Sam Sunshine, MD

My Story

After more than 30 years practicing family and sports medicine, I have learned that meaningful healthcare begins with knowing the person in front of me. Understanding your history, daily habits, concerns, and goals helps me make better decisions with you—not simply for you.

I chose the Direct Primary Care model at OC Sports and Wellness because I wanted to create more room for that kind of relationship. A membership-based practice allows me to spend more time listening, explaining, and following through. It gives us the opportunity to address what concerns you today while also supporting your long-term health and quality of life.

My training at Stanford University, USC Keck School of Medicine, and Kaiser Permanente gave me a strong foundation in medicine. More than three decades of caring for patients have taught me something equally important: good medicine requires us to keep learning. Research evolves, new treatments emerge, and every patient brings a different combination of needs, priorities, and circumstances.

I believe in staying curious, evaluating new research carefully, and being clear about what we know, what remains uncertain, and which options make the most sense for you. My goal is to provide current, evidence-based care without losing sight of the individual receiving that care.

My approach brings together family medicine, sports medicine, and prevention, with attention to movement, nutrition, sleep, stress, and the demands of everyday life. When additional testing or treatment may be helpful, I want it to serve a purpose—to answer a meaningful question, guide a decision, or help us determine the best path forward.

Personalized medicine also means creating a plan you can actually use. We don’t always need to change everything at once. Sometimes the most valuable step is identifying the first thing we can change—the habit, treatment, or obstacle most likely to make a meaningful difference—and building from there.

Over the years, I have had the privilege of watching patients regain strength, confidence, and the ability to enjoy activities they thought they had lost. I have also cared for people simply trying to remain healthy, active, and independent as the years go by. Those experiences continue to shape the way I practice medicine.

My goal is to help you understand your health, make informed choices, and stay on the playing field of life for as long as possible. I want you to feel heard and supported, and confident that your care reflects both the best available evidence and what matters most to you.