Mike believes that caring for a patient involves more than curing disease. Instead, he believes that wellness encompasses the whole person: mind, body, and spirit. With children, in particular, caring includes incorporating the family and the child’s environment.
Mike started his career as a pediatric nurse at the Children’s Hospital, Los Angeles (CHLA), where he worked as a Pediatric Neurology nurse, researcher, and clinic nurse. There, he helped establish the protocols for Diastat, a pediatric epilepsy medicine.
After helping set up the Pediatric Seizure Clinic at the University of California, Irvine Medical Center, he went back to CHLA. He worked for eight years in their Pediatric Emergency Department as a trauma nurse and charge nurse.
Mike has vast experience caring for children who presented to the ER with various types of illness and injuries. From the most severe traumas, automobile accidents, gunshots, and bicycle accidents, to prevalent illnesses like asthma, ear infections, colds, and flues.
From CHLA, Mike moved on to St. Joseph’s Hospital in Orange, CA, in a new role as Pediatric Emergency Department Nurse Manager. At St. Joseph’s, Mike was overseeing the entire pediatric population. Children’s Hospital of Orange County contracted with St. Joseph’s Hospital to provide emergency services to all children who presented there. During his time at St. Joseph’s, Mike facilitated the care and admission of ill and injured patients and was heavily involved in the State and National Emergency Nurses Association (ENA). During his time with ENA, Mike participated in establishing a pediatric certification exam committee for pediatric emergency nurses. As a result, pediatric emergency nursing is now recognized nationally as a specialty care service.
While working with ENA, Mike continued his training by attending California State University, Long Beach, to achieve his pediatric nurse practitioner certificate. Mike graduated in 2012 and is now a practicing certified pediatric nurse practitioner. Mike sought out experiences with pediatricians who specialized in alternative and complementary medicine (CAM) during his training. As a result, Mike is uniquely trained in traditional pediatrics, CAM, and the holistic philosophies of pediatric nursing. Mike’s training, experience, and expertise allow him to work with patients and families to bridge traditional and naturopathic care services in his practice.
Mike was born and raised in Southern California. He has nearly 20 years of experience working in healthcare with children. Mike’s medical interests include access to care, alternative and complementary medicine, and encouraging developmental growth.
Mike enjoys travel, exploring how other cultures and indigenous people raise and care for their kids, and incorporating these ideas in his practice and how he cares for patients. He is married to a very supportive pediatric nurse practitioner and has four children.
After starting her nursing career in 1991 with an RN from Long Beach City College, Nancy worked for ten years at Children’s Hospital, Los Angeles (CHLA) as a pediatric intensive care nurse.
Nancy has experience as an emergency room nurse at both CHLA and Long Beach Memorial Hospital and registry experience at the University of California Irvine Medical Center, Saint Joseph Hospital of Orange, St. Mary Medical Center, Cedars Sinai Hospital, and Miller Children’s Hospital Long Beach.
Nancy’s two sons were diagnosed with autism at ages two and three, and this new challenge inspired her to continue her education and become a nurse practitioner. Nancy continued her training and earned a Bachelor’s degree in nursing from the University of Phoenix in 2012 and recently graduated with her family nurse practitioner certificate from Cal State Long Beach, with over 600 hours in family medicine, obstetrics, and gynecology (OB/GYN), and pediatrics. She currently works at GHT as a family nurse practitioner.
Nancy is incredibly proud that her two teenage sons, Jason and Justin, have progressed spectacularly with behavior therapy and nutrition. Jason is finishing up his lower division coursework in physics to transfer to university to study nuclear physics, and Justin is working at Universal Studios and has a steady girlfriend.
Nancy grew up in Long Beach and is raising her family in the house where she was raised. She enjoys spending time with her two boys, and her dogs, Gara and Bella! Gara is a beautiful 8-year-old Bullmastiff who is currently undergoing cancer treatment and being a trooper! Bella is rowdy 21-month-old Great Dane baby!
Marchelle believes in positively impacting the outpatient pediatric community by reducing inpatient admissions with preventative care. Her passion for preventative care means she strives to provide the correct information to help families grow strong and stay healthy. Each visit with Marchelle should be fun, comfortable, and collaborative. She believes that caregivers’ concerns should be heard and validated. Patients and families should feel confident with the health plan when leaving their visit with Marchelle.
While hospitalized for appendicitis as a child, Marchelle had an incredible experience with the kind, friendly nurses caring for her. Her hospitalization gave her a passion for patient care.
After growing up in San Bernardino, Marchelle moved to the beach and worked on her bachelor’s at CSULB. Once she achieved her BSN (Bachelor of Science in Nursing), Marchelle started her career as a bedside nurse at Miller Children’s Hospital on a general pediatric unit. While at Miller Children’s, she enrolled in the Master of Science in Nursing program and achieved her goal of becoming a nurse practitioner. She was on the school President’s List for both of her degrees at CSULB and continues to be a present and active healthcare provider. She continues to care for patients at Miller Children’s while she serves patients and families at GHT.
Jeannie gained her Bachelor of Arts in Registered Nursing from California State University, Long Beach. She worked as a registered nurse while pursuing her Master of Science in Nursing. She has experience in several nursing roles, including as a psychiatric registered nurse, a COVID Desk RN for Paramount Studios, a Disneyland Parks and Resorts nurse, and a school nurse for ABC Unified School District.
Jeannie earned the Daisy Award for Extraordinary Nurses in 2020 for excellent patient care in the medical-surgical unit at LAC USC Medical Center!
Jeannie has been with Growing Healthy Together since the beginning and has been instrumental in forming our philosophy and culture!
A $50 non-refundable deposit is required for new patients to confirm and hold their appointment at the time of scheduling. The deposit is applied to the cost of the visit or applied to a future visit. If you cancel your appointment at least 24 hours before, we will use the deposit for a future appointment. If you miss the appointment, you will lose your deposit.