MemorialCare

From Past to Present

MemorialCare Medical Group San Juan Capistrano Focused on Family, Community and Wellness 

An Enriched Past — Investing in the Community
MemorialCare is rich in the modern-day history of San Juan Capistrano. In fact, MemorialCare Medical Group San Juan Capistrano has served this community for more than 20 years. Dr. Craig Albert and Dr. George Karapetian – who worked out of the first, much smaller MemorialCare Medical Group San Juan Capistrano site — are retiring after serving this community for more than 20+ years. 

These same physicians and their staff, along with MemorialCare leadership, knew the residents of San Juan Capistrano needed expanded access to health care. In 2015, the team at MemorialCare Medical Group San Juan Capistrano moved into a 2-story, 25,000 square-foot space, nestled between the 5 Freeway and Marbella Country Club. 

“We knew we needed to do more for the health care needs of the community,” said George Karapetian, M.D., past medical director, MemorialCare Medical Group San Juan Capistrano. “We were determined to give this community the ease of access to general care, along with specialized services.” 

This once small, but mighty practice turned into a one-stop shop for complete health care for the entire family – and opened with an on-site lab, digital imaging services and a Coumadin Clinic. It also offered access to care focused on improving health outcomes, including health promotion, disease prevention, health maintenance, counseling, patient education, and diagnosis and treatment of acute and chronic illnesses. 

A Bright Future – Healthcare Advances Woven into Primary Care
Although it was just seven years ago since the re-investment in healthcare for the community of San Juan Capistrano, MemorialCare Medical Group San Juan Capistrano is at it again. Even before the growth of the need for mental health services due to the pandemic, the team at MemorialCare Medical Group San Juan Capistrano saw the need and brought on behavioral health as a service to the community. 

Not only is this Center complete with primary care physicians, but it includes specialists in pediatrics, podiatry and pulmonary medicine. Dr. Wong, a pediatrician at the Center, is a passionate advocate of pediatric healthcare – and strives to ensure a child’s needs are met first, specializing in understanding how to communicate and connect with children. In addition, an urgent care is available with the ability to check in online, provide virtual care visits and offer a virtual exam kit for the home. 

“What is truly remarkable about our Center is the ability for us to take care of the entire family,” says Mimi Trinh, M.D., current medical director, MemorialCare Medical Group San Juan Capistrano. “From the working mom, who gets her primary care as well as her child’s well checks here, to someone in the sandwich generation, who has herself, her parent and her child’s care to coordinate — we have specialized care exclusive to each patient’s unique needs all under one roof.” 

Much like the City of San Juan Capistrano has adapted with changes through the years, so has MemorialCare Medical Group San Juan Capistrano. New clinicians are joining to meet those growing needs of the community, including Dr. Sandy Serna, Dr. Vincent Zheng and nurse practitioner, Elizabeth Upson. 

More than 38 percent of the city of San Juan Capistrano’s population is Hispanic and Spanish speaking. Dr. Serna’s second language is Spanish, offering our community the comfort of knowing they can receive care in their family’s native language. Dr. Zheng is also passionate about healthcare equity and chose a career in medicine after experiencing his family’s difficult access to healthcare and health insurance. While he watched his father have to work through an injury, he wants to be the change for his patients. 

Finally, addressing the need for female care providers in the area, a new nurse practitioner is joining the group, giving women of South Orange County another female practitioner to turn to. 

Become a Part of the MCMG San Juan Capistrano Community
While MemorialCare Medical Group San Juan Capistrano has an illuminating past, the future too is bright for this Center as well as those who call MemorialCare Medical Group their medical home. 

MemorialCare Medical Group accepts most major HMO, PPO, EPO, POS and some Covered California plans, as well as Medicare, Tricare, Medicare Advantage and Supplemental plans. Visit memorialcare.org/SJC or call (877) 696-3622 for more information. 

MemorialCare
31001 Rancho Viejo Rd., Suite 200
San Juan Capistrano
877.696.3622
MemorialCare.org/SJC