Dr Aron is a wonderful, caring healthcare professional with an incredible wealth of knowledge and experience in his chosen field. I found him by searching the CPMC network since the other gastroenterologist I was referred to could not see me for over a month. With my symptoms being so severe, waiting that long was not an option. I plan on recommending him to anyone with GI problems. I am so grateful I found him so I can live the normal life of a 26 year old and have a brighter outlook on my future. As a young healthcare professional myself, I intend to incorporate many of his patient interaction practices into my own. At my first visit he spent over an hour reviewing my medical history and performing a thorough exam. While a diagnosis is still pending, he prescribed a medication that gave me my life back. The only reason I cannot give a raving 5-star review is the incompetence of his staff. Without the above-mentioned medication I am VERY sick, cannot work, and usually end up going to the ER. I called his office 4 times and left multiple messages. As the pills dwindled dangerously close to zero, I asked to speak to a live person and was promised a call as soon as the assistant was done seating a patient. 2 hours later, no call. It took his staff 6 days to finally send the prescription. The staff needs to be informed that poor treatment and disregard of a patient's situation will drive away business, and when somebody calls you are obligated to call them back. read more

had questioned leaving a review because I typically don't like to leave poor reviews, however I sit here with about $1500 of bills in front of me and all I feel is frustration. I'd like to leave my story so this doesn't happen to someone else. I was referenced to Dr. Aron from my general practitioner and before going in for the appointment I decided to google him and I found out he specialized in gluten intolerance. So for 3 weeks prior to my appointment I ingested all the gluten I could to see if I would get sick and I did not experience any discomfort. I explained this to Dr. Aron during our wonderful 2 hour interview. After all that was discussed he suggested that he may want to "study" me which led me to believe he was really going to help me figure out what has been bothering me since 2003. I was stoked! Finally I was going to get help with my 4 day bouts of vomiting, nausea and stomach pains. Next, I waited for 2 months before finally calling in and asking what the next step was....they scheduled me for a Endoscopy (camera in the stomach.) I called his assistant to make sure this was necessary since we had already ruled out that gluten and food was not the problem. She said this was common practice to look inside. So I went in and had the procedure done. All in all with blood work, endoscopy and PPO health insurance covering its share, it has cost me over $1500!!! My results: (given straight from Dr. Aron on my voice-mail) "the results were great you are not gluten intolerant and everything looks great, so not sure what you want to do or if making another appointment is necessary." I was so over the top frustrated that that was all he had to say. So unless you have a visible ulcer or are gluten intolerant, than I guess he can't help you. WHAT A WASTE OF TIME and MONEY!! The 2 stars are there because he did help me rule out two things..but boy did I pay for it...... read more

After many years with Dr. Aron, I have seen his demeanor change. Now he spends most of your appointment talking about politics and the healthcare system instead of the issue at hand, YOU. Grace, his receptionist, is unprofessional and rude. Don't waste your time. There are better doctors out there. It's time for Dr. Aron to retire. read more

Dr. Aron is the best, most knowledgeable doctor I've ever had. I have ulcerative colitis, a serious gut disease, and was really sick when I first met with him. During my first visit, he spent an hour with me in his office, going over the most minute of details, family history, nutrition, symptoms, etc... Have you ever had a doctor take an hour with you to analyze your symptoms? Since then, I've had appointments with him anywhere from twice a month to every few months now that I'm better. We went through a number of different treatment options until we finally found a working combination. Along the way he educated me about the risks of different treatments as well as the potential upside. He never pushed me onto medicine without me being 100% comfortable, and he's also the only doctor I've ever had who values and understands good nutrition. He told me to take powerful probiotics (VSL#3) as well as fish oil, whereas most GIs will just push you onto expensive drugs without even looking at the nutrition side of the equation. If you have Chrons, Colitis, Celiac or any other gut disease, go see Dr. Aron immediately. It may take you a month to get your initial appointment, but it's worth it. read more

Up and left. I'm not going to comment on anything else. He is a good doctor who is attentive and appears to care. But he just left without sending out a notification of any kind. I see that he did this in 2017 too. I'm pretty upset as nothing has changed with my health and now I am left without a gastroenterologist to help. I feel that notification should have been sent out IMMEDIATELY, not waiting until the patient calls. I'm so very confused as to why a doctor would do this. A phone call, even automated, would have been nice. Why is this the second time this has happened to his patients? read more

Dr. Aron was the only doctor who prescribed a medication that took my stomach pain away (after one year of discomfort and seeing several other doctors). BUT that doesn't mean he wasn't spending most of the appointment time chit chatting. I wish I could have given a 0 star to Grace though. In several circumstances, she was rude and dismissive to me, not even willing to answer basic questions. I have been a patient for over a year now and the experience with her has been just terrible. Also, yes, the office is closed permanently. read more

I just had my very first visit/consultation with Dr. Aron and I am extremely happy that I found him! He is friendly, patient, explains things well and seems to have a wealth of knowledge. I can highly recommend him! read more

I walked out of Dr. Aron's office smiling yesterday. Let me tell you, I rarely smile after GI related visits and often find myself doing just the opposite. I was able to see him on the next day after I made my apt. but I get the impression that he is in high demand. Dr. Aron has a great sense of humor, as another reviewer remarked, along with the knowledge and credentials to take good care of your troubled tummy. Another thing, he cares and takes the time to get to know you. Within thirty minutes of our visit he was referencing Annie Hall - and not in that creepy American Apparel sorta way. read more

Very helpful doctor. I first heard of Dr Aaron when a woman I ran into at a restaurant gave me his card and raved about him. I have seen him twice and have been very happy about the care. read more

Exceptionally knowledgeable and smart doctor. It was not only a pleasure to chat with him, but also he provided a very good treatment. read more

This practice is closed. I don't want anyone to waste their time. I even called to confirm the appointment and when I arrived the doctors' office, I was told that the practice was closed. Even Zocdoc doesn't have updated information and they scheduled my appointment. read more

Grace, Dr Aron's assistant is rude, inconsiderate and in complete denial of what is means to provide service to patients (I mean customers). The health system is so broken. I hope she reads this and truly understands how atrocious her behavior, conduct and tone truly are. It is not so hard to say, "We made a mistake. We apologize." Dr Aron is a very caring man, who works very hard. GI Doctors and diagnosis tools are extremely helpful identifying WHAT'S going on - and then comes the healing. This is where YOU (and I) come in. It takes dedication and courage to take these challenges in stride, but the efforts are well worth it, I assure you. I highly recommend reading: For a breakdown of leaky gut and how it plays into overall health: http://www.jaminthompson.com/blog/2013/08/20/how-i-cured-my-crohns-disease/ For diet and lifestyle guidance: GAPS diet Specific Carbohydrate Diet Nourishing Traditions For acute situations: Patient Heal Thyself IBD remission diet Listen to your Gut Summary of some pointers that have helped me: -TPN (bowel rest) during a serious flare (100% compliance) -elemental diet if symptoms re-emerge -eliminating wheat, dairy, sugar -eliminating ***all*** grains and legumes -soak nuts and dehydrate prior to consumption -Bone broth (lots) (organic pasture raised meat only) -probiotics, prebiotics, fish oil -less raw foods, until symptoms clear, more cooked vegetables (refer to specific carb book for vegetable recs)*** -daily meditation -daily exercise (walking, yin yoga) -daily deep breathing exercises -standing on the earth barefoot for 10+ mins -emotional health (writing, journaling, talking) -practicing gratitude -healthy oils (no margarine. butter, ghee, coconut oil, udo's oil is acceptable) -organic everything, including body care products -no aluminum cookware (cast iron, stainless steel only) -organic cotton sheets -organic mattress -cold water showers, ice baths, bay swims -ample sleep -stress reduction of all kinds Keep going! read more

Dr. Aron has given me a new quality of life that I have been desperately seeking for years. After 10 years of bad stomach problems and 5 years of VERY aggressively seeking medical help, Dr Aron was able to help me. I have seen numerous doctors and specialists over the years and each one either gave up on trying to help me or told me it was "stress" and "diet" that were my problem. In other words, they said it was my fault and the solution was in my control because they couldn't "fix" me. Anyhow, Dr Aron gives you the time to share all of your history with him and he truly cares about finding the solution. Even if it takes a few tries, he won't give up on healing your pain. He promised me that he wouldn't give up and he didn't. Also, he has a great bedside manner. Its been 2 months now that I feel good and can get through a day without terrible pain. For the first time in years I feel good! For those of you out there who are in pain and need help for stomach issues, GO SEE HIM! Advice: be patient and follow his recommendations. It may take some time but he will help you. To address some of the negative reviews I've read here, I say this... It is true that you often have to wait a while to see him. He may run late for the appointment but thats because he refuses to rush anyone, including you. He takes the time necessary with each person and that can mean he gets backed up with patients. Bring a mag or book or call ahead and ask if he is running late. You can either deal with it and get your health back, or keep going to doc after doc who is prompt, brief, and doesn't help you. I recommend sucking it up and waiting for your turn to see him. It can take a month to get in for the first visit, its true so call asap. Once you are in to see him you can get in for visits easily. For my first visit, I just called every few days to ask if there was a cancellation and I ended up getting in to see him the next week instead of waiting for a month. Good luck to all of you and I wish you health and happiness. read more

Dr. Jeffrey Aron is a fine professional who exhibits compassion and concern in his care. Unfortunately, getting to the good doctor is an exercise in frustration. Dr. Aron's office staff is possibly the most-lethargic, rudest group of office "professionals" I've ever dealt with. They are quick to deflect blame, show the utmost in disconcern for the doctor's patients, and are argumentative to an individual. Rather than dealing with a patient's concerns or frustration in a caring, concerned, professional manner, they see fit to fuel the discontent by adding more imbecilic attitude, dysfunctional practice, and unparalleled laziness to the problem. To say "Customer service is not their strong suit," would be as grossly negligent a claim as saying his staff "cares" about his patients or about the manner in which they promote the doctor's otherwise good practice. I have been a patient of Dr. Aron's for a few years; that all changes today thanks to his staff. I've waited an undue amount of time for simple calls to be returned and distressing conditions to be addressed. As much as I have enjoyed Dr. Aron's care, I can no longer deal with his arrogant, argumentative, lackadaisical staff. read more

I just saw Dr. Aron this week and can confirm 3580 California St is his new location (he shares it with Dr. Richard Levy); the new owners of his long-time office location at 3838 California didn't renew his lease and doubled his rent to go month-to-month, so he's been looking for a new office for a while before being invited by Dr. Levy into his office space. Dr. Levy is my GP and brought Dr. Aron into my appointment when getting stumped with diagnosing a GI issue I'm experiencing. Dr. Aron and I then went to his office where he spent over an hour reviewing my medical history and performing a thorough exam. We're currently waiting on the results of some tests he prescribed, but I'm encouraged that he didn't have a knee-jerk reaction to just put me down for a colonoscopy immediately and is working through his diagnosis carefully and non-disruptively as possible. Even better, he's got a great bedside manner which seems to be lacking in a lot of doctors these days. I can appreciate others' complaints about horrific office staff completely souring an otherwise good doctor relationship - I'm currently shopping for a specialist in an unrelated field for the exact same reason. Dr. Aron's staff did not come with him to Dr. Levy's office; the latter's pre-existing staff is supporting him. read more

This man changed my life.I switched doctors from another GI who had been totally unsuccessful at diagnosing my chronic severe abdominal pain. Since going under his care, my issue which he properly diagnosed as SOD is completely treated. He had me try two different medications, and he got it right on the second try. My condition had been undiagnosed for 20 years and severe for 5. In addition to being a very good doctor, he is also a genuinely pleasant guy and a great listener. Sometimes the wait is a bit long (occasionally bad, but not terrible) and when I first started seeing him his scheduling staff wasn't quite up to par (never any reminder calls, etc, had to jump through an automated voice system to reschedule), but that has improved recently. Leaving all the logistics stuff aside, he is definitely a five star doctor. read more

Knowledgeable doctor and a great conversation, but terrible experience and ultimately no solution to my issues. My 45 minute session with him consisted of 25 minutes of chit chat and him complaining about the insurance industry and how it's not fair to doctors. The next 15 minutes were a lecture to me about inflammation. The last 5 minutes consisted of him telling me to just give it time. Unfortunately, this was a bad idea and my condition worsened considerably. The next doctor I saw took a very different approach, asked me better questions, and found a way to get me back to health. The kicker? $490 bill. For pretty much nothing. When I would call to ask about this bill they kept putting me on hold...and this went on for days. So...no, I would not recommend Dr. Aron to anyone. read more

He is a good doctor... but he isn't good enough. His staff and office is a sh*t show. I left Dr Aron because his staff was terrible and I hadn't seen sufficient results. There are better doctors offices in the city for GI care... I suggest you go to one of them instead. Oh and if you don't have time to read the other reviews, let me sum them up for you: they suck and are rude. Most often when you call you are connected to an answering service read more

Without a doubt the most knowledgeable doctor when it comes to Celiac, IBs and other stomach disorders. Service might not be the most efficient one but frankly I'm not there for the perks, I'm there for my health and he is the best read more

Dr. Aron is one of the worst doctors I've ever seen and trust me, I've been to some quacks before. First off, I had to wait over a month to see him and when I finally got to his office and checked in, I waited for over an HOUR and saw many other patients that came after me were being seen before me. After complaining to the front desk about the wait I was told that he FORGOT that I was waiting to see him. That is completely unexceptable. In my interview with him he was very short with everything and was acting as if he was trying to rush me out because he wanted to go home, well had he not forgotten about me maybe he would have been able to go home sooner. He suggested that I should get some blood tests done to determine whether I was Celiac or not so I went in for a blood draw, the test ran about $600. Knowing that the test was very expensive, he gave me a letter for my insurance company so that they will cover it, he assured me that there would be no problem with the letter. Now after sending it to my insurance company 3 times they still will not accept it and now I'm stuck with this bill that I cannot afford. When the results for my test finally came in he called me and left a very brief message saying that my tests were negtive for Celiac and that was all. I called to talk to him, had to wait 2 days for his returned call and he was no help at all. I had many questions regarding my stomach issues, because if I wasn't Celiac then what could be causing my severe stomach issues? I was hoping he'd be able to help me, afterall he was my doctor at the time and he had no answers for me. He told me to just watch what I eat and that he could no longer help me with my stomach issues. Hello? Isn't that your field of work?? Jesus! On top of that he had the nerve to interupt my questions to ask me about what I'm going to do for school, etc.. There's no way I'd ever see him again or recomend him to anyone, he is no help and very unprofessional. It's time for him to retire. read more

IBS and its kindred demons are no fun, but Dr. Aron prescribed a drug that helps a lot. Also, his demeanor is A-one. Good doc, good guy.

I'm floored. I went to refill my prescription, and Dr. Aron has disappeared off the face of the earth. I've been a patient of his for years, and no one even bothered to reach out his patients to let them know? According to CPMC, no one is handling his patients, so I guess we're all out in the cold looking for new doctors in a panic.... which is the least professional thing I've ever seen a doctor do, especially a GI doc where coming off my meds for however long it takes to get a new Rx will mean serious disruption to my life. Not sure if he's planning to re-open a new office, but based on the communication I'd say nevermind read more

Very good info. wish I new all of the before my daughter went through hell with a GI Dr. at UCSF nothing but bad news until I read the blog from Carter S. thank you so much. We have an app. as of today on March 28. Thank you so much for the blog. read more

Positively the most rude medical office I have EVER experienced that called me 4:50 the day before an urgent appointment to tell me that my appointment was not confirmed when I took off from work. Not surprised to see many reviews here about the rude medical staff. Why would I want to be treated by such a rude team of practitioners. Highly recommend that you DO NOT visit this office read more

I will never see this doctor again. I saw him for the first time beginning of June t his year. I'd had onging stomach problems and another doctor recommended Dr Aron. Right away because recommending doctor told me I had IBS, Dr. Aron gave me medication. That didn't help. He kept prescribing medicine that had no effect. I finally had an Upper GI on 6/21 and he discovered what he said was a polyp. After the medication wore off, I woke up at 2 AM with severe pains. Prescribed liquid medicine for an ulcer....that didn't help, called his office and was prescribed Vicodin which also did little to help. Then he berated me for calling his office to get new medicines. He said he was going to recommend a specific doctor to remove the polyp. If I hadn't kept calling, my records would never have been sent to this other doctor. Finally after 2 weeks of being in constant agony and no adequate response from anyone in his office, I got the other doctor's number. I was in agony and wanted this "polyp" removed. Someone called me back that same day and scheduled me for another Upper GI to remove the "polyp." That polyp turned out to be a "tumor." That was 7/1 and I didn't hear back from Dr. Aron until my test results came back over a week later. He acted like this was the first time he'd heard that the polyp was a tumor. He lies, and he has no compassion. I will be writing a letter to the State to let them know how I feel about his skills as a doctor. His tech is also incompetent. After calling for a couple of days leaving messages for the doctor to call me back, one of the administrators picked up the phone and told me to stop calling their office to ask for my test results. I'd never asked anyone for any results since I know very well only the doctor can give you that information. I'm supposed to have a followup GI in Oct. to see how I've healed. I will look for another doctor. Obviously Dr. Aron is so busy that any compassion he might have once had for his patients has flown the coop. read more

I *adore* this doctor. I was skeptical at first, because he shares an office with one of the worst docs I've ever seen, but he won me over. He is quite simply one of the kindest, gentlest, most caring doctors I have seen, and one of the best listeners, too. I had a rather long, complicated story to tell, and he sat and listened to every word without interrupting, even though it took me about fifteen minutes to go through it. When I was done, he asked me a few questions, then looked me in the eye and said, "I can help you." I wanted to cry - I could tell by his manner that he meant it, and I was *so* desperate for help. Furthermore, the treatments he prescribed for me *have* helped me - extraordinarily so. They have changed my life - no kidding. For the record, I don't have celiac disease or gluten intolerance or any of that business - I do have Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome, however, and he is experienced and skilled at treating that. I highly recommend him to anyone who is experiencing G-I issues. read more

Why is the staff so rude and condescending? Understandable that I was in a situation that they couldn't help out with, but no need for attitude right off the bat. read more

I have never left a review before, but I actually would feel guilty if I didn't leave one for the single greatest Dr. that I have ever had. Dr. Aron, has spent the last 6 months working with me and other doctors trying to treat a very complicated medical situation. After moving here from Florida last year and experiencing the worst treatment I had ever received I feel like for the first time in the last 5 years of my illness that although a cure might not be around the corner that same corner has Dr. Aron in it 100%. I will wrap up with this: As I was leaving his office today I thanked him for all he has done for me and for treating me like a person, not a number, and he replied by saying something I never before thought I would hear from a doctor. To paraphrase, he said "I told you in the very beginning that what you have is very difficult to treat and incredibly painful. That doesn't mean I am going to give up though, we will see this thing all the way through, I'm not going anywhere and I won't ever be". This man gives me hope and faith, because I genuinely believe that everything he says is 100% sincere. And I will continue to believe that because he has proven that to me over and over and over. I might not be better, but for the first time ever I know without a doubt that I will never be alone. Too bad 6 Stars aren't available. read more

The gentleman has been and continues to be the single GREATEST physician I have ever had. Whatever the reason was, be it coincidence or something a lot more powerful, Dr. Aron just happened to be the Gastroenterologist on call when I was admitted to CPMC in San Francisco (36 hours after moving here) back in 2011 and from that day forward he has been my biggest supporter, greatest confidant and absolutely the best ally I have EVER had in the medical world. I could go on and on giving examples of what Dr. Aron has done for me-far above and beyond what I would ever expect from a doctor. In lieu of going on with examples of all that this man has done for me I believe the best way to sum up my opinions and feelings can be done in a single sentence. I don't think I would be here today to write this if it wasn't for Dr. Aron and I honestly believe, from the bottom of my heart that he is a Godsend, not just for me but for the support and compassion he has always shown for my wife as well. read more

Dr. Aron has been my husband's doctor for years...He is the best it gets.....My husband has ulcerative colitis and Dr. Aron has treated him with excellent results....his diagnosis & treatment regimen has my husband in great health...he is also so down to earth that he actually makes my husband & I feel comfortable ...We are grateful that my husband is under his care...... read more

Nice dr, but his office loses records all the time and forgets to send referrals for urgent procedures even after countless reminders. On top of this, I do not have faith he knows what he is talking about as I receive different information from other drs. The one positive is he is willing to work with your own recommendations, however, the patient should not be the one directing the medical protocal. read more

We (my wife really) diagnosed my daughter as a Celiac 8 years ago, and she had to ask the GI doctor at Stanford three times to run the tests. Later we got to know Dr. Aron in 2008 when I volunteered as a silent celiac for an FDA study. These days I think if you suspect you are celiac, you can have your local lab run the Promethius lab blood test (ttg-iga) and just get the info without the hassle of waiting for Dr. Aron. He is one of the experts on the west coast for celiac, though, so if you have something difficult then you can go to him. But it's a poor fit if you just want a quick yes-no celiac diagnosis, because you're waiting in line behind people who are willing to wait for his expertise. These days you can get that answer from your local medical group, like Palo Alto Medical Foundation, or similar, in just a couple days. And celiac (fortunately!) is now much more known. read more

He is a great doctor but does not have any coverage after hours or for the weekend. He does not return calls. When i told him that his temporary receptionist incorrectly told me I needed to take the cleansing concoction for my upper endoscopy (so unpleasant and expensive) his response was ,"Well, she's a temp. What can you do?" But the real concern is you CANNOT get him or another doc if you have problems after hours or on the weekend. Absolutely unacceptable. Note also that he own the Endoscopy Clinic where he does the endoscopies. read more

this doctor is awesome. totally nice, great sense of humor, and completely down to earth. if you are going to a gastroenterologist it is usually not for laughs...but this guy does the trick. love him. read more

This review and one star is NOT for Dr. Aron but for his receptionist/staff Grace. If you need simple things done like make an appointment, pay your co-pay, she's totally willing to help. She becomes "unavailable" and useless once you start asking her questions, particularly on what is included in Dr. Aron's "professional fees" of $150. First time around, she tells me that I can discuss it with Dr. Aron (I ask during my appointment and he never tells me what it includes and that it was a practice that someone in the office started so needless to say, I never got a straight answer). Prior to leaving, Grace makes my endoscopy appointment at Golden Gate Endoscopy Center and I have to sign a notice acknowledging that I am responsible for the $150 professional fee Dr. Aron charges prior to having my procedure ("professional fees" including talking to my insurance, getting pre-authorization, etc). At this point Grace asks that I pay the fee now, I don't because I still don't know why I am being charged with this fee, especially for something I can do myself AND something almost all doctor offices do WITHOUT charging the patient. I told Grace I wanted to do some research first before paying anything. Later that day, I call my insurance and they tell me I don't need prior authorization, especially if my Primary doctor who's in-network with my insurance had ordered the procedure and that the procedure is included and if I wanted, my insurance would call her directly to confirm. I call Grace and she tells me that Dr. Aron would call me directly; he doesn't. So I call her back a day later and Grace tells me, she's sorry that Dr. Aron can't call me back personally (why tell me initially that he can if he really can't?) and tells me that I can call his billing service and they can tell me what the $150 professional fees includes. I call the billing service, they tell me they only take care of the billing and that I would need to talk to Dr. Aron's office directly to find out what is included. At this point, I'm over the BS, clearly, Grace has no flipping idea what the fees includes and it's a way for the office/the doctor to make more money. Needless to say, I cancelled my appointment and was EASILY helped by UCSF who could take me early next week. It's very disappointing that good doctors hire incompetent, RUDE, people to handle their front practice since I will NEVER go back to see Dr. Aron again due to my interaction with Grace. read more

I saw Dr. Aron several years ago for months and months but did not see any change in my condition so quit going. He suggested avoiding commercially raised meats, preservatives and food additives, which was good advice, but then prescribed a drug which had vanillin as one of it's ingredients. It cost a fortune and did nothing for me. Annoyingly, I also found myself in the waiting room for a minimum of an hour after the scheduled appointment time every time I went there. I was always given the excuse, 'he had an emergency procedure,' blurted out by the desk staff as though on autopilot, even when I scheduled first appointment of the day. The blood test for Celiac which he ordered took about 6 weeks to get back, even though it should have been a 1-week turnaround. I suspect the sample got lost and was never sure whether or not to trust the results. He never looked into the possibility of any other food sensitivities (dairy, maybe?) or my chronic autoimmune disease as factors in the digestive problems I have. All in all, I would definitely not recommend. read more