Dr. Schechter changed my life. I read his book and immediately knew I was dealing with TMS. An in…read moreperson visit to confirm the diagnosis and I began a process with a coach referred by Schechter. After 13 years of pain and expensive misdiagnoses, I became pain free in less than 60 days. No pain and no pills anymore.

I was in chronic pain and wanted to find a mind body doctor. I had read Dr David Schechter's books…read moreand wanted to find a solution. The staff is very friendly and helpful. Kristina and Vanessa sent forms and prepared ahead of time. The extra 2nd star is for the office staff. I filled out probably 7-8 detailed forms and had to wait 1.5 months to see Dr. Schechter. The day before my appointment I was notified for MBS (mind body syndrome) / TMS patients there's an extra $130 or 150 (I forget exactly the price) you have to pay out of pocket that's NOT covered by insurance. During the zoom appointment Dr. Schechter was 20 minutes late. He didn't review any of my files and just started reading them right there. Prior to our appointment I was really excited to finally get his diagnosis. I had sent a very organized 100 word summary of my conditions and what's I've tried so far.... and that wasn't read either. During our call, he cut me off several times and ask questions that I had been asked 100 times already by other practitioners, questions that easily would have been answered if he read my summary or any of his forms that his office had asked me to fill out. Towards the end of the call about 10 min prior to our 1 hour time, he was rushing to leave while I still had a lot of questions. Interesting considering he was 20 min late. I learned 0%. Nothing new. It was disappointing, being in pain for so long, hoping someone can help you. After this I sought other methods of help and the Mind body stuff really didn't resonate with me anymore. I still believe in Dr John Sarno's work. There are other mind body doctors that do well but they are out of state (CA). If you're reading this now, I wish you luck in your search. I'm using a pen name but I'm a real patient and this is an honest review. (see attached image) GL!

He is the most patient and knowledgeable dr. He coordinates cate efficiency and has been my dr for…read morenear 15 years. I have trusted him with everything from CRPS / pain syndrome - very rare and migraines a To a myriad of other neurological-issues needing coordination with pain dept in hospitals with surgery It i could somehow show you in photos how amazing he is. I would include a photo.

Dr. Vakani is a once in a lifetime Neurologist with perfect bedside manner. He is genuinely kind…read moreand a genius. Words to describe Dr. Vakani, don't exist here on earth. I am profoundly grateful I was referred to Dr. Vakani for chronic migraines. He's changed the quality of my life. He's so gentle when injecting, you don't feel anything. He's my most favorite MD/Neurologist. I will drive or fly anywhere to see him.

Not sure why I can't *edit my review. I had a *life-threatening reaction where timing was…read moreparamount. Bc he does FMRI, it would have looked severely alarming in my reaction. He would have noticed that I had no motor skills, and that there was something severely wrong with me, neurologically. He would have asked the right questions, like, "Are you in pain?." Not ONE doctor out of 40-50 even asked me that. I was so impaired, suffocating and in agony, I needed adjectives thrown at me. That would have been his first qu. I could barely speak. He would have handled that situation asap, which would have cured me. He would have sent me the extensive neurological tests, and I would be free and clear. He would have done a nerve conduction test. I didn't understand what was happening to me. That it was indeed, Neurological. I was running to derms, eye doctors. All the wrong Dr.s. I have sent about 20 women his way. The one neuro I went to was an idiot, bc what was happening to me was so out of the box, he could not wrap his brain around it. He gave me one standard MRI, old school, w the toxic tracer and wrote me off as, "Atypical face pain.". Uh. He saw those photos. Plus I'm saying I can't get blood and oxygen to my brain. He never asked me any questions. He actually DID, give me the cure, but never even mentioned the word, "Nerves," or told me what the drugs were for. I took them as prescribed for a few days and it did nothing I was so defeated. That was the cure. All I had to do was take the full bottle at once. I saw him after.He was shocked because I was shaking like I had Parkinson's. I told him he had saved my life with those drugs. He said that the brain is not supposed to produce that much electricity, and ref me to an epilepsy specialist. I was too impaired to get to a doctor for at least another year and that's when I met Dr. Jordan. My case was so complex and by the time I saw dr. Jordan the damage had been done,but he's trying his best with what we have to work with here. The amount of agony that I'm in is in comprehensible, and he doesn't treat me like I'm a drug seeker, which I have felt like in other scenarios. I was an athlete before this and never had a prescription for anything more than a week in my life. I spent 2 years in critical condition w zero medical attention bc it was, "Cosmetic," and 3 years recovering, so far. Because I lost my entire life and career, he was nice enough to write me a letter to the "Behavioral Board of Sciences," asking them to reinstate my 1000 hours towards my psychology license, as they expired. He's from New York, The Bronx, like my mother, he's an artist, and very compassionate. I just wish I found him day one.

This is truly one of the best medical experiences of my life! Dr. Chang is the most caring,…read more intuitive physicians I've ever met. Knowledgeable, willing to help and talk to you when you need it. She really listens to my concerns, fears, frustrations. Kristina, her office manager, is exactly the same. You can always reach either one quickly and your issue is handled. I feel so lucky to have found Dr. Chang!!!

Dr. Sheldon Jordan in Santa Monica belongs in jail! He prescribed opioids from 2000 to 2016 to me…read moreafter enduring a staph infection from Dr. Aaron Filler's OR at UCLA Medical Center and Hospital. Those opioids, per my psychiatrist and my neurologist have changed my brain forevermore! How does one put a price on a healthy brain? This is what my workplace owes me, California Lutheran University! Please do not go to Dr. Sheldon Jordan!

Sheldon Jordan, MD is the most incredible physician I have ever been to. My grandfather and my…read morehusband were both fantastic doctors and they would have been thrilled that I was able to connect with Dr. Jordon. I traveled from the east coast to the west coast to see him and it was well worth it. I shared the information provided to me with my primary physician and he said that some of the test were cutting edge and he was very impressed. I had not been correctly diagnosed by the hospital specialist in Virginia and I knew something was not right. Dr. Sheldon listened like nobody did before and made it crystal clear what I had experienced. I also did a zoom meeting with him and ended up back at the emergency room because he didn't like what he was seeing. He was right on target. He modified my medication and I have been doing great ever since! Thank you Dr. Jordon. The office staff are a pleasure to work with. They go out of their way to be of assistance whenever needed. Yes, the care can be expensive but there is no price you can put on good health and feeling well.

Worst doctor I've ever had the displeasure of seeing. Rude, completely out of touch with reality,…read moreaccusatory.

Im writing this years after my experience with the amazing Dr. Ferrante. I was newly sober, in…read moreincredible pain from neuropathic issues and he gave me a chance. That chance changed my life. This is nearly 20 years later and I'm a thriving person, healthy person. Still in pain management care elsewhere in California, I would never have been accepted anywhere if this doctor didn't see my willingness to do whatever he said. I needed real help. I thank God every day for Dr. Ferrante and wish I was still in his care.

Malcolm Smith pulmonologist is a joke and I wish I had gone online to read all of the negative…read morereviews years ago as this office, in its entirety is abusive and combative. The front office employees hover over others with full blown conversations right in front of you, typical of UCLA, so there is no respect of privacy for the patient and very little to no regard for optimal patient treatment. Dehumanizing is certainly one way to put it. And not to mention some of their sour attitudes in both their verbal and nonverbal communications with you. When I tried communicate to the office manager, jasmine jack, about how inattentive and dismissive the doctor is, and how he really does not make much of an effort at all, all she did was to continue gaslighting me and defending her employees to her customers, even after this became an established behavioral pattern in the doctor, years after year. And UCLA wonders why people don't bother complaining to them! I wish I did not stick around for the several years that I did. At first I thought that maybe the doctor was having a "bad day" but the next time and next time and next time I saw this man, he would completely ignore me giving answers to his questions, even though I reiterated my answer to him - FOUR TIMES! Still ignored me! Complete Silence on his end, and again, established behavioral patterns. Yes, that's how Much this fella "cares." And yes, the office mgr still gaslighted everything. They do not try to help you, especially when you don't tell them what they want to hear, they rarely to never return phone calls, letters you wrote in the mail, etc., and if they do, depending on their various different mood swings, they are not helpful. They never leave their names when leaving messages and receiving incoming calls. One time, I tried to humor the office manager to set up an additional phone appointment with the doctor since his communication was inefficient the last visit. I ended up being transferred, put on hold numerous times, Long wait holds, etc., I spent more than an entire hour trying to connect with the doctor for a phone appointment, and never got to connect because this man does not listen and nor does this office. All this because this fella is inflexible with not wanting to do Doximity or zoom. Other doctors are Much more agreeable than this and when there is a problem, others will try to find workable Solutions, but not this doctor and not this office, for sure. Also, I cannot make an endless amount of doctor appointments just to get my basic questions answered just because the doctor failed to be communicative during all The times I already see him For follow up Visits. And especially when I already have 50+ appointments per month just to stay afloat and wait hand and foot on all these offices that really find no helpful solutions to incurable illnesses. Interestingly enough, my spiritual counselor commented on how at least four or five other clients of hers complained vehemently about the abusiveness of ucla to her within the same week I had mentioned all this office's abuses. These complaints and negative reviews of this doctor's office are some of their most accurate and honestly authentic accounts of having to deal with such abusive offices like this one. Adhering to the wisdom of these negative reviews is strongly advised if you don't want to suffer from its wear and tear of all this office's antics. This group, typical of ucla offices, has no shame, on every level of the word. And not a care in the world about us. When encountering the occasional employee that is respectful and trustworthy, that is a rarity inside ethe UCLA affiliation. Thankfully I am in much better care with a different doctor. But now this office does not want to send me a copy of my own medical records to me now too. Note Regarding signed authorization forms: When the patient provides the entity with his own signed authorization form to obtain a copy of records and go over policies like insurance coverage, communications, and the like, the entity is obligated to accept the form that the patient provides over their own forms. Any form of manipulation and coerciveness and pressure to sign their forms in addition to the ones you already provided them is unlawful under the Privacy Rule and these are bad business practices on their part. Under any circumstance, do not succumb to their abuses and intimidating tactics to strongarm you into al their phishing schemes to find excuses to know things about you that is none of their business and as they try to look for excuses to withhold sending you a copy of your own medical records to you. WE must be steadfast and persistent in knowing our rights as patients as these entities will stop on no account taking away what little rights we have in the first place, even when they are in the wrong. Report them to the Office of Civil rights but be ready to stay in the saddle with them for the long haul.

I have seen a few doctors within the UCLA family and have had nothing but good experiences…read more As a sufferer of severe RLS and CFS, I would give 0 stars if I could to this center in Santa Monica. Given the advanced stage of my Restless Legs Syndrome, I have been prescribed very strong drugs including Methadone. Without this medication, I cannot sleep and have to walk all night with pain in my arms and legs. This cascades into insomnia, which triggers migraines, which causes me to miss work, risking my high level job. As a highly controlled substance, I have to have the doctor call right around when I need a refill. Twice now, my doctor at this center has been impossible to reach and does not return calls in a timely manner. This week I had to call 5 times over 3 days to get my prescription taken care of. This is horrible patient service. When I asked why it took so long to get help, I was given a string of excuses about how busy he is. Then don't take on new patients if you can't do something as simple as fill a prescription or call your patient when she is having issues with her medication. I won't be going back to see Dr. Padilla and I advise you not to see him either if you need responsive care for your RLS. According to Yelp, the UCLA Westwood center gets poor reviews as well. I'm going back to my old doctor. The hour drive for appointments is worth it when refills are placed the same day and medication issues called into the doctor are returned the same evening.

I was appalled enough by other people's reviews about this office that I had to come on here to…read morewrite a glowing review. Not only is his front desk associate friendly and above and beyond helpful, she got me in on an earlier date than i had originally planned and we spent about 10 min on the phone talking about what is going on with COVID and how thankful i was that they were taking patients and how scary everything is right now. Dr. Colin Stokol could not have had a better bedside manner, he sat with me for 30 minutes while i did all kinds of tests. I had fell and hit my head so i did an EKG, a stress test and even wore a heart monitor for three days to make aure we weren't missing anything. He was quick to get back to me with my results and overall had an amazinf experience. My boyfriend qho has Kaiser even remarked that he has never experienced a doctor be so thorough. When you go to a doctor, come prepared. Know what medicines you are on. Write down things when they happen to you. The more info the specialist has the better, its about doing the work on your end as well to help them do their jobs. Thank you Dr. Stokol for even being open and taking the proper precautions with patients during such a scary time with COVID 19.

When i requested that DR STOKOL refer my file to someone that had knowledge of my…read moresituation(someone that had looked at my scans years earlier, DR STOKOL'S comment was "HE DIDN'T WANT TO BOTHER HIM WITH THIS". I have suddenly become a THIS. WHAT IS A THIS? The person i requested is well regarded and i personally was referred to him by one of his colleages years ago.A doctor i respected... THIS is my first review of a physician. You know what they say..Physician heal thyself..you need a lot of healing. your MD HAS GONE TO YOUR HEAD. You have a case of MD ITIS..PLEASE DO NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS ABOUT PATIENTS. THIS ONE IS TIRED OF THAT ATTITUDE. When i told the current doctor who sent me to STOKOL IN THE FIRST PLACE HE WAS SHOCKED AS WERE MY OTHER DOCTORS AND OTHER people i tell ..they were shocked and SPEECHLESS. If you think its about money it is not. Its about integrity. The refund concierge fee was to make a point. we are worth less than $50 each.so to all of you who are reading this find someone else who values you. he held that back that amount. obtw: He said he would refer my file to a couple of his friends instead.really? who? i didnt ask for that.. I have yet to get feedback from those who doctors? pals/ friends of his...referrals for insurance payment? , I tend to follow my instincts but because i was referred i let my guard down. i had mixed feelings about Dr Stokol as a first impression. I am writing this in the hopes it will spare someone else the grief and TIME I wasted. i was diagnosed but not by him. He was a waste of my time of which i have little left. i requested the concierge fee. he sent back all but $50. saying it was an admin fee. So WE ARE WORTH LESS THAN AN ADMIN FEE. i guess hes desparate for the few dollars. NO MORE CONCIERGE DOCS. ATTITUDE NOT APTITUDE is what i got. He was my first and last concierge doc.. Now i know what people are worth to him. Made light of my complaints until i emailed him with the diagnosis. I guess that got his attention. FIND SOMEONE ELSE who values your life. They all get paid they don't work for free. As they say time is money. HE WASTED MINE. WE should all be valued or what is the point of seeing a DOCTOR. if i am repeating its because i just cant get the words out of my head... "I DON'T WANT TO BOTHER HIM WITH THIS" How pathetic that i even have to write this. Good riddance!.

Dr. Shimizu is a caring doctor who takes the time to discuss, explain and help you to find out what…read moreis going on. I had been going to see a neurologist from UCLA, Dr. Adam Darby. After eight years, I left because it was clear, that Dr.Darby wasn't digging or trying to with what is going on. In less than five months, I had a MRA, that focuses on the blood vessels in the brain, a PET Scan, and additional tests. In the eight yeas at UCLA? No PET SCAN, no MRA, nor a variety of blood work tests, beyond the standard ones. After my fourth severe concussion, I called Darby to make an appointment. It would have been five months out. It was number four, in 10 months, all severe. Called Shimizu, got me in the next day.

I am writing to express my deepest gratitude for the exceptional care that Dr. Shimizu is providing…read morefor my husband, who has Parkinson's disease and is on dialysis. That's a tough combination, and Dr. Shimizu is extremely knowledgeable about providing medications that won't worsen my husband's kidney condition. I especially appreciate him taking the time to explain to my husband the benefits of the medication he has prescribed. Dr. Shimizu's knowledge is matched only by his kindness. He treats his patients not just as cases, but as human beings who deserve the best. I feel incredibly fortunate to have Dr. Shimizu as my husband's neurologist. Thank you for truly loving what you do and for sharing that passion with your patients. Thank you, everyone, at the front desk at Dr. Shimizu's office, and especially to Eileen, who has gone out of her way to call after hours to accommodate my husband's schedule. Everyone at the front desk could not be more professional. Sincerely, Lynda Lennon