Your OB/GYN may seem a weird thing to Yelp about, but I know first-hand that finding a good one can be tough, and I finally have! So now, as per usual, I am going to shout it from the rooftops and recommend the hell out of this guy! Let it be known that I have never had a male OB/GYN, and never had any intention of having a male doctor for my lady bits, but the recommendation from my primary doctor was so glowing that I thought I would give Dr. T. a shot. (So glad I did!) His office is one of many in the huge Sharp building on Health Center Drive and his front desk receptionists are standard, too. The real service, kindness and breath of fresh air come once you enter Dr. T's back office and are greeted by caring nurses who respect your time and understand your anxiety. Dr. T has never left me waiting in the little exam room for more than 5 minutes and when he does come in, he is honest and genuinely sweet. He never leaves me feeling rushed or with a single unanswered question, and he calms my usually-irrational fears with an air of confidence and assurance. He is the doctor and I am the patient, and despite my obsessive self-diagnoses from online forums, he reminds me that his decades of experience are no match for my mad Google Fu skills. Dr. T is funny, patient and honest. And clearly, that is what I need. read more

Is it weird that I want to scream from the rooftops about how much I love this doctor? My experience today as a new patient was remarkable enough to actually get me Yelping again after more than a year's hiatus. So, yeah...here I am, stripping myself of shame in hopes that this helps out some other ladies in their search. Finding adequate and not totally horrid healthcare providers nowadays is damn near impossible, and any woman can tell you that it is especially challenging to find a decent gynecologist, let alone a stellar one. I am happy and relieved to report that this happened for me today! Note: Dr. Tarakjian (more simply known as Dr. T) is probably not everyone's cup-o-tea (no pun...ouch.). And that's fine...we are talking about precious materials here. So let's go over the most important factors, which I personally consider when evaluating a new lady-part doctor, and how he scored in these categories. Scoring is based on 1 to 5: 1 rated as "have you ever even seen a vagina before?" to 5 as "where have you been all of my post-pubescent life?" 1) Punctuality: 4 I was taken back to the exam room within 5 minutes of checking in, which is usually half the battle. From the time I disrobed from the waist down until I heard a tap-tap on the door followed by a super friendly and almost comical "...is that Melanie in there?" totaled about 10-15 minutes. Five minutes longer and this may have dropped to a 3.5, but to be fair, I was a couple minutes late to the appointment because I had a hard time finding the building. 2) Bedside Manner: 5+++ This is where you may totally agree with me, or be all "wtf, Melly?" but I think his personality was just splendid. He was warm and casual enough that it wasn't any more awkward than it already is to have a doctor all up in your biznass, but extremely attentive, funny and showed seemingly genuine consideration for my well-being and concerns. He really listened to me with no apparent judgment. Just as important to me, I never felt like I was being criticized or patronized when discussing my holistic/homeopathic lifestyle and remedies with him or his nurse. More on this in item 4. 3) Thoroughness/Knowledge: 5 Without going into too too much personal detail, this appointment was pretty routine but addressed some run-of-the-mill "why being a woman sucks" questions. His answers, tests and solutions were so straight-forward and simple it makes me really question all of my previous doctors regarding their ethics and diligence. Dr. T even ran a quick test while I waited, eliminating literally all of my worries. This is rather than sending me off to a lab, which usually incurs more bills and lots of waiting time. I am so thankful for this kind of treatment. 4) The Superiority Complex Factor: 5 I totally get it. You went to medical school and neither myself nor my friend Dr. Google have your expertise. That said, I am not a fan of defaulting to the prescription pad and/or generalizations when it comes to my own personal health. Most Western doctors tune out pretty quickly when they hear this along with my "hippie-dippie" methods. Instead of getting the proverbial eye-roll from him, Dr. T proved that he wanted to help me find solutions on my terms, combined with his knowledge. He spoke to me like an equal and not a dumb patient, immediately "picking up what I was putting down," and suddenly there was no more mention of pharmaceuticals. This is SO RARE. Aside from his thorough and necessary medical explanations, I really appreciated the banter. Disclaimer: Now, this guy is from Brooklyn, so a large factor in my satisfaction may be that we were speaking the same "language," but even back home in NYC, I had never found such a truly incredible and personable doctor. If you are shy, conservative or have no sense of humor, I'd recommend a more vanilla doctor. But if you appreciate real, kind, sincere human interactions with some slightly-off-color humor laced in, this is your dude! read more

Sad news: he has retired ***** As a girl that holds her girly parts sacred, you better believe I don't entrust my junk to just anyone. I am religious about the check-ups under the hood, you better believe it. Dr. Tarakjian, who is more known as "Dr. T" is the creme de la creme of San Diego obgyn. I have seen many over the years and no one, and I mean NO ONE has ever given me the care that lived up to my expectations. When you go to a Dr as personal as an obgyn, you want someone who won't handle you like you are a piece of meat. Dr T is not that class of a physician. He is the kind of man that treats you with empathy and delicacy, that doesn't feed you shit, doesn't take shit and won't waste your time. He is very honest, blunt and if you want your physician candy coating it for you, then go see someone else. The beauty of Dr T is that he is also a fantastic obstetrician when it comes time to have your children of the corn. I cannot express enough what a fantastic physician and person this man is. He is the kind of physician that re-instills my faith in the medical community, a true gentleman and class act through and through... and if you are one of the MANY patients he sees, you would understand. The man is BUSY and for a good reason. read more

I was recommended to Dr. T after becoming pregnant and I'm so glad I received that referral because he is amazing. I had such a great experience over the past 9+ months and really appreciate him as a Doctor. Throughout my pregnancy he had a very calm demeanor about him during all of my appointments and even the day of my birth. It helped me stay more relaxed throughout the pregnancy journey. He gave great advice to stay focused on what I could best control - eat, sleep and happiness - everything else he would help take care of. Thank you Dr. T for everything! read more

Dr. T is a quirky New Yorker with a flair for fashion and has a laid back, joking bedside manner. Very relaxed. He is a schmoozer (just listen to him chatting up the nurses outside your exam room prior to entry), and being on time is not his strong suit. I've waited 40+ minutes in an exam room several times now - only to see him for at most three to five minutes. His office staff is nice. I appreciate his confident, relaxed manner. I wish he would spend more time with his patients, and not make you feel like you were being rushed out the door. Booking early morning appointments will not keep you from waiting a long time to be seen, either. I think he is just one of those doctors who runs on their own schedule. That being said, I still think he's a great doctor. I will update this review post delivery. read more

Dr. T is seriously the best OBG in San Diego! He is funny yet extremely thorough and knowledgeable. I always felt like I was in good hands. He performed my scheduled C-section and did such an amazing job, I swear I was in and out of the OR in 10 minutes. My scar was tiny and is nearly invisible now, almost 2 years later. I had a seamless experience and if we ever decide to have anymore kiddos, I will definitely go back to see Dr T! read more

My son who was born at Mary Birch endured a horrific spinal cord birth injury. This was my 3rd scheduled c section and things went extremely wrong. This was a very rare occurrence in the fact that what happened is normally prevented and now my son and the rest of our family are forced to pay the price in so many ways. read more

Dr. T did surgery for me 9 months ago. He did a great job and made sure I was comfortable, well informed and mentally prepared. He asked me great questions that most doctors would not have taken the time to ask. I had some pain after the surgery and he promptly addressed it. He's caring and friendly without making a patient uncomfortable. read more

Dr. T is one of the most thorough and caring doctors I have ever had. These days it's hard to find doctors him that truly care. Thank you, Dr. T for being such a great doctor to me these past 10 years. read more

Dr. Tarakjian went above and beyond for me. A truly gifted surgeon and an amazingly caring man. Thanks again!

I almost died after spending a month or so at Mary Birch. He was not on call the night I went into labor, and the doctor I got waited too long, and basically massacred me. Bled out in recovery BUT between Dr, T and Dr. Partridge (anasthesia), I was able to make it through another month's rounds of surgery...oh and Dr. MacIntyre who is a fantastic urologist (yeah they cut my ureter too). Dr. T kept my husband and I from giving up, kept us up to date, and had the docs listened to him, I might have avoided some of the pain I went through. He is AMAZING. He has called me four or five times just to check up on me, and with his schedule....well it doesnt happen often. I miss his smile and him calling me Phil. He gave my baby any chance she has of making it. We still don't know, but if she does, it's because of him. He almost became part of the family...you're lucky if you get him... read more

This man is amazing. As soon as I met Dr. T , I knew we would get along... My husband agreed. He answered all of my questions honestly and most the time with a little humor. I was nervous, as this was our first child but Dr. T didn't stress me out - in fact he would calm me down in a matter of minutes. The day I went into labor we had a Doctor appt scheduled so we called and told him we would be missing it because we had checked into the hospital- he walked over on his lunch break to say hi and check on our progress... And then because he is so awesome- even though he wasn't on call at Mary Birch that evening- he delivered our little man! I know the Doctor on call that evening is great as well but it was reassuring having Dr.T in the room. My husband and I agree I might have demanded a c-section but Dr. T knew my personality and exactly what to say to get me to PUSH! I recommend Dr.T to everyone!!!! read more

I really like this office. I've been going Dr. T for annual exams for the last 3 years. I like the location because there's a huge parking lot and patient parking is only $2. The appointments can run behind, but I don't mind because it's hard to find such a good doctor. Dr. T always makes jokes and lightens the mood, because obviously going to the obgyn is not something you really "look forward" to. His nurses are all very sweet. If I have a baby in the future, I definitely want Dr. T to handle my pre-natal care. Mary Birch is an amazing hospital, I wouldn't want to go elsewhere. read more

To all the ladies looking for a brilliant surgeon that will respect your body and your wishes to preserve as many of your female organs as possible with minimum harm, I have found that to be Dr. Tarakjian. I had large fibroids (12cm) and was scheduled for an open hysterectomy (w/ removal of ovaries, tubes, cervix), with a different doctor, requiring long hard recovery. I came to Dr T looking for a better option . All my organs were healthy, I just had large, uncomfortable Fibroids freeloading. I was concerned about complication later in life like prolapse and bone loss. Dr. T listened to my concerns and recommended a minimally invasive procedure that would preserve my floor support (keep Cervix), preserve my ovaries if possible and a quick recovery. I thought I was a freak case for that procedure. I was told that because of my large fibroids many doctors would not do this type of procedure. But I knew that it was safe in the hands of a skilled surgeon. Dr T also provide the choice of a myomectomy (keeping the uterus & removing the fibroids). But that had more risk of blood loss. Because of Dr Ts forethought, skillful technique and caring nature, my recovery was nothing short of amazing. I had the option to stay the night in the hospital but within hours of the operation, I was up, alert, and excited to go home. I never used the pain medication, only Tylenol and Ibuprofen. Every few hours I was walking laps around the house with little pain. Obviously, Dr T is part magician because I can't figure how he got the parts out of me with such a little incision by my bellybutton. It's like Santa Clause going through the chimney. Dr T provided an appropriate procedure that reflected me as a person, not as a general statistic. He provided a procedure that reflected my wishes and with minimal invasive, minimal complications (now & later in life) and a speedy recovery. For that I am grateful and highly recommend him. read more

I love Dr. Tarakjian and have been very happy with his care so far. I am almost 35 weeks pregnant and have had a fairly normal second pregnancy with some potential for preclampsia. Dr T. finds a perfect balance between humor and knowing when to take things seriously. He keeps things lighthearted and pragmatic and doesn't sugar coat things. He is self deprecating and doesn't have an ounce of the dreaded God complex. The few times I've run into potentially more serious issues Dr T. is all business and shows a sincere concern for being overly cautious and thorough. He is authentic and genuine and clearly experienced. I highly recommend his care to new moms and experienced moms too. read more

Dr T was my OB while I was pregnant and he delivered my daughter as well. He is direct, caring, and easy to talk to. His nurses are nice as well. No complaints. I will definitely use him for my next pregnancy! read more

Dr T is wonderful. He is caring about his patients and very professional, I hope he never retires!

Dr. Tarakjian has been my doctor for the last 12 years, and he's the best!! very knowledgeable and always looking for the best interest of his patients, we are very thankful for all his great job and we truly love him. read more

I agree with the other reviewer, Dr. Tarakjian really is a cut above the rest. A classy gentleman who talks to you like an intelligent adult. He doesn't patronize or condescend, as too many other ob/gyns I've seen tend to do. He speaks frankly, but with heart. And, best of all, he is no dinosaur. He is up on the latest in his field. If you are looking for a new obstetrician or gynecologist, I strongly recommend Dr. Tarakjian. read more

If you want to wait over an hour after your appt time to spend 2 minutes with a doctor then he is your guy! Otherwise skip him... I had my second appointment and yes they BOTH have taken over 1 hour to even see him...im on time and early the least he could do is respect his patients time and do his job as he is paid to do. AWFUL! read more

Dr. Tarakjian is an incredible surgeon and person. On two separate occasions my wife has needed surgery suddenly and urgently. Both times we were referred to Dr. Tarakjian and both times he went out of his way to accommodate us into his schedule and to perform the surgery in a way that minimized the recovery time for my wife. He clearly goes the extra mile for his patients. He is very compassionate and I am so thankful for his caring and his skill. We owe him a deep debt of gratitude. read more

There is no one better. He is direct, he levels with you and he cares. I actually look forward to my gyn. appointments and it's kind of a bummer I only get to see him once a year or so. He was scheduled to perform my surgery shortly after meeting me as a new patient back in 2009, and 5 minutes in to the consultation I had zero apprehension. He is simply as good as it gets. read more

This physician is an absolute godsend to his patients AND to the medical community. He was highly recommended by one of his colleagues many years ago when we were waltzing through the stages of infertility and the heartaches that followed. Because of this kind, loving, brilliant man, we were blessed not once, but twice. He is professional, honest, caring, and funny -- and makes you feel completely at ease, even in the most stressful situations. Our second pregnancy was high-risk -- and he stayed by our sides throughout the pregnancy, delivery, and post-partum to make sure all was well. He is truly a blessing to all who know him! read more

I waited long to write this review, I feel like I have to. The doctor/ his staff failed to determine that I was having a very large baby (10lbs) and warn me about the risks. My labor started at 41 weeks and as a result I had 4 degree tears. A better option would have been to induce the labor earlier. In addition, during the labor another doctor was on call, and when the baby was crowning he was not around. The nurse kept sending him messages and telling me to wait which I felt was nearly impossible as I was already exhausted from pushing for an hour. So basically no one was around to control the labor and give me clear directions to have it go smoothly, which resulted in the tears. After 6 months of giving birth, I came to the office and had Paragard IUD installed. It was not installed correctly (I did come for a check up visit) and I got pregnant with my 3rd child which was never the plan in our family. read more

Dr. T is great! I recently had surgery with him and everything was great. He definitely eased all of my fears.

I highly recommend Dr. T. as an OB/GYN. I had transferred to his practice during the 4th month of my pregnancy because I did not like my experience with the multi-doctor rotation care that existed at another medical office. I had read positive reviews on him via Yelp and decided I would go with him. That decision ultimately saved the life of my baby who ended up being born 5 weeks early by emergency C-section. I had been having contractions for the 3rd time in my pregnancy and the triage nurse at Dr T's office encouraged me to go to the ER even though I had an appointment scheduled with him for the same day. They ended up finding that even though the baby had a heart beat she was not having any movement or fetal response. Dr. T saw me that day and asked me to return to the ER first thing in the morning since he would be on call. Within a few hours of being in the ER I was seen by a specialist and the decision was made for to have surgery later that day. However, Dr. T wisely asked for me to be monitored while waiting for a surgery time slot to be finalized. Before I knew it the baby's heart beat disappeared from the monitor and I was taken in to have the baby right away. Thank God she was born alive and ended up staying in the NICU only for 6 days. It turned out that her umbilical cord had bunched up and gotten blocked in some spots cutting off her food supply. This is very hard to catch and unfortunately is usually found out after the baby has passed. Thank God this story ended up differently. read more