If there was an award for the WORLD's BEST Pediatrician Dr. Cortez would win hands down every year! I first met Dr. Cortez by phone when I was at Childre's Hospital Oakland after the birth of my son. My son was born with a Life-threatening heart condition and was on full life support within his first 5 minutes of life. He had open heart surgery at 3 days. As a result of the heart defect, it caused him to have 7 other anomalies. Dr. Cortez has been with us every step of the way and helping to organize and lead my sons team of doctors. He has calmed our fears and frustrations time and time again. He has been an angel. Like any GOOD doctor he can run behind some time but he is worth the wait. He takes time out to hear your concerns and discuss ll possible options. When he does not have the answer he says so and then makes it a point to get the answers. After fifteen years and my sons 11 surgeries, he is still standing by to help our family. In addition, he has and excellent CNA Xenia, she does her best to return call and follow up on referrals in addition to delivering the best shot possible the patients. Finally, every subspecialist my son has had gives Dr. Cortez compliments on the way he cares for his patients. You can't go wrong if you choose Dr. Paul Cortez as your family pediatrician. read more

A Systemic Billing Nightmare Wrapped in a Pediatric Office I want to preface this by stating that Dr. Paul Cortez, MD is a genuinely personable pediatrician who provides good clinical care to our kids. However, his medical expertise is completely overshadowed by the predatory, deceitful billing practices of his pediatrics office and the broader John Muir Health system. A well-child exam should be a stress-free milestone, not a traumatic, anxiety-inducing financial trap for parents. This Alamo Pediatrics clinic operates on a deeply ingrained culture of surprise billing. If you ask even a single question about your child's development, they will immediately unbundle the visit and slap you with steep diagnostic charges. During our most recent well-child visits, we brought our sons in expecting standard, ACA-mandated preventative care. Instead, weeks later, we were hit with surprise bills. The clinic purposefully unbundled routine pure-tone hearing screens and submitted them as standalone diagnostic tests under CPT code 92551. By deliberately withholding the required preventative modifier, they forced our insurance, Aetna, to kick the charges straight to our family deductible. This is not an isolated "clerical error" - this exact same billing nightmare happened to us last year, costing us three months of endless phone tag to fix. Given how systemic this is year after year, I am absolutely sure his practice manager is complicit in this defensive revenue-generating strategy. When you try to resolve these issues, the front desk completely washes their hands of it and punts you to the John Muir central billing department, which operates like a black hole of unreturned voicemails and hour-long hold times. When I finally cornered a billing representative named Karen, she aggressively tried to gaslight me, claiming a standard pediatric hearing check is a "diagnostic" test. It wasn't until I physically conferenced in an Aetna representative on a three-way call and had to yell over her pushback that they backed down and agreed to recode the visits. Yet, they even managed to completely botch the correction. For one of my sons, their incompetent billing department submitted the corrected claim by billing the exact same hearing test three separate times on a single invoice and STILL forgot to attach the preventative modifier. A doctor's office should be a trustworthy partner in your child's health, not a bureaucratic adversary that weaponizes medical coding to nickel and dime families. Save yourself the immense administrative trauma and find a pediatric practice that actually knows how to bill preventative care accurately and honestly. read more

Best doctor in the East Bay! He is such a kind and caring man. He listens and gives you as much time as you need during your child's appointment. I woulod give him 10 stars if I could. read more

Dr Cortez is just so amazing. The most patient, kind & loving pediatrician. He isn't pushy & respects parent's decisions. Thank you Dr Cortez! read more

Dr. Cortez is the best pediatrician ever! His staff is wonderful too! He is patient, genuine and compassionate. He is the perfect example of how doctors should be! Thank you Dr. Cortez, I am so grateful that my boys have you as their doctor. Sincerely, The Curtiss Family read more

Love Dr. Cortez, love the location of this office (so convenient). Never had a problem parking here although I can imagine that smallish parking lot getting filled up. Love the nurses here although I still don't know their names (even after four years -my bad!). Office staff is always friendly. And I figured out how to get around the sometimes (overly) long wait times! Go first thing in the morning. In and out. Now, I realize you can't necessarily do this with an unplanned visit, but still I was impressed! read more

I can't say enough good things about Dr. Cortez. He has been my son's pediatrician since his birth, eight years ago! He really takes the time to sit down and talk with you. Never have I felt rushed and he always answers all of my annoying questions without making me feel like a neurotic freak. He was recommended to me from my OB's office and since he (Dr. Lollar) is fantastic, I knew Dr. Cortez would be as well. read more

My teen had a very positive experience with Dr. Cortez. Our pediatrician just retired. I would definitely recommend him.

I'm so happy we chose Dr. Cortez. We previously saw Dr. Nash at this practice until he went on his own. We were thinking about switching to Dr. Trotter in San Ramon as he's closer to our new home in Danville... however we needed to see someone right away for baby girl's 6 month shots. We planned to see him once, then submit the paperwork to transfer to Dr. Trotter. We were so impressed that we decided to stay with Dr. Cortez. You can tell he genuinely cares about his patients and their parents. He's got a very gentle approach and I can tell that he will be great at keeping my daughter calm during times of sickness and getting shots. read more

I'm 38 weeks pregnant with my first baby, and had been shopping around for a pediatrician. I was told most doctors do not do meet & greets, but Dr. Cortez's staff was nice enough to call me back and set one up. Being new parents, my boyfriend and I were not too sure what to ask him. But when we went to the appointment, he took his time with us and answered our questions and provided us with lots of helpful information. His demeanor was that of someone who cares about making his patients comfortable and we were very pleased. Looking forward to having him meet our baby girl when she arrives! read more

I cannot say enough good things about Dr. Cortez. I have never had a doctor this conscientious and skilled and kind before, and my husband and I both wish he could be our doctor. He has taken care of both of my children (currently ages 3 years and 9 months). We have to move to the East Coast and we are most sad about losing Dr. Cortez. read more

Dr. Paul Cortez misdiagnosed our daughter. He thought it was pychosis but it was really Lyme disease. It's caused years of problems with the wrong diagnosis being in the medical system. It's something the "mainstream" doctors all missed though so he's not the only one. Alot of "regular" doctors don't do the research or go through a thorough thought process to analyze the diseases that are not so common. They seem to have built in solutions -like if this then it's that and here's the drug. That probably works most of the time but not all the time. Also their blood tests do not detect Lyme properly. Also in retrospect his recommendation to remove the tonsils seem to good at the time but after researching it more it reduced our daughters ability to fight infections too. Only so called "alternative" doctors that insurance does not often cover have diagnosed it correctly with at least 3 blood tests. Finally we are seeing some improvements. Dr. Cortez is nice but if thinks it's a certain illness, he seems to be bent on it, close minded and in this case works against us toward the correct solution. read more

Dr. Cortez has a wonderful, calming presence. He is very gentle and soft spoken. For me, I really do need a pediatrician that cares about how they interact with children and he does. In my opinion and also my husband's, Dr. Cortez is pretty laid back compared to what we were expecting from a pediatrician. We would come to our well baby checks prepared to answer zillions of questions about what he was eating and small motor developments, etc..and he really doesn't do that. I think he makes his observations of your baby without grilling you. My husband feels that it seems he is not "thorough". After thinking about it for the last year and I half, for me his laid back style is a nice balance, as I am not laid back at all. You might find the experience during an appointment is more parent-led than doctor led. I think it depends on your personality whether that is a good thing or a bad thing for you. That being said, he will sit with you for as long as it takes to discuss your questions. He is a pro vaccination doctor but was willing to talk to us about concerns and has been accomodating of our wish to do a delayed vax schedule, which we really appreciated. I usually see him in his Concord location which I don't like. The receptionist area is not only for him but for other doctors working in other areas of medicine as well, which can make the whole experience seem less personal. There is also a pretty long wait time to get in to see him. I have found that trying to do a quick appointment on a lunch break is not really a workable option. Overall, I have stuck with Dr. Cortez because I do like him and believe he truly does care about my son. I like his calm demeanor. I tend to sometimes be a fussy mom who needs the occasional hand holding and if you are like that too, he may not be the perfect fit for you. Definitely meet him and see what you think. read more

I am so thankful we found Dr. Cortez! He is very sweet, thorough, patient, and genuine. My kids love him and so do my husband and I.

I've taken my kid to see Dr Cortez 3 times. The first couple of times it was fine. The third time I took my kid to see him for reoccurring canker sores, which were misdiagnosed for cold sores. I had done my research and told the doctor that my kid showed signs of having canker sores. He thought it was cold sores and HSV1 related, prescribed my kid herpes medicine. ..I was shocked! I took my kid to the dentist and the dentist confirmed that it is not a cold sore (they are on the lips, outside of the mouth) but canker sores (ulcers inside of the mouth, NOT related to HSV1). I'm very glad that I listened to my mama instincts and took my kid to a specialist. Dr Cortez is a nice guy but I can't have misdiagnosis with my kid. read more

We love Dr. Cortez. He genuinely cares about my kids, and he is all about what's good for your children. He never pushes products or procedures, listens to what the parents have to say, and always available on his cell phone. We liked him so much that we followed him to his new Alamo location even though it's a bit far for us and we scored big time. The office is much nicer than his Concord location and the wait is much shorter! read more

Dr. Cortez has been the family doctor for both of my kids since 2003. He is an amazing doctor, loving and caring in everyway. I was glad to have found such a great pediatrician for my kids. Your service is much appreciated. V. Cimarra read more

Paul Cortez is a great doctor! He's been my doctor for years now. He's very friendly and always is very caring with all his patients. I can't wait to take my kids here. read more

Dr. Cortez is a wonderful pediatrician. He has seen two of my children since infancy and I have always been impressed with his gentle and patient demeanor. He handles the children with such care, as if they are delicate little flowers. I take all three of my children to him. When my littlest was very sick, he accurately diagnosed him, after an inaccurate diagnosis in the ER. He gave both his cell phone and email if we needed to reach him right away. If there are long wait times, it is probably because Dr. Cortez is willing to take the time to explain things very thoroughly and spend extra time whenever necessary. Personally, I think he goes above and beyond and at this point, I wouldn't trust my children with anyone else. read more

I have lived in the san ramon/danville area for 7 years. I have have gone through my share of pediatricians, some would call me a pediatrician snob. And I will own it. I wanted to find a doctor for my children that really cared for them. Gave them thorough examinations, asked questions and answered my questions. Someone who wasn't rushed but took time to just be with us. In the past 6.5 years I have been through 6 different pediatricians... and then FINALLY Dr. Cortex came into my life. He is everything on my wish list... and even more. The first day I went there with my children he gave me all his contact information... even cell phone. And told me to call anytime I needed anything. Honestly you can not find doctors like Dr. Cortez anymore... and I grateful that we came across him. read more

My three boys have been to him for the last 5 years. We get in same day. He is down to earth and sensible. He is very kind and patient with my kids. He takes his time. He listens to us. He has called us at home to check in after a serious illness or accident. He has gotten my son a MUCH NEEDED prescription on the weekend within 9mins of asking. He doesn't push anything we as parents are not comfortable with. I highly recommend Dr. C. read more

Dr. Cortez is wonderful! He has the most kind and gentle demeanor and makes children of all ages feel comfortable and cared for. I would recommend him to everyone! read more

We have been seeing Dr. Cortez for years and could not be happier. The office is conveniently located, parking is always available. The front office and staff are very friendly and accommodating. The appointments are easy to schedule, confirmed beforehand as a reminder and usually on time. If you have to wait they have an aquarium and television with some kids movie always playing in the waiting area. Dr. Cortez is great with kids. He takes his time, has a great bedside manner and is very competent. We had an issue that required a specialist and he knew exactly who to send us to and even helped to make an appointment for us. Dr. Cortez is extremely patient and very good at discussing the visits and any health concerns/results with parents. He explains things in a very common sense manner and provides direction and guidance to make decisions easier. He even provided us with his personal cell in case of an emergency or if we felt the need to call after hours. In the 8 years we have been seeing Dr. Cortez we only had to call him once and he answered. He was very helpful and addressed our needs with care and compassion. We would highly recommend Dr. Cortez to anyone living in the San Ramon Valley looking for a pediatrician. read more

My children have been going to Dr. Cortez since birth, with my youngest struggling with Neonatal care for several days post-birth. He has followed them through many well-visits and viruses and is always caring and kind with them. He has diagnosed and referred us to many a specialist where I think many would have missed. He has called us on Saturday's and seen them with same day appointments again and again. He takes special care of my son who struggles with respiratory illness and gets super sick super fast. I can't express or list all of my gratitude for him. And this review simply cannot be completed without mentioning his angel or a medical assistant Xenia who is so special and texts us and is so insanely responsive. They feel like family and certainly treat us as such. There needs to be a new word for grateful to express my appreciation for them! read more

My child has been seeing Dr Cortez for a while and I had mixed feelings. He is very nice and great with kids but has a strong policy against antibiotics, I am not at all a fan of a lot of antibiotics but common sense needs to prevail. Twice Dr Cortez failed to prescribe antibiotics when my child was extremely ill. In both cases I was forced to pay for second opinions and in both cases she recovered quickly after treatment but suffered for no good reason for many days. My child is recovering from a bout of pneumonia where he failed to prescribe antibiotics and I was forced to request a second opinion. I am so thankful I was able to get a second opinion for a very reliable doctor in the office as my child responded quickly and is on a road to recovery. I can't even fathom if she went untreated for another few days, it scares me considerably untreated pneumonia is very serious. After 3 doses of antibiotics she is finally recovering from her constant high temps and scary coughing episodes. I am moving away from Dr Cortez given his strong philosophy again antibiotics and two misdiagnoses that resulted in a lot of prolonged pain for my child. My take on Dr Cortez is if your child is relatively healthy, and never has anything unusual or requires research, he is a solid doctor and great with kids, we were good for several years when my child had a few sinus issues and bouts of strep but if your child has anything slightly out of the box I would seek a second opinion or change doctors. read more

What a wonderful pediatrician, both of my toddlers really look forward to seeing him we've been using him for over 4 years now. We have a nice, brand new doctor's office across the street from our house but I could never consider not taking the kids to Dr. Cortez even with a bit of a drive. He is so thorough and willing to take the time needed to discuss and find the right approach for your situation and concerns while providing his insightful expertise. He is very caring and his calm demeanor is so helpful in easing any concerns. He makes the appointments a pleasure and his office staff are all great as well read more

Choosing a pediatrician for our daughter was a delicate and quite a crucial decision for us. We had to have someone that was knowledgeable, local, and thorough. Dr. Cortez has met all of these criteria's and more so. During our appointments he takes the time to comfort our daughter and us and, also spends as much time as we need to fully explain what is happening. In a time where it seems that most medical appointments treat you as a product on an assembly line, getting you in and getting you out as quickly as possible, it is always a pleasure to visit Dr. Cortez even in bleak circumstances. He has a wonderful soothing and reassuring bedside manner that calms our daughter. He is the "Dr. Doolittle" of pediatricians. We do tend to have to wait for our visit but it is a small price to pay for the extraordinary consideration that he gives to us and our daughter. read more

I have the best experience with Dr Paul Cortez. He is a great Dr, he takes his time and he listens. He's been our family Dr for over 10 years My siblings and I saw him now our children see him too. His staff is excellent as well meaning Zenia. =] read more

Dr Cortez was the pediatrician for my 3 children for about 8 years while he had an office in Concord/Walnut Creek. We moved out of the area shortly after he moved to Alamo. We've tried a variety of different pediatricians in our new location and I kept finding myself looking for a new "Dr Cortez". I know there are considerations like location, staff, fees and other logistical things that influence how people rate doctors. As I look at reviews here on Yelp trying to find the right fit I feel so compelled to share my sentiments about Dr Cortez with other parents looking for that right doc for their kids. Paul was accessible, an excellent listener, took the time, made the connection and built critical trust with me and my kids (okay, they just really liked his cool ties!). Hope this is helpful to others. read more

My family was referred to Dr. Cortez by a friend 8 years ago when I was pregnant with my first child. We have now grown from a three person family to a five person family and we would never dream of switching pediatricians for any reason. We love Dr. Cortez, our kids love Dr. Cortez and we love his assistant Xenia. They are always kind, take time to listen to and answer questions and they really love the kids. Great office, great Dr. Highly recommend! read more

I love Dr. Cortez! I have never met a pediatrician who is so caring, gentle and on point with diagnosis! I take my 3 kids to him and trust no other pediatrician, but him! If I could give him more stars I would!!! read more