Coastal Center for Obesity : About Us : Our Surgeons : Dr. Owen's Curriculum Vitae

About Us

Dr. Owens' Curriculum Vitae

	Dr. Owens has been perfecting weight loss surgery since 1987. The first half of his career was in general, vascular and transplantation surgery and the second half has been in the field of weight loss surgery. A general surgeon specializing in general, vascular and obesity surgery, and Director of the Coastal Center for Obesity, Dr. Owens earned his medical degree at McGill University in Montreal. He performed his specialty training in surgery at the University of Utah. He has served as the chief of the Kidney Transplant Service at the Veterans Hospital in West Los Angeles and was a member of the UCLA faculty from 1974 to 1982. In 1982, Dr. Owens joined Dr. Carl Hill in San Pedro and began his career in weight loss surgery. He is an active member of the American Society of Bariatric Surgery, and at the 2008 meeting he will present two papers. He is one of two groups in California with experience in the gastric sleeve and has the longest and largest experience in revisions. He brings a wealth of clinical and academic experience to the care of his patients.
Date of Birth	June 2, 1940
Place of Birth	Salt Lake City, Utah
Education	1955 — 58 St. Paul’s School, Concord, New Hampshire, H.S., Cum Laude 1958 — 62 Stanford University Palo Alto, CA, BA
Post Graduate Training	1962 — 67 McGill University Montreal, Quebec, M.D.C.M.
Internship	1966 — 67 University of Utah Medical Center, Salt Lake City, Utah
Assistant Resident	1967 — 68, 1970 — 72 University of Utah Medical Center
Resident Clinical Associate	1972 — 73 Transplant — Nephrology Services, VA Hospital and University of Utah Medical Center
Chief Surgical Resident	1973 — 74 University of Utah Medical Center
Military Service	1968 — 70 United States Army Medical Corps, Major
Other Medical Experience	1972 — 73 Odyssey House Physician, Odyssey House Drug Program, Salt Lake City, Utah
Professional memberships	1988 to present American Society of Bariatric Surgery, Currently Chairman of "Public Education Committee" 1976 — present Association of Academic Surgeons (Emeritus) 1977 — 82 Association of VA Physicians 1977 — 82 Western Association of Transplant Surgeons 1977 —82 Association of VA Renal Physicians 1978 - 82 American Society of Transplant Surgeons 1978 — present, Fellow American College of Surgeons 1979 — 82 Transplantation Society 1975 — present, Society Clinical Vascular Surgery 1978 — present, International Cardiovascular Society 1979 — present, Southern California Chapter, ACS 1980 — present, Los Angeles Surgical Society 1981 — 82 Association of VA Surgeons 1983 — present, Western Surgical Association 1984 — present, California Medical Association 1984 — present, Long Beach surgical Society 1996---present, American Society for Bariatric Surgery 1999---present, Chairman Public Education Committee 2000 — present Society American Gastrointestinal Endoscopic surgeons
Community activities	Director’s Committee, California Transplant Foundation, 1976 Disaster Medical Care Committee, Los Angeles County Medical Association, 1977 California Transplant Foundation, 1975-76 Kidney Foundation of Southern California (Scientific Advisory Council) 1977-80 Southern California Transplant Society: Executive Committee, 1976-80; Fiscal Review Committee, 1977; Public Education Subcommittee Chairman, 1978-80 Chairman, Local Chapter, National Association of VA Physicians, 1979-82 Chairman, Transplantation Council for Public Education on Organ Donation Aesculapians, 1977-79 Preferred Health Network Board of Directors 1985-86 Certificate of Appreciation, Memorial Hospital of Gardena, 1995 Chairman Public Education Committee American Society for Bariatric Surgery 1998-2001 Recipient Chapman Hospital Public Service Award 2001
Editorial Boards	Journal of Dialysis & Transplant, 1981 — 84 McGill Medical Bulletin-Editor 1963 —66
Medical Licensure and Specialty Board	California — 1975 — present G027997 Utah 1967 —75 #3909 Diplomate, National Board Medical Examiners — Parts I, II, III, 1965-67 American Board of Surgery Certification, 6-3-75
Hospital Staff Appointments	UCLA Center for Health Sciences and Wadsworth VA Medical Center Academic Asst. Prof. UCLA 1974-82Chief, Transplant Section VA Wadsworth Medical Center, L.A., 1974 —82Staff Vascular Surgery Sections Wadsworth VA and UCLA Health Science Center, 1974 — 82Co-director with S.E. Wilson, M.D. Vascular Laboratory VA Wadsworth Medical Center L.A., 1974 —-82 82 Harbor UCLA Medical Center, Clinical Association, 1985 — 93 San Pedro Peninsula Hospital Chief Vascular Surgery Section, 1984 Board of Directors: San Pedro Physicians Medical Group 1985 to present Co-Director: Non-invasive Vascular Laboratory, 1985 — 86 President: San Pedro Physicians Medical Group, 1985 — 86 Vice President: San Pedro Physicians Medical Group, 1986 Assistant Chief Surgery: San Pedro Peninsula Hospital, 1993 Bay Harbor Hospital Chief Vascular Surgery Section, 1984 —85 Chief of Surgery 1986 —87, 1987 —88 South Bay Hospital Member Department of Surgery, 1983 —90 Hawthorne Hospital Member Department of Surgery, 1983 — 94 Memorial Hospital of Gardena Member Department of Surgery, 1983 — 1998 Little Company of Mary Hospital Member Department of Surgery, 1989 —2000 St. Marys Medical Center Member Department of Surgery, 1990 — 98 Torrance Memorial Medical Center Member Department of Surgery, 1992 — present Kaiser Permanente Medical Center Member Department of Surgery, 1993 —1997 Chapman Medical Center Member Department of Surgery, 1997 — present Tri City Regional Medical Center, 2005 present Alvarado Hospital Medical, 2004 present Rancho Specialty Hospital, 2005 present
Research & Grants	Summer Research Fellowships Muscular Dystrophy Association of Canada, 1963-64 Intellectual Performance Following Carotid Endarterectomy. VA Merit Review, $60,000.00, 1978-81 Intellectual Performance Following Carotid Endarterectomy. VA Merit Supplement, $8,300.00, 1981 Evaluation of Preoperative Cefamandole in prevention of Prosthetic Shunt Infections (Co-investigatory with S.E. Wilson, M.D. ) Commercial, $10,000.00, 1979 Quantitative Doppler Evaluation of Arteriovenous Fistula Flow, commerical, $5,300.00 Allopurinol Prevention of Anoxic Injury. Burroughs Wellcome Co., $5,335.00, 1973 Investigator Gastric Electrical Stimulator for Transneuronix Inc. Investigator’s Mtg. Las Vegas 1 April-3 April 2001
Journal Publications	Owens ML, Bliss ER: "Sleep Loss and Cerebral Excitability", American Journal of Physiology 218:171, January 1970 Owens ML, Lazarus HM, Wolcott MW: "Allopurinol and Hypoxanthine Pretreatment of Canine Kidney Donors", Transplantation 17:424, 1974 Lazarus HM, Owens ML, Hoffenbeck A: "Allopurinol Protection of Hepatic Nuclear Function During Hemorrhagic Shock", Surgery Forum XXV, 1974 Owens ML, Brantigan J, Chang F: "Splenic Trauma: Three Pronged Diagnosis", Rockey Mountain Medical Journal 72:114. 1975 Owens ML, Maxwell JG, Goodnight J, Wolcott MW: "Discontinuance of Immounosuppression in Renal Transplant Patients", Archives of Surgery 110:1450, 1975 Brantigan Jw, Owens ML, Moody FG: "Femoral Neuropathy Complicating Anticoagulant Therapy", American Journal of Surgery 131:108, 1976 Parsa F, Owens ML, Wilson SE: "AV Fistual Following Use of a Fogarty Catheter", Vascular Surgery 10:53, 1976 Owens ML, Wilson SE, Saltzman R, Gordon HE: "Gastrointestinal Complications After Renal Transplantation: Predictive Factors and Morbidity", Archives of Surgery 111:467, 1976 Wilson SE, Owens ML: "Aortocolic Fistula: A Lethal Cause of Lower Gastrointestinal Bleeding", disorders of Colon & Rectum 19:614, 1976 Wilson SE, Hillman M, Owens ML: "Hemodynamic Effects of Bovine Femorosaphenous Arteriovenous Fistula" , Dialysis & Transplantation 6:84, 1977 Owens ML, Wilson SE, Passaro E jr, Gordon HE: "Management of Peptic Ulcer Disease Following Renal Transplantation" ,Annals of Surgery 186:17, 1977 Owens ML, Wang SS, Wilson SE: "Aneurysmal Enlargement of e-PTFE Fistulas"’ Dialysis & Transplantation 7:692, 1978 Bock BV, Kirby BD, Edelstein PH, George WE, Snyder KM, Owens ML, Hotayam c, Haley CH, Lewis RP, Meyer RD, Finegold SM: "Legionnaires’ Disease in Renal Transplant Recipients", Lancet 1:410-413, 1978 Wilson SE, Owens ML, Winston MA: "Effect of Mannitol, Renal Pedical Block and Renal Neurectomy on Renin Release After Infrarenal Aortic Cross-Clamping" ‘ Surgery Forum Oct. 1978 Owens ML, Wilson SE, Stabile BE, Cahr J: "Vascular Grafts for Hemodialysis: and Evaluation of Sites and Materials" , Dialysis & Transplantation 8:521, 539, 1979 Owens ML, Maxwell JG, Bordner A, Smith R, Ehrlich R: "Benign Sequelae of Iliac Artery Ligation for Hemorrhage After Renal Transplantation" ‘ Transplantation 27:285, 1979 Owens ML, Pritchett TR, Robertson R, Simmons S: "The Effect of Insulation on Warm Ischemia During Kidney Transplantation" , Journal of Surgical Research 27:100, 1979 Owens ML Pritchett TR: "Hypothermic Preservation During Renal Transplantation", American Journal of Surgery 139:301, 1980 Owens ML, Pritchett TR, Temes RT, Baumgartner W: "The Effect of Harvest on Renal function", Dialysis & Transplantation 9:540, 1980 Owens ML, Pressman M, Edwards AE, Torutellotte W, Rose JG< Stern D, Peters G, Stabile BE, Wilson SE: "The Effect of Small Infarcts and Carotid Endarterectomy on Post-operative Psychologic Test Performance", Journal of Surgical Research 28:209, 1980 Owens ML, Atkinson JB, Wilson SE: "Recurrent Transient Ischemic Attacks After Carotid Endarterectomy", Archives of Surgery 115:482, 486, 1980 Owens ML, Wilson SE: "Aortic Grafting Procedure: Tailoring the Options", Archives of Surgery 115:1009, 1102, 1980 Akhondjadeh L, Owens ML, Wilson SE: "Infection of Materials used in Vascular Access Surgery: Evaluation of Dacron, Bovine Heterograft, Human Umbilical Vein", Dialysis & Transplantation 9 (7):697, 701, 1980 Wilson SE, Schwartz I, Williams RA, Owens ML: "Superficial Femoral Artery Occlusion: What Happens Without Surgery", American Journal of Surgery 140:112, 118, 1980 Owens ML, Wilson SE: "Non-invasive Evaluation of Extracranial Vascular Disease: a Review and Appraisal", Bulletin Los Angeles Neurological Society 45:5-20, 1980 Wilson SE, Stabile B, Williams RA, Owens ML: "Current Status of Vascular Access Techniques", Surgical Clinics of North America 62:531,551, 1982 Owens ML: "Psoas Weakness and Femoral Neuropathy: Neglected Sign of Retroperitoneal Hemorrhage Due to Ruptured Aortic Aneurysm", surgery 91:363, 1982 Owens ML, Wilson SE: "Prevention of Neurologic Complications of Carotid Endarterectomy", Archives of Surgery 117:551, 562, 1982 Owens ML: "Epidemiology of Surgical Wound Infections", Infections in Surgery 2:833-849, 1983 Wilson SE, Owens ML, Williams RA: "Carotid Endartecectomy: Current Technique, Complications and Long Term Sequelae", Bulletin Los Angeles Neurological Society 45:26-32, 1980 Bennion RS, Williams RA, Stabile BE, Fox, MA, Owens, ML Wilson SE: "Patency of Autogenous Saphenous Vein vs. Polytetrafluoroethylene Grafts in Femoropopliteal Bypass for Advanced Ischemia of the Extremity", Surgery Gynecology & Obstetrics 160:239-242, March 1985 Bennion RS, Owens ML, Wilson SE: "The effects of Unilateral Carotid Endarterectomy on Neuropsychological Test Performance in 53 Patients", The Journal of Cardiovascular Surgery 26:1-26, Jan-Feb 1985 Owens BM, Owens ML, Hill CW: "The effects of Revisional Bariatric Surgery on Weight Loss and Frequency of Complications" Obesity Surgery 6, 479-484, De. 1996 Owens ML, Geer J: "The Role of Public Education in the Practice of Bariatric Surgery" J of Obesity Surgery, Vol. 10 No.3 Feb 2000 Owens ML: "With a Grain of Salt" Beyond Change (periodical) February 2001
Books	Owens ML, Wilson SE (editors): Vascular Access Surgery, Year Book Medical Publications, 1980
Book Chapters	Owens ML, Bower R: Physiology of Arteriovenous Fistulas in Vascular Access Surgery. Owens ML, Wilson SE (editors) Vascular Access Surgery. Owens ML, Wilson SE: "Vascular Grafts for Hemodialysis", In Owens ML, Wilson SE (editors): Vascular Access Surgery 214-277, Year Book Medical Publications, 1980 Owens ML: "Intra-abdominal Arterial Infections", In Wilson SE, Finegold S, Williams RA (editors): Intra-abdominal Infection 14:85-89, McGraw Hill (New York), 1981 Owens ML: "Epidemiology of Abdominal Wound Infections", In Wilson SE, Finegold S, Williams RA (editors): Intra-abdominal Infections 27:187-193, McGraw Hill (New York), 1981
Letters	Owens ML: Letters to the editor. Archives of Surgery 111:614, May 1976 Owens ML: Legionnaires’ disease in a renal transplant program. Letters to the editor, New England Journal of Medicine 298:1089, 1978 Owens ML: Organ donations. Letters to the editor, Los Angeles Times, August 1978 Owens ML, Duff JB: Driver’s license donor law. Letter to the editor, Los Angeles Times, June, 3, 1979 Owens ML, Duff JB: Gifts of life program. Canyon Crier News, November 12, 1979 Owens ML: Senate bill 1270: Lab animals. Los Angeles Times, February 12, 1980 Owens ML, Wilson SE: Polytetrafluorethylene graft aneurysms. Archives of Surgery 116:1101, 1981 Owens ML: Radar Can't Judge. Salt Lake City Tribune 19 August 1991 Owens ML: Profit Motive Behind Ranking of Hospitals. Letter to the editor. Los Angeles Times, 28 January, 1996
Patents	Kidney Insulating Device Patent #4,217,890 Granted February 1980
Radio and TV	OCN TV, Obesity May 1998 KFWB — AM, Obesity April 1998 OCN TV — On Line, Obesity April 1998 NBC (KMIR-TV) Surgical Weight Loss February 1998 ABC (KESQ-TV) Surgical Weight Loss February 1998 Drug abuse use among military personnel stationed in Korea, John Prince Show, KDYL — February 1971 Two on Two. Organ Transplantation, 9:30pm, Channel 3, April 6, 1979 Forum: _ hour talk show. Gift of Life : Organ procurement. KEZY, July 6, 1979
Abstracts	Reno Air Magazine, Obesity Article August 1998 L. A. Times , Obesity Article April 1998 Wang SS, Owens ML, Wilson SE: Teflon fistulae succumb to creep. 8th Western Dialysis Transplant Meeting, Published Abstracts, September 1977 Owens ML, Passare E Jr, Wilson SE, Gordan HE: Treatment of peptic ulcer disease in the renal transplant patient Current Surgery 35:61, 1978 Owens ML, Pritchett TR, Robertson T, Simmons S: Warm ischemic injury: thermal comparison of harvest techniques. Published abstracts, 9th Annual Meeting, Western Dialysis and Transplant Society Owens ML, Pritchett TR, Roberton T, Simmons S: Effect of simple insulation on warm injury during renal transplant. Published abstracts, 9th Annual Meeting, Western Dialysis and Transplant Society Owens ML, Wilson SE, Smith RS, Ehrlich R, Maxwell JG, Bordner A: Major hemorrhage after renal transplantation. Published abstracts, 9th Annual Meeting, Western Dialysis and Transplant Society Owen ML, Wilson SE, Gahr J: Bridge AV Fistual: Comparison of sites and materials. Published Abstracts, 9th Annual Meeting, Western Dialysis and Transplant Society Owens ML, Pressman M, Edwards AE, Tourtellotte W, Rose JG, Stern D, Peters G, Stabile BE, Wilson SE: The effect of small infarcts and carotid Endarterectomy on post-operative Psychologic test performance. Academic Surgeons, 13th Annual Meeting. Great Gorge, New Jersey, November 1979 Owens ML: Superficial femoral artery occlusion: what happens without surgery. Published Coast Surgical Abstracts, Kauai, Hawaii, February 18, 1980 Owens ML, Jabour A, Wilson SE: Post-endarterectomy: strokes and close calls: preventive management. Abstracts, 8th Annual Symposium on Vascular Surgery. Palm Springs, California, March 1980 Owens ML, Wilson SE: Prevention of Neurologic complications of carotid Endarterectomy. Western Surgical Association Albuquerque, New Mexico, October 1981 Owens ML, Owens BM, Hill CW: Effect of Revisional Bariatric surgery on weight loss and frequency of complications. American Society for Bariatric Surgery Quebec, PQ Canada, June 1996
Exhibits	Teflon fistulae Succumb to Creep. 8th Meeting, Western Dialysis and transplant Association. September 16-18, 1977, Los Angeles, California. The Basic Non-Invasive Vascular Laboratory. AA Winter Scientific Meeting. December 10-14, 1977 Bacterial Arteritis: A Precursor of aortic rupture and pseudo-aneurysm. Annual Meeting, Southern California Chapter, ACS. January 20, 1978 Hoarseness After Carotid Endarterectomy. Association of VA Surgeons, May 16-19, 1980 Washington, D.C.
Presentations	Los Angeles Transplant Workshop, "Renal Preservation with Allopurinol", October 3, 1974 Western Surgical Association, "Gastrointestinal Complications After Renal Transplantation", November 22, 1975 Southern California Chapter, American College of Surgeons, "Cessation of Immunosuppressant Therapy in Renal Transplant Patients", January 15, 1975 Los Angeles Transplant Workshop, "Gastrointestinal Complications of Renal Transplantation", September 11, 1975 "Thermal Evaluation of Renal Implantation", California Association of Transplant Surgeons, Marina Del Rey, California, November 11, 1978 "Carotid Endarterectomy : Indications and Complications", Wadsworth Surgical Grand Rounds, December 15, 1978 "Major Arterial Hemorrhage Following Renal Transplantation", General Sessions Southern California Chapter ACD, January 19, 1979 "Major Hemorrhage After Renal Transplantation", Wadsworth Surgical Grand rounds, January 20, 1978 Moderator, Southern California Transplant Society Annual symposium, "Determination of Steroid Dosage", February 16, 1979, Los Angeles, California Panel on Venous Insufficiency: "Review of Physiology and Diagnostics Techniques", Wadsworth Grand Rounds, May 4, 1979 "Access Surgery for Chronic Dialysis", Nephrology Grand Rounds, Harbor UCLA Medical Center, November 19, 1979 "Recurrent Transient Ischemic Attacks After Carotid Endarterectomy", Western Surgical Society, Colorado Springs, Colorado, November 11-14, 1979 "The Effect of Small Infarcts on Post-Operative Psychologic Test Performance", 13th Meeting Association for Academic Surgeons, Great Goreg, New Jersy, November 11-14 1979 "Superficial Femoral Artery Occlusion: What Happens Without Surgery", Pacific Coast Surgical Society, Kauai, Hawaii, February 18, 1980 "The Effect of Carotid Endarterectomy on Intellectual Performance", UCLA General surgery Grand Rounds, Los Angeles, California, January 10, 1980 "Prevention of Deep Venous Thrombosis and Pulmonary Embolism", UCLA Surgical Grand Rounds, Los Angeles, California, December 10, 1980 "Avoidance of Late Graft Failure: Aortoiliac versus Aortofemoral Bypass", Southern California Chapter of the ACS, Newport Beach, California, January 12, 1980 "Non-invasive Techniques for Evaluation of Cerebral Vascular Disease", Symposium on Cerebrovascular Disease, VA Wadsworth Medical Center, Los Angeles, California, February 29, 1980 "Stroke and Close Calls", Society for Clinical Vascular Surgery, Palm Springs, California, March 20, 1980 Western Dialysis and Transplant Society Meeting, "Hemodynamic Effects of Femoro-Saphenous Fistulas", October 17, 1976 West Park Hospital, Canoga Park, California, "Renal Transplantation: State of the Art", July 11, 1977 Western Association for Transplant Surgeons, First Annual Meeting "Vascular Grafts for Hemodialysis Access", October 4, 1977 UCLA International Conference on Preservation of Kidney for Renal Transplantation, March 25-29, 1977 VA Wadsworth Surgical Service Grand Rounds, "Extracranial Cerebral Vascular Insufficiency", September 5, 1977 VA Outpatient Clinic, Los Angeles, "Therapy of Chronic Venous Insufficiency", January 28, 1976 Neurology Grand Rounds, "Minor Complications of Carotid Endarterectomy", Los Angeles, California, March 5, 1976 Surgical Service Monthly Rounds, "Donor Organ Acquisition in Southern California", Centinela Valley Community Hospital, Inglewood, California, October 1976 Surgical Grand rounds, "Carotid Endarterectomy: Risk Benefit Considerations", Southern California Permanente Medical Group Hospital, Fontana, California, February 24, 1977 Surgical Service Rounds, San Bernardino County Hospital, San Bernardino, California February 24, 1977 Vascular Surgery Rounds, Riverside Hospital, Riverside, California, February 24, 1977 Grand Rounds, "Carotid Endarterectomy: Risk Benefit Consideration", UCLA, February 26, 1977 "Thermal History of the Renal Transplant", Annual symposium of Southern California Transplant Society, November 11, 1977 "Relative Merits of Dialysis and Transplantation", National Association of Patients on Hemodialysis and Transplantation, March 21, 1978, Los Angeles, California "Update on Renal Transplantation", Nephrology Grand Rounds, Sepulveda VAH, August 18, 1978 "The Effect of Insulation on Cortical and Medullary Rewarming During Kidney Transplant", 9th Annual Meeting, Western Dialysis and Transplantation, October 6, 1978, Honolulu, Hawaii Downey Women’s Club discussant: "Organ Transplant", October 9, 1978, Downey, California "Recent Developments and Controversies in Venous Disease", UCLA General Surgical Grand Rounds, September 20, 1980 "Prevention of Deep Venous Thrombosis and Pulmonary Embolism", UCLA Surgical Service Ground Rounds, January 21, 1981 "Pitfalls in Carotid Surgery", Portion of Wadsworth Alumni Program on Medern Surgical Techniques", Los Angeles, California, June 5, 1981 "Non-invasive Evaluation of Carotid Artery Disease-A Practical Approach", Surgical Grand Rounds, Wadsworth VA Medical Center, Los Angeles, California, August 1, 1981 "Indications for Extracranial Vascular Surgery. A Review and Update", Surgical Grand Rounds, Wadsworth VA Medical Center, Los Angeles, California, September 18, 1981 "Prevention of Neurologic Complications of Carotid Endarterectomy", Western Surgical Association, Albuquerque, New Mexico, October 1981 "Vascular Disease and the Role of Non-invasive Evaluation in Podiatric Surgery", Department of Podiatry, Hawthorne Memorial Hospital, November 1987 "Effect of Revisional Bariatric Surgery on Weight Loss and Frequency of Complications" American Society for Bariatric Surgery, 14 June 1996 Quebec Canada Moderated internet chat with Hal Perdew and "Carnie Wilson 16 November, 2000- 1 hour Johnny Bowden Show, New2 York City, 2 Oct 2000 re Pants Across America Liz Gunderson Show Minneapolis 27 September 2000 re Pants Across America
Awards received	AMA Physicians Recognition 1979-82 Meritorious Service, Kidney Foundation Ralph and Marjorie Crump Award for Excellence in Medical Engineering Faculty sponsor for Thomas Rand Pritchett Board of Directors Preferred Health Network 1985-86