Marissa S. Vasquez Machuca, MD, MBA

Dr. Marissa Vasquez is a sports medicine physician who practices in downtown LA (at The Bloc). Her clinical interests include concussion, diagnostic and interventional sports ultrasound, athletic triad, cardiac screening, chronic exertional compartment syndromes, and throwing injuries. She is board certified in family medicine and sports medicine.

Dr. Vasquez received her medical degree from Temple University School of Medicine in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. She then completed her residency training in family medicine at White Memorial Medical Center in Los Angeles, and her fellowship in primary care sports medicine at Kaiser Permanente Los Angeles Medical Center. In 2018, she earned her executive Master of Business Administration degree with a Certificate in Marketing from the UCLA Anderson School of Management. She earlier received her Bachelor of Science degree in biochemistry and chemistry, with a minor in Spanish literature, from the University of California, Riverside.

Before joining UCLA Health, Dr. Vasquez was the Sports Medicine Fellowship Director and Division Chief of Sports Medicine at Kaiser Permanente in Los Angeles. She was also the lead physician for the 2015 Special Olympics World Games, held at UCLA, and Associate Head Team physician for Occidental College. She has experience as a medical captain for numerous endurance events and has served as a medical consultant with Special Olympics Southern California, US Diving and USA soccer. She has expertise in providing culturally responsive care and in presenting evidence-based research to communities with health disparities.

Dr. Vasquez also conducts clinical research and has co-authored articles in the Clinical Journal of Sports Medicine; serves on several committees for the American Medical Society for Sports Medicine; and is a Health Sciences Associate Professor at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA.

Dr. Vasquez grew up in the Imperial Valley, in a predominantly underserved agricultural community near Mexicali and U.S. border. She currently lives in Los Angeles with her spouse and daughter. When she’s not working, she enjoys swimming and has competed in a number of triathlons. She currently races recreationally with her daughter.