Doctor Finds Life Balance in San Diego Surf Scene
Dr. Robert Elliott brings surf-inspired insight to medicine
Dr. Robert Elliott brings surf-inspired insight to medicine
For most of his adult life, Robert Elliott, DO, an internal medicine physician at Scripps Coastal Medical Center Hillcrest had been a desert dweller. His medical training, residency and master’s program were split between Arizona and Palm Springs. But he fondly remembered his time during a study abroad program in Queensland, Australia, where he picked up a new hobby, surfing.
“Surfing first piqued my interest when I was studying abroad during my undergrad,” he says. “You can’t live on the Gold Coast — referred to as a surfer’s paradise — without at least trying to surf.”
In 2021, Dr. Elliott was ready for a change of scenery. He wanted to move somewhere that was closer to friends and family and had milder weather. “I got used to those one-teens over the years,” he says with a laugh.
Why San Diego was the perfect fit
Dr. Elliott chose San Diego and is now embracing the Southern California lifestyle, surfing and all.
“I’m by no means an avid surfer. But, when I first moved to San Diego — and visited here before — it felt like such a defining part of the San Diego culture,” he says. “I was waiting for the right opportunity to come up and then that’s when I found Scripps, and it was definitely one of the best decisions. I feel completely supported and it has been such a positive experience.”
Blending telehealth and in-person care
Dr. Elliott divides his time between seeing patients in person and practicing telehealth. This hybrid schedule is great for both him and his patients, many of whom are busy 20- and 30-somethings.
“Telehealth is convenient for my patients,” he says. “I also value my in-office days because you really have that face-to-face contact with your patients. It’s a connection that you sometimes don’t have over video.”
How surfing shapes his practice
Dr. Elliott has also found that many of his patients surf. “Water sports and outdoor activity gives us a connection and a talking point,” he says.
The lessons he’s learned about determination and consistency have also influenced the way he practices medicine.
“Surfing and reconnecting with nature have taught patience, resilience and the importance of being present and staying present,” he says.
He also remembers the early lessons surfing taught him.
“Looking back, learning to surf as an adult was a humbling experience. It reminded me what it was like to be a beginner, to fail repeatedly, but keep showing up anyway,” he says. “That experience mirrors so much of what I see in my patients, like whether they’re trying to manage a chronic condition, quit smoking or rebuild their health after a setback. I’m able to see the resilience in my patients when they bounce back firsthand.”
This content appeared in San Diego Health, a publication in partnership between Scripps and San Diego Magazine that celebrates the healthy spirit of San Diego.