Dr. Michael Alan Torrest, MD

Welcome to My Home Page

Why I Chose Emergency Medicine as a Career

As a small child growing up in the" Space Age," I was always fascinated by science. Therefore, I initially studied engineering and advanced mathematics, and, under a NASA grant, I completed my master’s thesis, publishing several papers relevant to space station technology and weather modeling.

I then became fascinated by biology and thus transitioned into a Biomedical Engineering MD/PhD program expecting to become a university professor.

As I completed my medical degree, I realized that academia and the slow pace of research was not for me. I also enjoyed working with and aiding people. I liked to deal with a variety of problems and solve them quickly and thus I decided on emergency medicine. In a single day you might reduce a shoulder dislocation, repair a child’s facial laceration, treat respiratory failure, deliver a baby, or save someone’s life from a heart attack/arrhythmia. The variety of problems and …patients keep things interesting and making the correct diagnosis can be quite challenging.

Why I Practice at Kaiser Permanente

I was very fortunate to complete my medical training in San Francisco where I was exposed to the practice of The Permanente Medical Group/Kaiser Permanente. I was immediately drawn to the concept of a Non Profit HMO (where your dollar goes toward improving your health and not someone’s stock options). Kaiser Permanente’s integrated approach, with the physicians, hospitals, and health plans all working together was unique; consultants were just a phone call away and on the same premises if needed. I also liked the emphasis on preventive care as well as the organized approach to chronic and acute problems. I am very proud of our accomplishments and the fact that we have been repeatedly recognized as the best health care in California.

In addition to seeing patients in the Emergency Department, I have been a member of the Code Blue Committee for over 10 years and have served as the Co-Chairman for many years.

A Personal Note

I grew up on the east coast until age 21 and then spent 9 years in the Midwest (Illinois and Michigan) before moving to California for my postgraduate medical training. When I have some free time, I enjoy hiking, biking, skiing, sailing, camping, tennis, and travel. I also love to read, particularly ancient history and science fiction and have attempted to write a novel (though without much success). I am very fortunate to have a wonderful family and we are all bilingual in French. I also speak some German.

Thank you for taking the time to become acquainted with me ... and if you ever have the need, I hope I can be of service to you in the Emergency Department

I hope you will also find the attached links helpful.

My Credentials

Medical school University of Michigan School of Medicine, Ann Arbor, MI
Internship Mount Zion Medical Center of The University of California, San Francisco, CA
Board certification Emergency Medicine, American Board of Emergency Medicine