascular diseases. Dr Lau was also very active in medical research during his training, ultimately finishing with twelve peer reviewed manuscripts. During his training in New York he met his wife, Lisa, who is a practicing endodontist. Together they love to hike, try new restaurants, and travel.

Dr. Ruby Lo

Board Certified Vascular and General Surgeon
Endovascular Specialist

Dr. Ruby Lo grew up in Cupertino, CA. She attended UC Berkeley for undergraduate school and Case Western Reserve University for medical school. She completed a general surgery residency at Harvard Medical’s Beth Israel Deaconess Hospital in Boston, which included 2 years spent spent pursuing clinical outcomes research, during which time she published 8 first-authored manuscripts, co-authored multiple textbook chapters, and obtained her Masters in Public Health at the Harvard University School of Public Health.

Dr. Lo then went on to complete a fellowship in vascular surgery, also at Harvard University’s BIDMC. Following her fellowship training Dr Lo spent 3 years as an assistant professor of surgery at Brown University while working as an attending surgeon at the Providence VA and Rhode Island Hospital. After 17 years in Ohio and on the East Coast, she then moved back to California and took a private practice position in Santa Cruz as the sole vascular surgeon in Santa Cruz County.

Dr Ryan Gupta

Board Certified Vascular Surgeon
Endovascular Specialist

Dr. Ryan Gupta is a specialty trained vascular surgeon committed to delivering state-of-the-art, patient-centered care to the South Bay community. He specializes in the comprehensive management of peripheral arterial and venous disease, aortic disease, carotid intervention, and dialysis access. Dr. Gupta is passionate about utilizing advanced endovascular technologies and minimally invasive techniques to improve outcomes, reduce recovery time, and enhance the patient experience.

Dr. Gupta completed his medical degree at the University of California, Irvine, followed by a rigorous integrated vascular surgery residency at the University of Colorado Hospital, a nationally renowned academic center and high-volume trauma referral hospital. There, he gained extensive experience in both open and complex endovascular procedures and developed a particular interest in innovation-driven vascular care.

An active contributor to clinical research, Dr. Gupta has authored over 25 publications and national conference presentations focused on outcomes research, clinical trials, and quality improvement initiatives—ranging from national database studies to a clinical trial during the pandemic addressing COVID-associated hypercoagulability. He also holds an MBA from the University of Colorado Denver, with a focus on improving healthcare delivery and innovation.

Originally from New Orleans, Dr. Gupta earned his undergraduate degrees at Rice University. He now lives in San Jose with his wife, a practicing breast radiologist in the South Bay, and their young daughter and adopted dog. Outside of the operating room, he enjoys reading, skiing, and traveling.

Dr. Gupta is proud to provide vascular care in the South Bay and strives to combine cutting edge care with a thoughtful, personalized approach to treating the full range of vascular conditions.

Yelena Bishop PA-C

Physician Assistant

Yelena is a certified Physician Assistant who works with Dr. Kokinos to deliver sophisticated medical care that addresses both the mind and body. Yelena’s qualifications exceed those of most physician assistants; she completed medical school and residency at Moscow Medical Academy (one of the most prestigious medical schools in Russia), and then relocated to the U.S., where she graduated from Stanford School of Medicine Physician Assistant Program. Her extensive medical experience, coupled with a gentle and professional demeanor grounded in personal family values, make her a valuable addition to the South Bay Vascular team.

Debbie Hoover

IVT Technical Director
Registered Vascular Technologist (RVT)
Registered Diagnostic Medical Sonographer (RDMS)

Debbie has been a Registered Vascular Technologist (RVT) since 1992 and a Registered Diagnostic Medical Sonographer (RDMS) since 1996. She has previously served as a clinical instructor at UC San Diego and Technical Director at Good Samaritan Hospital, where she helped obtain the prestigious Intersocietal Commission for the Accreditation of Vascular Laboratories (ICAVL) Accreditation in 5 specialties (Cerebrovascular, Peripheral Venous, Arterial, Visceral and Transcranial). She is currently the Technical Director for Vascular Associates of Northern California (AC accredited in 4 specialties) and the Institute for Vascular Testing, where she is overseeing the current accreditation.

Mehdi Moeini

Vascular Ultrasonographer RVT

Mehdi is a registered vascular ultrasonographer and has been working as a diagnostic vascular technician sice 2018. He was born in Iran and speaks Farsi fluently.

Francis Hoang

Vascular Ultrasonographer RVT

Francis Hoang was born and raised in Sacramento, California where he graduated from Gurnick Academy of Medical Arts as the salutatorian. Francis has also practiced vascular ultrasound at Sutter Health hospital in downtown Sacramento and finished his remaining internship at Stanford’s vascular laboratory in Palo Alto. Francis is fluent in Vietnamese and ensures that patients understand the type of care they are receiving and can answer any questions the patient may have in regards to the exam. In his free time he likes to play volleyball, workout and eat at different types of restaurants.

Ashley Williams

Vascular Ultrasonographer RVT

With a genuine love for patient care and a keen interest in medical imaging, Ashley found her calling in sonography. She holds a bachelor’s degree from Washington State University and completed her ultrasound training at Gurnick Academy of Medical Arts.  When she’s not scanning, Ashley loves spending her time outdoors, cooking/baking, and crafting. 

Erickson Aurelio

Vascular Ultrasonographer RVT; United States Marine Corp Veteran

Born in the Philippines and raised in San Luis Obispo County, Erickson Aurelio is a highly accomplished healthcare professional specializing in diagnostic medical sonography. He graduated with high honors from Gurnick Academy San Jose’s General Ultrasound program and is credentialed as a Registered Diagnostic Medical Sonographer (Abdomen/General) and Registered Vascular Technologist. Erickson completed his internship rotation at Sutter Health’s California Pacific Medical Center in San Francisco, gaining valuable clinical experience in a high-volume medical setting.

A proud United States Marine Corps veteran, he served from 2013 to 2017 as an Artillery Specialist, bringing discipline, leadership, and a strong work ethic to his civilian career. Fluent in Tagalog and Ilocano, Erickson values cultural connection and effective communication in patient care. Outside of his professional endeavors, he enjoys exploring the outdoors, camping, and off-roading—activities that inspire balance, focus, and resilience.

Vicki McCartney

Office Manager

Vicki has over 25 years of experience working in vascular care and joined South Bay Vascular in 2014. She checks in all patients, answers phones, verifies insurances and schedules appointments. In her free time, Vicki loves spending time with her kids and her granddaughters, to paddle board with her friends and to take long rides to the beach.

Leslie Gutierrez

Patient Care Coordinator

Leslie has been a medical assistant since 2021 and joined South Bay Vascular in 2024. As a native speaker of Spanish, Leslie provides comfort to our Spanish speaking patients,  ensuring their questions are answered in their native language and ensuring their questions are completely and correctly answered.  In her spare time Leslie enjoys going to the beach with her dog as well as spending time with her family and friends. Leslie’s hobbies include making care baskets for her family and friends and cooking. 

Timothy Mai

Special Projects/IT Specialist

Timothy has been at South Bay for a year and is currently pursuing a degree in Software Engineering at San Jose State University. He recented completed his masters degree in software engineering and plans to work with AI integration in medicine to improve patient care. In his free time, he likes to: watch sports, play the piano and work on projects. He is also fluent in Vietnamese.

Grace Souza

Billing Supervisor

Grace has over 30 years of experience in billing. She enjoys gardening, traveling, and spending time with her husband and new grandson. Grace is fluent in both English and Spanish and is happy to assist our Spanish speaking patients understand their insurance and benefits.

Emily Cortes

Medical Biller

Emily has worked in the medical field for over 18 years and as a medical biller for the past 6 years. Of her many responsibilities as a medical biller, Emily finds great satisfaction working with patients to help them understand their insurances; what is covered and what is not; copays and coinsurance; their medical bills and any other questions relating to their insurance. She strives to be the best at what she does and, being fluent in both Spanish and English, Emily is able to help many non-english speaking patients navigate their insurances to receive the best care possible. Emily loves spending time outdoors and in her free time loves to cook, spend time with her children, her family, and her pets. Emily’s faith in God drives her positive outlook in life and lives by the rule that a simple smile can brighten someones day.

Sandhya Sheth

Medical Assistant

Sandhya has been a certified Medical Assistant since 2012. She handles the back office role of taking patients to their room, preparing them for procedures, and assisting the medical team during procedures. Sandhya also discusses pre- and post-operative care and instructions with patients. In her spare time, Sandhya loves to read, garden, cook, and spend time with friends and family.

Nancy Do

Medical Gap Year Intern

Nancy graduated from UC Santa Barbara with a degree in Biopsychology and a commitment to making a positive impact. She volunteered to teach tennis to children with autism, served in a leadership role for a Women in STEM organization dedicated to empowering future female leaders, and provided guidance to young girls interested in STEM education. Nancy’s passion extended to educating elementary school students in science through hands-on activities. She aspires to be a Physician Assistant, with a focus on underserved communities, exemplifying her dedication to accessible healthcare. Fluent in Vietnamese, Nancy ensures that patients have the knowledge and understanding they need to lead healthy lives. In her free time, she explores new restaurants, runs a foodie blog, and plays tennis.

Suzanne Frausto

Medical Gap Year Intern

Suzanne graduated from UC San Diego with a B.S. in Human Biology. During her time there, she volunteered at a student-run free clinic in Tijuana in collaboration with a medical school in Mexico and worked in a research lab with a focus on mechanosensation in the digestive system. She loves helping her community and spending time with her family and friends. In her free time, Suzanne enjoys hiking, cooking, and likes to learn ASL.

Samuel Hsiao

Medical Gap Year Intern

Sam graduated from UC Santa Barbara on June 2023 with a B.S. in Microbiology. At UCSB, he was involved as a volunteer instructor with Kids in Nutrition, a caregiver for BrightStar Care, and was a medical scribe in the emergency room at Cottage Hospital. During his free time, he enjoys playing basketball, lifting weights, and cooking! He aspires to be a physician in the future and has plans to apply to medical school in the next coming cycle. Sam was accepted to Medical School at UC San Diego and will be leaving us in late August to begin the next step in his career. Congratualtions to Sam! It has been an honor to work alongside of you for the past two years. The physicians and staff at South Bay Vascular Center are beyond proud of your accomplishments!

Hyunsoo Han

Medical Gap Year Intern

Hyunsoo graduated from UC Davis in the Summer of 2023 with a degree in Biomedical Engineering. During his time at UC Davis, he helped as an undergraduate medical volunteer at Knights Landing One Health Clinic and was the secretary for the UC Davis Archery team. He hopes to become a physician and plans to apply to medical school in the future. During his free time, Hyunsoo loves to attend archery and fighting game tournaments, play on his Strat, and loves spending time with his friends and family.

Richard Phan

Medical Gap Year Intern

Richard graduated from Stanford University in the Spring of 2023 with a B.S. in Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology. At Stanford, he was an Ophthalmology research assistant, working to advance therapeutic regimes for ocular diseases. He involved himself on campus through leadership positions in various student groups, including the Asian Pacific American Medical Student Association and the Stanford Vietnamese Student Association. During his free time, he enjoys being a foodie, learning foreign languages, working out, and going to concerts. Inspired by his personal experiences, he aspires to one day work in the field of oncology.

Morgan Bedingfield

Medical Gap Year Intern

Morgan graduated from Duke University in 2024 with a degree in Biomedical Engineering. At Duke, she was involved in various research projects studying subjects including mitochondrial morphology, postpartum hemorrhage, and evolutionary biomechanics. She also volunteered with a program designed to improve middle school girls’ confidence in their math abilities. Morgan was a tour guide for prospective students and was involved with organizing the student section for Men’s Basketball games. Her hobbies include surfing, hiking, and reading. She wants to become a physician and plans to apply to medical school.

Jacob Soliman

Medical Gap Year Intern

Jacob graduated from Stanford University in June of 2024 with a B.A. in History and a Minor in Biology. As an undergraduate, he worked as a clinical research assistant in the Stanford Emergency Department, volunteered with Crisis Text Line, and served in InterVarsity Christian Fellowship. In his free time, Jacob enjoys cooking, exercising, and listening to music. He is applying to medical school and hopes to one day become a physician.

Chloe Edwards

Medical Gap Year Intern

Chloe graduated from UC San Diego in the Spring of 2025 with a B.S. in General Biology. At UCSD, she was a Pharmacology research assistant, contributing to projects focused on cardiovascular disease and breast cancer progression. Outside the lab, she volunteered in the NICU at her local hospital, fostered cats through local animal rescue organizations, and worked as a caregiver with Aveanna Healthcare. Passionate about supporting low-income students, Chloe also mentored underserved high schoolers, helping them gain the resources and guidance needed to pursue careers in medicine. In her free time, she enjoys reading, traveling, and swimming! Chloe aspires to be a physician and plans to apply to medical school in the future. 

Laura Garcia

Medical Gap Year Intern

Rithika Sivakumar

Medical Gap Year Intern

Rithika is from Milpitas, California, and graduated from the University of Washington with a B.S. in Molecular, Cell, and Developmental Biology. During college, she was an anatomy teaching assistant and volunteered with Kesem, an organization that supports children of cancer patients—experiences that helped shape her interest in healthcare and working with others. She also worked in a research lab focused on developing HIV-1 therapies. Outside of work, Rithika enjoys hiking, baking, and spending time with friends and family. She’s passionate about medicine and looks forward to becoming a physician in the future.

Ashley Nguyen

Medical Gap Year Intern

Ashley graduated from Brown University on May 2025 with a B.A. in Health and Human Biology. At Brown, she worked as a certified nursing assistant at the Miriam Hospital, taught sex education in high schools, and was a research assistant in public health, focusing on alcohol and addiction exposure to the youth and young adults. Ashley speaks Vietnamese and strives to create a welcoming community for all patients. She aspires to be a Physician Assistant and plans to apply to PA school, hoping to highlight patient advocacy and bridge the gap in healthcare in underrepresented communities. During her free time, Ashley enjoys working out, trying new matcha places, painting, and hanging out with friends and family. 

Omar Elamad 

Medical Gap Year Intern

Omar Elamad graduated from the University of California, Los Angeles, in 2023 with a degree in Molecular, Cell, and Developmental Biology. During his time at UCLA, he conducted research as an undergraduate assistant studying neurological processes in the human brain and volunteered extensively at the Luskin Orthopedic Institute for Children, supporting young patients through their care. After graduation, he began working as a Medical Assistant, where he continues to develop his clinical skills. Aspiring to become a physician, Omar plans to apply to medical school next year. Outside of work, he enjoys exercising, snowboarding, and spending time with friends.