I have been a patient of Dr. Martyak's for over ten years. As a doctor myself, I have no problem being judgy or picky or critical of other doctors. Dr. Martyak is what I wish all of us in the profession could be-very current on knowledge, thoughtful, empathetic, and deeply caring. Dr. Martyak treats me for GI complications caused by other medications that I have to take despite their horrible side effects. She thinks outside the box and goes the extra mile to make sure I'm okay. I go years without needing her aside from the recommended GI maintenance, and then there are times during which I desperately need her help. She and her amazing front office are there every time. Dr. Martyak recognizes that this stuff is hard for most of us to talk about, including me. You can say anything and she will receive it with concern and a deep understanding of how important personal dignity is. I love that she keeps both short term comfort and symptom management as well as long term plans front and center. I cannot recommend her highly enough. My husband is also a patient of hers and would agree wholeheartedly. I take tremendous comfort in knowing that she is ready and willing to take on my rather complex GI issues with a true understanding of how hard this stuff can be on your quality of life. There are not enough stars to rate her as I'd truly like to. She's a godsend and I feel so much better both physically and emotionally in her care. read more

Thank you for amazing care. You're the best. I was very worried about the colonoscopy but it was effortless and painless. Much appreciate it, Omar the dentist :) read more

I tried to have Dr. Martyak help me with the same chronic issue for YEARS. Never did because she wouldn't physically examine me (eg look at the issue) - only talk to me or have PA do a Zoom. Went to a new doctor. Diagnosed in 5 minutes. Over the counter solved the problem immediately. Another example of lack of care or attention. read more

Dr.Martyak is a smart,kind,gentle,caring doctor,and human being.She is the best! The MA's need to follow her good example! read more

Dr. Martyak is a great doctor and probably saved my life doing my colonoscopy. However, she has the rudest office staff I have ever encountered. If you can handle being treated like a piece of dirt by trying to make an appointment, she is worth it. Very skilled at what she does and she is very caring. I just don't understand how she can tolerate her front office being such discourteous, disrespectful, impolite, uncaring employees! I would have given her 5 stars if not for such a nasty experience just trying to make an appointment! read more

Dr. Martyak had a scheduling issue and I did not know my procedure had been canceled until half my prep was done. I finally had my procedure which was rushed. I did not want drugs however they encouraged me to use them. This should have been discussed in their pre-op appt. You cannot reach this Dr. for results. It's been 2 weeks since my colonoscopy and I have left 5 messages with no response. She gave me concerning information upon my discharge that she has never followed up on. This is my first review but I had to share how concerned I am with this offices protocols and procedures. Negligent. read more

Today was my 2nd time around with Dr. Martyak and I can't say eough. Her level of expertise is unmatched. Went in for a colonoscopy and became my chart said I have hypothyroidism she suggested she do an Upper GI as well. As she suspected I have an extreme case of Celiac Disease. That was 2010 and I have been gluten-free ever since. Her staff can sometimes be very challenging and so can her schedule. Plan way ahead. read more

I am crazy about her. I find her to be very open friendly and well educated. Been seeing her fir a long time. I recommend

Excellent. Office staff extremely helpful and kind. So thankful to them. Dr. Martyak is excellent. She is very experienced and extremely knowledgeable. Straightforward, smart, kind, and I highly recommend. You're in good hands here. read more

I found my doctor! I changed insurance companies and my previous doctor was no longer "In network". He had recommended yearly endoscopy. I went to the Cigna website and made and appointment with Dr. Martyak. She was 10-15 minutes late, and when she walked in, she apologized profusely for being late. Shen then spent a good half hour asking questions and actively listening and taking notes. She then told me that she rarely recommends yearly endoscopy and was going to go over my records to see if she agreed with the previous doctor. It was a real pleasure to find a doctor who seems to agree with me, that unless one has something serious, with medicine, less is more. read more

This review applies only to Colonoscopy with Dr. Lena Martyak. One of the wonderful things about passing your 50th birthday is that your doctor indicates it's time for a colonoscopy. In my case, I felt well, had no GI symptoms and dreaded this procedure. Like many people, I postponed it. I also knew the safety and success of this procedure is highly dependent on the doctors' experience and skill. One day I browsed through my insurance's list of approved providers and Googled a couple of doctors in the Santa Monica area. An appointment with one of them (I won't mention the name here, but you can email me) quickly ruled him out. The second appointment, with Dr. Martyak, was a hit. I had found my doctor! She is a young, knowledgeable, caring doctor with excellent bedside manner and the patience of a saint. After going through a full Q&A about my health, she provided some facts about the safety of a colonoscopy and even offered alternatives if I was still set on avoiding the procedure. I signed up! While the preparation is quite dreadful, the procedure itself was fine and Dr. Martyak, along with the anesthesiologist and assistant (all female team), made me feel at ease and in good hands. I am extremely thankful to this doctor for the wonderful care I received! read more

A WARNING... Dr. Martyak is a great doctor--if you can ever get though the office staff to her. The office staff do not pass on messages or they get them wrong. Days go by with no response...If you need actual real care and can't wait 2-3 months for a routine test...the staff just tell you they can't help you and that you should go to an emergency room. Last year during a health crisis, trying to deal with Dr. Martyak's office was beyond frustrating. I really needed help, it is likely that the staff never passed on any messages until I was in tears with someone. The Dr. did eventually respond but there was no need for it to be so difficult to get help. When/if you get to Dr. Martyak, she is indeed a good doctor, she is thorough and will take time...getting to her is arduous and should not have to be. Now I am watching a close friend being tortured by the utter lack of response from the same office staff. Nothing has changed at all. Again, if you need routine tests and can wait a long time, Dr. Martyak is worth waiting for. BUT, if you need help quickly, you will not get care from this office. The staff have clearly forgotten their patients are human beings, just like them--would they want to be treated this way?? Probably not. read more

Agree with the other reviewer. The doctor gets 3-4 stars but overall in terms of costs and outcome- can't recommend. First off since she is a specialist, I do recommend in the future to please outline the cost of her recommendations since the majority of it is not covered under insurance. She is very sweet. Sits down to talk to you however for me she recommended several tests- a blood test, breath test, etc. I do understand the necessity of tests however not everyone has thousands of dollars to spend on figuring out what is wrong with their abdominal system. She should outline the most cost effective way and also if those who are willing to pay more- the other ways. I got a bill for $300 for the blood test which really told me nothing. Then also $100 for the appt but my insurance paid also another $150 so total $250 for a 15 min appt. So overall I paid like $400 for nothing and no solution to my problem. I would have preferred going to my general practitioner. Plus she was so booked out that I had to book a month in advance. read more

20 minute telemedicine appointment - $832. Advise - take miralax. Called 4 times to confirm bill. No one called back. Will not be going back. read more

Thank you to Dr. Martyak , CindyRN anesthesiologist, Celerina RN for your Excellent care of my husband during and after his routine colonoscopy! Dr Martyak is a fantastically Skilled Doctor with a Superior professional attitude , patience and empathy ! A rare combination ! Dr Martyak explained the results to both my husband and I after he woke up in recovery. She took her time with us ; making sure we understood the procedure outcome thoroughly. Much appreciated and recommended! read more

If you are pregnant, beware! I did not have a good experience with Dr Martyak, which was surprising because she came highly recommended by a Dr I trust. It took months to get in to see her, by the time I did I was pregnant and she couldn't help me much. I don't know if her diagnosis was correct because she wouldn't do the appropriate test, which i understand her reasoning for not doing it but I didn't have much confirmation. She did give me some advice, I have never been steered so wrong by a Dr in my whole life. All the stuff she told me to do made me INCREDIBLY sick and the things she told me I couldn't, shouldn't or didn't need to do is what I actually needed and what helped. I was very hesitant to leave this review and it's taken me some time to do so, but I couldn't let it go. I at least wanted to warn anyone who is pregnant and considering this Dr to proceed with caution. read more

I received exceptional care from Dr Martyack!!!!! I had a colonoscopy, the Dr and her staff were very informative, comforting and through. Many of my friends have visited Dr. Martyack with great results. read more

Based on my overall experience I felt compelled to provide honest feedback about this practice in order to warn other potential patients. I, like another reviewer, felt it was easier to see the doctor again after many years when some new gastro issues emerged. I was already in the practice and felt she was a really good doctor based on my previous experience. The practice has grown tremendously over the years and based on that there is now an inability to communicate with the doctor directly (except via a janky portal system that takes some time to get a response), no phone communication with the doctor directly, no follow up consult unless deemed "urgent" which is the call of the nurse not the doctor herself, and no openings until March....it was November. When you are in front of Dr Martyak - she is very thorough and spends time with you. She is a very good doctor and was alarmed when I mentioned a few symptoms which I personally dismissed. She told me to follow up if they did persist. Those same symptoms actually became increasingly worse. I called the office and was directed to her nurse who told me by matter was not urgent - see her in March and once again you can email on the portal. Frustrated at the inability to discuss the issues with the doctor directly and not wanting to have the discussion over a messenger service, I thankfully went to my general doctor who found diagnosed me straight away and got me some proper treatment. I had been sick at this point for well over a month. If the practice was better run, I would have avoided suffering for so long. Goodbye SoCal Gastro Group! read more

I am more than satisfied with Dr. Martyak, she explained everything along the way and am confident with her knowledge and experience. I never had a problem with her office, but maybe she has become so popular, you need to book ahead of time. (I have to book my oncologist 3 months in advance) But, they are right...emergencies need to get in fast and the office should accommodate. read more

If you are looking for a great gastroenterologist look no further than Dr. Martyak. When you visit her office you feel like you are visiting her home. She is a great doctor, personable. and has a great sense of humor. Dr. Martyak is extremely thorough and you know you are being well-taknen care of. You will not find a better G.I. doctor. Be patient with the wait time for appointments, she is very popular. But once you get in you rarely wait to see her. She keeps a tight appointment schedule. I found my G.I. doctor for life. read more

Very bad experience and had to cancel colonoscopy after vomiting up Magnesium Citrate. Got no help from medical people - had been told Nurse Practitioner or doctor would call me, but their surgery scheduling secretary called and said no one else was available. Some kindness and proper instruction from scheduler would have gone a long ways, but she was terse and cold. She listed some other things I could take - but didn't say what I would need to do, or offer any advice, information or encouragement. When I told her I had never taken the meds she mentioned I take instead, she said, "Well, you can cancel and reschedule." I cancelled. I did not reschedule. I was so sick after vomiting that I would have needed encouragement, coaching, and a bit of reassurance to finish the prep. I could have done that with proper medical care. I still got severe diarrhea, so I had the worst parts of the colonoscopy without getting the procedure done. The Nurse Practitioner called me back the next day, after my procedure would have been over. She said the staff hadn't alerted her that my questions needed to be answered that day. My conclusion: go elsewhere. The medical staff is too busy to help patients who are having a surgical procedure the next day. The nonmedical staff is not trained to properly notify the medical staff when a patient needs help. And when the medical staff is unavailable, you will have to rely on the vagaries of the moods of the nonmedical staff who may or may not try to help you, and may not know the answers to your questions. p.s. I have also learned that Magnesium Citrate is harder to tolerate than some other preps. My advice: Try another practice. read more

I, too, love Dr. Martyak. She is a gracious, conscientious and a thorough doctor. Once you're in her office, you get the time you need - she does not leave you wanting. The problem is getting in the office - even for a post hospitalization follow-up. Literally a 2-month wait, which is ridiculous. read more

Though I LOVE Dr. Martyak, the office staff here is utterly incompetent. They never return pharmacy phone calls for prescription refills--their go-to pharmacy on the ground floor in the same building is even ignored. I've actually had to take the elevator up to Martyak's office on more than one occasion to ask the office staff to please respond to the downstairs pharmacy's repeated requests so I can get routine prescription refills. Further, they completely botched pre-authorization for an imaging procedure for several months, thus resulting in me not being able to have the procedure during my insurance coverage period. Absolute rubbish. We patients are paying completely absurd amounts of money for medical care--the least the medical corporations who own these physicians' practices can do is hire people with 3-digit IQs to manage their offices. Half of these yodels would fail employed at a Pizza Hut. read more

The doctor gets 5 stars. Absolutely great. The billing staff gets minus five. Although all I owed was a small co-pay due to the fact that the doctor was an in-network referral, the billing office did not submit the referral information to my insurance company, and billed me for over a thousand dollars worth of co-pays I did not owe, threatened to send the matter to collections, and harassed me for months. In fact, the insurance company had overpaid them and they were attempting to collect further co-payments from me. Not only did they not apologize for their error and the harassment, and time I wasted trying to sort out their errors, but they insisted they would continue to bill me. If the doctor replaces her billing department with more sensitive and efficient people, I would give her five stars. Otherwise, there are lots of doctors out there. Why go through the hassle? read more

I LOVE Dr. Martyak. I had mysterious and debilitating abdominal pain that I suffered with for six months. Two different internists misdiagnosed me with Acid Reflux and Urinary Tract Infections. They sent me for a CT scan, gave me antibiotics and anti-acid medicine. The pain would not go away. I couldn't sleep, couldn't exercise, and was scared to eat. On first meeting her we had a long discussion about my symptoms and history of the pain. She asked a lot of questions and listened to every detail. She did a quick 3 minute exam just to confirm her findings and told me it was muscular, not gastrointestinal. Thanks to her I was able to see a physical therapist, get rid of the pain within a few weeks and get back to a normal life. You never appreciate normal health until you lose it and you never appreciate a great doctor until you need one. Dr. Martyak is a GREAT doctor! She is definitely a problem solver, something I think ALL doctors should be. I don't want people guessing about what could be wrong, throwing medicines or treatments at me until they have done the investigative work and come to a solid conclusion. I have total trust that she is looking for the answer and correct treatment, something we should expect from doctors, but that I find very rarely in the medical community. Dr. Martyak is definitely a keeper! I just wish I could consult with her for more than gastrointestinal issues. read more

Dr. Martyak is by far the best physician I've had. She has the best bedside manner. She is extremely thorough with her analysis and providing the best treatment. She personally follows up with you to see how the treatment/medications are going. I could email her with any questions. I am 100% healed, so I no longer need to see her. She has left a lasting impression. I would recommend her to anyone suffering with GI issues. read more

I switched to Dr. Martyak after 12 years with another respected L.A. gastroenterologist, and I couldn't be happier. Dr. Martyak is skillful, knowledgeable, accessible, caring, and takes as much time as I've ever needed to answer my questions. Plus, she is open to my ideas about my health and treatment and encourages communication via phone and email which I have rarely experienced with a busy doctor. I don't have anything negative to say about her or her office staff. read more

Having suffered from stomach related problems since I was 9..i've had good and bad doctors. Needing a doctor on the westside I was recommended to her and I could not think of her any higher. I've been with her as a patient for 2 years and she has always spend the time explaining procedures, or medication interactions with me. She has always called me back promptly and I could not ask for a better doctor!!!!! Great personal skills along with her knowledge of the field!!!!! Can't recommend her enough. read more

If I could give her six stars I would. I have worked in healthcare for over 10 years and I have never found a Dr. who is so willing to work with you to find answers. She listens- I mean really listens! If you don't want to use traditional Western medicine she will work on finding a remedy that works while also finding times where there may be synergy. She also doesn't just slap an IBS or other ambiguous label on you, she runs tests in a conservative approach ruling in or out conditions that may be the cause of your ailment. I had a business trip coming up and had some really important questions I needed answered before I left as I had just learned I was newly pregnant and despite having a busy life of her own called me at 8:30pm to help me understand my new do's and don'ts. Thank goodness we still have MD's that care as much as she does! read more

Dr. Martyak is a gracious and highly intelligent GI specialist. She conducted my colonoscopy and gave me some sound advice regarding my GI issue. I'm thankful that I found her and I highly recommend her. She truly cares for her patients and their well being. read more

In my initial consultation Dr. Martyak took the time to go over the preparation and the procedure itself down to the detail and patiently answered all of my questions and concerns. She is very pleasant to talk to and also has a great sense of humor that helps you relax when you are nervous before your first procedure. Highly recommend this doctor. read more

Dr. Martyak is truly a rare person, much less a rare doctor. She is kind, patient, considerate, and brilliant. She has been the "Chief Executive Officer" during my two year battle with cancer. She recommended an oncologist, surgeon, and radiologist ... all of whom are brilliant and wonderful. If you choose Dr. Martyak, you can be assured of the best medical care. There will never be enough words for me to praise her any higher! read more

She is a true doctor with a feeling of responsibility to help people instead of looking at her own pocket book. I am insurance agent myself and I am so turned off by doctors who are not taking insurance. Dr Martyak accepts many insurance plans and she has no hidden charges . At her consultation she took her time to explain me the procedure, how successfully prepare and was a real Mensch and Doctor. Dr . Martyak I wish there where more doctors like you on the Westside and when I find them I will recommend them as highly as I can recommed you. Thank you ! read more

Dr. Lenna Martyak is wonderful. I have had a complicated history of GI problems and am a huge believer in integrative medicine. She's a thinker. Open-minded, patient and really thinks outside the box. Not sure I'll ever need another GI doctor! read more

I had been struggling with a severe GI problem for over two years. Both my dentist and my best friend recommended that I see Dr. Martyak. She is one of the brightest and most personable doctors I've ever met. She got me on the right track right away and solved the problem. Dr. Martyak has a great bedside manner and is genuinely interested in her patients. I'm a nurse and having worked with doctors for many years, I have to say, this doctor is a real super star. Her staff is responsive and efficient, especially So Hee. read more

Turning 50 isn't bad till you are told you need a colonoscopy screening! I am a big fan of Women Doctors and was thrilled to find Dr. Martyak .. There are not too many women gastros in LA! She made everything seem easy. From the first appointment to the procedure, she was completely professional and caring... Can not recommend her and her staff, more!!! read more

I never write these either, but after recent experiences, just had to. Dr. Martyak is very helpful, patient, goes our of her way to try and help. She has squeezed me in when she knew I was feeling particularly bad more than once which, as you can see from other reviews, is no small feat since she often books well in advance. Her services as pricey, and for a lot you have to pay oop which is unfortunate. Have to agree with some previous reviews that I have read that say her staff is incredibly rude. Have never dealt with people in a professional setting who were so offputting, especially at a doctor's office where you'd think they would go out of their way to try and be helpful or at the very least cordial. Honestly, 5 stars for the doctor, but 3 overall considering the staff that come with her that you'll unfortunately have to deal with eventually. read more

I had same experience as some other yelpers . The office is a mess . The office processed a test after it was canceled. Its a shame because I liked Dr Martyak a lot . Total lack of communication read more

Sadly, I'm disappointed in myself for going back after being disappointed with my first experience. You know when you start seeing one doctor, it just seems easier to continue going to them even if it was a poor experience? That's how I feel about this situation. The main issue here - which I believe they should have a disclaimer for - is that she refuses to speak to any patient on the phone. Will shut you down if you ever ask to speak, even if it's just a normal doctor follow up. You either have to make an appointment to go into the office OR converse with her via an online patient portal. I understand you're busy, but too busy to call your patients? Seems rude, distant and unworthy of your time or hers. Typically, I'm fine with digital conversations - it usually makes things easier - but in this case, it is not easy or efficient. It is an old school, early 2000's web portal that is hard to navigate and is not always a timely solution when you just want a quick answer. After not getting a proper follow-up after two tests I had run, I feel like it should be important for the doctor to call and try to get in touch. It never happened. I think she has good bedside manners, but outside of the quick office visit/consultation, I'm left with hardly anything positive. I've also rescheduled appointments and they somehow don't show up on the schedule, after driving there during working hours and paying for parking - with no solution on their end. It's disappointing, but I advise you to find a doctor who will take the time to speak with you like a paying and valuable patient. Sometimes convenience isn't always the best route. read more

This is an amazing office. Totally patient oriented, every step of the way. Dr. Martyak is very caring, explains everything perfectly. Her staff is warm and attentive. No one likes getting a colonoscopy, but they make it as easy as it can be. I highly recommend. read more