Pacific Veterinary Center

Pacific Veterinary Center is a full-service veterinary medical facility, located in Torrance, CA. The professional and courteous staff at Pacific Veterinary Center seeks to provide the best possible medical, surgical and dental care for our highly-valued patients.

Pacific Veterinary Center strives to offer excellence in veterinary care to Torrance, Palos Verdes Peninsula and surrounding areas. Our state of the art facility is equipped with digital radiography, digital dental radiography, ultrasound, surgical laser, advanced anesthetic monitoring equipment, computerized anesthesia, therapeutic cold laser therapy, videoscope and an in-house laboratory. We are committed to providing personalized care while promoting preventative health and advanced medical and surgical care for our patients and health related educational opportunities to our clients.

Please take a moment to contact us today to learn more about our veterinary practice and  how Pacific Veterinary Center can serve the needs of you and your cherished pet.

Young boy and girl with dog and cat
  • Mon-Fri: 7:00am - 6:00pm
  • Sat: 7:00am - 4:00pm
  • Sun: Closed
  • Doctor's hours are by appointment. Please contact us @ (310) 791-5123
  • Maria Castiglione

    Maria Castiglione, DVM

    Practice Owner / Veterinarian

    My dream of becoming a veterinarian started at the age of 6. A few years later, I knew that I wanted to do my training at Cornell. With lots of hard work, a very supportive family and some amazing role models, my dream came true. The path to becoming a veterinarian and practice owner required an incredible amount of dedication, long, mentally and physically intense days and many sacrifices. Financially, the road was hard. Student loans, business loans, and property loans all weighed heavily on me. During the first two years of practice ownership, I took no salary, worked 7 days a week and had only 2 employees. For 12 years, I worked without an associate and took a rare day off for veterinary conferences. Fortunately, the practice grew and allowed me to hire an associate and additional staff members. It was hard to find an associate who shares my compassion for our patients, dedication to an intense career and a love of the relationship I share with my clients…. I am very fortunate to now have a team of associates who are amazingly dedicated, caring and intelligent.

    Balancing a professional veterinary career and a personal life is not easy and I am very fortunate to have a wonderful, caring and UNDERSTANDING husband! In my free time, I enjoy spending time with my husband, my kids ( the four legged Schnauzer kind), traveling, playing golf and driving super cars and race cars at the track.

    I am grateful to all of the wonderful clients that have put their trust in me over the years. I love taking care of your kids and enjoy being able to use my training to help them stay healthy!



    Years in Practice:
    Jan 01, 1989
    Education:
    Cornell University - College of Veterinary Medicine 1989: Cornell University - BS 1985
  • Yuka Akieda

    Yuka Akieda, DVM

    Veterinarian



    I was born and raised in Yokosuka, Japan and moved to California when I was 21. I met Dr. Maria when I was a pre-vet student at UCLA. I graduated from Cornell University, College of Veterinary Medicine in Ithaca, NY and completed a one year rotating internship at  the Veterinary Medical and Surgical Group in Ventura, CA.

     In my spare time I enjoy playing music with my friends and spending time with my furry and feathered family.

    Years in Practice:
    Jan 01, 2006
    Education:
    Cornell University - College of Veterinary Medicine 2006; UCLA - BA 2002

  • Sharon Torrisi, DVM

    Veterinarian

    Dr. Sharon Torrisi originally hails from the great state of New Jersey, but has lived in Southern California for 23 years. She graduated from Cornell University’s School of Veterinary Medicine in 1990. It was there that Dr. Torrisi met and became friends with Dr. Castiglione. The year following graduation from vet school, Dr. Torrisi followed in Maria’s
    footsteps by completing an internship in medicine and surgery at The Animal Medical Center in NYC. After moving to the South Bay, Dr. Torrisi worked at a general practice in Hermosa Beach. Due to her interest in veterinary emergencies, Sharon also spent several years working alongside boarded Internal Medicine and Emergency & Critical Care specialists at a 24 hour facility in Orange County.
     
    More recently, Dr. Torrisi has expanded her knowledge by studying Eastern Medicine. She has been certified in veterinary acupuncture by IVAS             ( International Veterinary Acupuncture Society) and a member of the AAVA ( American Acupuncture Veterinary Association) for more than 10 years. She has also studied Chinese Herbology and Tui Na ( Chinese medical massage). Dr. Torrisi believes alternative therapies provide additional tools which can help our animal friends heal and allow for improved quality of life when Western Medicine treatments are limited, or no longer working.
     
    In her spare time, Sharon loves being outside on sunny day, hiking and at the beach in Morro Bay along The Central Coast. Dr. Torrisi looks forward to working alongside Dr Maria and the staff at Pacific Veterinary Center and providing exceptional veterinary care to their clients and patients.
    Years in Practice:
    Jan 01, 1990
    Education:
    Cornell University - College of Veterinary Medicine
    Interests:
    Eastern Medicine / Accupuncture
  • Rina Fernandez

    Rina Fernandez, DVM

    Veterinarian

    Years in Practice:
    Jan 01, 2006
    Education:
    Cornell University-College Of Veterinary Medicine 2006: UCLA - BA 2002

  • Rika Miyazaki, DVM

    Veterinarian
    Bilingual - English / Japanese
    Education:
    Louisiana State University - College of Veterinary Medicine
  • Linda Larsen

    Linda Larsen, DVM, DACVS

    Consultants & Specialist
    www.pacificveterinarysurgeryservices.com

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    Kristy Tani, RVT

    Licensed Veterinary Technician
    Veterinary Technician Manager
    Hospital Safety Coordinator
    Years in Practice:
    Jan 01, 2001
    Education:
    BS - Cal Poly- Pomona
    Interests:
    Anything Disney, Star Wars, Star Trek, Las Vegas and Hawaii

  • Julie Valadez, RVT

    Registered Veterinary Technician
    Years in Practice:
    Jan 01, 2002
  • Denise C

    Denise E

    Office Manager
    Receptionist
    Years in Practice:
    Jan 01, 2001
  • Vanessa E

    Vanessa E

    Receptionist
    Receptionist Manager
    Bilingual - English /Spanish

    My passion for helping others brought me to PVC and my love for the animals keeps me going.
    As part of the PVC family, it is my goal to provide each one of our patients and their parents with a compassionate and a personal experience every time.
    When I'm not at work I enjoy taking advantage of our beautiful surrounding beaches or going on road trips with my friends and family .
    I look forward to seeing you on your next visit.
    Years in Practice:
    Jan 01, 2003
  • Julie T

    Julie T

    Receptionist
    Bilingual - English / Spanish
    Years in Practice:
    Jan 01, 2002
    Interests:
    Family - especially grandchildren!
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    Tara S

    Veterinary Assistant
    Years in Practice:
    Jan 01, 2010

  • Chiaki S.

    Veterinary Assistant
    Receptionist
    Bilingual - English / Japanese
    Years in Practice:
    Jan 01, 2012
    Education:
    University of California - Pomona

  • Jillian Y

    Veterinary Assistant
    Years in Practice:
    Jan 01, 2013
    Education:
    BS - University or California - San Diego
    Interests:
    Volunteer- Marine Mammal Care Center

  • Frank G

    Kennel Assistant - Pet Care Provider
    Bather / Groomer
    Years in Practice:
    Jan 01, 2012
    Interests:
    Spending time with my son

  • Brooke T

    Kennel Assistant - Pet Care Provider
    Bather
    Years in Practice:
    Jan 01, 2014

  • Monique C

    Kennel Assistant
    Technician Assistant

    Years in Practice:
    Jan 01, 2014
    Education:
    El Camino College
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    Consultants & Specialists

    • Advanced Veterinary Care Center
    • Veterinary Cancer Group
    • Veterinary Neurology Center
    • Southern California Veterinary Imaging
    • Eye Care for Animals
    • Animal Surgical and Emergency Center