By EVELYN BARGE, Palisadian-Post Intern When Dr. Robert Bornstein visited relatives in Pacific Palisades while on vacation last summer, he said he “instantly knew” the ocean-side community would be the perfect place to open up his own practice where he could continue his medical career as a board-certified internist and family doctor. “I think I was born to come here,” Bornstein said in an interview last week. “This is the right place for me, both personally and professionally. It feels like it was meant to be.” Last September, Bornstein officially moved from his native Pennsylvania into a home in the Sunset Mesa neighborhood with his wife, Rena, and two teenage sons, Joshua and Michael. He brought with him 20 years’ experience as a Philadelphia-area doctor and a vision for an individualized style of medical care specially tailored to the needs of health-conscious Southern Californians. Bornstein, who was born and raised in Philadelphia, received his undergraduate degree from Muhlenberg College. He attended medical school at Des Moines University of Medicine and Health Sciences in Iowa, graduating in 1981, and then completed his three-year residency in internal medicine at Philadelphia’s Metropolitan Hospital. He was appointed chief medical resident in his third year. Now, with his new practice in the medical building at 984 Monument St. set to open for initial visits this week, Bornstein said he is excited about the possibilities the future holds for his professional career in the Palisades. “I saw that people here were very motivated for healthy living,” he said. “They love to be educated about all kinds of health issues and are very aware of preventive care.” Bornstein, 48, said this kind of lifestyle fits well with his personal goals for his practice. “I’ve done a lot of personal research and study to not just be able to care about my patients conventionally as an internist, or family doctor,” he explained. “I plan to spend a lot of time with patients and develop a real plan for their health in the future.” While Bornstein acts as a primary care physician, he said he is also aware of the demand for integrative medical care and plans to incorporate it into his practice. “I can act as a person’s general family doctor, but I’m going to be able to add other benefits so they don’t have to go looking all over the place for a variety of services,” he said. “I hope to offer people individual nutritional advice and expert preventative care,” Bornstein added. “That’s really the key to a healthy future.” In addition to simply addressing a patient’s current medical problems, Bornstein said he has developed a formula for healthy living called a “blueprint for wellness.” Using a patient’s personal background, including such factors as environment, genetics, experiences and family health history, he looks for “hidden health threats to allow patients to make better decisions as time goes by.” Bornstein doesn’t just recommend a healthy lifestyle for his patients. He said he also applies the formula to his own life. “I always try to practice what I preach. I have a high level of nutrition and exercise. I also try to stay on top of cutting-edge preventive care, so I can take all those factors and inform my patients.” Leading an active lifestyle led Bornstein and his family to get involved at the Palisades Recreation Center, where his sons play basketball, and to enjoy the outdoor activities available year-round in Southern California, especially after enduring Philadelphia’s harsh winters and hot, humid summers. “It feels like such a healthy environment here,” Bornstein said. “I’m enjoying living more outdoors, especially walking and hiking.” His wife, a graduate of Iowa State, is a teacher with experience in elementary and special needs education. She currently gives private lessons in the area. Son Joshua attends Santa Monica High and Michael goes to Malibu High. As for his professional career in the Palisades area, Bornstein said he plans to stay permanently. “I really advertise myself as ‘your doctor for life,'” he explained. “I want to be in this area for a long time. Your patients come to count on you, and this is where I feel I’m probably going to be for the rest of my professional career.” For more information, visit www.yourdoctorforlife.org, or call 230-4848. (Evelyn Barge is a senior at Pepperdine University, where she’s majoring in communications. This is her first story for the Palisadian-Post as she begins a fall internship.)
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