About Dr.LaGrelius

A board certified specialist in Family Medicine since 1977 and in Geriatric Medicine since 1990, he completed his most recent Family Medicine Recertification Board Exam in 2004 and Geriatric Re-Certification in 2000.

Dr. LaGrelius graduated from the University of Washington Medical School in Seattle and served his internship and residency at the University of Southern California Medical Center.

He is a staff member at two area hospitals, Torrance Memorial Medical Center, where he served for six terms as Chairman of the Department of Family Practice. He is also on staff at Little Company of Mary Hospital.

He is married, has two daughters and a son and lives in Redondo Beach.

Dr. LaGrelius' Personal Viewpoint and Philosophy

Being a family physician is a great privilege and carries with it great responsibility. It is not a part time job. It is a full time calling to which I devoted my life----a decision I made as a youth. To me it is the most interesting, challenging, and personally rewarding of all professions. Being a family physician is a rare privilege.

At the same time, family physicians should not be so overwhelmed with work that they lose their compassion and burn out prematurely, with the resultant fragmented, disorganized and impersonal care often seen today.
There must be time for continued self education and collegial contact. Time is needed for families, friends and recreation. Difficulties with current health care financing make reconciling these needs almost impossible for most 21st century family doctors.

The Direct medical practice is a new and innovative style of practice that provides the opportunity to meet these goals. The doctor can be available virtually all of the time to his/her patients without feeling overwhelmed.
Because there are far fewer patients in a Direct practice, it is possible to provide excellent preventive care and personalized, immediate urgent care. The number of calls outside office hours is minimized. Being available 24/7 is therefore not a burden. When the phone does ring, I can be up and ready to act without hesitation or fatigue. I want my patients, whom I consider to be like extended family, to be able to access me whenever they need me. I am confident they will not abuse that trust.


CURRICULUM VITAE-THOMAS W. LAGRELIUS, M.D., F.A.A.F.P.

OFFICE ADDRESS
23451 MADISON ST. #140
TORRANCE, CA 90505
PHONE 310-378-6200 (Business Hours only)
EMAIL: DRLaGrelius@skyparkpfc.com

WEB PAGES:
http://www.skyparkpfc.com
http://www.indoc.com/lagrelius

UNDERGRADUATE EDUCATION
Pacific Lutheran University, Parkland, Washington, 1961-1962
University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, 1962-1965
Bachelor of Science, Zoology with Minor in Chemistry

MEDICAL SCHOOL EDUCATION
University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle WA, 1965-1969,
Doctor of Medicine

INTERNSHIP
Los Angeles County-University of Southern California Medical Center
Los Angeles California
Rotating with medicine emphasis 1969-1970

RESIDENCY
Los Angeles County-University of Southern California Medical Center
Los Angeles, CA
Internal Medicine 1972-1973

MILITARY EXPERIENCE
United States Air Force Medical Corps active duty 1970-1972
Flight Surgeon attached to Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Dayton, Ohio
Acted as Chief of Flight Medicine for Base and for Fighter Bomber test
program

PRACTICE EXPERIENCE
1970-1972 St. Elizabeth's Hospital, Dayton, Ohio
Part time emergency department physician (approximately ¼ time)
1970-1972 Middletown General Hospital, Middletown Ohio
Part time emergency department physician (approximately ¼ time)

1973-1973 Los Angeles County-University of Southern California Medical Center
Full time staff Emergency Medicine Department, Main Admitting Room
Duties included acute care and training of ED residents

1974-1983 Redondo Beach Medical Group
Redondo Beach, CA
Private Family Practice

1983-Present
Skypark Preferred Family Care, Owner (Formerly Skypark Family Medicine Group)
Private Family Practice and Geriatric Medicine Practice

BOARD CERTIFICATIONS
American Board of Family Practice
Originally Certified 1977
Recertified 1984, 1991, 1997, 2004

Geriatric Medicine
Certified 1990
Recertified 2000

SOCIETY AND ASSOCIATION MEMBERSHIPS
American Academy of Family Practice, Member and Fellow
Los Angeles County Medical Association, Member
Los Angeles County Medical Association District Nine, President
Los Angeles County Medical Association Board of Trustees, Member
California Medical Association, Member
California Medical Association House of Delegates, Member
Association of American Physicians and Surgeons, California Chapter President,
South Bay Independent Physicians Medical Group, Director and Immediate Past President,
Independent Doctors Traditional Practice Association of the South Bay (INDOC),
     Founder, Chairman Emeritus and Former President
University Southern California School of Medicine, Clinical Instructor of Family Medicine
Consumers for Health Care Choices Board of Directors, Director,
Society for Innovative Medical Practice Design, President

APPOINTMENTS AND OTHER POSITIONS HELD
1979-1980 Medical Director and Chair of the Executive Committee, Redondo Beach Medical Group
1983-1985 Chairman, Department of Family Practice, Torrance Memorial Medical Center
1992-1994 Chairman, Family Practice Quality Assurance Committee, Torrance Memorial Medical Center
1990- 2004, Member, Torrance Memorial Medical Center Miracle of Living Public Education Committee
1990- Present, Member Chemical Dependency Unit Committee, Torrance Memorial Medical Center
2002--2004 Chairman, Department of Family Practice, Torrance Memorial Medical Center

HOSPITAL STAFF APPOINTMENTS
Torrance Memorial Medical Center, Torrance, CA. Active Staff
Little Company of Mary Hospital, Torrance, CA. Active Staff

LICENSURE
California Physician and Surgeon G-022952
Washington State Physician and Surgeon # 35082
Allowed Ohio License to lapse in about 1980

PERSONAL
Born: April 16, 1943 in Seattle Washington
Resident of South Bay Los Angeles County area since 1969
Married (Patti)
Children: Piper y.o.b 1979, Michael y.o.b. 1988, Kimberly y.o.b. 1992
Attend Neighborhood Church, United Church of Christ
Holder of Commercial Instrument pilots license and active aviator and aircraft owner
Interests include aviation, photography, exercise, public speaking and writing and health care reform