Associate Fellow

Dr. Azizzadeh is a Facial Plastic Surgery Fellowship Program Director at the American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery (AAFPRS).

The Facial Plastic Fellowship Program is widely respected in the medical community and accepts only the top post-graduate surgeons. The program aims to further educate surgeons in the highly specialized field of facial plastic surgery. Prior to becoming an Associate Fellow for Dr. Azizzadeh, our fellowship candidates have graduated from medical school and have completed an intensive residency in Head & Neck Surgery. As such, our Associate Fellow, has already undergone extensive surgical training, and has joined the program to receive advanced training in facial plastic surgery skills and techniques from acclaimed surgeon, Dr. Azizzadeh.

Associate Fellow — Dr. Julie P. Shtraks (Adelman) — Facial Plastic & Reconstructive Surgeon

Dr. Julie P. Shtraks is a 2019-2020 Associate Fellow to Dr. Azizzadeh at the CENTER for Advanced Facial Plastic Surgery. Prior to her fellowship, Shtraks served as Resident Physician and Chief Resident at Temple University Hospital’s Department of Otolaryngology — Head and Neck Surgery in Philadelphia.

Shtraks completed her education at Temple University Hospital in Philadelphia and Emory University in Atlanta. She earned a doctorate in medicine from Temple University in May 2014. Previously, Shtraks received a bachelor of science degree in biology in May 2010.

Shtraks has a medical license to practice in the State of California. She has passed the written boards from the American Board of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery and is eligible to complete her oral boards in April 2020. She also has passed her U.S. medical licensing exams and received advanced cardiac life support and basic cardiac life support training.

To date, Shtraks has performed extensive lab work at some of the top medical laboratories in the United States. Shtraks completed solitary chemosensory cell work at the Philadelphia VA Medical Center’s University of Pennsylvania Department of Otorhinolaryngology. Other lab work that Shtraks has performed has included molecular therapeutics studies at the Fox Chase Cancer Center in Philadelphia and Parkinson’s disease research and olfactory testing at Philadelphia VA Medical Center.

Shtraks has engaged with several notable medical associations, too. She is a member of the American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery and its Women in Otolaryngology Communications Committee and the American Academy of Otolaryngic Allergy.

In her educational career, Shtraks has earned many accolades. Shtraks has received the Head & Neck Surgery Medical Knowledge Award from Temple University’s Department of Otolaryngology, along with the Patient Safety and Quality Improvement Award. She also has been awarded an American Academy of Otolaryngic Allergy Resident Travel Grant. Shtraks was recognized by the Alpha Omega Kappa and Phi Beta Kappa honor societies, too.

Shtraks has contributed to various journal publications as well. She recently provided insights used in a journal article that investigates the longevity of the endoscopic midface lift. Furthermore, Shtraks has contributed to podium and poster presentations and book chapters. She also has performed grand rounds presentations across a variety of facial plastic and reconstructive topics, such as management of aging skin and the use of neurotoxins and fillers.

Associate Fellow — Dr. Erin Smith — Facial Plastic & Reconstructive Surgeon

Dr. Erin Smith is a 2019-2020 Associate Fellow to Dr. Azizzadeh at the CENTER for Advanced Facial Plastic Surgery. Before her fellowship, Smith served as Chief Resident for the University of Mississippi School of Medicine’s Residency Program in Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery.

Smith has a comprehensive educational background that includes multiple degrees. She most recently earned her master’s of science degree in neuroscience from Tulane University. Smith also holds bachelor of arts degrees in biochemistry and psychology with a minor in biology from the University of Mississippi.

Smith has earned a wide range of honors and awards in her educational career as well. She was a member of the Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society and Gold Humanism Society, and she earned the Thomas M. (Peter) Blake MD Award, AMA Foundations Scholarship and Douglas Willis Memorial Scholarship.

Along with her educational experience, Smith has in-depth work experience. She is Chief Resident Council Co-Chair at University of Mississippi Medical Center (UMMC) and Alpha Omega Alpha Junior Initiate at the UMMC School of Medicine Chapter, where she held different leadership positions and served on various committees. Smith has been a member of the American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery Facial Plastic and Reconstruction Education Committee since October 2017. She also has held roles on the UMMC Residents’ Council and American Medical Association.

In addition to her educational and work experience, Smith has performed myriad research over the years. Smith has participated in different otolaryngology research projects and was a UMMC School of Medicine Medical Student Research Program Scholar. She also served as Clinical Research Coordinator at Tulane School of Medicine’s Department of Urology, where she designed, conducted and managed academia-based research. Smith has contributed to several research projects at Midtown Urology P.C. in Atlanta and UMMC’s psychopharmacology and neuroscience laboratories as well.

Smith has helped create a broad array of medical research, too. She has contributed to journal publications that focused on facial plastic and reconstructive surgery topics such as cardiometabolic risk and auditory processing and the use of acetaminophen in post-operative pain control in head and neck cancer patients. Meanwhile, Smith has provided insights as part of presentations focused on different medical topics.

In her free time, Smith enjoys spending time with her husband and three daughters, and her hobbies include traveling, going to concerts, camping and watersports.

2020-2021 Fellows Joining Our Team in July 2020

The CENTER is proud to welcome fellows Dr. Brittany A. Leader and Dr. Nikolaus Hjelm in July 2020.

Dr. Leader is currently a head and neck surgery resident at the University of Cincinnati Department of Otolaryngology. She holds degrees from Emory University School of Medicine and Stanford University and has earned many honors and awards, including the SRF Resident Leadership Grant and AAO-HNS Humanitarian Travel Grant.

Dr. Hjelm has served as a resident for Thomas Jefferson University Hospital’s Department of Otolaryngology and performed hundreds of operations, published multiple papers and delivered oral presentations at AAFPRS meetings. He has earned degrees from Colgate University and Jefferson Medical College.