Have been seeing Dr. McCalmont for a few years. She is super responsive and knowledgeable. She shares helpful information about possible issues and is patient. It is sometimes hard to get an appointment because she is popular! read more

Following the removal of my melanoma (skin cancer) in 2015 I was looking for a dermatologist for my annual check-ups/exams. I was going to make it something I did when I visited my family in Washington State, however, the doctor I tried just kind of looked at me with a shocked look when she read my chart and found out I was in my early 20s and had already had cancer removed. That is not the only troubling thing I have run into since I had cancer. Some of the more religious Christians I have met in my life, have told me that immunity to cancer it simple, just hope one does not get it. If hope were immune, I would not have gotten cancer in the first place. Fortunately, Dr. Camilla McCalmont is a doctor who accepts reality and that while skin cancer may be fought off once it can return. I lived in Albany when I visited Dr. McCalmont and I loved the location of her office. The building had its own parking area, it was conveniently located not too far from the El Cerrito Shopping Plaza, and I did not encounter traffic on the short drive to the office. She and her workers were professional and helpful in setting up the appointment and getting the paperwork figured out. She emphasized the importance of annual check-ups and self exams, urging not being afraid to inspect oneself and help catch potentially cancerous spots early on. Nothing came up of concern on my visit, which was a huge relief. I have since returned to living in Washington State, but was happy with my experience with Dr. Camilla McCalmont and her office. read more

Superb. Listens to my concerns, investigates, and provides a clearly thought out recommendation of treatment. She has seen me for 20+ years. Her annual exams are extremely thorough. She is organized and always pleasant. Highly recommended. She also has a very nice sense of humor. read more

No more long waits! Beautiful new office, new office attitude, Dr McCalmont still a brilliant dermatologist-what difference!

I have been seeing Dr. McCalmont for years and have always been impressed by her thoroughness, her gentle manner, and her ability to explain both what is happening to your skin and what to do about any issues that arise. When I needed a bit of surgery, she referred me to a wonderful colleague--in another practice. I would definitely refer friends and family to her. read more

Dr.McCalmont is superb. I've been a patient for 30 years. She's the best. Annual complete skin/body checkups are way to go if you live in our SUNNY state. I also swim outdoors all year so won't take any chances when it comes to catching early signs of problems. Camilla is so caring and calm, thorough and conscientious. And yes, in order to become a patient of her's, you need to schedule that 1st appointment MONTHS from now & then make future appointments after that visit. It's called being in demand because you're (she is) so good at what (she) you do! read more

I have been to Dr. McCalmont a several occasions and she has always been great. She is consistently thorough, responsive, knowledgeable, and very helpful. I would recommend her to anyone, whether with a serious skin problem or a regular checkup. Postscript: After a short pause, Dr. McCalmont is now practicing again and I'm so grateful! She's truly wonderful. read more

Dr. McCalmont is great: she is really knowledgeable and has helped both my son and I with various skin issues. The catch is that sometimes there is not an appointment available for months. Seriously, I just called in May and was told there is nothing open until September. Not helpful when you have an issue that needs attention:( read more

I have seen Dr. Fu on a monthly basis. Her attention to detail and knowledge is excellent. I had no idea what to expect from a private practice compared to Kaiser. The practice does not accept insurance from Kaiser and my fee was $125. The standard of care compared to Kaiser is equivalent. I have not had issues with the staff. I also have not cancelled an appointment or been late. Dr. Fu is only available on Monday's so I've had to wait 4-6 weeks at times. read more

The doctor is great! My husband has worked last 20 years outside in a job that gives him a tremendous exposure to sunlight. Search day in and day out exposure has resulted in many odd skin things on his face and forehead. The doctor was very helpful and explained the situation we were in with great care and detail as needed and requested. Husband ended up having many pre-cancerous spots on his face and four head as can be expected with that much sun exposure over the years. The doctor gave A prescription for a chemo cream which although effective, really tore up his skin for a few weeks. If the cream found precancerous spot, it destroyed it. This resulted in very sore spots all over his face and four head. He said it was A quite painful treatment. It looks painful! The sores were red and somewhat oozing. The doctor had prepared us for what to expect and they really were no surprises as our experience lived up to what she had explained. The great news was that the treatment worked and he has been Pre cancer free for a year! I also had a unusual thing on my back. The doctor took a biopsy. She explained everything very well. It took three rounds of testing to conclude that the thing on my back was not cancerous. Whew! The doctor has been repeatedly very helpful, kind, cautious, and excellent bedside manner. We really felt cared about after going to see her and being quite concerned and worried about our individual skin issues. Have you gone in for your annual mole Check? I highly recommend it! read more

Dr. McCalmont is an amazing physician. She is kind, thorough, exceedingly competent, and so responsive. I have more than a hundred moles, and a family history that includes skin cancers. Several times over the last few years I have noticed a change in a mole. I don't have to set up an appointment. I just snap a photo and send it to her, and she she has always gotten back to me the SAME DAY. Pretty incredible these days. At my annual mole checks she is very thorough with photos and documentation. I feel grateful to have her as my doc. I recommend her to all my family and friends. read more

Dr McCalmont is great and I always had a good impression of her knowledge. I just called to schedule an appointment for a suspicious growth on my skin and was told I cannot see her within the next 4 months. That's ridiculous. At that point it makes sense to change the doctor. Time is not only money, but also critical for staying healthy. read more

She was very kind and professional, but I didn't feel like she was giving me her full attention. I waited in the examination room for my paranoid skin cancer check-up for almost an hour and she breezed in and out in under ten minutes. She's probably right that I didn't need that much attention, but I'd like it anyway....I feel like I learned more about skin cancer from Vogue, which seems a little weird. read more

I have been going to dermatologists for decades (one i went to for over 30 years). I have never felt like i have found the doctor who could help me take care of myself in a sustainable way.. Dr. McCalmont was thorough (which many of my docs. have been), kind (which a couple have been) but she was also incredibly clear about everything. She took the time to explain everything to me in such a way, that i think that for the first time in my life, I will actually be able to maintain appropriate care - because i now understand why i'm using what, why I need to use them at what frequency, and how to best remember how to put it all together. I'm sooooo grateful to have found her. All of a sudden i think i can be a 'good dermatology patient' for the first time. read more

This 5 star is for Dr. Pai. She is fantastic! She has the knowledge. And most of all, listen to the patients and give direct answers. I came in with redness problem when dry weather. She explained very clearly and thoroughly and recommended me to use a less potent medication. I had gone to see Dr. Coreneilia Pessoa, twice, a few years ago but did not go well; perhaps she thought she knew all answers before we ask our questions. She said "you can swallow the whole tube and still o.k." oh, o.k. if you put it this way about what puts on your patients. Overall, the medicine did not go well on me, but it is no use to ask her again. So, it was so good to find Dr. Pai! The appointment was within 2 weeks instead of waiting for months. 5-star! read more

I'm happy to review Dr McCallmont to say she is a friendly, efficient and thorough doctor. I know that sometimes only the bad experiences get reviews so I'm trying to help everyone out and leave positive feedback where it is deserved. She took a sample of a strange growth on my face that turned out to be basal cell carcinoma - the results were quick, she was very sensitive about the information and gave me a referral to a great skin surgeon who completely remove it ... not a pleasant experience in general (cancer)... but i think it went as well as it could have gone and I'm very happy to have had good care. read more

I have seen many dermatologists in my life, and Dr. McCalmont is one of the best. She is thorough, kind, professional and dedicated to her work. I saw her for my annual mole check in February and was so impressed by her demeanor, and the up to date technology in her office. I have had a recurring skin condition during COVID, and even though her office is closed to visits, she has been prompt in returning my calls and discussing my concerns. At a time when it feels like all hell is breaking loose, it feels great to have a doctor you can count on. I highly recommend her. read more

My son and I are both happy with the services provided by Dr. McCalmont. It took time, but we've been able to get the refunds we were due.

I agree with others that the staff is not that helpful. I also had to reschedule an existing appointment and was not able to get an appointment for another five months. As a doctor, Dr. McCalmont was friendly and thorough, but not exceptional enough to wait 5+ months for an appointment, when I had to wait 3+ for the first one, making it almost 9 months from the time I requested an appointment, to finally being treated. read more

I went to see Dr. McCalmont a couple of weeks ago for an itchy rash. Someone else (not a dermatologist) I'd seen had given me a misdiagnosis (and a very unpleasant one that required a toxic treatment). I looked around online because I wanted to see a specialist. I ended up picking Dr. McCalmont because she had the soonest appointment available -- a same-day cancellation -- and I'm so glad I did. The front desk staff were nice and helpful, and Dr. McCalmont was great. She gave me lots of information and gave me options. I didn't want to go the full-on medical route right away, and she gave me advice on how to proceed. She was kind, professional, patient, and not touchy-feely but warm. Unfortunately going the more natural route didn't work so well. I ended up having several rounds of conversations with Dr. McCalmont and her office staff. The staff were always friendly, helpful, and seemed on top of what was going on, including delivering my messages to Dr. McCalmont. What really surprised me (sad to say it was a surprise) was that Dr. McCalmont even went out of her way to be helpful after our appointment. Once she called me to find out how I was doing. Another time she called me to apologize for what she thought was a prescription mix-up but actually was not, and she asked how I was doing. Then another time I called with a question (how long do I have to do this topical steroid based on my current symptoms?), and she called me back, answered my question, again asked how I was doing, and seemed totally caring and patient. So all in all, she and her office are tops in my book. I did have to pay out of pocket because she's not with my current insurance plan, but it was totally worth it, as far as I'm concerned, and wasn't even as expensive as I would have expected. Considering all the great service I got, I'd go back there again...but I sure hope I won't have to! ;-) read more

Professional and articulate, she was able to explain her diagnosis to me (a surprisingly rare quality with doctors these days).

I've been going to Dr. McCalmont for a number of years and find her to be extremely knowledgeable, direct and professional. She found an extremely subtle basil cell on my shoulder and the biopsy and treatment were very well explained and clear. She's a real derm, not one of these psudo-derm/skin care people and her focus seems to be on skin cancer. She's treated both my parents for years for various skin cancer related issues (too much sun in their youth) and they wouldn't see anyone else. Lastly, I always tend to ask around to other docs who they think is good in the derm field in the bay area and her name always comes up. read more

Dr. Shan Pai is hands down the best doctor I have ever had the pleasure of working with. She is highly knowledgeable and professional, and takes the time and sincere interest in patients to understand their needs. Dr. Pai researched the best solutions to my skin cancer and pre-cancer, and called me in the evening to share and discuss what she advised. Because of her, I used a topical solution that worked wonders and addressed my health concerns. She is a rare find, and I very highly recommend her. read more

Dr McCalmont is excellent - careful, courteous, respectful, and thorough. I have been going to her for a number of years, and so do two other members of my family. Unfortunately she has cut back on her hours recently and her office told me her first available regular appt is now a year ago, but it's worth it to me to plan annual appts that far ahead in order to remain her patient. L. Wulf read more

Dr. Pai has a great bedside manner and is very knowledgeable about how to protect one's self against skin cancer. She did a thorough check with her iPad, which she uses to monitor my skin across multiple visits. I highly recommend Dr. Pai. read more

**UPDATED 9/26/17 - I just wanted to follow up to add that the un-professional and NON-Helpful staff called me a day after I left my voicemail regarding changes to my appointment that I canceled the day before. I guess that the lady I canceled my appointment with didn't let anyone know or communicate it with the others. They were confused as to why I would call and leave a message today since my appointment was already canceled....... I am glad these aren't the "competent" people handling my records..... ORIGINAL POST I actually never saw the doctor, but her office is a disaster and very unfriendly. Canceled my appointment today after no call back to my earlier message and found another dermatologist elsewhere. I was referred to her by my doctor. My first call to the office I was put on hold for over 5-7 minutes while at work. I ended up calling on another line while I was on hold and got through. The person on the phone acted like she was doing me the favor for answering my call, my questions,l and appointment availability. I live in Pinole and work in San Leandro so I need either the first-ish or last-ish appointment of the day. But based on the attitude I was must have been asking for too much. I was given an appointment date 6 weeks out from my call and yes I kept it bc I didn't have anything pressing, I am new to the area and I don't know many of the doctors in the area. Today, I found out that I need to be on the road for work and needed to change the appointment so I called two days before my appointment. I called at 8 AM and left a message and when no one called me back at 2:30 pm I called in again and this time someone actually answered the phone I asked to change it and explained that I needed an early am or late PM appointment and I guess I must have somehow offended the lady on the phone bc I was being given dates in November. If these doctors are so busy and do not need any new patients then they should just say it. OR hire staff that actually are good at customer service and know how to manage the scheduling software.... Going to Orinda now. read more

Dr. Mc Calmont is very competent and has a helpful and positive demeanor. I recommend her.

I NEVER post to Yelp -- well, almost -- but the presence of the negative reviews here prompt me to protest. Those responses truly puzzle me, b/c over a number of years I've found McCalmont to be truly and consistently a model MD -- caring, kind, knowledgeable, incredibly attentive and informative. (I dream of finding a GP anywhere nearly as great. East Bay suggestions, anyone?) Although she's quick and efficient, I've never had a dermatologist skin-check me so thoroughly and with such utterly present attention. And to provide me with peace of mind, she's gone beyond the call of duty to a level of care greater than what the "evidence-based" insurance companies want. I've also sent my rather anxious mom to McCalmont, and she adores her too. I suppose the moral here is that different patients have different needs and preferences ... read more

I saw Dr. Pai recently and I have to say her bedside manner was great. I am a bit afraid of some things that must be removed, but I know she will take good care of me. I would recommend her and this office in particular. I have some allergies so I had to use another rest room down the hall, no problem! and the office itself is fairly scent free to those who also suffer with allergy problems and environmental sensitivities. it's not 100% perfect, but pretty close. Dr. Pai is very kind and understanding. I feel comfortable having pre - cancerous or questionable moles removed by her. read more

I've been seeing Dr MacCalmount for a couple of years and I trust and like her. I find the whole office pretty low key and I feel good about the fact that I'm getting skin check annually. I found the office through online recommendations which seem to turn out to be pretty reliable for doctors. I'm happy to have found someone friendly, professional and approachable. read more

We saw Dr. McCalmont once and decided that we would never see her again. We found her to be rude and uncaring.

i can not say enough wonderful things about Dr. Camilla and the staff at the center! Soooooo incredibly kind and caring! There was an insurance mix-up because of the BS! that is Blue Cross Blue Shield Pathway PPO and had nothing at all to do with Dr. Camilla's office. When i arrived i found out that my insurance actually won't cover them even though it says so on the BCBS website (BCBS Pathway PPO is HORRIBLE!!!!!) but the Dr. offered to see me at a reduced rate because of the mixup even though it was not their fault at all, and was so incredibly kind and helpful-- even though they knew i would not be coming back afterwards because of lack of coverage, they still treated me as if i was one of their own on-going patients. Really, one of the very best experiences i have ever had in the hell that is health care in the US. If you have need of a dermatologist then Dr. Camilla and their team at the center is the ONLY place to go! read more

This doctor is a wonderful dermatologist! I went to her office recently for a skin rash and she immediately prescribed me an ointment that cured it within 4 days. She was kind, caring, very easy to talk to, and if I have any skin issues in the future I would not hesitate to go to her again. I called in the morning saying it was urgent and they told me to come in the same morning for an appointment. The staff are very efficient! The doctor really is very personable and smart. read more

I met with Dr. Fu and was very pleased with her kindness and expertise. She spent time with me to discuss my problem and was both efficient and gentle during the procedure. The woman at the desk, Chantella (?) was so polite and efficient. When I first called she bowled me over with her politeness and exhibited the same manner when I was in the office. I would highly recommend this group to anyone seeking quality care. read more

So she has a professional demeanor. You won't leave feeling like you've made a new friend, but you'll leave knowing that you've gotten exactly what was needed (if not what was desired.) She's very capable, very professional, and nice if not warm. read more

I saw Dr. McCalmont again and she was extremely kind and patient with me. She went far out of her way to make sure that I was comfortable during a minor procedure. I've never had any doctor be as meticulous and careful as Dr. McCalmont. She (not her staff) called me the next day to make sure that I was recovering well. She's the best! Her staff was very kind as well. read more

Dr. Camilla McCalmont is one of the most highly regarded dermatologists in the Bay Area; other dermatologists in the Bay Area recognize her high qualifications and expertise. She has been my dermatologist for nearly a decade. I find her extremely thorough in my semi-annual checkups and very communicative about the condition of my skin. She is gracious and warm and willing to answer any question I have about moles, suspicious spots, and treatment options. read more

terrific. thorough and kind. her only negative is being too popular, but with good reason. a very human and knowledgable doctor. read more

Dr. McCalmont is a very good dermatologist. She has a pleasant efficient office. She has been taking care of my dermatology needs for the past 8 years and I have nothing but praise for her medicine and her style. read more

6/30/2014 TODAY, I had a thoroughly nice appointment with Dr. Camilla McCalmont. Her Office being located about 7 blocks from my home in El Cerrito...once before, I had had an appointment with her...but whose business, in the mean time...I had, errornously heard, had been CLOSED. Come to find out, it is NOT CLOSED, at all! I was able to get an appointment for the removal of a Squamous Cell Skin Cancer which had been diagnosed by Pathology Services, Inc.,on 6/18/2014 ...my having seen a General Practitioner with Sutter East Bay Medical Foundation Offices in Albany CA ~ who had collected a skin sample on 6/13/2014. I was notified on 6/23/2014 that I had a Squamous Cell Cancer, that should be removed. The next early AM, in talking with a friend about it, she asked me which Dermatologist I would be seeing. I told her that I was going to try to get an appointment, with a Dr., who I had never seen, up on Telegraph, in Berkeley. Friend said: "what about Dr. McCalmont?" I said, "her practice was CLOSED"...friend said, "No, she was able to purchase her practice back and she is seeing her Patients." I called Dr. McCalmont's Office and I was able to get an appointment to get the Cancerous growth removed, one day less than a week away. Dr. McCalmont is the nice Dr. that I remembered having seen several years ago. What a relief it is to have a good Dermatologist, once again. read more