Pernilla Edstrom - SANTA MONICA, CA

Pernilla Edstrom, DVM
Associate Veterinarian
DVM, Western University of Health Sciences

Dr. Pernilla Edstrom was born and raised in Stockholm, Sweden, and moved to Los Angeles when she was 15 years old.

While she always knew she had a passion for animals, growing up she realized that she had a strong desire to help people as well. Combining the two by pursuing veterinary medicine seemed like the perfect career and she began the journey in earnest to fulfill this goal. Dr. Edstrom received her Bachelor's degree from California Polytechnic University of Pomona, and put herself through school by working as a veterinary technician at a hospital in Beverly Hills and waiting tables. She was accepted as part of the first graduating veterinary class at Western University of Health Sciences in Pomona.

After receiving her veterinary doctorate, she accepted an internship at Animal Surgical and Emergency Center (ASEC) in West Los Angeles. There, she was exposed to a multitude of specialties, such as Emergency and Critical Care, Surgery, Cardiology, Radiology, and Internal Medicine. Currently she has a special interest in avian and small mammal medicine, and hopes to become board certified in that area in the future.

In her spare time she enjoys tackling new areas of learning, such as salsa dancing, and martial arts. Language is also a special interest of Dr. Edstrom's. She is fluent in Swedish, English, and proficient in Spanish.

She thoroughly enjoys the outdoors, goes river rafting and camping with friends in the summer and loves to play volleyball at the beach whenever she can. She loves to travel and hopes to visit Africa again some time soon. Dr. Edstrom also enjoys reading, movies, entertaining friends and loves to listen to music.

She lives with her menagerie of pets and hopes that one day one of them will learn how to use the vacuum!