Meet Dr. Jessica West
Dr. Jessica West moved to Southern California with her family at the age of 15. Throughout her childhood and school years, she was extremely active in sports which included competitive gymnastics, softball, springboard diving, and tennis. She graduated from high school in Simi Valley before starting at Moorpark College after which she transferred to California State University, Northridge with the intention of becoming a physical therapist. While earning her undergraduate degree in Kinesiology and exercise science, she enrolled in a course which focused on learning about different movement disorders and physical disabilities. The course included a lab at a state-of-the-art fitness center where individuals in the community with physical disabilities can work out one-on-one with students. It was during this time that Dr. West realized the joy and fulfillment that occurred working with this special population and therefore decided to pursue a Master’s degree in Kinesiology with an emphasis on adapted physical activity. During her graduate studies, Dr. West was mentored by two Physiatrists who saw her passion for patient care and advanced ability to evaluate and manage complex functional imbalances. They encouraged her to shift her focus towards becoming a physical medicine and rehabilitation physician. Based on the experiences she gained and the encouragement of her mentors, Dr. West applied to medical school while continuing to teach in the Kinesiology department at the university and worked as a program and research coordinator for the for adapted exercise facility until she started medical school.
Dr. West completed her medical education at the American University of the Caribbean School of Medicine which took her and her husband across the globe including the Caribbean and the United Kingdom. She completed her residency training in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at Nassau University Medical Center in New York. It was during her residency that Dr. West was introduced to the field of pain medicine which ignited a passion for helping those with chronic pain find relief and improve function. Because of this motivation, Dr. West decided to continue her medical training with a fellowship in pain medicine which she recently completed at Loma Linda University. This training gave her broad expertise in managing complex chronic pain conditions utilizing a multimodal approach including interventional procedures, minor surgical procedures, physical therapy, medications, and patient education. Her background in Kinesiology and well-rounded, comprehensive medical training allows Dr. West to help her patients get relief from pain, regain function, and find joy in movement. Dr. West is thrilled to be back in Ventura County with her husband and two young daughters to help individuals in this special community find pain relief and lead more fulfilling and active lives.