montereycountynow.com/bestof BEST OF MONTEREY COUNTY® 2026 49 BEST DOCTOR (TIE) Rebecca Abundis Joanna Oppenheim Salinas Valley Health, 450 East Romie Lane, Salinas (831) 757-4333, salinasvalleyhealth.com It’s not easy being a circus performer. Bodies are pushed to the limit—and sometimes even beyond that if you’re a contortionist. Plus, they need to be able to fit in the cannon if they want to be a human cannonball. Luckily, doctors Rebecca Abundis and Joanna Oppenheim are here to make sure these acrobats are in tip-top shape so they can perform in front of the masses. Of course, their services are not limited to performers. The two doctors work with their patients to help prevent disease and maintain a healthy lifestyle. BEST FAMILY PRACTICE Montage Medical Group Various locations, montagehealth.org The daring young man on the flying trapeze hasn’t always made it across to the other side, and sometimes even clowns need a little attention after one too many prat falls. For bumps, bruises and any type of ailments here in Monterey County, readers voted Montage Medical Group as the best place to seek treatment. The operation has a number of locations and a wide array of specialists to attend to the needs of patients, including keeping them well. BEST PLASTIC SURGEON Dr. Douglas Sunde 856 Munras Ave., Monterey (831) 372-0200, drsunde.com Dr. Douglas Sunde specializes in individualized, state-of-the-art cosmetic and reconstructive treatments. So if a clown actually needed to fit those clown shoes, the good doctor could help. With over 25 years of experience treating folks in Monterey and currently an assistant adjunct professor at Stanford University, Dr. Sunde has garnered praise from his patients again and again, being voted the Best Plastic Surgeon every year since 2016. BEST EYE DOCTOR Blink Optometry 217 Crossroads Blvd., Carmel (831) 250-6999, blinkcarmel.com There’s a lot to see when you attend a circus performance, and what better way to do that than getting the best eye care? In Carmel, locals set their sights on Blink Optometry, where doctors Telma Barseghian and Trevor Fogg support clients with detailed eye exams, a carefully selected assortment of prescription eyewear, and contact lens fitting to help support their needs. The office also accepts most insurance plans—VSP, Cigna, and EyeMed—and work with clients to make sure they are taken care of. BEST DENTAL PRACTICE Monterey Peninsula Dental Group 333 El Dorado St., Monterey (831) 373-3068, mpdg.com Giraffes have 32 teeth; the exact same amount as an adult human. These lanky animals don’t require dental care, mostly because of their coarse plant diet but also because they are more common in digital circuses than the real deal. But when humans in Monterey County need their teeth checked, our readers prefer Monterey Peninsula Dental Group. This year, MPDG has something extra special to smile about: they are celebrating 10 consecutive years as the county’s Best Dental Practice. BEST ORTHODONTIST Dr. Matthew Ronconi 831 S. Main St., Salinas (831) 422-7424, ronconiorthodontics.com Traveling circus clowns tired of scaring young children with their misaligned smiles would have appreciated the services of Salinas-based orthodontist Dr. Matthew Ronconi, whose dedication to his patients is no laughing matter. Hailing from Mountain View, Ronconi now proudly works out of Salinas, and serves as the president of the Monterey Bay Dental Society in addition to serving the community in other ways, including volunteering for Guide Dogs for the Blind and serving on the board of Set Free Monterey Bay, an organization supporting survivors of sex trafficking. Shopping & Services Best New Business of 2026 | Seaside Ace Hardware
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