Welcome to Pettersen Lifestyle Medicine — A membership-based practice.

I was born and raised in the Central valley and surrounding foothill regions of California, just like my parents and grandparents did, which gives me the sense of being deeply connected to this community.  As most people born in such a rural area, I enjoy spending time outdoors with my kids and wife. 

My path to medicine began at age seven, inspired by a compassionate surgeon who treated me for a broken arm. I graduated from St. George’s Medical School, completed my Internal Medicine Residency at Drew/UCLA medical center in 2005, and have been a Board-Certified Internal Medicine Doctor for 20 years.

Since becoming a Board-Certified Internal Medicine physician in 2005, I’ve spent two decades caring for patients in hospitals, clinics, and GI specialty settings.

After years in the insurance-driven system, I saw how it limited meaningful care. That’s why I created a membership-based practice focused on wellness and prevention—not billing codes. This model, long used in executive and concierge medicine, allows for longer visits, open communication, and proactive health planning. The key to this model are the annual and ongoing exams detached from medical necessity with the sole purpose of keeping people as healthy as possible, for as long as possible. And these exams are supported by year-long ongoing communications between the patient and the healthcare professional. Health questions are answered. Health risks are addressed sooner. Illness is better managed. This is a model that works!

At Pettersen Lifestyle Medicine, I offer a different kind of care—personal, preventative, and deeply connected. Unlike traditional insurance-only healthcare model, where providers rush through packed schedules and hardly know their patients. I offer personalized care that goes beyond what healthcare insurance covers. I take the time to truly know my patients and support their health year-round.

I’m confident that remaining highly connected to my patients all year is the best way to maximize their health outcome and more effectively prevent illness.  Insurance plans do not cover this style of care, as their priority is to balance revenues and profits with care needs, which often translates into declining coverage for contractual reasons. 

While my practice operates independently of insurance, I remain in-network and Medicare-participating for services that require coverage. Members are encouraged to maintain insurance for major medical events, but day-to-day care with me is guided by your needs—not insurance restrictions.

Investing in your health today means fewer surprises tomorrow. If you’re ready for a more thoughtful, accessible approach to your well-being, I look forward to partnering with you.

For more information, give as a call today! (209) 804-5630