NEWPORT BEACH DERMATOLOGY AND PLASTIC SURGERY - Key Persons
Aarti is currently a second year student attending UC Irvine, majoring in Public Health Sciences with a minor in Management. Originally from Sacramento, she has extensive healthcare experience volunteering at Mercy General Hospital, a pediatric clinic, along with working as a medical assistant for Vital Urgent Care in Newport Beach in the covid-testing department. Currently, Aarti is a patient educator at Lestonnac Free Clinic and Events Chair for UCI's Public Health Association. Her love for dermatology extends into research, as she is an undergraduate researcher at the Beckman Laser Institute studying the microvasculature of skin samples. Outside of work/school, she loves going on long walks, watching Netflix, and spending time with her family and dog Greeting you with a smile, she is passionate about providing the highest quality of patient care. After undergrad, Aarti plans to pursue a career as a Physician Associate!
Avery attended UC Irvine and graduated in 2020 with a degree in Global Cultures, including a primary emphasis in European Studies and a secondary emphasis in East Asian Cultures. Since graduating, Avery has spent her time working with children and volunteering at different non-profit organizations. She loves to serve others and engage with people of different backgrounds, which is why she is so excited to be working in the healthcare industry now. She looks forward to meeting each patient and seeing how she can help them reach their skin care goals. In her free time, Avery enjoys dancing, reading, traveling, spending time with friends, and going to the beach.
Caitlin is a graduate of University of California, Irvine where she earned her Bachelor's degree in Biological Sciences in the spring of 2020. She discovered her passion for healthcare while shadowing and volunteering at St. Jude's Urgent Care. In her spare time, she enjoys playing volleyball, spending time with friends and family, and volunteering as a youth leader at her church. She is currently pursuing a career in nursing with the goal of becoming a Nurse Practitioner.
Camille graduated with a bachelor's degree in Education Sciences from the University of California, Irvine in 2020. She enjoyed learning about children and behavior, however newly found interest in the medical field. Camille plans to apply to PA school in the next few years to ultimately pursue a career in the dermatology field. She has a passion for medicine, patient care, and working collaboratively. She enjoys playing volleyball, going boating, and anything that has to do with the beach and the water! She's had an amazing time learning about dermatology and how health care can help so many different people.
Job Titles:
- BILLING and BUSINESS MANAGER
Ciani does all billing and credentialing for our practice. She has been an integral part of the growth of Newport Beach Dermatology and Plastic Surgery as she began with us working in front office answering phones and scheduling patients. She later added collections to her list of responsibilities and continued to work with our billing team answering questions and solving problems for patients. She moved into reconciling, banking, accounts payable and accounts receivable for our office efficiently and energetically. Now she has taken over billing and brought it in-house and we are so grateful she is able to give our patients such great customer service with their billing questions and needs. Ciani has her master's degree in teaching and is multi-faceted in her interests because much of the work she does with us involves numbers. Ciani is a jack of all trades. We are fortunate to have her as a part of our staff.
Clara is a graduate from California State University, Fullerton where she earned her degree in Health Science with a focus in Health Promotion and Disease Prevention in Spring of 2020. While she was at CSUF, Clara was involved in the Supplemental Instructors (SI) program, volunteered at several hospitals, and worked for a physical therapy clinic. Clara is passionate about science, problem-solving, and helping others. She hopes to pursue a career as a PA where she will be able to continue her love for patient care. During her free time she enjoys watching Netflix, going to the beach, trying/exploring new restaurants, and socializing with friends and family.
Cole attended Concordia University Irvine and graduated in 2020 with a Bachelor of Science in Biology with hopes of becoming a physician. While in college, Cole spent time Volunteering at St. Joseph Hospital, as well as working on research in both ecology and microbiology. Originally from Portland, Oregon, Cole enjoys outdoor adventures. He also loves traveling, concerts, and watching classic movies. He is excited to meet and interact with every NBDPS patient, hoping to bring the best and brightest care every day. In our office, Cole will be assisting Dr. McNeill and Dr. Lewallen, bringing you the best in patient care. He will likely bring you to your exam room, take your history and get
Dr. Anne Marie McNeill, a board-certified dermatologist, practices dermatologic surgery, vulvardermatology and cosmetic dermatology. Born and raised in San Jose California, Dr. McNeill completed her undergraduate education at the University of California, San Diego, majoring in Chemistry. She completed both her M.D. and Ph.D. degrees under the Medical Scientist Training Program fellowship at the University of California, Irvine, sponsored by the National Institutes of Health (NIH). In medical school she was awarded AOA status, the national medical honor socitey. Her Ph.D. is in Pharmacology. She then went on to complete an Internship in Internal Medicine at the University of California, Los Angeles, returning to Orange County to complete her residency in Dermatology at the University of California, Irvine.
She has published over 20 articles and abstracts in the peer-reviewed literature. During her residency, Dr. McNeill was a recipient of the Women's Dermatologic Society Mentorship program, and studied Vulvar Dermatology at St. John's Institute of Dermatology in London, England. She is a member of the American Medical Association, a fellow of the American Academy of Dermatology, an Affiliate of American Society for Mohs Surgery, a member of the American Society for Dermatologic Surgery, and past President of the Orange County Dermatologic Society.
Dr. Anne Marie McNeill was named a "Top Doc" in Orange Coast Magazine, was a subject for the Physicians of Excellence and has been featured in several other publications. She founded Newport Beach Dermatology and Plastic Surgery in 2010 and is President and Medical Director of the practice.She is board-certified by the American Board of Dermatology.
She's mom to 5 beautiful kids and wife to husband of 26 years.
Job Titles:
- Certified Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeon
Dr. Christoper Ellstrom is a board-certified plastic and reconstructive surgeon in Newport Beach. He has a specialized interest in the surgical treatment and reconstruction of advanced skin cancers and other facial injuries as well as aesthetic surgery of the face, breast and body. From a young age Dr. Ellstrom always had a keen interest in both science and art and found plastic surgery to be the natural intersection of these two passions. He attended the University of Southern California where he pursued a double major in cinema-television and biology. He then obtained his M.D. at Loma Linda University where he graduated in the top of his class and was inducted in the national honor society Alpha Omega Alpha. He went on to complete a six year integrated plastic surgery residency at the University of California Irvine. While there he spent time developing a skill set that incorporates some of the most cutting edge reconstructive and aesthetic surgery techniques from nationally renown plastic surgeons.
Throughout his professional career Dr. Ellstrom has published multiple peer reviewed journal articles and textbook chapters on a range of topics that include complex facial injuries, wound healing, tissue imaging and others. He was awarded the J.K. Hardesty Best Resident Paper Award by the California Society of Plastic Surgeons for research on tissue flap perfusion. He continues to actively contribute to the academic community and has ongoing research on the physiology of the aging face.
Dr. Ellstrom places an emphasis on a personalized approach to surgery. He takes the time to listen to patient concerns and goals in order to design optimal treatment strategies utilizing proven techniques. He approaches all surgeries with the intent to optimize the aesthetic result and is committed to insuring patient comfort and satisfaction with outcomes.
He currently lives in Newport Beach with his wife Laura, a pediatrician, and enjoys photography, travel, and skiing.
Job Titles:
- Certified Physician Assistant
Grace is a graduate of University of California, Los Angeles where she earned her Bachelor's degree in Linguistics and Psychology in the spring of 2018. She is also a graduate of Golden West College where she earned her Associates of Science in Mathematics. She discovered her interest in the medical field during the Covid-19 pandemic and began working as a Certified Nursing Assistant at a rehabilitation center. Grace plans to apply to PA school in 2026 to pursue a career in dermatology. In her free time, she enjoys hiking, kayaking, going to the beach, and spending time with friends. She is happy that her journey into the field of dermatology began at NBPDS
Haley is a California State University Long Beach graduate with over a decade of experience in customer and client facing roles. She prides herself in being an empathetic, dedicated, and problem solving first point of contact many patients have with our practice. Since joining our team, Haley has been consistently involved in product and treatment education. She values expanding her own personal knowledge as well as being able to better assist our patients. In her free time, Haley enjoys exploring California and beyond looking for birds to add to her lifer list, summiting peaks, enriching the life of her dog, and spending time with family.
Job Titles:
- Certified Physician Assistant
Kaelyn joined our practice in 2014 as a medical assistant. She quickly became the person in the back office everyone went to when they had a question or needed to solve a problem. She loves to learn new things and challenge herself and has found here at NBDPS opportunities to grow from medical assistant to managing the back-office, and surgical coordinator to Dr. Ellstrom to now an office manager in our ever-growing practice. She is dedicated to our patients and staff. She constantly strives to provide an abundance of care. She tackles tasks with gusto and a happy disposition. Patients and staff alike are comforted by her caring words and demeanor while getting confidence from her excellent comprehension of our practice. When she's not at work she's spending time with her husband and her two small children.
Katie graduated with a bachelor's degree in Biological Sciences from the University of California, Santa Barbara in 2022. During her college years she volunteered in an outreach program that taught chemistry to elementary kids. Katie plans to apply to PA school in the coming years to pursue a career in the dermatology field. She's been interested in dermatology since a very young age and is happy to be a part of the NBDPS team!
Job Titles:
- BACK OFFICE MANAGER and SURGERY COORDINATOR to DR. ELLSTROM
Kayla attended San Diego State University and graduated with a degree in Kinesiology: Pre-Physical Therapy in 2017. After graduating, Kayla worked in a PT clinic, volunteered, and shadowed in a variety of medical settings. Originally from Orange County, Kayla returned home and joined our team here at NBDPS. She is passionate about medicine and on the path to Physician Assistant school. Kayla is dedicated to our patients and is here to help with her positive attitude, extensive knowledge, and awesome communication. In her free time she enjoys indoor cycling, snowboarding, going to concerts, spending time with family and friends, and traveling.
Kaylinn graduated with distinction from Sonoma State University where she earned her Bachelor's degree in Biology in 2020. While she was attending SSU, she was involved many extracurricular activities including the Pre-Health professions club, being the Tresurer and eventually the Vice President of the Biology Club and spent her time volunteering at the Ronald McDonald House in association with UCSF Benioff Children's Hospitals. Kaylinn exercised her love for the sciences by becoming a Teaching Assistant for Sonoma State's Human Anatomy course. After graduating, she returned to her hometown of Newport Beach and became an Emergency Department Scribe at Hoag Hospital. She hopes to pursue a career as a Physician Assistant and continue her passion for medicine by providing the patients with a friendly and comfortable atmosphere where they can receive the best quality of care. Outside of work, Kaylinn enjoys attending concerts, spending time with friends and family, and traveling to different countries.
Kerry enjoys her job as office manager and her happy disposition shows every patient her pleasure. Her past experience in business helps her to succeed in this integral role of handling the business side of the office. She adeptly handles the needs of patients, staff, and the business in general while maintaining a fun and easy-going attitude that makes staff and patients alike feel comfortable. Some of her duties include; marketing emails to patients, advertising in the office with promotions and events as well as developing marketing materials and strategies and our website. Our Annual Open House is one of the in-office events she organizes and is extremely popular among our patients as well as our online annual Black Friday event. Recently she started a series called Kickin' It With Kerry which can be found on Youtube and our Instagram site (@NBDPS) Kerry handles our hiring and human resources in general. She manages our medical computer software (Electronic health record) and purchasing of products for sale in our office and maintaining those relationships with vendors to help bring you the best products at the best prices possible. She has a keen interest in the products and treatments available in our office and can also help guide you through possible cosmetic or skincare needs. Kerry's favorite part of her job is visiting with patients. She has been with Dr. McNeill for over 12 years and enjoys the relationships she has developed with all of you.
Lexi recently graduated from San Diego State University in May of 2022 with a Bachelor's Degree in Applied Science's (BASc) focused in Athletic Training, Sports Medicine. She spent many hours dedicating time to help serve in the safety and wellbeing of competitive athletes, which inspired her to continue a role in the healthcare industry. Lexi thoroughly enjoys her role at NBDPS as a Medical Assistant, learning more and more about dermatology medically as well as cosmetically each and every day. Lexi plans to to apply to PA school in the near future. In her free time she enjoys surfing, skiing, hiking, and of course spending time with friends and family.
Lisa is a welcome addition to the practice. Her smile is always ready and usually followed by a contagious laugh. Lisa answers phones, makes appointments, and keeps all your information up to date so we don't have issues later with billing. She's usually the first face you see when you enter the waiting room and her happy disposition makes everyone feel at home. She has three children and is a new grandma! She has been a successful salesperson and business owner. We're sure sure you'll agree Lisa is a fantastic addition to our team.
Natalie is a quick learner. Her experience working in the guest services industry in Laguna Beach has made her the sort of employee that is invaluable. She is always thinking about customer service and is thorough and detail-oriented. She is always ready to lend a hand and take on the job that might be difficult to approach. She brings her winning smile and attitude to each interaction with every patient. We are lucky to count her as one of our team and will continue to build on her tremendous skills and we know you will enjoy her hard-working spirit when you meet her.
Paula is a native Southern Californian. She received her Bachelor of Science in nursing from the University of Southern California. As a licensed Registered Nurse, she began working at Children's Hospital of Orange County. Although Paula loved working with infants and toddlers at CHOC, she left pediatrics to raise her 3 children. Given her desire to continue helping others, she spent several years volunteering at her children's schools and doing philanthropic work. Later, she found herself back in nursing as a travel health consultant, vaccinating and educating her clients on international travel. Most recently, she became certified in Coolsculpting, which will help with her new job responsibilities in the practice. Paula brings positive energy and passion for working with others to NBDPS and looks forward to helping her patients feel their healthiest. Outside of work, she enjoys traveling with her husband, exercising, crafting and spending time with family and friends.
Rachel attended UC Berkeley where she earned a degree in Molecular and Cell Biology with a minor in Disability Studies. She graduated in May 2021, traveled to Costa Rica and Mexico, and began working at NBDPS shortly after. While at Berkeley, Rachel found her passion for working with children after volunteering at the YMCA and shadowing a pediatrician. In her free time, she loves to cook, snowboard, shop and go to the beach. While Rachel's career in the medical field has just begun, she has already learned so much working alongside the NBDPS crew. She looks forward to a lifelong career being able to use her accumulated knowledge to help others improve their quality of life.