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Best Rheumatologists in Huntington Beach

Written by Andrew Le, MD

Updated November 14, 2024

Introduction to Rheumatology in Huntington Beach

Definition of Rheumatology

Rheumatology is a medical specialty that focuses on the diagnosis and treatment of rheumatic diseases, which affect the joints, muscles, bones, and connective tissues.

These conditions can be complex and often require the expertise of a specialist to manage effectively.

Rheumatologists are trained to identify and treat a wide range of disorders, including arthritis, lupus, gout, and many other autoimmune and inflammatory conditions.

Overview of Rheumatology in Huntington Beach

Huntington Beach, California, offers several options for rheumatology care, with multiple specialists practicing in the area.

Based on the data provided, there are at least 9 rheumatologists serving the Huntington Beach community.

The quality of care appears to be generally high, with several doctors receiving star ratings of 4.5 or above out of 5.

Patients in Huntington Beach have access to board-certified rheumatologists with diverse educational backgrounds and hospital affiliations.

Many of the rheumatologists in the area are affiliated with reputable medical institutions such as Hoag Hospital Newport Beach and MemorialCare Saddleback Medical Center.


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List of Rheumatologists in Huntington Beach

CT

Dr. Christine Thai

4.8

Huntington Beach, CA

Sex

Female

Languages

English

Phone

(714) 378-2440

American Board of Internal Medicine

University of California at Berkeley (Medical School, 1987)

English

Hoag Hospital Newport Beach

Rheumatology

MS

Dr. Man Shim

4.6

Huntington Beach, CA

Sex

Male

Languages

English

Phone

(714) 557-6300

Los Angeles County - USC Medical Center (Residency Hospital, 2008)

Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center (Fellowship Hospital, 2008)

Los Angeles County - USC Medical Center (Internship Hospital, 2006)

Temple University Lewis Katz School of Medicine (Medical School, 2005)

English

MemorialCare Saddleback Medical Center

Rheumatology

GP

Dr. Gharoon Panahi

4.6

Huntington Beach, CA

Sex

Male

Languages

English, Arabic, Persian

Phone

(714) 825-0891

American Board of Internal Medicine

Emory University Hospital (Fellowship Hospital, 1979)

Lloyd Noland Hospital (Residency Hospital, 1977)

South Chicago Comm Hospital (Internship Hospital, 1973)

School of Medicine Tehran University of Medical Sciences (Medical School, 1970)

English

Arabic

Persian

Hoag Hospital Newport Beach

UCI Health-Fountain Valley

Rheumatology

Internal Medicine

Dr. Sheetal Gavankar

Dr. Sheetal Gavankar

4.5

Huntington Beach, CA

Sex

Female

Languages

English

Phone

(714) 477-8039

American Board of Internal Medicine

UC Irvine Medical Center (Fellowship Hospital)

University of Toledo (Medical School)

English

Hoag Hospital Newport Beach

Rheumatology

Internal Medicine

Dr. Wesley Mizutani

Dr. Wesley Mizutani

4.1

Huntington Beach, CA

Sex

Male

Languages

English

Phone

(714) 968-0068

L A Co Usc Medical Center (Residency Hospital)

English

Hoag Hospital Newport Beach

Kingman Regional Medical Center

Rheumatology

Dr. Trong Nguyen

Dr. Trong Nguyen

3.8

Huntington Beach, CA

Sex

Male

Languages

English, Spanish, Vietnamese

Phone

(714) 378-7800

Southern California Center for Sports Medicine (Fellowship Hospital)

Albert Einstein College of Medicine (Residency Hospital)

Albert Einstein College of Medicine (Internship Hospital)

University of California, San Diego School of Medicine (Medical School, 2002)

English

Spanish

Vietnamese

Orange County Global Medical Center

Orthopedic Surgery

Rheumatology

Sports Medicine

Dr. Eric Panahi

Dr. Eric Panahi

3.0

Huntington Beach, CA

Sex

Male

Languages

English

Phone

(714) 825-0891

American Board of Internal Medicine

English

Hoag Hospital Newport Beach

Internal Medicine

Rheumatology

Dr. Vijay Karia

Dr. Vijay Karia

2.4

Huntington Beach, CA

Sex

Male

Languages

English

Phone

(714) 477-8020

American Board of Internal Medicine

St. Georges University School of Medicine (Medical School, 2005)

English

Hoag Hospital Newport Beach

Rheumatology

AM

Dr. Ana Maheshwari

N/A

Huntington Beach, CA

Sex

Female

Languages

English

Phone

(714) 545-8700

American Board of Internal Medicine

RAJIV GANDHI UNIVERSITY OF HEALTH SCIENCES AND MANIPAL ACADEMY OF HIGHER EDUCATION (M.A.H.E.) MANGAL (Medical School)

English

Cleveland Clinic

St Peter's Hospital

Ashtabula County Medical Center

Rheumatology

Internal Medicine

Choosing a Rheumatologist in Huntington Beach

Factors to Consider

Board Certifications and Qualifications

  • Review American Board of Internal Medicine certifications
  • Evaluate educational background and training institutions

Patient Ratings and Reviews

  • Examine star ratings and number of reviews
  • Consider consistency across multiple review platforms

Hospital Affiliations

  • Note connections to reputable local hospitals
  • Consider proximity and accessibility of affiliated facilities

Languages Spoken

  • Ensure effective communication with multilingual options
  • Highlight doctors offering services in multiple languages

Using Online Resources

Healthgrades Website

  • Access comprehensive doctor profiles
  • Utilize search filters for Huntington Beach and Rheumatology

Verifying Information

  • Cross-reference data with official medical board websites
  • Check doctor's personal or affiliated clinic websites

Top-Rated Rheumatologists in Huntington Beach

Dr. Christine Thai

Overview

  • Highest star rating of 4.8 out of 5 based on 17 reviews
  • Board certified by the American Board of Internal Medicine
  • Graduated from University of California at Berkeley Medical School in 1987

Practice Information

  • Affiliated with Hoag Hospital Newport Beach
  • Contact number: (714) 378-2440
  • Gender: Female

Dr. Man Shim

Overview

  • High star rating of 4.6 out of 5 based on 44 reviews
  • Extensive medical education including residency and fellowship
  • Graduated from Temple University Lewis Katz School of Medicine in 2005

Practice Information

  • Affiliated with MemorialCare Saddleback Medical Center
  • Contact number: (714) 557-6300
  • Gender: Male

Dr. Gharoon Panahi

Overview

  • Impressive star rating of 4.6 out of 5 based on 11 reviews
  • Board certified by the American Board of Internal Medicine
  • Multilingual: Fluent in English, Arabic, and Persian

Practice Information

  • Affiliated with Hoag Hospital Newport Beach and UCI Health-Fountain Valley
  • Contact number: (714) 825-0891
  • Gender: Male

Dr. Sheetal Gavankar

Overview

  • Strong star rating of 4.5 out of 5 based on 26 reviews
  • Board certified by the American Board of Internal Medicine
  • Completed fellowship at UC Irvine Medical Center

Practice Information

  • Affiliated with Hoag Hospital Newport Beach
  • Contact number: (714) 477-8039
  • Gender: Female

Additional Considerations for Choosing a Rheumatologist

Importance of Personal Compatibility

Scheduling an initial consultation

  • Discuss the value of meeting the doctor in person
  • Explain how to prepare for the first appointment

Assessing communication style and patient approach

  • Evaluate the doctor's willingness to answer questions
  • Consider how well the doctor explains complex medical concepts

Insurance and Accessibility

Verifying insurance acceptance

  • Recommend contacting the doctor's office to confirm insurance coverage
  • Suggest checking with the insurance provider for in-network status

Considering location and office hours

  • Evaluate the convenience of the doctor's office location
  • Check if the office hours align with the patient's schedule

Seeking Second Opinions

Benefits of consulting multiple specialists

  • Explain how second opinions can provide additional insights
  • Discuss how multiple perspectives can lead to better treatment decisions

How to approach getting a second opinion

  • Provide tips on requesting medical records
  • Suggest ways to communicate the desire for a second opinion to the current doctor