STAFF

Rachel Kim PT, DPT

Rachel graduated with her Bachelor's degree from California State University, Long Beach, and went on to obtain her Doctorate degree in Physical Therapy from Azusa Pacific University in December 2019.

 

Rachel is not only a skilled physical therapist, but she is also fluent in Korean and is very helpful in making this population of our clinic feels at ease with their care.

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Andrew Beyrooty, PT, DPT

Andrew graduated with his Bachelor's degree from Chapman University, Orange, and went on to obtain his Doctorate degree from Rocky Mountain University & Health Professions, Provo Utah. He has been practicing in Utah until he and his wife recently relocated back to his home in California. 

 

In addition to his asset as a physical therapist, Andrew is also fluent in Spanish and looking forward to working 

to work with all patients to help them reach their goals.

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Stellar Zhang, PT, DPT

 

Stellar graduated from University of California, Irvine with her Bachelors in Biology in May 2016 and her Doctorate in Physical Therapy from University of Southern California in May 2021 with the first hybrid cohort of USC. Her philosophy in patient care is working with the patient to allow them to return to doing the things they love to do. She is also conversational fluent in Mandarin and is ready to help facilitate communication for this population to assist in the care they receive. 

 

“I’m a tremendous food lover so if there are any recommendations for delicious foods, I’m always ready to try them. I’m also a huge animal lover. Please don’t hesitate to share pictures of your animal companions should the chance arise!"

 

Kevin Ochoa, PT, DPT

Kevin was born and raised in Southern California. He graduated from Grand Canyon University with his Bachelor’s degree in Biology in April of 2018 and went on to obtain his Doctorate degree in Physical Therapy from Azusa Pacific University in December 2022. Kevin completed his first clinical rotation at CORE in 2021 and joined the CORE team shortly following graduation.

 

Kevin grew up playing sports including soccer and baseball from the early age of 4 and would continue playing soccer throughout high school. Following a high school injury, he experienced his first physical therapy interaction, which initially sparked his interest in his journey to becoming a Physical Therapist.

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Kevin is a skilled physical therapist and a strong believer in complete patient-centered care, ensuring that patient treatment not only involves the physical aspects but also the mental and social components.

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“I am truly blessed to not only be in a position to interact with and care for people on a daily basis, but also to have the opportunity to make a positive influence in the community through each individual patient interaction.”

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Kevin Castillo, PT, DPT

Kevin graduated with his Bachelor’s degree in Public Health Science from the University of California, Irvine. He then went on to obtain his Doctorate degree from the University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences, San Marcos. Prior to his graduation in Spring 2023, Kevin completed his final clinical rotation at CORE Anaheim Hills under the tutelage of Dr. Laurent.

 

Kevin is a family oriented individual and credits his hard-working single mother as his main motivation. He also credits his grandma’s great experience with physical therapy as she recovered from a brain aneurysm in 2009, as his inspiration to pursue a career in the field.

 

Kevin is a die hard Lakers fan, currently has two dogs Deuce and Miley, and is fluent in Tagalog. He also knows some Spanish, as well as some command words in Vietnamese and Korean, which he learned through his experience in different physical therapy settings. He is excited to assist, guide, and educate his patients through their rehabilitation journey.

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Debra Steward, PT 

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Debra is a dedicated Physical Therapist with over 25 years of experience specializing in Outpatient Orthopedics. Her passion for physical therapy ignited in high school after recovering from a dislocated shoulder injury with the help of a physical therapist. Witnessing the therapist's expertise in restoring her ability to play volleyball sparked her desire to provide the same life-changing experience for others.

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Debra graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Physical Therapy from California State University, Long Beach in 1995. To further enhance her skills, she completed a Sports Medicine Fellowship with the American Sports Medicine Institute, gaining valuable experience working with professional sports teams like the Phoenix Suns and the Phoenix Coyotes, along with some colleges in Southern California. Her dedication to continuous learning extends to her expertise in Aquatic Therapy (over 15 years) and specialized manual therapy courses in Myofascial Release and Functional Manual Therapy.

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Debra's approach goes beyond physical recovery. She believes in creating a fun and supportive environment for her patients. Her infectious smile, high fives, and laughter help patients feel comfortable and motivated throughout their journey to regain their full potential.​

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Matthew Hernandez, PT, DPT, CCS, CSCS

Dr. Hernandez is a highly skilled physical therapist with a Bachelor of Science in Exercise Science from California State University, Los Angeles, and a Doctorate in Physical Therapy from New York University. With 9 years of experience in diverse clinical settings, Dr. Hernandez has worked with an eclectic patient population, providing tailored care to meet each individual's needs. As an APTA board-certified cardiovascular and pulmonary specialist, he is committed to delivering the highest quality of care. Beyond their professional life, Dr. Hernandez enjoys writing and producing music, playing basketball, and running, which reflects his passion for maintaining an active and balanced lifestyle.

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Joseph Duran, PT, DPT

Joseph received his Bachelor’s degree in Allied Health from Azusa Pacific University and graduated with his Doctorate in Physical Therapy from the University of Southern California. Before graduating in May of 2024, Joseph completed his final clinical rotation at CORE Orange where he treated a variety of patients accumulating finesse in clinic manual skills and exercise prescription.

Joseph grew up playing baseball, football and ran track in high school. His exposure to physical therapy followed a baseball injury, where he was inspired to combine his love of athletics with serving others. He is committed to providing the highest level of care for his patients which allows his enthusiasm for life to shine through his work in the clinic.

When not at work, Joseph enjoys spending time with his family, watching movies, working out, and playing outside with his daughter. Joseph is excited to be a member of the CORE family and is ready to assist his patients on their road to recovery.

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Andrew Stenson, PTA

Andrew attended California State University, San Marcos for his undergrad and graduated from San Diego Mesa College with his PTA in 2017. He worked as an athletic trainer with Murrieta Valley High School, where he spent years as a physical therapy aide.

Andrew was a baseball head and assistant coach for kids ages 13 and under. Andrew's most memorable moment was working as an aide with the San Diego Padres physical therapist. Andrew looks forward to implementing the knowledge he has gained through these various experiences to help patients navigate through the rehabilitation and aging process.

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Utsavi Parikh, PTA 

I was born and brought up in India. I did my schooling in Gujarat, India, and was a physical therapist for almost 4years in India. I moved to the United States in November 2020 and am currently working as a PTA. I was always fascinated by helping people without the use of medicine and saw the need for it in my family and society since childhood so then I decided to pursue my career in this field to help people live functionally better lives with exercise. I am a strong believer of curing suffering with natural remedies and using Ayurvedic techniques. I love to see a smile on my patient's face after the recovery. I like to spend time with my family, exploring new places, cooking, watching horror and real-life movies, and trying different varieties of vegetarian food. 

I am fluent in Indian languages like- Hindi, Gujarati, and Punjabi (understand well).

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Lauren Yapo, PTA

​Lauren is an Orange County native, where she grew up playing soccer and running track. She decided to pursue a career in physical therapy after taking human anatomy in high school and seeing that she could apply her interest in science with her joy for sports. She attended San Francisco State University and received a Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology with a concentration in Exercise and Movement Sciences. After missing the warm southern California sun, she moved back home and attended Cerritos College where she graduated from their Physical Therapist Assistant program. In her spare time, Lauren enjoys doing Pilates, playing with her dog, and trying new restaurants.

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Jon Arroyave, PTA 

Jonathan, who also goes by Jon, was born and raised in Anaheim, CA until his early teenage years when he and his family moved to Fullerton, CA. Jon graduated with a B.S. in Kinesiology from Cal State Fullerton. Early on, Jon knew he wanted to stay involved in the health industry, so he began as a personal trainer. Not receiving the fulfillment he sought, he then found employment as a PT Aide with C.O.R.E. Physical Therapy where he worked for 10+ years. While navigating life during this time and pursuing other endeavors, Jon was unfortunately diagnosed with Stage IV cancer. Through this adversity, Jon found the courage to enroll at American Career College - Orange County and pursue his license as a PTA. He has returned to the C.O.R.E. team. During his free time, Jon enjoys being physically active such as resistance training, playing rugby, and hiking with his dog Cher. As always, you can also find him rooting for the Lakers, Vikings, and Dodgers.

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Christian Trigueros, CMT

Certified Massage Therapist

Christian graduated from Everest College in Alhambra, CA in 2014 as a Certified Massage Therapist. Since then, he's worked alongside physical therapists in outpatient orthopedic clinics and has focused on therapeutic massage to help patients to the best of his ability.  Sports, Deep Tissue, Relaxation, and Pregnancy massage are just some of his specialties. He has a sincere passion for helping people and making a difference. Patients and clients who suffer from pain in their shoulders, neck, or back praise his skills. Along with patients suffering from Parkinson's Disease, Adhesive Capsulitis, and Sciatica, just to name a few. 

 

Chris loves music. He plays bass on the Praise and Worship team at the church he attends, where he has also volunteered as a music teacher for children and teenagers. He enjoys swimming, traveling, and watching live musical performances with his wife.

 

Chris is fluent in Spanish and is certified in Rock Tape Kinesiology Taping.

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Pilar Alvarez, CMT

Certified Massage Therapist

Pilar attended California State University, Chico, where she received her bachelor's degree in exercise physiology. In Chico, she was a student athletic trainer for Butte College, with an emphasis on her interning in basketball, soccer, and softball. She also attended Southern California Health Institute for their massage therapy program in order to be a CMT. She was born and raised in the San Fernando Valley, where she started playing sports as soon as she could pick up a ball. She played basketball and softball mainly up until high school, when she became injured, which introduced her to the world of sports medicine and physical therapy. Falling in love with sports medicine and enjoying helping others, she started volunteering at physical therapy clinics in high school. 

When she is not working you can find her working out at the gym, drawing, or dancing. She also enjoys comedic podcasts, true-crime documentaries, horror movies, and all things health & beauty.

 

She’s also a Spanish speaker.​