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 Eligible 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-Certified

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.

Mehdi

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

Vascular Lab, Director
Registered Vascular Technologist 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.

Vera

Technical Director
Registered Vascular Technologist (RVT)
Registered Diagonistic Medical Sonographer (RDMS)

Vera graduated from medical school in Russia and worked for over 20 years as a specialist in general and vascular ultrasound. Vera continued her education after relocating to the United States where she earned a BS in Diagnostic Imaging and an MBA in Human Resources Management. In her free time, Vera enjoys sports.

Ashley

Registered Vascular Technologist 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. 

Baichen

Vascular Ultrasonographer RVT

Diagnostic Medical Sonography graduate from Gurnick Academy of Medical Arts with a background in IT. Baichen completed clinical training at Sutter Health’s Emergency Department, Stanford Pediatrics, and specialized centers for OB and vascular imaging. These diverse experiences have strengthened both my technical skills and my ability to deliver compassionate, patient-centered care. I’m passionate about integrating advanced imaging technology with hands-on care to support accurate diagnoses and improve patient outcomes. Outside of work, I enjoy spending time outdoors and experimenting with new recipes in the kitchen.

Mahima

Patient Care Coordinator

Mahima is an internationally trained physician with extensive experience in clinical medicine, research, and laboratory sciences. After earning her medical degree (MBBS), she served as a Medical Officer in the Emergency Department in Nepal for five years, providing acute and critical patient care across diverse populations.

In the United States, Mahima expanded her expertise into oncology clinical research, where she trained and worked at Pacific Cancer Care, one of the largest oncology networks on the Pacific Coast. Her experience includes clinical trial coordination, patient-centered research, regulatory compliance, and multidisciplinary healthcare collaboration.

Committed to advancing her scientific and laboratory expertise, Mahima completed specialized coursework at the University of California, Berkeley and San Francisco State University. She currently holds a California Clinical Laboratory Scientist (CLS) Trainee License.

Throughout her career, Mahima has worked in a variety of healthcare settings in both the United States and abroad, gaining valuable experience serving diverse patient populations and collaborating with multidisciplinary healthcare teams. Her professional background reflects a strong commitment to excellence in patient care, clinical research, and laboratory medicine.

Timothy

Special Projects/Practice Management

Timothy has been at South Bay for over two years. He recented completed his masters degree in software engineering and plans to work with AI integration in medicine to improve patient care. Timothy is charge of optimizing practice operations, employee education and training and most importantly systems integrations. In his free time, he likes to: watch sports, play the piano and work on projects. He is also fluent in Vietnamese.

Grace

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

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.

Jena

Medical Biller

With a strong background in medical billing, insurance claims, coding, and front office operations, Jena is dedicated to providing exceptional service and ensuring a positive experience for every patient. I’m known for paying attention to detail, strong problem-solving skills, and commitment to helping patients navigate the billing and insurance process. I enjoy being part of a collaborative healthcare team and am passionate about delivering compassionate, efficient, and high-quality patient care. In my free time I enjoy spending time with my family and making the most of every day.

Sandhya

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.

Hyunsoo

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.

Sierra

Medical Gap Year Intern

Sierra graduated from UC San Diego with a B.S. in Human Biology. During her time at UCSD, she worked at a research institute studying the effects of environmental stressors on fruit flies, and volunteered at a student-run free dental clinic. She also worked as a lab assistant, where she first developed her interest in hands-on science. Fluent in Mongolian and English, Sierra hopes to foster an inclusive experience for patients, and plans to pursue PA school with the goal of improving access to healthcare in underserved communities, an issue she became aware of growing up in Mongolia. Outside of work, Sierra is a professional Latin ballroom dancer who represented Mongolia at the World Championships 4 times with her dance team. She enjoys trying new cafes, spending time in nature, and working out. 

Kayla

Medical Gap Year Intern

Kayla graduated from UC San Diego in 2025 with a degree in Molecular and Cell Biology. During her undergraduate years, she gained hands-on clinical experience as a medical scribe for a primary care office and as an ambulatory care unit volunteer at California Pacific Medical Center. Kayla also conducted cancer immunotherapy research at Tohoku University in Sendai, Japan, where she produced and evaluated bispecific antibodies that recruit T cells to target cancer cells. Her research experience reinforced her interest in oncology, and she hopes to explore the field further as she pursues a career in medicine. In her free time, she enjoys listening to music, going to museums and concerts, eating out with friends, playing the piano, and snowboarding. Kayla plans to apply to medical school and pursue a career as a physician.

Alex

Medical Gap Year Intern

Alex graduated from University of the Pacific in 2022 with a B.S in Health, Exercise, and Sport Sciences. After graduation, I gained medical experience by working as an emergency room scribe where I was able to learn about a broad scope of practice. I assisted with an addiction medicine study where we primarily focused on Kratom addiction and long term recovery with plans to publish the article in the Journal of Addiction Medicine. In my free time I do community based volunteer work by coaching youth recreation soccer and enjoy spending time with family/friends, going to the gym, listening to music, and trying new restaurants with my siblings.” 

Ashley

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. 

Siena

Medical Gap Year Intern

Siena graduated from the University of Arizona with a degree in Physiology and Medical Sciences. At Arizona, she worked as an athletic training technician at the Kasser Sports Medicine Center and a teaching assistant in Molecular and Cellular Biology. Fluent in Spanish, Siena has facilitated access to care as a medical interpreter at nonprofits like Clinica Amistad, MexZona, and clinics within the University of Arizona’s Commitment to Underserved People (CUP) Program. In her free time, she enjoys going on hikes, traveling, and reading. Siena plans to apply to medical school to pursue a career as a physician.

Joshua

Medical Gap Year Intern

Joshua graduated from UC San Diego in 2026 with a degree in Biochemistry. He was involved in academic research in an immunology lab investigating gene regulators for Dendritic Cells and T-cells in murine models. In this lab, he both volunteered his time doing research but also worked as a lab assistant then lab manager. Moreover, Joshua was also involved in an Alzheimer’s advocacy group spreading awareness through club meetings, fundraiser events, and volunteering at assisted living locations with patients with cognitive impairment. In his free time he likes to be physically active with sports and energizes himself by trying new foods. He plans to apply to medical school to become a physician to better support his community.

Emily

Medical Gap Year Intern

Emily graduated from the University of Southern California in 2026 with a degree in Health and Human Sciences. During her time at USC, she worked as a Research Assistant at the USC Brain and Music Lab, studying how music and creativity influence memory and cognition across the lifespan. She also volunteered at Luskin Orthopedic Institute, served on the leadership board for Trojan Dance Marathon to fundraise for Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, and played on the USC Club Lacrosse team. In her free time, she loves hiking, surfing, going to concerts, and spending time with friends and family. She aspires to be a physician and plans to apply to medical school in the next coming cycle.

Joanne

Medical Gap Year Intern

Joanne graduated from Washington University in St. Louis in 2026 with a degree in Computational Biology. During undergrad, Joanne was a peer health educator, volunteered at a free clinic that specializes in treating bullet injuries, and studied abroad in Seoul, South Korea at Yonsei University. She also conducted research on Graft vs. Host Disease with a focus on invariant Natural Killer T cells. Prior to this job, Joanne worked as a patient care tech in a Surgical ICU and a medical assistant at a plastic surgery clinic in Buenos Aires. In her free time, she loves to read, paint, and go to workout classes. Joanne is applying to medical school and aspires to lead compassionate patient care as a surgeon.

Joceline

Medical Gap Year Intern

Joceline Ortega-Garcia graduated from the University of California, Santa Cruz in Global & Community Health. During college, she developed a passion for patient-centered care through her studies, research, and community involvement. As a former member of the UCSC Track & Field team, she values teamwork, discipline, and continuous learning. Joceline plans to pursue medical school and is excited to expand her clinical knowledgeand contribute to the team at South Bay Vascular Center.

Cara

Medical Gap Year Intern

Cara graduated from UC Santa Barbara in 2026 with a B.S in Biological Sciences and a minor in Feminist Studies. At UCSB, she worked as a contracted EMT for events in the community, such as festivals and running races. Cara also conducted measles virus research as a research assistant in the Ma Lab at UCSB, studying the host protein interactions in inclusion body formation which directly impacts virulence of this disease. Her academic and professional background cemented her interest in women’s health justice, patient care, and virology. Cara aspires to be a Physician Assistant, and plans to apply to PA school. Cara also was a board member for UCSB’s women’s outdoors club, Off The Grid, and led backpacking, camping, and hiking trips. In her free time, she loves hiking, surfing, crocheting, and playing guitar

Xander

Medical Gap Year Intern

Xander joins South Bay Vascular with a strong interest in neuroscience and the biological mechanisms underlying human health and disease. He is particularly interested in the intersection of research and clinical medicine, and enjoys working closely with patients and colleagues. 

Xander graduated from Duke University in 2026 with a degree in Biogeochemistry. As an undergrad, he gained research experience studying addiction behaviors in rodents and earned his Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) certification. Additionally, Xander lived in China for three years prior to joining the South Bay team and enjoys speaks Mandarin Chinese at work to better communicate with a diverse patient population.

Outside of work, Xander enjoys watching and staying active through sports, relaxing at home, spending time with family and friends, lifelong learning and traveling the world. He plans to apply to medical school and hopes to serve diverse communities while building meaningful and influential relationships with patients.