All you need to know is that Dr. Depala is legend! Well regarded in the medical community in Sonoma, Marin and San Francisco counties. No matter who we meet in the pediatric medical community, they all recommended and greatly respect this doctor. Can't go wrong. read more

Yes I agree, De Pala is awesome. I only think that if the office staff refuse to answer the phone and then turn me away when I walk in. They actually lied saying they didn't have the equipment, because as DOCTOR lindergen put it it was almost 5 o'clock. It doesn't do me much good if the doctor is great, if I can never get in to see him. When it comes to my kids' safety and on that instance life or death situation, I need more than just OK service. I was so Irate when i left there that day you have no idea. I'm still upset just thinking about it. They have to do better. I've had several other times when Dr Depala said, " Oh the staff should have never given you that advice that was completely wrong." And never see Dr Lindergren she herself has given me the wrong antibiotics and horrible advice on numerous occasions. She also once told me to get some backbone in my voice when I complained of feeling overwhelmed with two kids. Which proves she doesn't know me at all. She never remembers that I've been sick, and in and out of the hospital the last year. (my old dr used to always ask how we were doing. It may may sound selffish but is acually important info when treating the child to know how the parent ar dealing with a new phase, ect.) She never even remembers anything about my kids, never knows theirs names, or even reads the chart before opening her mouth. read more

So I've been taking my daughter here since she was born. At first it was great but now I'm actually been considering switching to a different dr because it's become a hassle! I love seeing Dr Martin but during the summer she isn't there and normally she's only there 3 days a week. Why I give 2 stars is because although I can make appointments fairly quick I have found that waiting takes longer than usual. Like minimum of 15 mins late. People who come in after I have checked my daughter in get seen before us! Yes they may have an appointment before or at the same time as my daughter which if they are before that's fine but if they are at the same time my daughter should be taken back first. The other reason for the low rating is if you do have to see De Pala be prepared for no straight forward diagnosis to be given and also feeling like crap if you are returning because things have gotten worse or you are being safe than sorry as a first time parent. I recommend seeing either Dr Doolittle or Dr Martin. read more

Dr. DePala deserves 5 stars, but dealing with his front office staff is such a horrifically painful experience that they get negative stars and drag this review down to 2 stars. To call them inept is a compliment. And this issue goes back to 2008 based on other reviews. Does he not know how people feel? I don't want to have to find another pediatrician, but it might be worth it to not have the office ladies darken another day. It's too bad because he is great, but maybe not great enough to have to deal with the front office. read more

Dr. De Pala is a very nice man but it takes far too long to get an appointment. I once went in there for a simple physical and it took about a whole hour to see him. The nurses aren't that friendly to the patients either. read more

Dr D and his nurse practitioner Jessica are wonderful. The Doctor has been known to knock on our door over the weekend to check on the girls when something big is going on. The girls are always happy to see Jessica whether at the office, gym or grocery store. They are great members of the Petaluma community and fantastic care providers. We trust them with both health maintenance and life and death situations. Thank you for 10 years of impeccable care! read more

This doctor is great! Intelligent thoughtful and kind... His staff, not so much. Two of the more senior (NP's?) are nice, but the girl at the desk and the woman who walks you back to your waiting room give me the chills. I try not to focus on them when I am there. read more

We love Dr. DePala. He is our doctor for both my children and has been my second child's doctor since she born. My older daughter absolutely loves Dr DePala and refers to her doctor toys as "Dr DePala". He is VERY easy to talk to and is a very good listener - which is so important to me especially about my children. He really puts you at ease. He even came and saw my younger daughter on a day the office was closed. He seems very dedicated to his patients and clearly cares. It is a small office so there are times where we have had to wait - but it's a small office. The front desk staff are friendly enough and I feel they do their best. The nurses seem to remember my 2 little girls. When Dr. DePala is not available, we also see Dr. Doolittle who is also just as great. read more

We have been so happy to have found such great care with Dr. De Pala. He is thoughtful, knowledgeable and takes his time so we never feel rushed. I love that they have early morning drop in appointments (especially helpful when you have been up all night with a sick child and really don't want to wait to be seen). When my daughter was sick, Dr. De Pala even called on Saturday to check in on her. The front office staff have always been friendly and helpful, and we have never had to wait more than 10 minutes or so. We have been seeing Dr. De Pala since right before Dr. Lundegran moved to her own office. All the front office staff have been kind and helpful. Not sure if there has been a change in staff or what, but never had an issue getting an appointment or with someone being rude. read more

We've been patients of Dr DePala's for 13yrs now and just love him! He's very informative and always explains things to us very clearly and answers any questions we have. The kids love him and never leave unhappy, even if they get shots. Some of his staff isn't as personable as others, but Shelane (sp?) at the front desk is very nice and always helpful and Michelle the office manager has always been helpful as well. read more

I have to totally disagree with the other reviewer. Dr. Depala is the best. Our son, Jack, was born at Marin General three weeks premature. He was only 5 pounds, 2 ounces and we brought him home the Friday before Labor Day. I had contacted Dr. Depala and Dr. Lundergan's offices and met with Dr. Lundergan; however, she was out of town over the holiday weekend. Dr. Depala met us each day over the holiday weekend (Saturday, Sunday and Monday) for weight checks (he wasn't gaining) and additionally on Tuesday, Thursday and Friday of the following week. Jack just turned one and our experience has never been anything but the best. He takes the time to sit and talk with you and addresses all your concerns and questions. When we have taken Jack in for anything except a routine check-up, he calls the following day to see how Jack is doing. In my opinion, he is an outstanding pediatrician. He cares about the children he is treating and he gives great attention to your questions and concerns - no matter how neurotic of a first-time parent you are! read more

Dr. Depala is a great pediatrician. Great with kids and parents. His office always fits us in when necessary.

A fantastic pediatrician and person in general. Dr. DePala is extremely knowledgeable, always errors on the side of caution, provides excellent parent/guardian education, and has great bedside manner. I couldn't recommend highly enough! read more

This pediatrician is the best in Petaluma, hands down. I've recommended him to lots of friends with little ones. He's been my daughter's doctor since she was little. She's now 14. He takes time and never rushes. He's very thorough and caring. The staff is also very helpful, and I've never had any trouble getting an appointment at the last minute if my daughter is not feeling well. read more

An outstanding pediatrian, we count ourselves lucky to have him as our son's doctor. Great with kids, patient, thorough... His reputation in Petaluma is well known and for good reason - drs like Depala are hard to come by. read more

I do recommend Dr de Pala I think he is a great doctor, he takes the time during the doctors visits, the staff I think is very rude incompetent and useless. My daughter needed antibiotics once and they never send the prescription and I have to call the doctor after hours. Dr de Pala had to apologize for his staff members. I agree that the Dr needs to get ride of his staff and he would do much better Julia M read more

We LOVE Dr Depala and Nurse Practitioner Jessica Flinders! My daughter has been a patient there her entire ten year life. They have always been very, very kind and accommodating. Jessica is not my middle daughters doctor but did a labor sit at Petaluma Valley when I delivered her. Excellent people that I KNOW have my daughters best interest at heart. We used to live in Petaluma, but have since moved an hour away. We still ONLY come to this office for my older daughters care. They are the only ones I trust and the genuinely feel like family! read more

We adore Dr. dePala, Dr. Lundergan and their staff. They have all been part of our family now for the past 9 years! I have two boys (7 & 9) and on more than one occassion, the visits to their office have done me as much good as my children. It is not always possible to be seen at the moment of my call, but somehow they make it work and have for the past 9 years. When health care providers enter the room and you feel as though their attention is solely on your children, it makes any angst about wait times go away, because they have numerous times put me in for urgent matters that will then lengthen the wait time for others and I am forever grateful. My children have had both minor and major issues over the past nine years and I will always be thankful for the care we have received. I am in health care myself and have been for 14 years and believe me when I say that Primary care providers (pediatricians, general practitioners, and internists) are serving their patients and doing so because they care. They work long hours, take call and don't get paid for it. We are lucky to have the providers we have in Petaluma! We all have our difficult moments so try and keep that in mind when one day may seem tough at the office, one never knows what kind of diagnosis the staff or doctors may have delivered to another patient that day. I realize it works both ways and feel that 99.9% of the time you will find sympathetic ,caring individuals in this office. If you are looking for kind, knowledgable, quality providers you have found them! read more

We moved out of state and faxed a medical release form so that our new pediatrician would have the records for our daughter's annual well exam. Well 25 days later they call and say they need $15 for transfer fee, copy fees whatever. Never sent me a bill for it. They don't take PayPal only checks. I will vote for the presidential candidate who makes it illegal withhold medical info over a copy/transfer fee. read more

I love D. DePaula. He's absolutely the best! The reason I removed a star, I agree with the one review below, the office staff is unfriendly and has messed up my records and paperwork. They didn't put something important I handed them into my file, even so I stood there and asked if the receptionist could please put it in at that time since my file was already out. I got nervous when I saw her just lay my paper down among other papers that weren't mine. I said I was worried it might be forgotten. Just a gut feeling due to how flipantly she threw it down. She rudely snapped she would get to it. Then a month later said I never handed it to her. It got lost. She took no responsibility...and that is a big headache & a little scary. But Dr. DePaula is amazing and the kind of doctor you want looking over your child. read more

We love Dr. DePala. He did an out-patient surgery on our 1 week old son and was extremely smart, friendly, professional and supportive, which was exactly what we needed as parents of a newborn going in for an operation. His associate Dr. Lundergan is amazing with kids as well. I love their office and they are worth the wait. read more

Dr. Depala may be good with kids BUT this office over books! Every time I make an appointment I wait over 30 minutes to been seen by the doctor. It's ridiculous. Changing pediatricians to an office that knows how to schedule better. read more

he is simply the best. He is thorough, efficient and extremely knowledgable. My son loves him and we are completely satisfied with him