George Joseph, M.D.
Executive Director Family Medicine and Urgent Care
Family Occupational Medicine
Dr. Joseph was born and raised in Western Pennsylvania, just outside of PIttsburgh; college and med school at University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia. He moved to Southern California after medical school and did his internship and residency at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center where he met Dr. Shoji. Dr. Joseph is board certified in Family Practice and has practiced primary care and urgent care for 30 years. He enjoys taking care of acute illnesses and injuries as well as preventive medicine. He is married with three grown children, loves sports of all kinds, and exercises daily. He also plays golf, skis, loves to read biographies and history, and enjoys spending time with his wife in Palm Springs.
Dr. Matthews grew up in a suburb of Pittsburgh, attended college at Pennsylvania State University and medical school at the University of Pittsburgh. She moved to California for a residency in Family Medicine at California Hospital in downtown LA. Today she lives near Playa Vista in the area called Del Rey with her husband and two rescue dogs. She loves to be outside and exercising, and enjoys caring for people of all ages. She also has a special interest in aesthetic medicine, and looks forward to caring for you and your family.
Born in southern California and raised in the San Fernando Valley, Dr. Shoji attended UCLA for undergraduate and the Medical College of Wisconsin (nee Marquette University School of Medicine) for medical studies. He completed his internship and residency at Harbor/UCLA Medical center, Chief Residency and Fellowship in Rheumatology at St. Mary Medical Center in Long Beach and Harbor/UCLA Medical Center and was full time faculty in Internal Medicine, Rheumatology and Emergency Medicine at Harbor/UCLA Medical Center. Dr. Shoji established one of the first Emergency Residency Programs in the United States in 1976 and was its first Residency Director. He became the Associate Chairman of the Department of Emergency Medicine before leaving for private practice as an Emergency Physician at Little Company of Mary Hospital in Torrance and St. Mary Medical Center in Long Beach in 1979. Dr. Shoji is board certified in Internal Medicine, Rheumatology and Emergency Medicine, and serves as a Senior Oral Board Examiner for the American Board of Emergency Medicine and has been active in many local, state and national medical organizations..
Dr. Shoji is currently the Medical Director of the Emergency Department at Little Company of Mary Hospital in Torrance, President of the Emergency Department Physicians at Little Company of Mary Hospital—Torrance, Marina Del Rey Hospital and Memorial Hospital of Gardena. He has been active on the Medical Executive Committees of Marina Del Rey Hospital and Little Company of Mary Hospital and many community organizations. Dr. Shoji is also an Assistant Clinical Professor of Medicine at the Geffen UCLA School of Medicine and an educator of medical and nursing students.
With over 38 years of emergency medicine clinical experience, Dr. Shoji brings several of his medical colleagues to service the Playa Vista Medical Center and its surrounding community to offer an expedient alternative access to quality medical care.
Susan Ballton was born and raised in Centralia Washington. She moved to Los Angeles in 1994 to attend college. She graduated with honors from USC in 1998 with a Bachelors of Science in Nursing. She has spent the last eight years as a Charge Nurse.
Susan has lived in Playa Vista for the last 5 years and is extremely excited to be serving the community in which she lives. As the Clinic Manager Susan oversees the everyday operations here at Playa Vista Medical Center.
I was raised and went to school through my undergraduate studies in the Midwest. Then I went "West," getting my master's degree from UCLA and MD from the University of California at Irvine in 1975. After my residency in Riverside, I got my boards in Emergency Medicine and am a Fellow of the American College of Emergency Physicians. I have worked in various emergency venues in Southern California since. I particularly enjoy the fields of urgent and emergent medicine due to their "team" approach and direct patient interaction.
During my free time, I enjoy travel and hiking as well as glass fusing, music and reading.
Candice Myhre, M.D.
After graduating from USC medical school and USC Residency to become a Board Certified Emergency Medicine Physician, Dr. Myhre began traveling extensively beginning with an Emergency Medicine Symposium in Ghana, Africa to teach the physicians the practice of Emergency Medicine. She has also worked as the only physician on small islands such as Kandui in the Mentawi Islands providing free services to the locals and to surfers on schedule trips to the islands.
When at home she works as an Emergency Physician at Marina Del Rey Hospital and has been practicing Urgent Care Medicine for 6 years. Her interests include all water sports (warm or frozen), traveling, international education and treating patients at Playa Vista whether it be the common cold, vaccinations for travel, a complicated laceration or cosmetic enhancement. She lives in Manhattan Beach with her giant white german shepherd Beluga that looks like a polar bear and you might see her out surfing in El Porto.
Andrew Louie, M.D.
Dr. Louie was born and raised in Southern California and attended Occidental College in Los Angeles. After conducting genetic research at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center, he obtained a Masters of Public Health at Johns Hopkins University. He received his medical degree at George Washington University in Washington, DC and completed an Emergency Medicine residency at Northwestern University in Chicago, IL. He enjoys all things Los Angeles, especially Dodger baseball, UCLA basketball, and running on the beach.
Paul Heiderscheidt, M.D.
Dr Heiderscheidt graduated from Boston University Medical School in 1994 and successfully completed residency in family medicine at Oregon Health Sciences Cascades East Family Practice Residency. Dr Heiderscheidt remained at his residency after graduation as an assistant professor for three years before entering private practice in 2000. Since 2002, Dr Heiderscheidt has worked in rural family medicine domestically and internationally with the United States Public Health service. Dr Heiderscheidt is Board Certified in Family Medicine with expertise in Aviation Medicine. He enjoys spending time with his wife and 4 children as well as sailing when he gets a chance.
Patsy McDermott, M.D.
Before fleeing New England weather to try a sunnier climate for her family medicine residency at USC, Dr. McDermott, a native Bostonian, received her undergraduate education at Harvard and her medical training at the University of Massachusetts. She has an extensive background in urgent care and primary care with almost thirty years of clinical experience. Many of those years were in Manhattan Beach and more recently in Pacific Palisades where she lives with her husband and twin sons She brings a caring touch to your medical encounter whether it be for a routine physical or a worrisome illness or injury and likes the variety of patients and problems that present at PVMC. When she is not caring for patients or driving her kids somewhere, she finds time to enjoy friends, theater, reading, travel, hiking in the nearby Santa Monica Mountains and occasionally a nice nap.
Practicing emergency and urgent care medicine in Southern California since 1976, Dr. Conovaloff has enjoyed the privilege of treating the terrific and diverse population of the area. A diplomate of the American board of Emergency Medicine, he has held board certification since 1982. Raised on a farm near Phoenix, Arizona, he is a graduate of the University of Arizona College of Medicine. His three children have benefited from the wonderful educational opportunities offered by the University of California system. Dr. Conovaloff deeply appreciates the people, the resources and the natural beauty of our community. Free time interests include tennis, cycling, acoustic guitar and family life.
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Playa Vista Medical Center - 310-862-0400 - 6020 Sea Bluff Drive, Suite #1, Playa Vista, CA 90094
