Meet your care team
At Pacora Health, care starts with listening. You'll work with experienced San Diego providers who take the time to understand you, your history, and what a healthy life means to you.
Nicholas Schmidt, MD, MHS
“What a healthy life means to you may be different from ours, your neighbor, or the textbook, and that's the point. We're here to champion you in living a long, happy, and meaningful life.”
Dr. Schmidt takes the time to sit down and understand the person behind the patient, including what a healthy life means to them. He believes prevention is the best medicine. Catching problems early can keep chronic disease from taking hold, so his patients can go on living long, healthy, active lives. Because Direct Primary Care keeps his patient panel small, he can offer longer appointments and same-day access. In practice, that often means faster answers and fewer unnecessary referrals.
An experienced San Diego internist
Dr. Schmidt graduated from Johns Hopkins University and the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health with a Master of Health Science in cancer and reproductive biology. He earned his medical degree at Loma Linda University and completed Internal Medicine residency training at Scripps Clinic and Scripps Green Hospital. He is board-certified in Internal Medicine and practices both hospital-based medicine and direct primary care.
From a Tennessee farm to the San Diego coast
Originally from Bells, Tennessee, where his family still runs their farm, Dr. Schmidt has fully embraced the San Diego lifestyle. You'll rarely find him far from the ocean, whether he's playing beach volleyball, surfing, or spearfishing.
Education & credentials
- Internal Medicine Residency, Scripps Clinic & Scripps Green Hospital
- MD & Master of Medical Science, Loma Linda University School of Medicine
- Master of Health Science, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health
- Board-certified in Internal Medicine (ABIM) · Licensed in California · English
Derek Rogoz, PA-C
“I believe in treating the patient, not just the condition. That principle guides every aspect of how I practice medicine.”
Derek provides comprehensive primary care for adults, from annual physicals and preventive care to managing both everyday illnesses and long-term conditions. He explains things in plain language, so patients leave each visit knowing exactly what's happening and why. They trust him to listen closely, talk through their options, and guide them toward the right next step whenever they need it. Derek also welcomes Medicare patients, offering the same personalized, relationship-based care.
Wide-ranging clinical experience
Derek has practiced as a physician associate for four years across San Diego. His work spans primary care, dermatology, and wound care, often in home-based, skilled-nursing, and underserved settings that sharpened his ability to meet patients where they are. He has also traveled to Haiti on disaster-relief mission trips with International Medical Relief, triaging and treating thousands of patients and first-assisting with procedures in the field.
A Chicago native who lives what he preaches
A Chicago native, Derek was raised on Midwestern values: hard work, straight talk, and looking out for your neighbors. Outside the clinic he runs, swims, plays pickleball, and recently finished his first marathon. On weekends you'll find him hiking around San Diego with his wife and their two dogs.
Education & credentials
- MS, Physician Assistant Studies, Rush University, Chicago
- BS, Biology, Magna Cum Laude, Loyola University Chicago
- NCCPA-certified (PA-C) · Licensed in California · English
Have Medicare? See the FAQ for how care with Derek works.