Southern California is renowned for its vibrant health and wellness landscape.
Of all the options available to patients, one institution stands apart from the crowd, thanks to a unique fusion of clinical excellence and educational pursuits.
Ketchum Health is the clinical teaching facility of Marshall B. Ketchum University and is closely connected to the educational programs at the school.
The Medical Clinic is part of the Ketchum Health family. Its leaders, Daniel L. May, MD, and Prana Luisa Yenkosky, MMS, PA-C, share an inside look at the full spectrum of services and innovations happening at the Medical Clinic.
Daniel L. May, MD, Medical Director and Provider
The School of Physician Assistant Studies mission is ‘to educate individuals to become compassionate physician assistants who deliver the highest quality healthcare in a collaborative environment, serve diverse communities, work to eliminate health disparities and improve overall health outcomes while advancing the PA profession. “Our mission at the clinic is an extension of that mission,” he says.
As both a provider of essential medical services and a cutting-edge teaching facility, the Ketchum Health Medical Clinic serves as a vital cornerstone of the community.
“Since we are educating students to become excellent providers, we must continue to stay abreast of the latest developments in medicine, and this translates into our patients getting the most up-to-date, evidence-based care,” explains Dr. May.
To best meet their patients’ needs, The Medical Clinic offers a wide range of services.
“As a full-service Family Practice, we see patients of all ages and medical conditions. We provide routine health maintenance examinations at all ages, including well-child care, sports physicals, routine gynecological exams, and annual physicals for all ages. We do several office procedures such as skin biopsies and lesion removals, vasectomies, and toenail removals. We have walk-in hours twice a week in the morning for patients who need to be seen before the next scheduled appointment is available.”
At Ketchum Health Medical Clinic, exceptional patient care isn’t a strategy—it’s a core value that shapes their everyday practices.
“I have always placed patients’ needs at the highest priority, and we strive to treat all patients like we would our own family. Being part of a university allows us to focus on patient care rather than simply making a profit.”
Another advantage of Ketchum’s Medical Clinic model is the hands-on training offered to students.
“Our students gain experience by being able to interview and examine patients, and then the patients are always seen by the Physician or Physician Assistant as well, ensuring the most appropriate plan of care.”
By encouraging preventative care, the clinic empowers patients of all ages and walks of life.
“In our adult patient population, we treat a lot of hypertension, hyperlipidemia, and diabetes. We do a lot of dermatology, including diagnosing and removing suspicious lesions, either surgically or using liquid nitrogen to destroy warts or keratoses.”
Dr. May also helped develop MBKU’s Physician Assistant program from its inception. He remains involved in their didactic education and mentors students in a clinical setting as well.
“It is our goal to teach the student to care for the whole patient, providing the most up-to-date medical treatments while still learning to care for the emotional needs of each person as well.”
To Dr. May and his team, providing compassionate patient care will remain an enduring priority.
“We strive to treat each patient as we would our own family members, making sure they get the proper diagnosis and treatment while getting support and help navigating the challenges of our often-complicated medical system.”
Prana Luisa Yenkosky, MMS, PA-C (Clinic Director and Provider)
PA Prana Luisa Yenkosky sees the bond between the university and clinic as a partnership cemented in shared values and pioneering work in healthcare.
“The clinic’s mission is to be a trusted, compassionate medical clinic dedicated to providing high-quality, patient-centered healthcare delivered with kindness and respect to every individual served,” she says.
When it comes to the clinic’s mission, the connection is clear.
“Our mission connects to the educational programs of MBKU, as MBKU’s mission is to educate caring, inspired health care professionals who are prepared to deliver collaborative, patient-centric health care in an interprofessional environment.”
According to PA Yenkosky, Ketchum Health Medical Clinic’s unique model allows providers to stay up to date with the latest changes in the industry.
“This is important because not only are our students practicing and learning updated information to put into practice, but patients are receiving the best medical care using the latest updates in return,” she says.
“Many MBKU students who complete their rotations at the clinic stay in the community as medical providers or pharmacists once they graduate from their programs, and this is beneficial as some patients encounter them in their new careers and feel a sense of comfort as they have already had interactions with them, increasing trust, satisfaction, and patient-provider professional bond.”
“My approach to patient care is that I view patients, not just as their medical concerns, but also as a whole. I listen to their medical problems with kindness and compassion while including them to be part of their medical care and treatment plans. As a certified Physician Assistant, I love patient interactions and knowing that I have achieved a professional bond with my patients, where they can feel safe with me and trust that I will do my best to assist their recovery.”
She emphasizes the importance of teamwork in creating a positive environment for both staff and patients.
“We foster collaboration between everyone by respecting each other and understanding that each role has its own expertise,” she says.
“Working together allows for a healthy work environment that is felt by patients, and it aids in making the patient’s experience at the clinic a positive one.”
She highlights the crucial role of training future healthcare providers while always keeping patient well-being at the center.
“The demand for healthcare education will most likely continue to grow, especially since technology keeps advancing. As providers, we need to keep up with medical technology, but we also need to train and remind our students that caring for the patient is at the heart of what we do, whether physically, mentally, or emotionally. Students are the future providers, and as their preceptors, it is our responsibility to guide them so they can be the best providers they can be for their patients.”
Looking ahead, the clinic aims to expand its reach in the community and connect with more patients through new initiatives and outreach efforts.
“In 2026, we are hopeful to continue to grow as a clinic and be able to provide care to additional community members, since we are working on accepting a new medical health plan. Being a clinic that belongs to a university provides us with additional opportunities to share information about the clinic and its services, such as attending community health fairs and events. We welcome everyone to contact us at (714) 463-7505 or meet us at any of the community events we participate in.”
Visit https://ketchumhealth.org/medicalclinic to learn more.