Find a Top Family Doctor Near Me in Aliso Viejo, CA – Book an Appointment Instantly

Dr. Joel Arter, MD is Board Certified in Family Medicine.  He graduated from the Uniformed Services University of Health Sciences in Bethesda Maryland which is associated with the National Institutes of Health (NIH).  He completed his Family Medicine Residency Program at Tripler Army Medical Center in Hawaii.  MAJ Arter spent the next decade serving the active duty community, wounded veterans and their families.  In addition to deployments to South Korea, and medical support missions to Nicaragua,  he was responsible for the management of medical operations while in Korea, and later in the largest military clinic in Hawaii at Scofield Barracks to a population of over 90,000.  Dr. Arter continues to contribute to advances in medicine with numerous publications in medical literature, and provides mentoring to the next generation of the physicians. Dr. Arter believes every patient deserves state of the art up-to-date care, and will strive to serve you top quality medical care that is both compassionate and accurate with a non-judgmental and collaborative health-care approach. He hopes to give you the tools to live your best life.

Born in the small rural ski resort town of Show Low, Arizona, Cristal Sumerlin is a dedicated Physician Assistant specializing in Internal Medicine. With a strong passion for patient care and a desire to play an active role in their treatment and well-being, she chose the professional career path of a Physician Assistant after working as an X-Ray Technician. Cristal fell in love with medicine and recognized the need to further her education to better serve her patients and the community.

Cristal takes great pride in both her personal and professional accomplishments. As a mother and military spouse, she has successfully balanced the demands of family life while pursuing her professional goals. Her commitment to her patients and dedication to her work make her a source of pride and inspiration.

In the field of Internal Medicine, Cristal's strengths lie in managing complex disease processes such as diabetes. Her previous experience as an orthopedic technician and x-ray tech in an orthopedic practice has also honed her skills in orthopedics. She finds fulfillment in working with patients facing orthopedic conditions and providing comprehensive care.

Beyond her career, Cristal enjoys spending time outdoors and engaging in activities such as camping, hiking, and traveling. She cherishes these moments with her friends and family, as they provide a source of rejuvenation and happiness outside of her job.

With her unwavering dedication, clinical expertise, and compassionate approach, Cristal Sumerlin is an invaluable asset to Dr. Richard Lam's office. She strives to make a positive impact on her patients' lives and is committed to providing comprehensive and personalized care to improve their overall well-being.

Joanna Ayala, MD, is a board-certified family medicine physician at Riverside Primary Care Clinic, providing complete primary care and family medicine to individuals and families in Riverside, California, and throughout Riverside County.

Dr. Ayala was born and raised in Mexico. She studied at the University of Guadalajara School of Medicine in Guadalajara, Mexico, earning her medical degree. After graduation, Dr. Ayala worked at a community clinic in Guadalajara before moving to the United States. 

Upon arriving in America, Dr. Ayala completed a three-year family medicine residency at the University of Texas Health Science Center in Houston. There, she received extensive training in family medicine, including diagnosis and treatment of acute and chronic illness, vaccine administration, and diagnostic imaging.

Dr. Ayala completed her residency in 2011 and started her career, serving at several Texas and New Mexico medical facilities. In 2017, she moved to California and established her private practice.

At Riverside Primary Care, Dr. Ayala serves patients 12 and older. She provides full-service primary care and family medicine but also offers more specialized care, including medically supervised weight loss, dermatology, and cosmetic treatments.

Dr. Ayala speaks English and Spanish fluently, allowing her to serve the practice’s diverse clientele. She also holds privileges at Temecula Valley Hospital in Temecula, California, so if patients need to visit the emergency room or undergo more extensive treatments, she meets them there.

Dr. Ayala is friendly and compassionate and loves getting to know her patients. She prioritizes comfort and convenience at every stage of the health care journey.

Dr. Ayala welcomes any individual or family seeking high-quality medical care to Riverside Primary Care Clinic. 

Born in the small rural ski resort town of Show Low, Arizona, Cristal Sumerlin is a dedicated Physician Assistant specializing in Internal Medicine. With a strong passion for patient care and a desire to play an active role in their treatment and well-being, she chose the professional career path of a Physician Assistant after working as an X-Ray Technician. Cristal fell in love with medicine and recognized the need to further her education to better serve her patients and the community.

Cristal takes great pride in both her personal and professional accomplishments. As a mother and military spouse, she has successfully balanced the demands of family life while pursuing her professional goals. Her commitment to her patients and dedication to her work make her a source of pride and inspiration.

In the field of Internal Medicine, Cristal's strengths lie in managing complex disease processes such as diabetes. Her previous experience as an orthopedic technician and x-ray tech in an orthopedic practice has also honed her skills in orthopedics. She finds fulfillment in working with patients facing orthopedic conditions and providing comprehensive care.

Beyond her career, Cristal enjoys spending time outdoors and engaging in activities such as camping, hiking, and traveling. She cherishes these moments with her friends and family, as they provide a source of rejuvenation and happiness outside of her job.

With her unwavering dedication, clinical expertise, and compassionate approach, Cristal Sumerlin is an invaluable asset to Dr. Richard Lam's office. She strives to make a positive impact on her patients' lives and is committed to providing comprehensive and personalized care to improve their overall well-being.

Yessenia Toscano, FNP-C, MSN, BSN, RN, is a dedicated nurse professional at Apple Urgent Care in Colton, Coachella, Moreno Valley, Hemet, Perris, Riverside, Indio, and San Bernardino, California. 

Yessenia started her nursing education at Riverside City College in Riverside, California, earning an associate degree in nursing. While working as a clinical nurse at Riverside Community Hospital, Yessenia completed her Bachelor of Science in Nursing at California State University Fullerton in Fullerton, California. 

Dedicated to advancing in her profession, Yessenia continued her education at Azusa Pacific University in Azusa, California, earning her Master of Science to become a family nurse practitioner. During her master’s program, Yessenia won the Outstanding Masters Nursing Student award. 

Yessenia has several years of experience working as an acute care nurse and excels at delivering high-quality patient care as a nurse practitioner. She has experience in primary care, women’s health, pediatrics, psychosocial, and urgent care.

Urgent care, acute intensive care, and neurology are her favorite areas of medicine.

Yessenia is fluent in English and Spanish.

Outside of work, Yessenia enjoys gardening and spending time with her beautiful family. 

Primary care physician Douglas Wise, DO, is dedicated to ensuring patients in Temecula, California, have access to high-quality health care. He provides a comprehensive range of general health services at Temecula Valley Primary Care Physicians. 

Dr. Wise grew up in the suburbs of Philadelphia. After studying at the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine, he completed his residency in general practice at the Osteopathic Medical Center of Philadelphia. 

In 1981, Dr. Wise started his own private practice in Swedesboro, New Jersey. He moved to the Temecula Valley area in 1987, where he has continued practicing medicine ever since. He has worked with Dr. Zebrack for 10 years and is proud to partner with him in providing care for the residents of Temecula. 

Dr. Wise is an active member of his church and community. He volunteers annually for musical productions, and when he’s not in the office, he enjoys jogging and other fitness activities.

David Zebrack, DO, is a conscientious and friendly primary care physician and founder of Temecula Valley Primary Care Physicians. He has been in practice for more than 20 years and has cared for patients in Temecula, California, since 2004.

Dr. Zebrack began his education at UCLA where he earned his bachelor’s degree in psychobiology. He then went on to complete his medical education at the College of Osteopathic Medicine of the Pacific in Pomona, California. After earning his doctorate, Dr. Zebrack completed a one-year rotating internship at Rio Hondo Hospital in Downey, California, and a three-year family practice residency at San Bernardino County Medical Center in San Bernardino, California.

During his postgraduate training, Dr. Zebrack served as the president of his residency program. He has held various leadership positions over the years and has enjoyed mentoring medical students. Upon earning his board certification in family medicine, Dr. Zebrack joined a multispecialty medical group in Torrance, California.

In 2004, Dr. Zebrack relocated with his family to Temecula, California, where he joined Dr. Douglas Wise and eventually founded Temecula Valley Primary Care Physicians. In addition to his primary care practice, Dr. Zebrack has acted as a preceptor to train medical students, participated in research and clinical trials, and served as the department chief of family medicine at Southwest Healthcare System in Wildomar, California.

When he is out of the office, Dr. Zebrack has been a fundraiser for the United Jewish Welfare Fund and served multiple terms on the board of his homeowners' association. Dr. Zebrack enjoys spending time  time withife and three children. He stays active through tap dancing, golfing and traveling.

Dr. Zebrack is currently accepting new patients.

Credentials

Board-Certified: Family Practice

Residency: San Bernadino Medical Center
DO: College of Osteopathic Medicine of the Pacific
BS: University of California, Los Angeles
Member: AMA, American Academy of Family Physicians, California Academy of Family Physicians

Dr. Robert J. Wielenga is a board-certified physician who specializes in family medicine and geriatrics. At Wielenga Medical Group, Dr. Wielenga and his staff offer effective treatment options for many health conditions, including:

• Diabetes
• Senior Care
• High Blood Pressure
• Preventative Care
• Lower Back Pain
• High Cholesterol
• Alzheimer's
• COPD
• Thyroid Disorders

Although Dr. Wielenga treats patients of all ages, his primary area of practice revolves around his geriatric patients and their individualized needs. His 20 years of experience provide him useful insights into several geriatric issues.

After graduating from the University of Southern California School of Medicine with his medical degree, he began working at the USC-PIH Family Practice Residency Program. He completed both his internship and residency at the facility where he also served as the Chief Resident until 1996. In 1997, he moved to the Downey community where he signed on with Gallatin Medical Group. He decided to open his practice in 2001. Dr. Wielenga lives with his wife and children in Yorba Linda, California, where he's an active member of the community.