Our Physicians

The physicians of MIT at Del Mar Vein Care are experts in the treatment of varicose veins and other vein disorders. Most vascular studies can be performed and interpreted by one of our physicians right in the office. To learn more about our physicians, select from the list below.

Donald Ponec, MD
Justin Gooding, MD
Bassam Georgy, MD
Richard Saxon, MD
Zachary Rattner, MD

Donald Ponec, MD

Dr. Ponec specializes in Interventional Radiology, with a Certificate of Added Qualification in Vascular and Interventional Radiology. He is co-founder and Director of the San Diego Cardiac and Vascular Institute and Director of Interventional Radiology at Tri-City Medical Center.

Dr. Ponec earned his BS degree at the University of Southern California and graduated magna cum laude, Phi Beta Kappa. He first moved to San Diego to complete his MD at University of California San Diego (UCSD) in 1979 where he continues to maintain an appointment as Assistant Clinical Professor of Radiology. His interest in research was encouraged when he received an American Heart Association grant for the study of cardiac and vascular disease at UCSD. He attended University of California San Francisco for Radiology Residency and Interventional Radiology Fellowship. His active participation in research as the Principle or Co-investigator on multiple FDA-sponsored clinical trials has produced several publications. Also, Dr. Ponec is the National Medical Expert for a major peripheral vascular study and a Distinguished Reviewer for the Journal of Vascular and Interventional Radiology.

Fully credentialed, Scope of practice: ESRD, Venous Intervention, UFE, Chemoembolization, Pain Management, Angiography with Percutaneous Intervention, Gastrostomy, and Nephrostomy placement, Paracentesis, Thoracentesis, Image Guided Biopsy, Venous Access, Botox/Fillers, and Ultrasound.

Justin Gooding, MD

Dr. Gooding specializes in Interventional Radiology and has a Certificate of Added Qualification in Interventional Radiology. Dr. Gooding attended the University of California Berkeley for his BA degree and Georgetown University School of Medicine for his MD. He came to San Diego in 1992 to attend University of California San Diego Medical Center to complete his Internship in Internal Medicine, Residency for Diagnostic Radiology, and Fellowship in Vascular and Interventional Radiology.

Dr. Gooding is an Assistant Clinical Professor at the University of California San Diego and Veterans Administration Medical Center. He is a reviewer for the Journal of Vascular and Interventional Radiology and has recognition as a Distinguished Reviewer for the journal. Dr. Gooding has served as Principle or Co-investigator on multiple FDA sponsored clinical trials which have produced several publications. Dr. Gooding also serves as a physician reviewer for the Medical Board of California.

Bassam Georgy, MD

Dr. Georgy is the Assistant Clinical Professor of Radiology in the Department of Radiology at the University of California at San Diego and is in practice with MIT at Del Mar Vein Care. He is board certified in radiology and neuroradiology. His special expertise includes minimally invasive procedures of the spine. Dr. Georgy received his medical degree and master’s degree in radiology at Cairo University School of Medicine in Cairo, Egypt, where he also completed a radiology residency. He interned at Cairo University Hospitals. Under the tutelage of John Hesselink, MD and Robert Mattrey, MD, Dr. Georgy received advanced training during a research fellowship. Thereafter, he completed a diagnostic radiology residency at the University of South Alabama in Mobile. Two separate clinical fellowships, neuroradiology and magnetic resonance imaging, were completed at the University of California San Diego under Dr. Hesselink's direction.

Dr. Georgy is the President of the American Society of Spine Radiology and past president of the San Diego Radiological Society. He is an active member of the American Society of Interventional Pain Physicians, Society of Interventional Neurosurgery, American College of Radiology, Radiological Society of North America, as well as a Senior Executive Committee member of the American Society of Neuroradiology. He has received many honors and awards for his scientific research and presentations. Further, he holds several editorial positions that include associate editor for the Pain Physician, reviewer for the American Journal of Neuroradiology, and reviewer for the Yonsei Medical Journal. His publications list is extensive and includes journal articles, abstracts, and book chapters.

Scope of practice: neuro, spine, and pain management.

Richard Saxon, MD

Dr. Saxon is a Fellow of the Society of Interventional Radiology and is an internationally recognized expert in the field. Dr. Saxon is the Co-founder and Director of Research at the San Diego Cardiac and Vascular Institute (SDCVI) as well as an Assistant Clinical Professor of Radiology at the University of California San Diego. He has authored or co-authored over 50 scientific articles and book chapters and has been an invited lecturer or scientific presenter over 100 times throughout the United States and Internationally. Dr. Saxon’s research has included the design and development of endovascular stent grafts for both arterial applications and for the TIPS procedure.

In addition to a busy clinical practice, Dr. Saxon continues to teach and do clinical research and is a principal or co-investigator on multiple on-going research trials at the SDCVI. He is currently concentrating his research efforts on the endovascular treatment of Peripheral Arterial Disease. Dr. Saxon completed his undergraduate studies in Molecular Biology at the University of California Berkeley in 1982, receiving a certificate of distinction as one of the top 10 graduates that year. He earned his medical degree from the University of California Los Angeles (elected alpha omega alpha) and completed a Radiology Residency at the University of California San Francisco. Dr. Saxon completed his fellowship at the Dotter Institute of Interventional Therapy at Oregon Health Sciences University. He stayed there as an Assistant Professor of Interventional Radiology until 1997.

Since 1997, Dr. Saxon has worked in private practice in San Diego.

Scope of practice: ESRD, Venous Intervention, UFE, Chemoembolization, Pain Management, Angiography with Percutaneous Intervention, Gastrostomy, and Nephrostomy placement, Paracentesis, Thoracentesis, Image Guided Biopsy, Venous Access, Botox/Fillers, and Ultrasound.

Zachary Rattner, MD

After graduating from Princeton University, Dr. Rattner received a medical degree from Temple University. This was followed by an internship in Internal Medicine at Pennsylvania Hospital and a residency in Radiology at Yale-New Haven Hospital. After completing fellowships in Nuclear Medicine and Interventional Radiology at Johns Hopkins and Yale Universities, Dr. Rattner became Board Certified in Diagnostic Radiology, with Special Competence in Nuclear Radiology and in Interventional Radiology.

Dr. Rattner has served on the faculties of Yale and Northwestern Universities and has lectured at national and international meetings. He has served as an advisor to national committees on behalf of the Society of Interventional Radiology. He is listed in Castle Connolly’s highly acclaimed consumer guide to Top Doctors.

Dr. Rattner enjoys working with patients, using his radiology training to guide the process of diagnosis, and using advanced training and years of experience in interventional radiology to perform effective therapies with minimal trauma. A good deal of communication goes into this process, as well as the appropriate use of medications to diminish pain and anxiety.

Scope of practice: minimally invasive techniques to treat varicose veins, durable non-operative management of dialysis access, and extension of healthcare services through office-based procedures to treat a variety of conditions, including peripheral artery disease and cancer.