Note* I've read a few of the negative comments re: Dr.Shikhman ' front office staff. I wouldn't want to comment on what occurred as I wasn't there but Dr.Shikhman has new front office employee'. I've seen Dr.Shikhman for a few yrs now & in remission. He along w my Integrative Med.Doc were able to finally diagnose me and I've been in the appropriate treatment. Sometimes -as in my case getting diagnosed is the biggest hurdle. I'm very thankful for the care and staff @ Institute for Specialized Medicine--it's been a long long road & absolutely answered prayers. Thank you Dr.Shikhman -words cannot express how Grateful I am. CC read more

First, I would like to say the reception front desk ladies are the kindest people. I have read some of these reviews and I just don't get it. I have been going to see Dr Shikhman for a year now and these ladies have wonderful customer service. Griselda is a gem! I have felt unwell for years and have always been told from my primary MD it is my age, weight, or diet. Dr Shikhman was thorough with my exam, ordered testing and gave me a DIAGNOSIS and a treatment plan that is helping me. It is not an overnight fix for me. Yes, you will be charged for a no-show visit. He is a busy man who books months out. Someone else would have gladly taken your spot! I am so thankful I have found him and his caring staff to help me through this. read more

came to IFSMed during a time in my life where no other doctors would listen to me. i was experiencing significant fatigue along with a set of symptoms that didn't quite align with any typical diagnoses. it was easy for other doctors to dismiss it for anxiety and depression, but coming to this practice changed things for me. it turns out i had developed hashimoto's disease and i also had chronic walking pneumonia that kept flaring every now and then. they helped treat both conditions and i have been happy and healthy ever since. the office staff were always kind and welcoming and everyone on my care team was informative and helpful getting me the care i needed. this is a great loss to our community and i hope Dr. Shikhman is resting peacefully. read more

Without giving away my medical history, let's just say this man truly saved my life. I highly recommend him to anyone who is going through a serious medical issue that cannot or has not been resolved. He is extremely thorough and kind. His nurses and assistants are always friendly and polite. I appreciate the support and efforts spent to assist me on my road to recovery. I have sent other people to him and they all have had great results. The medical staff here do their best and it's great to know the Doc has such great professionals on staff with him. read more

Abrasive bedside manner and bad communication from the office staff. That includes Griselda at the front desk, and the office manager Galina, who serves up a side of gaslighting as she talks over you. read more

I am surprised this place is still in business! This is a medical practice full of snakes, manipulation, subpar treatment, and lies. Myself, plus 2 other family members have all stopped coming here due to an incident that happened with a small bill from a "no show" going to collections that we were never made aware of. The way this was all handled is appalling and we were lied to multiple times by this practice and we have physical proof of these lies. Not sure how Dr. Shikman sleeps peacefully at night knowing he's running a medical practice with such darkness. If you're looking up reviews or debating on trying this place out - take my review seriously. Click on my Yelp profile. Read my other comments for places. I do not give 1 star unless absolutely necessary. If I could give this place 0 stars I would. read more

I just wanted to update this because I haven't been on Yelp for awhile. My updated review should have been a 5 star! I feel like Yelp had to glitch because as you can see in my review I have a 5 star opinion of Dr. Shikhman who remains the best doctor I've ever experienced in my entire life. I cannot thank him enough for his treatment and knowledge. Yelp won't let me edit the one star update and I wanted to clarify! read more

If you'd like to blindly be diagnosed with Bartonella, be sold Dr. Shikhman's personal supplements, and be hit with surprise $500+ charges from what's described as "a simple blood draw" on your initial consult that aren't covered by insurance due to the incompetency of not obtaining an authorization...then go see Dr. Shikhman. After 2 visits, I could smell the BS and went to a competent physician at Scripps instead. He took one look at the draws & diagnosis given by Dr. Shikhman and said, "I have no idea why you were diagnosed with this or why these tests were ordered". This was a 100% unprovoked statement. FYI: I've never given a single review on any physician on Yelp, or anywhere else. I felt necessary to caution others. read more

The rudest and coldest front desk . Can't believe they are in medical Profession. Get a grip. You are in a profession that requires love and compassion as people Are coming to you sick and desperate!!! By the way I think that his labs are incorrect. I was diagnosed with things that I know I don't have and he offers all of the products that he sells. Be very careful! read more

If you have health problems and tired of being sick with no answers, see Dr. Shikhman. If you've been diagnosed with Fibromyalgia or Chronic Fatigue, see Dr. Shikhman to rule out infections (which is likely the case). He's the best at diagnosing and they have a lot of great treatments available like IV nutrition, PEMF, lasers, etc and physical therapy as well. read more

Dr. Shikhman himself is knowledgeable, pragmatic, and pleasant to work with. My lukewarm experience with his Institute For Specialized Medicine has more to do with the unresponsiveness/unreliability of his staff. They are all nice and helpful people in person, but trying to get any sort of follow up from the office was like pulling teeth! One of the last times I went in they couldn't find my test results, which was frustrating. Dr. Shikhman agreed to send me an email with the results along with an explanation. I had to call and email 3 times before they sent me the results, and I still haven't heard from the Dr. There are many things I'd rather spend my time and energy on! Another gripe of mine is that appointments don't start on time. When I'm taking time off from work and am seen 20-30 minutes after apt. start time, that is problematic and frustrating. I'm not using The Institute for Specialized Medicine anymore because of these factors and deciding to pursue another route to health, the GAPS diet. read more

Dr Shikhman's practice claims to take insurance but there is a mandatory $600 charge ON TOP OF YOUR CO PAY before you can walk through the door. For tests that they may or may not do! When I argued this point I was told that I was obviously not a good fit for the practice. Wow. What a bunch of crooks! Not to mention, I waited six months for an appointment and was advised of this only the day before my appointment. Stay away. read more

Thank you to Dr. Shikhman and his staff from the bottom of my heart. I have read through so many of others' reviews and am so sad to hear that other people have not had the same positive experience as me. In 2009, I was so so so sick. I was only 11 years old, hospitalized, poked, prodded, x-rayed, and run through every test imaginable. All for no answers. From age 11 to 18, I was on non-stop antibiotics. Every time I would go off of them, I'd end up sick again. I also developed horrible anxiety, suffered from severe panic attacks, and had the worst acne flair ups. My freshman year of college, I couldn't take it anymore. I had been to so many different specialists and other doctors for no answers (great doctors, well-known specialists). I then found Dr. Shikhman after a family friend referred me to him. His front desk staff employees were definitely busy, but they were kind + to the point. No issues. Dr. Shikhman was thorough. He ran a number of blood tests along with a stool test. When I came back to the office, he went over my results with me, and he explained everything so well. I felt like he really looked at everything, rather than just the basics. He connected the dots on so many things that were going on in my body. He recommended I steer clear of certain foods and follow a supplement regimen that he recommended. I never felt pressured to purchase the supplements he sold. He even told me that I could purchase them from somewhere else; he just told me to make sure they were a reputable company. I opted to order (and continue to order) most of my supplements from the office, as it is so convenient and I know I am getting a good product. I've been seeing Dr. Shikhman for almost two years now, and I was recently told that I do not need to schedule another follow up appointment unless something else happens or symptoms come up again. I think that a lot of people's issues with Dr. Shikhman's bedside manner are simply because they misunderstand. He is a busy doctor with lots of patients to care for. He knows his stuff well, so he is able to cover more in a 10 minute appointment than another doctor would be able to do in a 30 minute appointment. Trust the results, and trust him. Follow his recommendations, and take the supplements he suggests. If you have been struggling with an illness or disorder for 7 years, it is not going to clear up in a week. Bodies take time to heal. If you are looking for a band-aid, fast-acting solution, this is not the man for you. He helps you to heal your body fully and properly. It's not going to be a quick-fix solution because our bodies aren't like that. It's going to be a solution that takes time and dedication. I know it sucks to be told to do something for 6 months and then come back for follow up tests when you've been struggling with illness for years, but it's better than having random prescriptions thrown at you for relief from symptoms that only lasts a month or two. I was sick for 7 straight years, and now I haven't been sick with even a cold in almost two. I am free from my debilitating anxiety, and my acne has completely cleared up. Because I did what he told me to do. Relentlessly. The bottom line is, I cannot recommend him enough. He gave me my life back. He gave me my health back. I can run half marathons and travel around the world and manage my own business and do new things without being scared that my body will fail me in the process. So, thank you, Dr. Shikhman. Thank you so much. read more

Just had my second visit with Dr Shikhman. Oh how I wish I'd come to him sooner! As a RN with many years experience in healthcare, I have somewhat an inside track on what goes on, who is the best, etc. He is regarded very highly by his patients, and also by other doctors. I am beginning my own experience on why this is so! I am happy to report that after only two visits, I truly feel confident I have found someone who is knowledgeable, caring, and can help me find a better quality of life. I appreciate his education and experience and look forward to feeling better and restored to my formally active lifestyle. read more

Just wanted to post an update. Dr. Shikhman and his staff are amazing. Though he specializes in adults, he did me a favor and did some lab testing on my son because I suspected he had food allergies. Turned out to be something else more serious and I'm so thankful Dr. Shikhman went out of his way to help me. He put us on a plan to get my son well and told us to see a pediatric gastroenterologist. His office staff has been amazing in coordinating paperwork that we've needed to file too and making appointments around our crazy schedule. They've always been super accommodating. Seriously, I can't say enough good things about this practice. I've referred 3 other people here because I love it here so much. read more

Dr Shikhman is the only one who was able to put the puzzle peaces together....the care you gave me as your patient is remarkable ....thank you Thank you Marsha I feel very safe in your care.... !!! All the staff here work very hard to make sure we all get the care we need. Let's face it sometimes there's a few minutes of a wait but we are not easy patients most of us have complicated bodies that the Doc needs to piece together for us.We are fortunate to have him take the time to help put our lives back to gather. I read more

Beware of scam This doctor wanted to charge $600 up front (even though I only have a $60 co-pay). When questioned about the charge IN ADDITION to what they were going to charge me insurance, they said it would be a credit to be applied towards any labs or other work they may want to do EVEN THOUGH THEY HADN'T SEEN ME or ordered any work yet. I could understand if I went there and they decided to order labs that weren't covered but this is obviously a scam. I've never been asked to prepay for a visit that is covered by insurance and that they also intended to charge the insurance company. Check the reviews--others have indicated the same. read more

Dr. Shikhman was the only doctor to correctly diagnose my husband and me. We are so incredibly grateful for his wisdom and expertise! We also love Dr. McLarry and her caring spirit. The entire staff is great. Very thankful to have found this place! read more

I am currently undergoing treatment at ISM with Dr. Shikhman. So far, so good. My knee pain has decreased dramatically, and now we're working on healing. He and his staff are professional and personable. Doc has been very generous with his time answering questions about the procedure, even explaining what is and isn't covered by insurance, so that I could work the payments out with my job schedule. Reception I've been to offices where the receptionists are really rude, and Doc's office is average, so no complaints. They've been kind about the few times I showed up late, or helping me reschedule, even at the last minute. As with all personal interactions, how people deal with you has a lot to do with how you treat them as well. Technicians I love the technicians that work with Dr. Shikhman. They're all sports fans, and I'm a competitive athlete, so we have a lot to talk about. They have been very pleasant dealing with my anxiety about needles, using humor to take my mind off things. Makes each treatment more fun. Dr. Shikhman Doc is great. He is very professional. More importantly, he is the inventor of many of the protocols he uses at his clinic, and explains everything very well. He is very interested in how I feel. I COMPLETELY disagree with the poster who said this office is only about money. They have been 100% concerned about my wellness, and have bent over backwards helping me even when I wasn't able to pay on time. read more

After my initial $600 appointment with the PA, my follow-up was with Shikhman. He walked into the examination room clearly preoccupied with other matters. He stood against the door, quickly ran through the lab results, told me to avoid certain foods, take a $150+/month probiotic for 6 months, and then return for retesting and treatment. I've been suffering for a decade, now I'm supposed to wait 6 months for treatment? What's the point of retesting if there's no treatment? I felt like there was no care and compassion. The time with him was at most 10 minutes for $155 fee. Shikhman's wife, Galina, manages the office. She's unable to take constructive criticism and defends Shikhman's practices. How can the service improve if you don't listen to your patients and address your weaknesses? Finally, Shikhman seems to be having difficulty in retaining talent. Recently, an MD (Lloyd) and a PA (Gleva) departed the clinic. read more

I cant believe the reviews I just read on the staff. They have been the kindest, understanding, prompt staff I've ever seen. I've had RA nearly 2 decades and have seen my share of "scary" staff who discourage you from EVER calling. While I waited for the doctor in the back area to ask a question I had a nice conversation with a staff member who was kind, laughed with me, and still worked while we talked. I even complimented the staff to his doctor. Last week 2 people, plus a nurse, said, "Call the doctor for anything. he wants to know how you are doing. He will call you back. That is what he is here for." My last rheumatologist didn't even return my page becausse "she was at a conference and didn't get my page for a few hours" - well, I was getting a molar/tooth extracted and the dentist wanted me to take a blitz of prednisone, which I dont do anymore for many reasons. I had to take care of my own pain mgmt and decide. I've also found the doctor to be a great listener, (1-hr appt for the first visit), patient with questions, extremely smart, willing to try to make sure you are not in pain while getting the right "recipe" of treatment; I've never had a rheum who asked me so many questions to understand my past treatment to help decide my future treatment. I think the best staff are those who are personable and friendly, but who also show a great deal of respect for the doctor and jump when he needs something. I've seen this at Dr. Shikhman's office -a mutual respect for the doctor, staff and patient. read more

I am so sad to do this but we tried to contact the office to schedule an appointment today after a few years and discovered that the wonderful office staff have been replaced by the most rude, snarky and incompetent receptionist I have come across. Apparently the doctor now has a policy that former patients cannot come back after a certain amount of time. Don't bother going here if you don't plan to be a patient for life and don't expect to receive any quality service from their reception staff either read more

Thank you dr shikhman to getting to the bottom of my issues. He's very thorough and really tries to figure out your case. Just make sure if you go, that you are clear what your symptoms are and what it is you are looking to get out of treatment read more

This guy is a waste of time. He knows his stuff, but good luck on a handshake and real understanding of an issue. Good luck with the front desk as well as they couldn't be more rude and inconsiderate. Not that it should really matter when your health is in question, but more wouldn't you like to at least start things off on the right foot. Then just to see him, who again has a ton of knowledge, but really won't take the time to help and then prescribe things that really don't matter to you. All they care about is the money. I would seriously think about staying away. The worst part is that if they simply changed some of their practices they could be amazing. read more

Dr. Shikhman saved my life! It's been a long road to recovery but at least I can take care of my kids again and live a normal life again for the most part. So so thankful for this man. I'm so thankful for the friend that referred me to him. I'm so bummed to read others reviews of him that are not as pleasant. I can only speak of my experience and I have full trust in his diagnosis and treatment when 11 other doctors could not. read more

This is my third update over the past 7 years. I have seen Dr. Shikhman for 8 years now and am very happy with him as a physician. He is extremely thorough. He goes over the blood tests and answers any questions I have and has alternative naturopathic treatment options. My health has improved every year working with him, and he has always been good about squeezing me in if I have a flare up or if I need fluids for being run down. I consider it to be the k read more

If I could I would give this practice a zero!!!!!!! Total disrespect, it's all about the $$, & I can well afford this. You are treated horribly, & when you complain they act like you're the problem. Horrible!!!!!!!!!! Don't get sucked in... read more

I would agree with the other reviews about the front office. Not only do they behave unprofessionally, they also dress inappropriately for a professional medical setting. I think the problem is the Office Manager, who just does not seem to have a clue. Dr. Shikhman is very good, and it is a shame that his "support" staff are are ruining things for his practice. I hope they can get it together. NC San Diego read more

So far I am very impressed with this practice. They have found a slew of issues wrong with me and would highly recommend them if you have Lyme or other autoimmune illness. I am impressed with their PA, Neenah. They also got me in fairly quickly. read more

Dr. Shikhman is very patient. He takes the time to listen to my symptoms. He discovered my Lyme disease after seeing many doctors. One doctor said it was in my head and she recommended biofeedback. Dr. Shikhman also discovered a parasite in my body. I have been to many doctors and he is a genius. I trust him. The staff is very nice. I have been going to the office for over 10 yrs. They are very considerate of my needs. I would recommend this office in a heartbeat. read more

Dr. Shikhman is worth traveling any distance to see. I was diagnosed with severe rheumatoid arthritis about a year ago. My doctors at UCLA put me on a lot of medications/injections and told me I'd never get off of them. Dr. Shikhman discovered the diagnosis was wrong, figured out what I had, treated it properly and now I'm off all medicine and pain free. Love him! read more

I found Dr Shikhman after reading his book Gluten Nation. I knew I had been really sick for years. He is the doctor who did the right tests to find out what was wrong. I also appreciate his approach to my situation in "phases". He prioritizes the conditions and has a logical plan to treat, which prevents confusion so we know what's working and why. I like his patience and ability to problem solve my many different illnesses. I have been with his office for 6 months and I am doing so much better than I have in years. And his supplements are worth the money. Especially if you have celiac disease. Only people like us value that his products are strictly gluten free. Nothing is worse than taking digestive enzymes when your pancreas isn't working, only to then find they contain gluten and you have a major celiac reaction. Devastating. It's like a sucker punch to the gut, literally. His Vegan Enzyme formula is the only thing that I can use to help me literally eat. And honestly it's not any more expensive than what you will find at Sprouts. Except these actually work! And the price point is mid-level when you compare them to the options at Sprouts for example. I'm lucky to have found this medical practice. read more

You better be desperate and at the end of your rope before coming here. It takes over a month to get an appointment and you have to wait almost an hour, sometimes longer, when you show up at your scheduled time. You may as well clear your calendar and be prepared to spend the entire day waiting here. I'll never be back nor will I ever refer anyone here. read more

Bright doctor who has been corrupted by the money. I believe he lowers the threshold on his tests to induce positive results for leaky gut and Lyme disease. From there, he is able to charge $200/mo for supplements (they literally have his name on the bottle) and other unnecessary treatments. He hooks lost/desperate people looking for answers into his scheme. Avoid at all costs. read more

I went to Dr Shikhman to try and figure out the cause of my pain. I am a very complicated patient as I have a poor immune system. He has worked with me for a year and has tried to help me never giving up. I feel much better. He is thorough and did an ultra sound on the first visit . This really showed me what is going on with my body . I recommend him to anyone who hasn't been able to figure out what's wrong. read more

After months of seeing doctors that couldn't figure out what was wrong with my health; I decided to see Dr. Shikhman based on positive feedback I'd heard from friends. I am so grateful that I did. He didn't tell me my illness was in my head, he didn't just give me a band-aid to subdue my symptoms, he made every effort to find the root cause. I can't say that I trust many doctors, but I trust him & his PA Erika as well. The girls at the front are kind & helpful. The MA staff is truly caring and handles me very well and with sensitivity. I know people may complain about waiting for an appointment; but it's worth the wait. I feel so blessed to be treated by Dr. Shikhman. read more

I have been seeing Dr. S. for almost 2 years and he has turned my life/health around completely. I am grateful for him and his wonderful staff. I have had nothing but an exceptional experience at his practice and highly recommend him/IFSMED to anyone working through health issues that they can never seem to get a straight answer on, especially autoimmune related. Cindy L. read more

Dr. Shikhman is a great doctor. He is the doctor you go to when no one else can find out what's wrong with you. Dr. Shikhman listens to you, is thorough in his diagnosis and provides the best care and treatment. I've been going to him over 10 years and trust his diagnosis and recommendations. I don't know where or what condition I would have been if I had not found him, he has helped me through some tuff and serious conditions. I have recommended several people to him and they all have come back and thanked me because he helped everyone of them. He's the best and I highly recommend him. read more

I agree with the previous post that the girls at the front desk are not pleasant at all but I have been impressed with Dr. Shikman's knowledge. Yes, sometimes there is a longer than normal wait and he is not the most animated person but he is smart and can find things that your normal doctor wouldn't. I saw him following a physical examination at my internist. He did some blood work, reviewed my tests and looked at me as a whole person. Most doctors think inside the box and look only at the symptoms and put a band-aid over it. He found a problem in my blood work which was asymptomatic but could potentially cause problems down the line. He then gave me three options for treatment - Western medicine (which included very strong antibiotics), a herbal remedy and a homeopathic one. I have no doubt that any other doctor would have immediately put me on a round of antibiotics as the first step. So, I wouldn't go out to drinks with the doctor but I would certainly trust him with my family's health. read more

Diamond in the rough - I have been a patient of Dr. Shikhman for 7 years. Having had many complex ailments, and having been to many different practitioners, I have found that often, either the doctor is good, but the staff is a mess or the doctor is a mess yet the office runs smoothly. It's rare to find a good doctor and an efficient office. The Doctor- When a patient is very ill with an unknown cause of ailments they need a doctor that is experienced, knowledgable, patient and not only willing to solve the difficult issues, but is propelled forward by the desire to solve the difficult diagnoses. I have found this to be true of Dr. Shikhman. The Staff- My experience in seven years - I have had every phone call returned and all conversations have been pleasant. This office runs extremely well compared to other offices I have seen. read more