Southbay Health II 2019

SOUTHBAY.GOLDENSTATE.IS

DISPLAY UNTIL APRIL 2020

ADVANCED CARDIAC CARE

HAS ARRIVED. Providence Little Company of Mary and Keck Medicine of USC team up to bring world-renowned academic medicine to the South Bay.

Jashdeep S. Dhoot, MD, Nazanin Azadi, MD, Michele Del Vicario, MD, Raymond Lee, MD, Matthew Powers, MD, Murrad J. Abdelkarim, MD, Thi B. Dang, MD, Craig J. Baker, MD, Rishi Kaushal, MD, Jonathan Cash, MD (Not pictured: Vaughn A. Starnes, MD, Distinguished Professor and Chair, USC Department of Surgery )

The Del Vicario Cardiovascular Center of Excellence is leading the way when it comes to matters of the heart. Thanks to the Providence Little Company of Mary and Keck Medicine of USC’s partnership, our highly skilled cardiologists and surgeons offer the South Bay community the highest level of expert care and the latest in academic research. From diagnostic procedures to minimally invasive valve and open heart surgery, we are saving the hearts and lives of the South Bay.

888-HEALING | providence.org/torrance

ENTER TO WIN! There is something about being near the beach that encourages us to focus on living a happier and healthier lifestyle. We want to feel good, and we want to look good.

Enter: Southbay’s Focus on Fitness contest! By entering below, you could win free workouts to all of the participating South Bay businesses Focusing on Fitness in our community!

Enter here: our.goldenstate.is/focusonfitness GOOD LUCK!

NOVEMBER 2019 | VENTURA BLVD

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Expert cancer care

TORRANCE MEMORIAL AND CEDARS-SINAI’S AFFILIATION BRINGS MORE EXPERT CANCER CARE TO THE SOUTH BAY. More access to Cedars-Sinai oncology specialists and programs located within Torrance Memorial. More patient benefits from innovative cancer research to clinical trials. More expert care for our patients and the South Bay. Learn more at MoreCancerExperts.org

just got more experts

Left to right: Melanie Friedlander, MD, Paula Eboli, MD, David Chan, MD, Amirhossein Paymon Mahfoozi, MD

EDITORIAL DIRECTOR

GROUP PUBLISHER

Darren Elms

Jared Sayers

CREATIVE DIRECTOR

ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER

Michelle Villas

Amy Tetherow 424-220-6338 | amy@goldenstate.is

COPY EDITOR Laura Watts

ADVERTISING Director of Brand Partnerships

SENIOR GRAPHIC DESIGNERS

Erika Carrion

Yasmine Kahsai, Nikki Smith

310-897-2424 | erika@goldenstate.is

DEPUTY EDITORS

Director of Brand Partnerships

Bonnie Graves (Food & Wine),

Marcie Gutierrez

Kara Mickelson, Tanya Monaghan,

424-220-6337 | marcie@goldenstate.is

Jennie Nunn

Be Proactive

Director of Brand Partnerships

W

hat are your health goals for 2020?

Personally, this last year was a doozy.

A bunch of unforeseen medical issues took their toll, so I’m looking forward to a fresh start in January. But I will be taking a valuable lesson into the new year: Preventive medicine is good medicine. Go get your annual physical. Get routine tests based on your age and medical history.

Don’t wait for the problem to find you … uncover the problem early and take the necessary steps to correct it. Our annual resolutions often default to physical exercise and diet (which are important), but we also should pay attention to our overall health and wellness. Check in with yourself. Be proactive.

I’m inspired by the South Bay residents featured in this issue. Many have had a tough road in the health department, but you will find they rarely let a diagnosis keep them from living full and robust lives. It’s their strength, courage and positive attitude that boost my intentions for the next year.

Wishing you all a happy and healthy holiday and 2020.

WRITERS & CONTRIBUTORS

Jen Turquand

Michele Garber, Amber Klinck,

424-220-6335 | jen@goldenstate.is

Kat Monk Marketing Manager PHOTOGRAPHERS

Kimberly Caltagirone

Kristin Anderson, Kat Monk,

424-220-6341 | kimberly@goldenstate.is

Lauren Pressey

SOUTHBAY IS A DIVISION OF THE GOLDEN STATE COMPANY

MANAGING PARTNERS Charlie Koones

Todd Klawin

MARKETING & OPERATIONS Partner/Brand Publisher | Emily Stewart Partner/Managing Director, Media & Analytics | Warren Schaffer Director of Digital | Charles Simmons Director of Film & Video | Bryce Lowe-White Operations Director | Allison Jeackjuntra Community Manager | Natalie Long, Jenni Aceret

—Darren Elms, Editor

Director of Events | Danielle Price Accounting | Janet De La Cruz, Ljay Farris, YeVett Wilson To learn more about us, visit thegoldenstatecompany.com.

No part of this periodical may be reproduced in any form or by any means without prior written consent from The Golden State Company, LLC. Any and all submissions to this or any of The Golden State Company, LLC publications become the property of The Golden State Company, LLC and may be used in any media. We reserve the right to edit.

SUBSCRIPTIONS Email: info@goldenstate.is or phone: 310-376-7800.

Subscriptions are $29 per year.

TO OUR READERS Southbay HEALTH welcomes your feedback.

Please send letters to: Reader Response Department, Southbay HEALTH Please include your name, address and email. Edited letters may be published.

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200 N. Pacific Coast Highway, Suite 110, El Segundo, CA 90245 Tel 310-376-7800 | Fax 310-376-0200 | goldenstate.is | southbay.goldenstate.is SOUTHBAY HEALTH II 2019

BCO

beach cities orthopedics

inside 12

SERVE & SURF Captain Tom Seth

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A PATH TO RECOVERY Sage Marshall

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MEDIA Sound body and mind

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BEATING THE ODDS Cooper Jones

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CHANGE IT UP Jamie Hagiya THE BEST DEFENSE IS A GOOD OFFENSE Coach John Featherstone

STAYING ON COURSE Tom Ritchie A MEDITATION ON MENOPAUSE Nancy Siskowic BOOK IT The South Bay’s fitness calendar

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FOCUS ON FITNESS

HEALTH CARE RESOURCE GUIDE 66 The South Bay’s top health care professionals & wellness leaders

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COVER OF TOM SETH PHOTOGRAPHED BY KAT MONK

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Schedule a little time

See UCLA doctors in your neighborhood Making your health a priority is now easier than ever. With primary and specialty care locations throughout the South Bay, UCLA doctors are where you need us, when you need us. Because when it comes to your health, we go out of our way to make sure you never have to.

Manhattan Beach

Palos Verdes

Redondo Beach

Torrance

• Family Medicine

• Family Medicine

• Family Medicine

• Internal Medicine

• Internal Medicine

• Internal Medicine

• Internal Medicine

• Pediatrics

• Pediatrics

• Dermatology

• Pediatrics

• Radiology

• East-West Medicine

• Dermatology

• Allergy & Immunology

• Radiology

• Bariatric Surgery

• Radiology

• Sports Medicine

• Cardiac Imaging

• Pediatric & Adult Behavioral Health

• Cardiology

uclahealth.org/southbay

• Nephrology • Obstetrics/ Gynecology • Orthopaedic Spine Surgery

• Digestive Diseases

• Orthopaedic Sports Surgery

• East-West Medicine

• Pain Medicine

• Endocrine Surgery

• Podiatry

• Endocrinology

• Pulmonary Medicine

• Hematology/ Oncology

1-800-UCLA-MD1 (1-800-825-2631)

• Interventional Pulmonology

• Radiology

• Infectious Diseases

• Rheumatology

• Interventional Cardiology

• Sleep Medicine • Urogynocology

uclahealth.org/getsocial SB/SBH

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Serve

& Surf WHEN THIS L.A. COUNTY LIFEGUARD ISN’T SAVING LIVES, HE’S LIVING FOR THE OCEAN. WRITTEN & PHOTOGRAPHED BY KAT MONK

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ot many can say that on a Monday morning they wake up, throw on a pair of board shorts and flipflops and head to work … on their bicycle. For the last three decades, this has been Captain Tom Seth’s reality. Being a Los Angeles County lifeguard is not just a job or a career; it is a way of life—protecting our beaches and saving countless lives.

Despite being a junior lifeguard for only one year, his dream of becoming a lifeguard started at age 13 while admiring his water polo coach’s lifestyle. Tom was a lifeguard by age 19, an ocean lifeguard specialist (permanent lifeguard) by 28 and a prestigious captain by age 33. Tom married a girl he met while lifeguarding on the beach and has passed his love for the ocean on to his daughters, who are both currently L.A. County lifeguards.

Don’t let Tom’s chill attire fool you. A lifeguard’s #1 responsibility is to keep you safe in the ocean. Years of training and on-the-job experience have them on high alert as to what is going on in front of their towers. Terry Harvey, a retired lifeguard

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captain, affectionately refers to Tom as the “top salty dog in the South Bay.” Tom won the Medal of Valor award after one particular rescue on a big surf day at El Porto. “There was a giant hole, a rip current, at the bottom of 45th Street,” he remembers. “The surfers were using it to get out.

They would jump in the hole that would instantly take them out to sea. The problem was that for inexperienced surfers, it pulled you to the north into the rocks.”

The bike path was closed due to six to eight feet of water in front of it. “A young couple in their 20s with older surfboards headed out into the water,” he says. “The girl knew how to surf, but the guy was soon being dragged and pushed into the rocks.”

Tom saw this unfolding and quickly paddled out to rescue him. “On our way out of the rocks, we got hit by an unbroken wave and got pushed backwards into the rocks and pinballed back down into the water.” Only an experienced lifeguard can make this kind of petrifying rescue.

Over the years Tom has been a regular competitor in the United States Lifesaving

Association (USLA) National Lifeguard Championships, held annually all over the country. Having competed in at least 15 nationals, Tom has had the opportunity to travel to Florida, Texas and Chicago—not to mention up and down the coast of California. Fortunately the USLA provides the financial opportunity for lifeguards to compete by paying for their travel expenses.

Los Angeles is home to the prestigious Taplin and Intracrew competitions. Both events are run in the evening so as to not interfere with the competitors’ day jobs. A part of the popular International Surf Festival held in the South Bay the first weekend of August, the Bud Stevenson Intracrew relay is a fun event where competitors dress up with a theme.

The Judge Irvin Taplin Medley relay is the more competitive event, and a win comes with some major “bragging rights” amongst the ranks. Taplin incorporates four swimmers, four paddlers and four two-man dory teams. Teams from a myriad of beaches up and down the coast of California enter this highly anticipated event. International

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"There was a giant hole, a rip current, at the bottom of 45th Street. The surfers were using it to get out.

They would jump in the hole that would instantly take them out to sea. The problem was that for inexperienced surfers, it pulled you to the north into the rocks.�

SOUTHBAY HEALTH II 2019

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teams, including a team from Australia, have even competed.

The sky is pitch black. The ocean is glistening with high overhead lights beating down on erected stadium seating. The piers are lined with spectators watching the lifeguards compete. Signs are posted in the sand demarcating the different competing beaches. All in all the event lasts a few hours, with the older junior lifeguards’ events preceding the pros.

It is tradition that after a team wins Intracrew or Taplin, they hoist their boat high over their heads and take laps around the spectators, beating on the side of the boat like a drum as the crowd cheers in support. The camaraderie created from these intense competitors is unmistakable.

Tom has won this illustrious event 21 times—a record that few will ever come close to reaching. Unlike other people who

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specialize in one discipline, he paddled for nine of his wins and rowed for the other 12.

Fellow L.A. County firefighter Mel Solberg has also won 21 times. It is a competitive rivalry and friendship that will exist forever. “Whoever wins at the end, we might be a little cross, but we will shake hands, hug and be friends again,” says Mel. When he isn’t saving lives or competing, Tom loves to surf. He has been surfing for as long as he can remember, and in part this is the reason why he was a junior lifeguard for only one year. It interfered with his surfing.

When there are waves, he has been known to go out multiple times in one day.

“Tom can and will out-surf anyone in the South Bay,” says Terry. “Ask anyone who surfs: Don’t ever have a paddle battle with Tom Seth. You will lose every time.” ■

Tom’s Year in HEALTH Daily Nutrition: Coffee for breakfast, yogurt mid-morning, sandwich for lunch and a huge dinner

Free Time: Surf, surf and more surf

Guilty Pleasure: Beer

Preferred Footwear: Barefoot all day every day

Staying Fit: I do 100% of my training at the beach or in the ocean. Haven’t been in a gym in 10 years, and then I think it was for one day as a guest.

A Path to

Recovery SAGE MARSHALL SHARES HOW SHE HEALED AFTER HER STROKE AND HOW HER STROKE HEALED HER. WRITTEN BY AMBER KLINCK PHOTOGRAPHED BY LAUREN PRESSEY

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fter years of living with severe migraines—some of which would result in trips to the emergency room—functioning with pain had become a new normal for Sage Marshall.

If it weren’t for a scheduled eye appointment, she likely would have stayed home the day of her stroke despite the back pain and headaches she’d been experiencing that week in February 2014. During her eye appointment, bleeding was discovered behind her retina. But it was her blood pressure that raised the greatest concern. “[They] kept taking my blood pressure and saying something wasn’t right because is was 250 over 100,” Sage explains. The paramedics were called, and Sage was immediately taken to the hospital. While her blood pressure was taken over and over again in the emergency room, Sage’s mind wandered … thinking of the things she needed to do once she got home. The severity of her situation diminished by the never-ending to-do list of a mother and wife—despite the worried looks of those around her.

A blood test revealed her kidneys were functioning at 4%—news that came as a total shock to Sage. And then, while still at the hospital, she had a stroke. When she awoke, she was paralyzed and disoriented.

“I would try to get out of bed and fall on the floor,” she notes.

A person was assigned to her room to keep Sage from attempting to stand, but eventually for her own safety she was restrained to her bed. Sage had no time to absorb the news of her kidney failure before suffering a stroke that left her paralyzed on one side of her body, impaired her speech and cognition and even her ability to eat. “The frustration was

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just enormous,” she explains.

“I met Sage three months after her stroke,” notes speech-language pathologist and author of Hope After Stroke for Caregivers and Survivors, Tsgoyna Tanzman.

“I was working for a company called Rehab Without Walls. As a therapist, our goal is to help you achieve the greatest level of independence and identify what’s most meaningful to you.”

Introducing yourself into someone’s home, into their life while they’re at their most vulnerable is a “sacred responsibility,” Tsgonya explains. Over time Tsgonya began to learn more and more about Sage’s life and slowly began reintroducing elements and places that were fundamental to who she was before her stroke. They headed to the farmers market, the library—even a location as tedious as the DMV was filled with stimulating visuals and sounds.

“We started little by little; these outings are intense,” Tsgonya points out. And each excursion was in addition to doctor appointments and dialysis three times a week.

“If I had my way, I wouldn’t have walked or talked or anything,” Sage says. Every outing required immense effort—it would have been easier for Sage to shut out the world, but she didn’t. Over time she began to do more and more, including things she had never done before.

Sage never knew how to swim prior to her stroke, but during her recovery she developed a strong desire to be in the water.

Taking it one step at a time, she started going to a local pool, where someone anonymously purchased her first swim lessons. Now Sage swims for more than an hour every day.

“I feel like superwoman in the pool,” she says.

“Just sitting down is exhausting, but when I’m in the water, I feel like I could do anything.”

The evolution of Sage’s recovery has been remarkable. With fierce determination she has fought to take back everything she lost after her stroke.

There is one thing, however, she was ready to release: the infinite pain of losing her child. “I lost my daughter, Audrey, in 2000. The pain every day … I was like the walking dead. When your child dies, everything in the universe stops. The earth stops rotating, and you get off. When you get off, the world keeps turning, life is still happening, but you’re just spectating,” Sage says.

With a son and daughter to care for, Sage buried her pain. “It was important to me to at least look strong,” she notes.

But it wouldn’t be until after her stroke that she was able to move forward. “The stroke became my greatest gift; it took the memory of the pain,” she shares.

“Sage is a fantastic example of the potential for recovery and growth,” Tsgoyna says.

And while every path to recovery is unique, it’s important to never give up hope.

“Every brain is different, vastly different,” Tsgonya says. “Most doctors will say at a certain point—typically six months to a year after a stroke—that it’s as good as it’s going to get … and that’s not true. Recovery can continue as long as you continue to stimulate the brain; that’s the basis of neuroplasticity. The only time you stop improving is when you stop stimulating your brain.”

And Sage is showing no signs of stopping. “I’m training my body to go past what it can do,” Sage says. “Knowing that, next year I’ll be even stronger than I am now. You still have moments of feeling helpless, but you have to keep going.” ■

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Sound Mind and Body

IF YOUR 2020 RESOLUTION IS TO LOOK AND FEEL YOUR BEST, HERE ARE NEW BOOKS FROM SOME OF OUR FAVORITE LUMINARIES TO INSPIRE YOU TO REACH YOUR WELLNESS GOALS IN THE NEW DECADE. EDITED BY MICHELE GARBER

Grit & Grace: Train the Mind, Train the Body, Own Your Life

By Tim McGraw Fans of Tim McGraw will undoubtedly have noticed a dramatic change in his physique.

Ten years ago the country music superstar had a reality check when his eldest daughter commented on his noticeably unhealthy onscreen appearance in a movie trailer.

Ironically, his tremendous success in music and film combined with life on the road had taken a toll on his overall health. McGraw recognized that he needed to make his physical health a priority or risk damaging his career and his personal life. Fast-forward a decade and McGraw, now 52, is 40 pounds lighter and in the best health of his life. Yet McGraw's transformation isn't merely physical; he has transformed his whole life. As he explains, "My mind is clearer, my sense of purpose is sharper and my relationships are deeper. Consistent physical exercise helps me bring focus to my life and to the people who mean the most to me." In his new book, McGraw shares his inspirational story and offers readers practical advice, tools and encouragement so they too can create transformational change in their health, mind and overall well-being.

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Fix It with Food: More Than 125 Recipes to Address Autoimmune Issues and Inflammation

By Michael Symon and Douglas Trattner When celebrity chef and restaurateur Michael Symon was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis and external lupus, he suspected the cause may be rooted in what he was eating. He publicly committed to resetting and changing his diet and sharing the experience with his social media followers. The positive results of his dietary tweaks were acute and immediate.

By eliminating foods known to cause inflammation such as sugar and dairy, his issues seemed to instantly vanish. His fans encouraged him to share his recipes. Fix It with Food is the result. In the 125 recipes he shares with readers, Symon offers ways to satisfy cravings without creating inflammation and chaos in the body.

Symon provides guidance to identify foods that may be triggers in an individual's diet and how to build a meal plan that works around those triggers, leading to better overall health.

The Body: A Guide for Occupants

By Bill Bryson In his latest book, best-selling author Bill Bryson takes on the human body—applying his trademark curiosity and wry humor to consider the complexity of how the body functions and its miraculous ability to heal itself. As Bryson explains, “We spend our whole lives in one body, yet most of us have practically no idea how it works and what goes on inside it. The idea of the book is simply to try to understand the extraordinary contraption that is us.”

Filled with mind-blowing facts and amazing anecdotes, Bryson unravels the mystery and marvel of the “wobble of flesh” each of us occupies, providing a deeper understanding of and appreciation for the true miracle that is the human body.

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Beating

the Odds

DESPITE A DEBILITATING DISEASE, COOPER JONES LIVES A LIFE FULL OF MUSIC AND MOMENTUM. WRITTEN & PHOTOGRAPHED BY KAT MONK

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fter having extremely successful careers as international models, Cathy and Scott Jones settled down to have their family in the South Bay. Cathy gave birth to a healthy baby boy, Cooper, in October 2001. Life changed drastically, but they couldn’t have been happier to slow their jet-setting lifestyles and embark upon this new phase of family life.

By the time Cooper was 5, he wasn’t managing stairs well within their home—but it wasn’t too concerning. As first-time parents, it is hard to know what is normal and what is not, so they took him in for few tests.

Several months later, the phone rang at the Jones’ house. Cathy was home alone when the doctor delivered a nightmare diagnosis. Their seemingly healthy, 5-yearold son had just been diagnosed with an incurable disease: Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD). The doctor explained that Cooper would be in a wheelchair by the age of 12, with a life expectancy into his mid-20s.

Cathy, barely able to breathe, called Scott immediately and asked him to come home.

She wanted to have this conversation in person. Emotionally, it was one of the hardest days of their lives.

DMD is a fatal disease that causes muscle degeneration due to a lack of a protein called dystrophin. In layman’s terms, people with DMD have weak muscles that break down if they are not careful with their movements. Tiny tears don’t rebuild themselves without dystrophin. The more they use their muscles, the weaker their muscles become.

It is the second most common genetically inherited disease. It is an X-linked condition, and after testing it was determined that Cathy was indeed the carrier. If Cathy had been born a boy, she would have had Duchenne. She is a first-time carrier; her mom had a spontaneous mutation when her eggs were created.

Boys with DMD have very thick calves— almost athletic-looking. In reality, they lose function of their legs. In elementary school, Cooper started using a mobility scooter just

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to protect his muscles. By ninth grade he needed it the majority of the time.

Cooper is an outlier, as his system creates more dystrophin than many boys with DMD. Cathy explains it as a gift that was given back to them. In fact, the doctors don’t really understand why he is doing so well; he is at least several years ahead of the blueprint.

“Cooper is beating the odds and was able to walk for several years longer than boys with Duchenne typically do," explains Dr. Stanley Nelson, who says most boys lose their ability to walk by 8 years old.

“Since my diagnosis, my disability has continued to present me with hardships that oftentimes feel impossible to overcome,” Cooper shares. But at 18 he is now a senior at Rolling Hills Preparatory School and has quickly become an avid musician.

Cooper has recently developed a passion for playing guitar and performing. He has an affinity for soft grunge music. He took piano lessons for several years, but it wasn’t until he taught himself how to play guitar that he was hooked. You would never know he is shy when he gets behind the microphone and belts out “Hey There Delilah” or Nirvana’s “Lithium.”

“For years I was plagued with constant feelings of self-consciousness, which made it difficult for me to build relationships and feel as though I belonged,” he explains. He now realizes that his disability does not define who he is, as he was able to establish new friendships with those who share his passion for music.

Recently his family hosted Cooper’s Ohana Fest at their home—a fundraiser for his 18th birthday where they raised an astounding $27,000 in one night for the Center for Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy at UCLA. The evening was filled with music, and Cooper was able to perform several songs in front of a crowd of at least a couple hundred people.

One of the performers was Jim Lindberg, lead singer of Pennywise. He loved Cooper’s covers and challenged him to write original

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songs by the next Ohana Fest. At the end of the night, Cooper went to his room and feverishly started putting words to the page.

Exhilarated, he did not emerge from his room until sometime Sunday afternoon. He intends to meet Jim’s challenge.

Cooper shares, “Inadequacy and hopelessness are universal feelings. But when you gain the strength to overcome them, you are able to grow as an individual and live a fulfilling life.” ■

Cooper’s Year in HEALTH Weekday Itinerary: Wake up at 6:30 a.m. and have a cup of coffee while on the floor stretching my hamstrings. I then get a more thorough stretch by my mother or father and take my daily dose of pills—a few for heart health and the rest supplements. At 7:30 I get in my wheelchair and head out to the accessible van and transfer to the front passenger seat. [This van will be modified with hand controls for Cooper to be able to drive from his wheelchair.

He has a driver’s permit but needs to be trained for this adapted way of driving.]

After school, I go home to practice several songs I’m working on for school garage band, voice class or choir, or to perform live at some event. Some days around 4 or 5 p.m. the PT will come to give me a full-body stretch. I have dinner around 7 p.m. and go to bed at 10 p.m. with my dog, Lenny.

Guilty Pleasures: Video games and watching silly videos on YouTube

Health Goal: To keep my arms from getting too tired while playing guitar by stretching them often, and also taking care of my throat for singing by drinking peppermint tea and warm water with lemon and honey.

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Pediatric Therapy Network Can Make a Positive Change in Your Child’s Life

Providing help with Communication | Feeding | Fine-Motor Skills | Gross-Motor Skills | Independent Living Skills Motor Planning | Self-Regulation | Sensory Processing | Social Skills | Sport Injuries Call Us: 310.328.0276

Email Us: info@ptnmail.org

Visit Us: PediatricTherapyNetwork.org

Like Us: Facebook.com/PTN4KIDS

special advertising section

There’s something about living near the beach that encourages us to focus on living a happier and healthier lifestyle. We want to feel good. We want to look good. On the following pages, we’re highlighting some fun ways to Focus on Fitness leading into this year.

Enter to win Southbay’s Focus on Fitness, where one lucky winner will receive a variety of gift cards and free classes at your local workout destinations!

o u r. g o ld e n st at e . i s/ f oc u sonf i t ne ss contest ends Friday, January 3

ALLOMI − Fitness, dance, yoga − Group and private sessions − Personal development and spiritual growth workshops − Holistic health experts − Great ocean-view location in Riviera Village 1612 S. Catalina Avenue, Redondo Beach allomi.com | 310-316-4080 | @ allomi_health

BEACH LIFE FITNESS BOUTIQUE − Fitness that “feels good” − Small group exercise classes − Localized cryotherapy & infrared jade bed − Baby friendly prenatal & postpartum exercise − Pilates reformer, Yoga, Functional Movement 312 S. Catalina Ave., Suite E, Redondo Beach beachlifefitnessboutique.com | 310-779-8641 @beachlifefitnessboutique

SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

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BUILT GYMNASIUM El Porto

− Full-service fitness facility − Memberships to fit every situation − Group fitness classes − In-house personal training − Private parking on-site

4005 Highland Ave., El Porto builtgymnasium.com | 310-545-4005 | @builtgymelporto

COREOLOGY FITNESS − Any fitness level, fun and friendly environment − Transform your entire body − Core-focused, Pilates-based − Exclusive science-based routine − Pilates, cardio sculpt and more

704 Deep Valley Drive, Rolling Hills Estates 2403 N. Sepulveda Blvd., Manhattan Beach coreologyfitness.com | 310-546-2880 | @Coreology

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SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

F45 TRAINING Manhattan Beach Pacific

− 45-minute functional HIIT group classes − Completely beginner-friendly yet scalable to athletes − Two certified trainers on the floor at all times delivering you results − Never do the same workout twice, incredible variation (more than 4,000 exercises) − Parking at the front of the studio 2001 N Sepulveda Blvd., Suite B, Manhattan Beach f45training.com/manhattanbeachpacific 310-295-4245 | @f45_training_manhattanbeachpac

HIP STUDIO High Intensity Pilates®

− Pilates, rebounding and cardio sculpting classes − Group and private sessions − Certified and experienced trainers − Open 7 days a week − Parking 1200 Pacific Coast Highway, Hermosa Beach hipstudio.com | 310-376-6447 | @hipstudio

SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

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RYDEFYR Indoor cycling experience

− Stationary bike total body workout − HEATED Rhythm Ride fitness classes − Torch calories, detoxify the body − Fully immersive lighting and sound − Private bookings available (e.g., birthdays, charity, corporate)

3308 Highland Ave., Manhattan Beach RydeFYR.com | 310-545-8435 | @RydeFYR

SHINE STUDIO A body-positive, fun fitness movement

− Cardio Dance, Barre, Pilates and more − Fitness events and workshops − All ages and fitness levels − Ideal location, easy parking − Welcoming, warm and empowering community 730 S. PCH, Suite 105, Redondo Beach ShineStudioRB.com | 310-316-0997 | @ShineStudioRB

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SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

TARSAN

Stand-Up Paddleboarding

−

Stand-up paddleboard rentals

−

Stand-up paddleboard lessons

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Memberships

−

Kids camp

−

Special events

831 N. Harbor Drive, Redondo Beach tarsanstandup.com | 310-798-2200 | @tarsanstandup

THE PILATES NOOK − Specialized private Pilates sessions − Mommy & Me, pre- and post-natal − Injury recovery, rehabilitation and Prevention − Nutrition, weight loss, meal plans − Reformer, chair, Cadillac, TRX and jump-board 806 Manhattan Beach Blvd. #204, Manhattan Beach thepilatesnookmb.com | 310-490-8858 | @thepilatesnookmb

SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

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YOGA LOFT Yoga Elevated.

− Yoga of varying styles − Meditation − Wellness workshops − Trainings − Cultural and community events

1112 Ocean Dr. #103A Manhattan Beach 90266 yogaloftmb.com | 310.372.7334 | @yogaloftmb

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Change it

Up

FOR CROSSFIT INSTRUCTOR JAMIE HAGIYA, VARIETY IS THE SPICE OF LIFE. WRITTEN & PHOTOGRAPHED BY KAT MONK

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natch. Box. Murphys. Pistols.

Deadlifts. Metcon. WOD. All terms used when participating in one of the world’s biggest fitness trends: CrossFit. It has soared in popularity—not just because of the personal results but also the community bond the sport creates.

With more than 4 million CrossFitters in at least 120 countries, the fitness regime consists of a variety of high-intensity functional movements including calisthenics, weightlifting, powerlifting, gymnastics, strongmantype events, plyometrics, body weight exercises, indoor rowing, aerobic exercise, running, paddling and swimming. Each discipline consists of a variety of functional movements that mimic motions we do in everyday life. This fact has encouraged a community of people of all ages to try it out.

For instance, a squat imitates the motion it takes to bend down and pick something up from the floor. As a result, CrossFit can be for everyday people as well as those who enjoy competing.

For those who are a little more serious, the community offers a WOD (workout of the day)—both unpredictable and full of force. The ability to track everyone’s results adds to this competitive energy. Many CrossFitters quit drinking, eat clean and go to the gym as early as 5 a.m. while their bodies radically transform.

“People love CrossFit because of the community, bettering our health and feeling strong about ourselves and our bodies,” says Jamie Hagiya, co-owner of the Torrance Training Lab—a gym in Torrance dedicated to CrossFit. “We rave about it because we’ve seen the positive impact it can have on one another.”

The Reebok CrossFit Games are the pinnacle of the sport. Hundreds of thousands of people try out for the Open division, but only 35 men and 35 women qualify.

According to Forbes, the games are “one of the fastest growing sports in America.”

From 2011 to 2017 the games were held locally in Carson, but due to the increasing

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numbers in the sport, hosting the games became too expensive and they moved to Madison, Wisconsin.

Many believe that no other sport accurately tests fitness. For example, decathlons test a wide range of abilities but not key components of physical fitness. The games aimed to fill this void. The winner of the Reebok CrossFit Games is deemed the “Fittest on Earth.”

“And your fifth athlete going to Carson, California … Jamie Hagiya!” Jamie still feels chills when she remembers the announcer calling out her name in 2016. “It’s still one of the best moments of my life. Everything I worked so hard for and poured my blood, sweat and tears into had finally been realized,” she shares. “It was always my dream to make it one time, so that moment meant everything.” For 2016, she was the 18th fittest woman on earth.

Prior to CrossFit, Jamie was an accomplished basketball player. She starred as a point guard at USC and later played professionally overseas. One day while coaching at a WNBA Sparks clinic, a parent told her that he thought she would love CrossFit. Shortly after, she opened her own CrossFit gym, and the rest is history. She combined her incredible athleticism and love of coaching and is now giving back to the community.

Jamie works out five to six times a week and commits to a full rest day or active rest day on her days off. Most of her training consists of weight lifting, gymnastics, bodyweight movements, cardio and skill work.

She also enjoys sports like basketball, tennis, golf, volleyball and swimming, and she surfs El Porto most mornings.

When I met Jamie at her gym in Torrance, Arielle, a former collegiate softball player, and Indigo, a former professional snowboarder were there working out. The camaraderie was remarkable as Jamie and Arielle, CrossFitters since 2013, helped newcomer Indigo, CrossFitter for six months, accomplish her very first “nose to bar” workout. As they stood together they cheered, watched and filmed the newcomer’s success and accomplishment.

“A good CrossFit gym has qualified coaches to help newbies learn the movements with good form and appropriate

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load,” explains physical therapist Ariel Shore.

“Not everyone needs to flip tires or lift heavy.

It depends on your goals.”

And although Jamie spends many hours of her day training indoors, she admits she’s really a beach girl at heart and can’t wait for her outdoor time. “I grew up right here in Redondo Beach and feel the most at peace while at the beach in the sun or enjoying a beautiful sunset,” she says.

“I feel like I work out so hard in the gym so I can enjoy my life outside with family, friends and good food!” ■

jamie’s Year in HEALTH Daily Nutrition: I try to eat a protein, a carb, greens/veggies and healthy fat with most meals.

Guilty Pleasures: Desserts. Anything from cookies, donuts, cakes, cupcakes and ice cream. I also love Philz Coffee. Their Soul Train hazelnut coffee sweet and creamy is always a treat for me.

Fitness Craze You Want to Try: I’ve always wanted to try some type of martial arts, maybe Muy Thai or jiujitsu. As a kid I quit judo because I was so embarrassed

that I weighed more than all the popular boys in my class. So I think it would be nice to go back and give martial arts another shot. Also the self-defense aspect of it is really cool and useful.

Fitness Goal: I’ve spent the past 20 years of my life dedicated to high-level sports and competition, which means endless hours in the gym working on weaknesses and pushing my body to its limits. So I look forward to having fun in the gym again and enjoying my workouts.

“It was always my dream to make it one time, so that moment meant everything.”

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The Best Defense is a Good Offense LEGENDARY COACH JOHN FEATHERSTONE STILL SMILES WHILE TACKLING THE BIGGEST OBSTACLE OF HIS LIFE. WRITTEN & PHOTOGRAPHED BY KAT MONK

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oach John Featherstone is affectionately referred to as Feather— an icon and a legend in the community college football world.

After 31 years of coaching at El Camino College, he retired in 2015.

Feather briskly walks across the Warriors’ field, soon to be known as Featherstone Field, with a huge, contagious smile on his face. This field is a happy place for him, as he had one of the highest winning percentages in community college football history.

He asks the new coach, “How did the boys do?” The coach responds, “They lost to Riverside, but they beat Bakersfield.”

Feather nods his head in acknowledgement and then immediately asks, “So how did the boys do?” He repeats the same question several more times.

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A calm, patient, female voice chimes in and continually answers his questions for him. She whispers to the coach, “The first rule is to never say, ‘Don’t you remember?’”

The voice is that of his wife of seven years, Diane Frohoff.

Six months after they married, the man she loves was diagnosed with mild cognitive impairment (MCI). A year later at the young age of 64, he was diagnosed with early onset chronic traumatic encephalopathy, also known as CTE—a form of dementia that is caused from head trauma. CTE has mostly been found in football players and is caused by too many concussions.

As a child he was accidentally struck in the back of the head with a hoe while playing a game with a friend. Another major head injury came after riding his bike and

accidentally running into a chain-link fence.

Combine these two injuries with years of playing football, and you have the three contributing factors to his CTE. Feather grew up with two brothers, across the street from Live Oak Park. They spent innumerable hours playing baseball on the dirt field, running up and down the beaches, playing volleyball and surfing.

Feather proceeded to play football at Mira Costa and El Camino before earning a scholarship to San Diego State as a wide receiver, where he got the opportunity to play under legendary coach Don Coryell. In 1969 he was named MVP of the Pasadena Bowl after scoring two touchdowns. San Diego State defeated Boston University that day, 28–7.

Coach Coryell started to ask Feather his opinions about plays, and they soon became

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“His positive attitude rubs off on everyone around him.”

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friends. After graduation he did some assistant coaching at SDSU and a few other colleges in the San Diego area. It came as no surprise when Feather brought the “Air Coryell” passing game back to the South Bay when he was named head coach of the El Camino College Warriors.

Using this system, his overall record at El Camino was an astounding 214 wins, 119 losses and two ties. Under his leadership, the Warriors won two state titles, 11 conference championships and appeared in 19 bowl games. They also appeared in three National Championships and ultimately succeeded in winning the National Championship in 1987.

Honored eight times as the California Coach of the Year, Feather was also voted National Coach of the Year in 2008. In addition, he coached more than three dozen players into professional football, including Keith Ellison of the Buffalo Bills.

“Feather is one of the nicest coaches you’d ever want to meet or play for,” shares Keith, who played for the Bills from 2006 to 2010. “He had the right touch with players, and I’ve never seen him in a bad mood.

His positive attitude rubs off on everyone around him.”

While coaching at El Camino, Feather was also busy at home with four daughters. Seeing the future of the sport of beach volleyball, he offered one of the only youth beach volleyball camps in the South Bay from 1993 to 2013 at 14th Street in Manhattan Beach.

With a major impact on the growth of the sport, he was inducted into the California Beach Volleyball Association’s Hall of Fame for his contributions to the sport as a teacher, tournament director and a referee.

Despite it all, Feather has not lost that contagious smile. He and Diane continue to live life to its fullest—watching their kids and grandkids play sports and enjoying the lifestyle offered here in Southern California. ■

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Happy Holidays!

Thank you for your continued trust and support.

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Staying on

Course TOM RITCHIE ISN’T GOING TO LET PARKINSON’S THROW HIS GROOVE. WRITTEN & PHOTOGRAPHED BY KAT MONK

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ervous and excited at the same time describes how Tom Ritchie, 60, felt just before performing a few of his original songs with his son, Hudson. Although Tom has been playing guitar since he was a child, he has never played in front of a crowd. After their performance, Tom was all smiles and could barely contain his excitement. “I can’t wait to play with Hud again!”

One day five years ago, Tom was struggling to put his wetsuit on over his feet.

Even more troubling was the fact that he was having a hard time putting his foot into his sandal. His sense of smell had disappeared, but he didn’t think much of it and certainly didn’t think they were related.

Kim, his wife, repeatedly mentioned that she thought he was moving slower, but he wasn’t concerned. About a year later, he was at the gym having a brief chat with an old acquaintance before his workout.

Several minutes later the friend, a doctor, called out to him and said, “Hey Tom, you okay? You don’t look right.”

Together they began to explore what these symptoms meant. After many tests turned out negative, he went to see a neurologist. The doctor gave him a prescription for Levodopa, commonly used as a dopamine replacement for the treatment of Parkinson’s disease.

Within 30 minutes of taking his first dose, he put his wetsuit on with no problem. He also was able to get his foot into his sandal without any issues. Tom explains, “It was like I took a couple aspirin for a headache and the symptoms just disappeared.” Amazed, he called his doctor, who in return stated, “Tom, I’m sorry to tell you this, but you have Parkinson’s disease.”

Parkinson’s disease is a progressive, incurable disease marked by certain recognizable symptoms including slow movement, stiffness in the limbs, uncontrollable shaking or tremors, lack of coordination and speaking difficulties. However, there are different stages of the disease and each person has a unique set of circumstances and symptoms. Every patient experiences Parkinson’s differently.

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Tom’s Year in HEALTH Daily Nutrition: For breakfast I typically have avocado and toast, a banana and a protein drink. I always make sure to have my breakfast at least 45 minutes after I take my medication. I do this because protein blocks the effectiveness of my medication. For lunch I typically have a light snack. Dinner is always a healthy choice and the big meal of the day.

Free Time: I enjoy spending family time with my three grown children.

Fitness Class I’d Like to Try: Lately I’ve been considering trying yoga.

My wife previously signed me up for private Pilates lessons. I could tell it would be very beneficial but was a bit out of my comfort zone. I may reconsider going back and giving it another try.

Health Goal: To be healthy and happy with my family through this journey. And most importantly I want to thank my wife, Kim, for her support through it all.

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Parkinson’s is defined by the absence of dopamine in your system. A DaTscan was Tom’s next step to help substantiate the diagnosis and determine the stage.

The scan is a radioactive tracer injected into the blood that circulates around your body until it reaches your brain. The tracer attaches itself to the dopamine transporter that in turn displays your dopamine levels to your doctor.

If it is lacking on the right side of your body, you will experience tremors on the left side of your body and vice versa. Tom was diagnosed with stage 1 with some symptoms of stage 2.

Dr. Michele Tagliati, Tom’s doctor and head of neurology at Cedars-Sinai, offered him Botox as one treatment. Botox is a drug commonly known to paralyze women’s faces to prevent wrinkles. In this situation, the doctor injects the Botox to reduce his tremors, which has worked well so far.

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Born a Navy brat, Tom grew up on the island of Coronado just over the bridge from downtown San Diego. His father was a Navy pilot, and his childhood home was the former home of General Pendleton.

The Marine Corps base camp in San Diego County is named after the general. Tom fondly remembers sightseeing tours coming by his home as a child.

For 15 years Tom worked at the Chart House mostly in the San Diego area. One day he was bartending at the La Jolla location when Kim walked into the restaurant. She had just moved to La Jolla for college and transferred from the Redondo Beach Chart House. Working at the Chart House allowed employees freedom during the day since the restaurant was only open in the evenings.

Kim was born and raised in Hermosa Beach. She and Tom eventually married and moved to the South Bay, where he became a real estate agent. A tight-knit

family, they raised their three children in South Redondo.

Currie, their oldest son (named after Kim’s maiden name), is currently living in Brooklyn and working at a restaurant called The Flower Shop. Sophia is a daddy’s girl who loves being a horse trainer while attending college to become a crime scene investigator. Their youngest son, Hudson, is a legendary South Bay longboarder as well as a musician. When the family is in town, they are always together.

To slow down the progression of the Parkinson’s, Tom has a routine that includes working out four to five days a week. Four times a week he exercises on the machines in the gym and swims at the Manhattan Country Club. He also plays tennis once a week.

Tom might have Parkinson’s, but he states that he is in the best shape of his life.

He is not about to let his Parkinson’s diagnosis slow him down anytime soon. ■

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A Meditation on Menopause ACCORDING TO NANCY SISKOWIC, HORMONES DO MATTER. WRITTEN & PHOTOGRAPHED BY KAT MONK

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ancy Siskowic, looking as healthy as ever at 79, drives up in a Champagne-colored Lexus sports coupe.

She pops out and heads toward one of the infamous Palos Verdes trails called the Fire Trail. (This particular walkway is a nonpublic road that enables firefighters to quickly head up and down the hill in the case of a fire.)

Nancy, a menopause specialist, loves her daily walks. Energetic and charming, she has a big smile as she starts to talk about the human body and its relation to hormones.

A Lamaze childbirth educator for more than 20 years as well as a school nurse for close to a decade, Nancy decided to go back to college as an adult to get her nursing degree at California State University, Long Beach. At the time she planned to have a private counseling practice, but her OB-GYN convinced her to work for him a couple days a week too.

She loved the work so much she decided to specialize in menopause.

Menopause can catch women off guard. It happens approximately in their 50s when their ovaries begin to stop producing the hormones estrogen and progesterone. Hormones control most of your bodily functions and have a serious impact on digestion, appetite, immune function, mood and libido.

“One minute you feel fine and think you’ve got it together; the next minute you’re sure there’s a monster running around inside you,” says Nancy. Night sweats, hot flashes, hair loss, mood swings, irritability, weight gain (mid-section) and overall brain fog are just some of the symptoms of menopause.

Surges of adrenaline can also cause symptoms of anxiety.

Nancy swears by bioidentical hormones (BHRT), and so does Oprah Winfrey—just in case you were wondering. Bioidentical hormones are identical chemically to the hormones your body produces, although they are man-made with plant estrogens including soy and yam extracts. The extracts are then taken through chemical steps to make estrogen, progesterone and testosterone. So if your hormones are low or out of balance, you take these to counterbalance them.

Currently some of the bioidentical hormones are not FDA-approved in the United States. Progesterone and testosterone can be prescribed from a local compounding pharmacy, but they are not covered by health insurance.

Nancy explains that patients see results in as early as three weeks and are typically exhilarated. “I make a difference in women’s lives,” she says. “Estrogen helps the brain,

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bones, heart and private parts. Fear of hormone therapy is rampant. It has gotten a bad rap. It isn’t a culprit; it is a lifesaver.”

The reputation of hormones has been called into question after a study in 2002 linked hormone replacement therapy (HRT) to breast cancer. According to Nancy, there are many more studies that don’t link bioidenticals to cancer.

“Fifty years of studies worldwide confirm that there is no conclusive evidence that says estrogen causes breast cancer,” says Nancy, quoting Howard Hodis, MD, professor of medicine in the cardiology department at Keck School of Medicine of USC. Nancy adds, “Estrogen is actually breast-protective and cancer-protective.”

Kerry Nadal, a patient of Nancy’s, says, “Before I started BHRT, I had trouble falling asleep, staying asleep, and waking up was miserable. I cried a lot. I raged at my children frequently. I couldn't keep a thought in my head or complete a task.”

After having a couple appointments with Nancy and starting the BHRT routine, Kerry is no longer experiencing sleeping problems.

“I'm waking up rested and excited to start my day. I still cry, but now it's at appropriate times.

BHRT was a game-changer for me.”

She jokingly adds, “I still yell at my kids, but it's less frequent and usually deserved.”

Women frequently come to Nancy feeling that their lives are falling apart. The most significant premise of Nancy’s work is that when estrogen is starting to decline, it is imperative for women to start to intervene with BHRT. She also is a firm believer in eating right and exercising. “Genes matter, but those who embrace a healthy lifestyle and practice constant physical activity have the greatest longevity,” she adds.

In 1999 Nancy married the love of her life, Ed DeRenzis. They have four kids between the two of them and five grandkids (one in college and the rest between the ages of 8 and 14).

They can often be found on the weekends at their grandchildren’s sporting events including baseball, soccer and basketball games. In addition to their walks, the two of them go to a trainer twice a week and work on their upper body strength.

Nancy was speaking at a seminar recently about how she loves to help women get their lives back on track, when a husband yelled out, “She doesn’t just help women get back on track; she helps us husbands get back on track too!” His meaning was clear: A happy wife is a happy life. ■

nancy’s Year in HEALTH Workout Routine: I work out with a trainer twice a week at End Results. I love walks on the beach or some of the hiking trails near our home in Palos Verdes.

Guilty Pleasure: Spending time on our deck, especially at 5 p.m. with a glass of wine to talk about our day and simply take in the view.

Health Goal: Mine has to do with the midlife women I work with in both consultations and seminars. My goal is to educate them about the symptoms they experience and the long-term consequences of estrogen deprivation. I seek to remove the unnecessary fears surrounding hormones and help them see that there is help and hope for them.

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THE SOUTH BAY’S TOP HEALTH PROFESSIONALS A RESOURCE GUIDE FOR YOUR HEALTHIEST LIFE SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION EDITED BY LAURA L. WATTS | PHOTOGRAPHED BY KRISTIN ANDERSON

PARSA ORTHOPAEDICS AND SPORTS MEDICINE INSTITUTE RONNA S. PARSA, DO

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UCLA HEALTH

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CHRISTINE PETTI, MD

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HUTCHINSON DENTAL

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CLEARCHOICE DENTAL IMPLANT CENTER

KRISTIN EGAN, MD

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LYMPHEDEMA & LIPEDEMA CENTER

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SUMMER ORTHODONTICS

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STEVEN K. OKAMOTO, DDS, INC.

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FULBRIGHT COSMETIC & RECONSTRUCTIVE DENTISTRY

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SU SACHAR, MD

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CHRISTINA L. HUTCHINSON, DDS

SUMMER L. BLAKE, DDS, MS

MICHAEL FULBRIGHT, DDS

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JENNA BENKO SUPOWIT, DMD JAY GRANZOW, MD

STEVEN K. OKAMOTO, DDS, & MICHELLE OKAMOTO, DDS

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PARSA ORTHOPAEDICS AND SPORTS MEDICINE INSTITUTE RONNA S. PARSA, DO 1200 Rosecrans Avenue, Suite 110, Manhattan Beach | 424-220-4400 | DrRonnaParsa.com

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CELEBRATE THE SEASON!

• • • • • • • •

This is definitely the season to celebrate and channel all the positives to bring with you into the new year! But remember, moderation is key!

Health is not only about keeping a balance in your diet and physical activity, but also greatly enriched by mental well-being. Don’t forget to stay hydrated to help combat the dry winter.

Your body will thank you from the inside and out!

Orthopedic surgery Sports medicine Minimally invasive arthroscopy Joint and cartilage preservation Stem cell and PRP therapy Fracture care Joint replacement In-office X-ray

KEEPING KIDS HEALTHY Dr. Parsa cheers on the Dodgers with Cameron Parsa

“Our goal is to provide the highest standard of care to get you back to the sport or activity you love as soon as possible.”

THE ATHLETES’ RESOURCE Parsa Orthopedic and Sports Medicine Institute is the premier resource for our community, helping athletes of all levels become healthier individuals and enjoy a better quality of life. We use advanced diagnostic and minimally invasive treatment options to accelerate healing and ease recovery. Our goal is to provide the highest standard of care to get you back to the sport or activity you love as soon as possible.

A child’s first and most important role model is always their parents. Remember they will likely mimic your habits. I thank my mom for taking me to Gold’s Gym in Redondo Beach as a kid— it instilled in me a foundation of staying physically fit and active.

Overuse injuries have become a significant issue, especially in young athletes. Studies have shown if a child specializes in one sport before adolescence, he or she is actually less likely to become a high-level athlete in that sport. These kids have a higher risk of injuries and also of burning out.

Roxanne, Dr. Parsa, Elika and Neda enjoying dinner at The Strand House The Parsa Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine Institute team: Sabrina, Carmen, Dr. Parsa, Alex, Rebecca, Kasey

SPORTS MEDICINE SPECIALTY I am an orthopaedic surgeon who specializes in sports medicine. I have worked with athletes of all levels and ages, including high school, collegiate and professional calibers. I was inspired by world-renowned sports surgeon and my mentor, Dr. James Andrews, who showed me the importance of teamwork, compassion and communication when treating athletes.

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AN ACTIVE LIFESTYLE Growing up in the South Bay with a family and a community dedicated to an active lifestyle, I have developed a passion for year-round outdoor sports such as tennis, golf, hiking, swimming and running on The Strand. Weekends at the farmers market to support local and organic growers is always fun. Although I love cooking, I also enjoy socializing with friends at local bars and restaurants. At one of my favorites, The Strand House in Manhattan Beach, Chef Austin Cobb always surprises me with creative, healthy, locally inspired cuisine.

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telephone call to our office, every customized plastic surgery consultation and every aesthetic surgical and nonsurgical treatment.

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This patient had a laser face-lift, neck-lift, Smartlifting™ of the neck and SmartSkin™ CO2 laser resurfacing of the complete face neck and décolletage.

FOREVER YOUNG I take pride in my ability to give my patients options for aesthetic surgical and nonsurgical care that incorporates the most contemporary technology with the goal of offering superior, natural and faster-healing treatments. My facelift and neck-lift technique is unique not only in the South Bay but throughout the nation and the world. I utilize a fiber-optic laser dissection of the skin that is less traumatic, controls bleeding and is efficient and safe. I resurface the top layers of the skin with the SmartSkin™ CO2 fractional laser, creating smooth, luminescent skin that looks like a younger, natural version of the patient.

My goal and all my efforts as an excellent, experienced, ethical plastic surgeon are directed at making every patient encounter and doctorpatient relationship one that is life-changing for the betterment of the patient. Each procedure should be something the patient will enjoy and feel was worth their aesthetic efforts, commitment and investment.

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WORK HARD—PLAY HARD

BEST OF THE BEACH My staff and I are honored to receive the Easy Reader Best Of The Beach award 2019—for the fifth time in my career—for Best Cosmetic Surgeon and Best Medical Spa. We take this honor very seriously and thank all of our loyal patients in the South Bay and beyond. We know that we have to earn this accolade with every

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From an early age my father taught me: “Work hard. Play hard!” My husband, John Stoneburner, MD, a cardiovascular and thoracic surgeon, and I love our individual professions.

We try to balance the arduous work and long hours with fun events that take us to Coachella Valley, so we attend the Indian Wells BNP Paribas Open tennis tournament each year.

We love the passion and fight of the singles tennis competitions while enjoying the art, food, vistas and hikes of the desert.

HUTCHINSON DENTAL CHRISTINA L. HUTCHINSON, DDS 512 Main Street, #4, El Segundo | 310-640-2025 | HutchinsonDDS.com

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A BEAUTIFUL SMILE

HEALTHY KIDS

• • • •

A beautiful smile is the latest weapon in the anti-aging arsenal, joining hair color, Botox, toned arms and various cosmetic procedures.

Natural wear and tear of teeth can age us through yellowing, chipped edges and receding gums. So much can be done—from conservative to aggressive—to restore your best smile and boost confidence.

To instill health and wellness in their children, parents should start them young and be consistent! When kids establish a healthy oral hygiene routine early, they form their sense of cleanliness and take that into adolescence and adulthood. It is challenging to motivate adults to add steps to their home care, but if we can start young it is easier to continue to do every step and have a similar sense of “clean.”

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HEALTHY DENTIST

“So much can be done to restore your best smile and boost confidence.”

There is nothing like your health, and you have to be active at maintaining that. Consistency is key throughout the year, not just during the holidays. I like to run a few days per week. I prefer to eat at home with foods bought from the outside of the store where food is freshest.

I go to the doctor once a year for checkups.

And (of course) I brush and floss every day!

RECOMMENDED My new favorite toothpaste is Crest 3D White Brilliance, a two-step toothpaste. You brush for one minute with Step 1, which provides a deep clean to remove plaque and bacteria. Then you brush for one minute with the Step 2 finisher. This toothpaste lives up to the hype and brightens your smile. This is perfect before the holidays!

BEFORE & AFTER I have this beautiful patient who had crowded lower teeth. She is often in the spotlight, so she was neither excited about nor patient enough for orthodontics to correct her alignment. I did a combination of crowns and veneers, and she was really happy!

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DOG DAYS We just bought a house in Hermosa Beach, and (still) our favorite thing to do is take the dog out.

We live near South Park and on my days off we look forward to waking up before everyone else and heading there with a tennis ball and coffee to enjoy quiet time together and have the dog wake up the squirrels.

KRISTIN EGAN, MD, FACS 2809 Sepulveda Blvd., Manhattan Beach | 3711 Lomita Blvd. #150, Torrance | 310-426-8415 | drkristinegan.com

SERVICES OFFERED

HEALTH ACHIEVEMENTS

HELPING OTHERS

• • • • • •

I have won numerous research awards and have published widely, including multiple chapters in the main textbook used to teach facial plastic and reconstructive surgery fellows. I have been in Manhattan Beach for five years and was a clinical instructor at UCSF before moving to Southern California.

Love what you do! I love seeing patients improve and feel better about themselves. I love operating and performing procedures in the office. I enjoy each day that I can use my skills and training in helping others.

QUICK & EASY

I am dual board-certified in both otolaryngology head and neck surgery and facial plastic and reconstructive surgery. My practice incorporates my surgical skills with a focus on aesthetics and the desire for a more youthful and natural appearance. I am cognizant that a healthy, active lifestyle predominates in the South Bay and that patients desire subtle changes to their appearance to restore an image of themselves that matches how they feel.

LazerLift Cosmetic injectables Laser services Skin care Cosmetic facial surgeries Botox

“I actively try out new technologies and products on myself so I can better educate my patients about them.”

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Patients are increasingly requesting less invasive procedures with less recovery time and the ability to return to work quickly. More patients are turning to the multiple in-office services that can be done without general anesthesia or a long recovery period. I am currently one of a few physicians in the L.A. area offering the FDAapproved, noninvasive, laser-assisted facelift in my office.

A YOUTHFUL LOOK

A WOMAN’S PERSPECTIVE As a female surgeon in a largely male-dominated field, I bring the personal experience of aging in today’s society from a woman’s perspective. I actively try out new technologies and products on myself so I can better educate my patients about them.

RECOMMENDED: LAZERLIFT

BEFORE & AFTER

LazerLift is a one-time, one-hour, minimally invasive treatment designed to tighten the skin of the face and neck and remove excess fat using SmartLipo technology and no scalpel.

This can be performed at the office and does not require general anesthesia. LazerLift uses the latest technology to take laser energy underneath your skin and stimulate collagen production in the dermis, which leads to improved skin elasticity, thickness and texture.

I am a leading innovator in minimally invasive procedures and perform LazerLift—the only FDA-approved laser liposuction for the face and neck. For those patients who want minimal recovery time and an in-office procedure without the need for general anesthesia to address their jowls and neck, LazerLift is the perfect option.

PHOTOGRAPHED BY ARNIL PABALAN

SUMMER ORTHODONTICS SUMMER L. BLAKE, DDS, MS 451 Manhattan Beach Blvd., Suite D-224, Manhattan Beach | 310-545-0770 | summerorthodontics.com

SERVICES OFFERED • • • •

Traditional braces Invisalign Lingual braces Accelerated treatment

“Nothing makes us happier than seeing our patients complete their treatment with smiles they are proud to show off!”

EXCEPTIONAL EXPERIENCE

ADVANCES IN ORTHODONTICS

At Summer Orthodontics, exceptional results with an outstanding patient experience is our top priority. Every treatment plan is carefully considered to meet the individual goals of our patients. Dr. Summer has built her reputation focusing on the best interest of each patient. As a result, she has been named “Best of the Beach” for orthodontists in the Easy Reader poll for several years in a row. In addition, Dr. Summer has surrounded herself with a warm and friendly team of dedicated professionals to efficiently support patients throughout the treatment process. Nothing makes us happier than seeing our patients complete their treatment with smiles they are proud to show off!

Summer Orthodontics embraces proven technologies as a central focus of the patient experience. There have been many advances in orthodontics over the years to increase patient comfort, reduce treatment times and produce beautiful smiles. The adoption of digital technologies such as scans and radiographs makes the diagnosis and treatment process more efficient than ever. We are always on the lookout for new technologies and ways to keep our patients engaged throughout treatment.

BEAUTIFUL SMILES Creating beautiful smiles that patients love is tremendously rewarding. I love that our practice delivers children and adults smiles they love. It is so fun to see patients complete treatment, and they cannot stop smiling because they have fallen in love with their new smile.

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THE SOUTH BAY LIFESTYLE Although I love my practice and the rewards it provides, the most joy in my life comes from my husband, Matt, and our four children: Ahnika, 11, Tegan, 8, Briggs, 5, and Winslow, 2. My family means the world to me. I cherish every moment as they grow. I just wish time didn’t go by so fast! When I am not in the office, I enjoy spending time with my family and taking advantage of the California sunshine with outdoor activities.

Our entire family loves the beach and spending hours in the ocean and on the sand. As a health advocate, diet and exercise are a top priority. I love preparing healthy meals for my family. I also enjoy the variety of fitness classes available in the South Bay.

FULBRIGHT COSMETIC & RECONSTRUCTIVE DENTISTRY MICHAEL FULBRIGHT, DDS

1815 Via El Prado, Suite 200, Redondo Beach | 310-316-4477 | fulbrightdental.com

SERVICES OFFERED

AESTHETIC SMILE DESIGN

BUILDING TRUST

• • • • • • • • •

We are the leaders in aesthetic smile design and full-mouth reconstruction and are honored to treat patients from all over the world. Our success comes from our extensive training in cosmetic dentistry and working alongside one of the best master ceramists in the country.

The digital smile design protocol we developed allows the patient to be an integral part of the design process in order to create a unique and custom new smile that is natural and beautiful. No two smiles are alike, and being able to provide prototype veneers or restorations for the patient to ‘test drive’ is the key to achieving such positive outcomes for our patients.

It all starts with truly listening to my patients, which allows them to open up, become more at ease and gain the trust we need to form a great relationship. We know that for some people going to the dentist can be very frightening, so once we have earned their trust we can then offer solutions to make their procedures more comfortable and relaxing. Don’t let your fears or anxiety prevent you from getting the dental care that you need and deserve.

Veneers Adult braces Sedation dentistry Implants Sleep apnea General dentistry Full-mouth reconstruction CERAC same-day crowns & inlays 3-D CBCT technology

A HEALTHY MISSION

“We are the leaders in aesthetic smile design and full-mouth reconstruction.”

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The mission of our practice is to get 30,000 people healthier in the South Bay by 2022.

We’re doing this by collaborating with other like-minded health care practitioners to help educate patients about systemic links between dental disease and total-body health.

NEW-PATIENT EXPERIENCE Our new-patient experience is like no other in the dental field. Aside from all the comforting amenities we provide, we conduct a very comprehensive exam using the latest technology in dentistry.

We routinely use genetic testing to see the specific bacterial flora in a patients’ mouth and identify risk factors to help predict disease and the appropriate customized treatment for the long-term health of the patient. Coupled with our 3-D CBCT technology, we can identify pathology that helps us treat early and minimally invasively. Oral cancer rates are decreasing in the U.S. with the help of our second-generation screening technology called Oral ID. We use CEREC, which is a CAD/CAM system to aid in the fabrication of same-day crowns and onlays and eliminate the need for traditional ‘goopy’ impressions and temporary crowns.

Incorporating these tools allows us to provide a science-driven diagnostic treatment plan that allows the patient to make better informed decisions about their health.

FULBRIGHT DENTAL TEAM I’ve been in practice for 19 years. I earned a bachelor’s and a doctorate degree from the University of Southern California and continued my education in advanced aesthetics at UCLA and Pacific Implant Institute, enabling me to perform all aspects of full-mouth reconstruction.

I wouldn’t be where I am today without the support of my incredible team. While each member of our team has his or her own roles and responsibilities, we believe that by empowering them to be leaders amongst leaders they will be the best advocates for our patients’ health. The best compliments we receive are from patients telling us how great our team is or how special a certain individual is who has touched their lives. We live by our mantra: Changing lives ... one smile at a time!

A FOCUS ON HEALTH We now know that about 50% of Americans have periodontal disease and that 50% of all heart attacks and strokes are caused by that same disease. By focusing on the specific bacteria in each patient’s mouth and customizing a plan to minimize that bacteria, we can lower the risk and help prevent heart attacks, strokes, diabetes, various cancers and dementia.

By also focusing on our patients’ airways, we can help identify if someone has obstructive sleep apnea, which can increase your risk for those same diseases and in children can often be misdiagnosed as ADHD. It’s a fascinating time in dentistry, and we have the tools to help so many people overcome these conditions. It’s really inspiring to be able to touch so many lives in such a positive way.

Dr. Michael Fulbright and managing partner Molly Fulbright

UCLA HEALTH TORRANCE OB/GYN | TORRANCE PEDIATRICS 4201 Torrance Blvd., Ste. 600 & 660, Torrance | uclahealth.org/torranceOBGYN | 310-316-4373 | uclahealth.org/torrancepediatrics | 310-373-4303

SERVICES OFFERED

WORKING TOGETHER

HELPING KIDS FEEL BETTER

• • • • • • • • •

Dr. Sheena Kamra, Pediatrics: UCLA Health OB/GYN and pediatrics physicians work together to deliver comprehensive and coordinated prenatal and postnatal care.

UCLA Health obstetricians and pediatricians communicate in person and via the online health record system and work side-by-side in the same Torrance building.

Dr. Thomas Jacob, Pediatrics: I feel honored that I get to help kids feel better when they are sick. I also enjoy watching kids grow and develop and making sure they hit all of their developmental milestones. But my favorite part of my job is empowering children and their families to live full and healthy lives.

General obstetrics General gynecology Family planning Urogynocology Fibroids Ovarian cysts Endometriosis Newborn, child and adolescent care Pediatric surgery

WHAT IS UROGYNOCOLOGY?

“Less stress leads to better health!”

Dr. Erin Mellano, Obstetrics & Gynecology: UCLA Health physicians are pioneers in the field of urogynecology, which focuses on female pelvic floor disorders. We offer treatment options ranging from physical therapy and medications to outpatient procedures and advanced reconstructive surgery. Our goal is to improve the quality of life for patients by developing individualized treatment plans based on each woman’s particular condition, needs and desires.

HEALTH TIP Dr. Sheena Kamra, Pediatrics: Focus on nutritious meals and maintaining an active lifestyle.

Kids of all ages should be offered fruits and vegetables with their meals and be invited to participate in outdoor activities. While sports are a good way to keep kids moving, taking family walks or bike rides and playing in the park are also great options. Try to make being active part of your family’s routine.

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ROLE MODELS Dr. Thomas Jacob, Pediatrics: The most important thing that parents can do to instill a healthy lifestyle in their children is to be role models: make exercise part of the regular routine for every member of the household and demonstrate healthy eating habits both at home and when the family eats out. One way to engage kids at home is to get them involved in cooking family meals from a very young age. The more they are involved, the more they are likely to want to eat what’s being served. Meal times should be filled with conversation—not screen time. Parents should talk to their children throughout the day, tell them stories and listen to what they have to say in return, and model healthy connections by putting their phones away.

TIME FOR SELF-CARE Dr. Carilyn Sparks, Obstetrics & Gynecology: Decreasing stress improves all aspects of health.

Less depression or anxiety are benefits to reducing stress, but in my patients I also see improvements in blood pressure, glucose levels, weight, relationships and general well-being.

I wish we would all would take time for selfcare, to get more sleep and focus on the positive aspects of each day. Less stress leads to better health!

L to R: Revana Lukman, MD; Erin Mellano, MD; Carilyn Sparks, MD; Kelly Williams, MD; Sheena Kamra, MD; Thomas Jacob, MD

CLEARCHOICE DENTAL IMPLANT CENTER JENNA BENKO SUPOWIT, DMD 21525 Hawthorne Blvd., Pavillion A, Torrance | 888-669-0834 | clearchoice.com

SERVICES OFFERED

DREAM TEAM

BEFORE & AFTER

• • •

I am a prosthodontist, meaning I specialize in designing full-mouth reconstructions and the replacement of missing teeth. Dr. Laura Pashkowsky and Dr. Kenneth Brown are oral and maxillofacial surgeons who specialize in dental surgery. We have all completed several years of additional training after dental school in our respective specialties. Last year alone we placed more than 1,500 implants. We are experts in the field of dental implants.

This is a patient who presented to us with missing back teeth, poor esthetics and decay.

Because of the missing posterior teeth, it was difficult for this patient to chew healthy foods like raw fruits and vegetables, salads and nuts.

We were able to transform his smile and help him achieve his goal of a healthier diet. Not only has the patient lost more than 50 pounds, but he feels more confident about his smile and it has improved his relationship with his wife. It went so well that the patient’s wife is now our patient as well!

Prosthodontics (dental implants) Oral surgery for dental implants In-house lab

SMILE RECONSTRUCTION

“I am so happy to be back in my hometown and helping this community.”

We change lives with dental implants! We specialize in full-mouth reconstruction with dental implants. The impact of having your entire smile reconstructed can be life-changing for our patients. I have the best job in the world because we not only improve our patients’ ability to chew and function, but we also provide them a smile they can be confident with.

COMMUNITY CENTER My proudest moment professionally was opening this office. We have only been open for about a year and a half, and we have already helped more than 300 patients. I am so happy to be back in my hometown and helping this community.

PREVENTION IS KEY Prevention is the easiest way to stay healthy.

It is so much easier to go to your dentist or physician on a regular basis so you can catch things while they are small and be corrected easily. Your oral health is connected to your systemic health. There has been research showing that gum disease is linked to an increased risk of hypertension, diabetes, stroke and even Alzheimer’s disease.

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Kenneth Brown, DDS Jenna Benko Supowit, DMD Not pictured: Laura Pashkowsky, DDS

LYMPHEDEMA & LIPEDEMA CENTER JAY GRANZOW, MD, FACS 21250 Hawthorne Boulevard, Suite 430, Torrance | 310-882-6261 | lymphedemasurgeon.com

SERVICES OFFERED • • • • •

FLO℠ comprehensive lymphedema treatment system Suction-assisted protein lipectomy (SAPL) lymphedema surgery Vascularized lymph node transfer (VLNT) lymphedema microsurgery Lymphaticovenous anastomosis (LVA) lymphedema supermicrosurgery Lipisuction℠ lipedema surgery Team Granzow, L to R: Kat Cheung, Amy Granzow, Dr. Granzow, Thao Messinger, Julie Inouye and Mariela Alvarez. Not pictured: Yvette Velasquez and Julie Soderberg

A UNIQUE CENTER

“Restoring and improving your quality of life is our passion.”

The Lymphedema & Lipedema Center is internationally regarded as the preeminent surgical treatment center devoted to patients suffering from lymphedema and lipedema diseases.

Dr. Granzow founded our center in 2008 and pioneered the first comprehensive lymphedema treatment system, which fully integrated lymphedema surgeries and lymphedema therapy. What makes our center unique is our team’s focus on matching the type of treatment and surgery to each patient’s condition to achieve the best possible results. Restoring and improving your quality of life is our passion.

doesn’t circulate properly, this fluid builds up and causes dangerous inflammation, which damages the surrounding healthy tissue. Over time, the lymphatic fluid accumulation causes a buildup of inflammatory solids. It can occur spontaneously, but most cases of lymphedema in the U.S. result after cancer treatment.

Lymphedema swelling doesn’t go away without treatment and typically gets progressively worse.

Patients experience debilitating effects such as swollen extremities, pain, decrease or loss of function, and disfigurement. Lymphedema significantly increases the risk of cellulitis infections, which require hospitalization, and can lead to elephantiasis and even cancer. In the past, treatment options were limited, but with the FLO℠ system patients can experience effective and lasting results.

WHAT IS LIPEDEMA? Lipedema, also known as “painful fat syndrome,” is a chronic fat disorder of the legs or arms and almost exclusively occurs in women. It is estimated that 17 million women in the United States and 370 million women worldwide have lipedema. This fat is inflammatory and can be very painful and debilitating. Lipedema fat responds poorly to diet and exercise. Without proper treatment, patients may face serious health and quality of life issues such as anxiety, depression and physical impairment.

Dr. Granzow with happy patients Meagan, Kimm, Amy R. and Amy E.

FINDING TREATMENT

WHAT IS LYMPHEDEMA? Lymphedema occurs when there is damage or trauma to the lymphatic system (a part of the body’s immune system). When lymphatic fluid

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We believe that it is important for patients to get a proper diagnosis by a physician who specializes in lymphedema and lipedema treatment. We also recommend a consultation with a certified lymphedema therapist for potential conservative therapies. While being diagnosed with lymphedema or lipedema can feel devastating, our team can help with surgery and treatment that produce meaningful and lasting improvement.

PHOTOGRAPHED BY CHRISTINE CHANG, JP CORDERO & THAO MESSINGER

STEVEN K. OKAMOTO, DDS, INC. STEVEN K. OKAMOTO, DDS, & MICHELLE OKAMOTO, DDS 22330 Hawthorne Boulevard, Suite E, Torrance | 310-373-1120 | okamotodds.com

SERVICES OFFERED

RECENT DEVELOPMENTS

WHAT IS ALL-ON-4®?

•

Dr. Michelle: Our office just underwent a 1,200-square-foot addition to our current space, creating two additional operatories and an in-house laboratory. Our growth is a direct correlation between the highest standards we hold ourselves to and the appreciation patients have for those standards. Our team frequently takes continuing education courses to provide our patients with the most comprehensive care.

Patients spend more time at their dental office than some other medical offices, so to have the opportunity to invest in our patients is something we do not take for granted.

Dr. Steve: All-on-4® is a term coined by Nobel Biocare, the global leader in dental implant biotechnology, that refers to four dental implants that replace all of either the upper or the lower teeth. Today the technology provides patients options to transform their loose dentures, removable partials or damaged dentition into comfortable and long-lasting, beautiful smiles.

• • • • • •

Preventative care (exams, cleanings, X-rays) Crowns and bridges Dental implants All-on-4® Invisalign ZOOM Diagnosis and treatment of sleep apnea

“To have the opportunity to invest in our patients is something we do not take for granted.”

WHAT IS THE ALL-ON-4® PROCESS?

AREA OF EXPERTISE Dr. Steve: A prosthodontist is a dentist with additional education in the restoration and replacement of missing teeth, often referred to as the skilled architects who can restore optimum function and appearance to your smile. I completed a three-year residency in prosthodontics at the University of California, Los Angeles.

The residency included lectures and seminars, an intensive laboratory and clinical experience in fabricating crowns, bridges, veneers, inlays, complete and removeable partial dentures, and dental implants. Since then I have also had additional education training on restorative procedures such as bone grafts and All-on-4®.

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Dr. Steve: We start All-on-4® by gathering records of your dental and medical history and reviewing your goals and desires. We take 3-D X-rays of your jaws to evaluate your jawbone, nerves, sinuses and the ideal implant position.

Using computer simulation, the implants are digitally positioned to optimally support the prosthetic teeth, facial support and ideal natural smile.

Surgery can be done simultaneously, including the removal of teeth, bone shaping or grafting and implant placement. Temporary acrylic replacement teeth are attached directly to the implants and stay in the mouth for approximately three months.

Then the prosthodontist removes the temporary teeth and replaces them with permanent ones made of stronger materials such as zirconium, which will fit the healed gums more precisely. The new teeth will function just like natural teeth and look beautiful too.

L to R: Isumi Muto, Stephanie Castan, Renee Nishihira, Dr. Steven Okamoto, Valerie Lopez, Dr. Michelle Okamoto, Amber Leaban, Ailey Suzuki and Stacy Oshima

SU SACHAR, MD 3440 Lomita Blvd., Suite 420, Torrance | 424-250-9179 | susacharmd.com

SERVICES OFFERED • • • • • • • •

Bioidentical hormone replacement Doctor-supervised weight loss plans Gut health Beauty Vitamin infusions Facial rejuvenation Anti-aging Colon cancer screening

BIOIDENTICAL HORMONE REPLACEMENT As I grow older, I have realized the importance of optimizing my health rather than just being healthy. Even though I was working out and eating right, my energy and muscle mass were slowly declining. I knew the missing piece was a hormone decline. As a result, I researched bioidentical hormone replacement. It has not only helped me but also hundreds of my patients in the South Bay and Los Angeles area.

FEEL AMAZING

“I want to age healthier and live happier for the rest of my life.”

As a middle-aged woman and doctor, I want to age healthier and live happier for the rest of my life. I want to have the energy to enjoy my family and hobbies I love, like playing tennis and going to the gym. I also want to be able to keep up with my Peninsula High School tennis and basketball player sons as well as my Lunada Bay kindergartener! And I want to be able to show my daughter that it is possible to balance a family and professional career. We all accept aging as a natural part of life, but we don’t have to accept fatigue, decreased bone mass, mood changes, irritability and loss of muscle mass.

Ever since starting bioidentical hormone replacement, I feel amazing. I probably have more energy now in my mid-40s than I did in my early 30s, and I’m in better shape now!

to not just help me but my patients. Ever since I started my own practice in gut health and wellness, I always integrated a holistic approach including probiotics, enzymes, supplements and nutrition. This was a natural next step.

WHO IS IT FOR? If you still want to have kids, it is not a good idea. However, if you are feeling the symptoms of fatigue, irritability, brain fog or belly fat, you are definitely a candidate. Half of the patients I treat are men. They feel younger and more vibrant after treatment. Testosterone is protective to the heart and brain; who doesn’t want that?

The first step is coming in for a consultation.

Next, we draw your blood in the office and see what your levels are. Our goal is not for you to be in just the normal range but in your personal optimal range. I will review your labs and make suggestions on which hormones would balance your body and therefore your mind.

Dr. Sachar has appeared multiple times on The Doctors TV show as an expert speaker.

IS IT EXPENSIVE?

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Dr. Sachar and her children, Cameron, Ryan, Bella, Dylan, Aidan, and husband Vik

To put things in perspective, I tell all my patients that it is the cost of having a venti latte at Starbucks every day.

A HOLISTIC APPROACH

HOLIDAY HEALTH TIPS

Prior to starting bioidentical hormones, there were two major criteria that were important to me: (1) It had to be safe (after all, I am the mother of five kids). And (2) it had to work! I wanted something plant-based—not synthetic.

I was so happy when I finally found something

Remember to exercise throughout your holiday season and also to fill up on healthy food before going to holiday parties. Choose low-sugar cocktails, and remember it’s easier to maintain than to crash diet later.

PHOTOGRAPHED BY TRUDY MOYLAN PHOTOGRAPHY

Bring It, 2020

Get out, get active and start the year strong.

FEBRUARY

8

MAY

1&2

Los Angeles Marathon

Date to be announced

Redondo Beach Super Bowl 10k

6:30 a.m.

Tour de Pier

+ Health & Fitness Expo

Dodger Stadium

7:30 a.m.

Saturday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Runners from all 50 states and more than

Manhattan Beach Pier

Sunday, 6 to 11 a.m.

55 countries will set out from Elysian

Instructors guide riders of all levels through

200 Portofino Way in Redondo Beach

Park to accomplish a personal dream by

sessions on stationary bikes to raise money

There may not be a better way to kick off

reaching the finish line in Santa Monica.

for cancer and children’s charities.

Super Bowl Sunday than by running around

lamarathon.com

tourdepier.com

jersey followed by complimentary frosty

APRIL

31–June 6

beverages in the post-race beer garden.

4

AIDS/LifeCycle

redondo10k.com

Relay For Life of the Beach Cities

San Francisco to Los Angeles

9 a.m.

Join thousands of bikers for a life-changing,

Lincoln Elementary, Redondo Beach

seven-day, 545-mile trek down the coast

14

Join this community fundraising walk that

of California.

Catalina Island Marathon

acknowledges and inspires those who

aidslifecycle.org

8 a.m.

have been affected by cancer and pays

Two Harbors on Catalina Island

remembrance to lives that have been lost.

JUNE

What better reason to cross the pond to

relayforlife.org

6

the streets of Redondo in your favorite NFL

MARCH

Learn to Row

Catalina than to explore its beauty by foot?

Choose from the 5k, 10k, marathon or Kids

20

8:30 a.m.

Run for a memorable weekend adventure.

Seahorse Golf Classic

Pete Archer Rowing Center, Long Beach

runcatalina.com

9:30 a.m.

An introduction to rowing for ages 18 and

Palos Verdes Golf Club

up. Enjoy amazing fitness, outdoor exercise

Join the Peninsula Committee Children’s

and new friends, plus free boathouse tours.

Hospital on the green for this annual

longbeachrowing.org

fundraising event. pcch.net

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SOUTHBAY HEALTH II 2019

banking done different

Construction-to-Permanent: An “All-in-One” Loan Kinecta offers Construction-to-Permanent loans, which fund a variety of home construction scenarios, then convert into the home’s mortgage.

Benefits include: • Lending based off the future value of your home post construction – determined by one full appraisal • Loans up to $4 million

• Full program selection, including fixed and ARMs • California-based lender with portfolio underwriting

Contact our construction-to-permanent experts today.

Brad Martin Construction Lending Manager ph: 949.253.5373 cell: 949.293.1900 NMLS# 260513 bradley.martin@kinecta.org kinecta.org/bmartin

Joe McGreevy Mortgage Loan Consultant cell: 714.396.1619 efax: 310.536.3621 NMLS# 66072 joe.mcgreevy@kinecta.org kinecta.org/jmcgreevy

Tayt Ianni Sr. Mortgage Loan Consultant ph: 310.727.9119 cell: 949.689.8639 NMLS# 310914 tayt.ianni@kinecta.org kinecta.org/tianni

Membership requirements apply. NMLS (Nationwide Mortgage Lending Service) ID: 407870. Subject to credit and property approval. Rates, program terms, and conditions are subject to change without notice. Not all products are available in all states and for all loan amounts. Other restrictions and limitations may apply. The actual terms of the loan will depend upon the specific characteristics of the loan transaction, the applicant’s credit history, and other financial circumstances that may apply.

23761-10/19

THE LUNDQUIST ORTHOPEDIC INSTITUTE AT TORRANCE MEMORIAL IS THE LEADER IN THE SOUTH BAY FOR HIP AND KNEE REPLACEMENTS. Our team offers state-of-the-art,

minimally invasive treatments, including Mako ® robotics, that improve results and recovery times. Our team has the expertise and experience with nearly three times the number of orthopedic cases than our leading competitor in the South Bay.* We’ll help you get back to your family and friends faster and healthier. TorranceMemorial.org/Ortho

New Knee.

New Me.

* Reflects inpatient cases reported to the Office of Statewide Health Planning and Development (OSHPD) 2017 data.