MEET THE JAMA BOARD:
Barry Goy, MD
President
Brian Itagaki, MD
Vice-President
Dr. Brian Itagaki is an orthopedic surgeon in Los Angeles, California, and is currently semi-retired. He received his medical degree from University of Hawaii John A. Burns School of Medicine and has been in practice for more than 30 years, and is past president of JAMA, while also serving on the scholarship committee. He also speaks multiple languages, including Japanese. His wife, Gale, serves as co-president of the JAMA auxiliary.
Jonathan Kurohara, M.D. followed his father, Samuel Kurohara, M.D. by joining JAMA back in 1987. Dr. Kurohara practices Family Medicine in Simi Valley. He received his M.D. degree from Northwestern University and his residency training at Harbor/UCLA. He has been Chief of Staff at Adventist Health Simi Valley and is a board member of the hospital foundation. He is a board member and has been the President of the Rotary Club of Simi Valley. Dr. Kurohara was the Medical Director of the Free Clinic of Simi Valley for 34 years and is the current president. The Free Clinic of Simi Valley was named the Nonprofit of the Year by the California State Legislature in 2020.
Lisa Oki, MD
Treasurer
Dr. Lisa N. Oki is a Board Certified Dermatologist in private practice in Simi Valley. She received her medical training at UCLA where she was elected to the Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Medical Society. After receiving her M.D., she continued at UCLA for her residency where she was the Chief Resident in Dermatology. She is a past board member of the American Cancer Society and is an active community member who has been in practice more than 20 years.
Dr. Gordon Sasaki is a plastic surgeon in Pasadena, California and is affiliated with multiple hospitals in the area, including Huntington Memorial Hospital and Methodist Hospital of Southern California. He received his medical degree from Yale University School of Medicine and has been in practice for more than 30 years. Dr. Gordon Sasaki is a Clinical Professor at Loma Linda Medical University and was elected President of The Aesthetic Stem Cell Society (2017) and received the "Best 2018 Cosmetic Surgeon in the San Gabriel Valley" as well as one of "The Top Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons in LA" voted by his peers and the community. He's is married to Joanne Sasaki, who is co-president of the JAMA auxiliary. He is also past president of JAMA, and is primarily responsible for putting together the book "Silent Scars of Healing Hands," having held the original copyright of the book, on behalf of JAMA. He is, and has been the heart & soul of JAMA, through his numerous years of service to JAMA.
