Updated on Mar. 5, 2025
On Friday, Feb. 28, MemorialCare Medical Group hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony to celebrate the grand reopening of its newly remodeled Santa Ana health center. For more than 25 years, this location has been a trusted home for healthcare, serving generations of families in the community. The remodeling of MemorialCare Medical Group – Santa Ana brings a renewed commitment to providing high-quality care to the people of Santa Ana.
“This reopening reaffirms our commitment to providing high-quality and equitable health care to the Santa Ana community. It was crucial to our clinical team and leadership that Santa Ana residents continue to receive the trusted, compassionate care they deserve – now in an enhanced and refreshed space designed to better serve their needs.”
- Annamarie Jones, chief operating officer, MemorialCare Medical Foundation.
Santa Ana is a vibrant city with a rich cultural heritage, where over 77% of residents identify as Hispanic or Latino, making access to culturally competent healthcare essential. The location is dedicated to serving this diverse community by ensuring Spanish-speaking doctors and staff are available, fostering trust and breaking down language barriers.
For Josanna Sandoval, a longtime patient, this commitment to care is personal.
“My husband told me to go with Dr. Mitchell Watanabe – he is the best – and a good doctor is hard to find,” she shares. “I’ve come here for over three decades, and I’ve seen many different doctors, and they are all just superb – as well as the staff. They are so culturally sensitive and real patient advocates.”
Dr. Mitchell Watanabe, who has been part of the Santa Ana location for decades, gets teary-eyed as he reflects on his time at MemorialCare.
“I started my residency in ’86 – that’s a long time.” Josanna hugs him and adds, “It is. He has tremendous respect for all his patients. You know, we patients, we talk, and everyone says he’s an advocate.”
“That’s the best advertisement,” Dr. Watanabe responds. “Knowing we take care of the patient first and provide a stable place for them – I’m very proud to do that.”
The newly remodeled center features a team of dedicated providers, including one internal medicine physician, Tiffany Prachachalerm, D.O.; one pediatrician, Dean S Jacobs, M.D.; three family medicine physicians, Edgar Ureno Garcia, M.D.; Mitchell Y Watanabe, M.D.; Susan Y Lee, DO.; along with two physician assistants, Verlicia C Lee, PA-C. and Ecstacy “Stacy” Peralta. The first floor of the center is dedicated to pediatric care and radiology, designed to create a welcoming and comforting space for young patients and their families. The second floor serves adult patients, offering comprehensive internal and family medicine services with a fully equipped lab, two draw stations, refreshed procedure rooms, and upgraded medical equipment, including a new surgery table, bariatric table, and procedure tables.
After the ribbon-cutting, guests toured the remodeled facility, guided by the dedicated team who have been serving Santa Ana for years. The presence of the many members from the Santa Ana Chamber of Commerce and city leaders at the ceremony reflected the strong community spirit in Santa Ana and the importance of bringing comprehensive family medicine to the community, ensuring that residents have access to essential healthcare services close to home.Patients who visit this center also have access to the MemorialCare Orange Coast Medical Center, which has been recognized by U.S. News as one of the best regional hospitals with equitable access, located within a 20-minute drive, should the need arise for specialty care, addressing the need for comprehensive and accessible care to the Santa Ana community. For more information, visit memorialcare.org/orangecoast.
The MemorialCare Medical Group Santa Ana location is open Monday to Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Patients can make appointments by calling (877) 696-3622. Virtual care options further enhance convenience, allowing patients to access medical advice and follow-up care from the comfort of their homes. 24/7 virtual urgent care is available by visiting memorialcare.org.
