Dr. Kimberly Petrick, a primary care physician at Kaiser Permanente’s Santa Monica Medical Offices, feels a strong connection to her patients and to the Santa Monica community. “I feel privileged to have the opportunity and ability to give back to the Westside, a community that gave so much to me,” says Petrick, who grew up in Pacific Palisades. She never expected to become a physician. In fact, she initially pursued a career in television broadcasting followed by a stint in the pharmaceutical and medical device sales industries. That was her first exposure to the world of medicine, and it made a lasting impression. “I became inspired by the medicine behind these industries, so I hit the restart button and returned to school for a change in career.” 
She feels very fortunate to have ended up where she started. “I had always hoped I could come back to the Westside and help care for the community that took such great care of me in my youth,” she says. In Kaiser Permanente, she says she found an organization aligned with her goals as a medical practitioner and as an active participant in her community. “I was drawn to the organization’s team-oriented approach to medicine as well as its focus on community outreach,” she says.
Petrick is one of six physicians at the Santa Monica Medical Offices on 10th Street and Broadway, which, she says, “embodies Kaiser’s passion for being innovative, forthcoming and a leader in medicine.” Because it’s a small medical office, she says the medical team can provide a very intimate and collaborative approach to patient care.
“We are all familiar with each other’s practices and the team of nurses are familiar with all of our patients. This allows us to care for our patients more quickly, efficiently and personally,” she says.
Petrick is most passionate about helping her patients find and maintain healthy living habits. She says this can be a challenge for Santa Monicans – one third of whom report being stressed, according to findings from the recent Santa Monica City of Wellbeing project. “To live or work in Santa Monica is not for the faint of heart. This city requires determination and perseverance,” she says. “What I want my patients to do is to find their calm in the daily hustle and bustle and find “me-time” to help them process the stressors in their life.”
Dr. Petrick’s Wellness Tips
- Take the time to concentrate on yourself
- Take deep breaths
- Find at least 3-5 times per week where you can exercise to release your tensions
- Try yoga, meditation, running, power walks, boxing, cross fit, cycling, sunset or wave chasing
- Do what makes you feel good, if even for just a few minutes every day
