My name is Kamala DuPlessis and I was assaulted by another officer / co-worker while on duty where…read moreI suffered a neck injury as a result. I was referred to Dr. Goldthwaite. Dr. Noel Goldthwaite was not only an excellent listener and communicator, he was extremely, professional, compassionate and caring. His exceptional ability to orchestrate and tailor design your care plan based upon your needs are nothing short of miraculous. This man is truly a God sent and I am blessed to have had him as my care provider. Dr. goldthwaith is not just a good doctor, he is PHENOMENAL!! I would highly recommend him to anyone, who is in need of spinal care. HE IS THE BEST!!!!

Dr.Goldthwaite is by far the best spine surgeon on the west coast. His expertise in state of the…read moreart advanced surgical procedures surpasses any and all surgeons' abilities. He is able to repair failed spinal surgeries and gets patients out of pain and through recovery in record time. His skills and knowledge are invaluable, and is extremely compassionate.

Dr. Ames is one of the best spine surgeons in the world (no exaggeration here...). I had two…read moresurgeries with him, 2011 and 2017. Both were successful. I came at the second surgery in a wheelchair due to my scoliosis and degenerative changes in the spine. I left walking without any pain after 2 days in hospital. His team is is outstanding, Crystal Bravate is a great PA with lots of knowledge and understanding and the nurses at UCSF are the best. I am thankful.

Dr Ames completed a very complex surgery on my spine, fusing 16 vertebrae. The scoliosis curve was…read more80 degree with spina bifida (Diastematomyelia) lumbar area. My 3rd back surgery (two previous by different specialist) upon completion Dr. Ames told us that the degree of severity with my back was a 9 1/2 with 10 being the worst. Prior to surgery I took pain medicine around the clock, could barely walk, and mentally to a point of giving up. I am now 3 months post op, pain free (most of the day), walking 1 mile several times a week and learning to live with the hardware installation of rods and screws ; ) It's a great feeling to live relatively pain free, walking and enjoying my life again. Thank you Dr. Ames

I never thought I would need a neurosurgeon, let along at the age of 35. Ironically, I was…read morescheduled to take a week of vacation because I was planning my to go to Disney Land and finally explore the new Star Wars Land and Tiana's Bayou adventure. Instead, I needed a neurosurgeon. See, I use my hands for my job and I am hypermobile. I think this makes me prone to literally being being out of shape, and apparently there is a name for this rare, but somewhat-common-in-Koreans, arthritis: OPLL. Well, I've had neck pain pretty much my whole adult life and constant cervicogenic headaches. I've learned how to maintain myself for the most part but on August 16, 2024, I woke up and couldn't really lift my right arm. It kinda hung there limply by my side, but I just thought my shoulder must be exceptionally stiff from being overworked. I reverted to my routine of resting, stretching and applying heat and taking NSAIDs. It marginally got better but five days later at work, I couldn't lift my arm at all and had to use my left hand to keep my right arm up at work. So I went to the Parnassus ER, where (although I was gaslit by a very grumpy nurse who is burned out and I just appreciate showed up to her thankless job in the ER so people like me could get care) the triaging NP diagnosed my sudden neuro weakness and consulted neurosurgery. As you can tell from the photos, my spinal cord was being squished by a herniated disc at C5/C6. For YEARS, I've been having chronic pain and increased neurological deficits, just thinking I was aging and becoming middle aged. After a course of medrol and a new C5/C6 artificial disc replacement, I have a new lease on life. New neck, new life! I am so appreciative to Dr. Tan and his team for explaining my condition (as thoroughly as neurosurgeon can lol) and treating it promptly. He took my job into account, as well as my personal health, and he chose the best route for me - which was to remove the destroyed disc and replace it at that one level minimally evasively but not fusing the posterior/back part of that neck that had OPLL arthritis. Although Dr Tan warned me I'd still have posterior pain since he went in anteriorly and didn't correct the posterior compression, I got much better sensation in that part of my neck so the posterior compression is actually a lot better now too with surgery, PT, personal training and strict personal ergonomic adherence. I just had my one year follow up with Dr Tan's clinical fellow, and I really appreciated the explanation and care. I am so grateful to UCSF ER, neurosurgery, and peri/surgical teams taking care of me. From the house staff who shared with me how she lost her sense of smell that devastated her when she was an aspiring cook, to the resident who was working over 24 hours and still treated me with dignity and respect - I will never forget the simple kindness afforded to me in the hardest of times. That was the worst night of my life, but I wouldn't have wanted to have it anywhere else but at UCSF.

Dr Lee Tan Excellent surgeon, great bedside manner, and…read moreknowledgeable. I had visited another doctor (orthopedic) in Walnut Creek that told me my lumbar was fine, not to worry. I couldn't lay flat on my back for more than 10 seconds. Dr Tan looked at my MRI and said I needed surgery. I am 2 months out from a L3 to S1 spinal fusion. No complications, very good instructions from Dr Tan and his office staff, and wonderful follow up. I felt looked after. Highly recommend. But most importantly, my back pain I've had for 3+ years is gone. Thank you Dr Tan and your staff.

Dr. Oshtory is a lifesaver…read more After having severe, disabling back and leg pain for many years, I woke up from ATEC surgery with that pain GONE. Sure, I still had to recover from surgery, but I was walking that night and was discharged from the Pacific Surgery Center 23 hours post-op. I had severe central chord stenosis, many arthropathies, and an L5 anterolisthesis. I had been through all kinds of physical therapies, with limited success. Pilates kept me going. Steroid injections, once effective for up to 6 months, no longer gave me relief. I had avoided surgery for years, after seeing the hardware that would be installed for L4-5 fusion. When I realized I couldn't avoid surgery any longer, I was referred to two different surgeons.Dr. Oshtory was my second opinion. The first doctor offered me a medieval sounding 6 hour procedure with surgery through the front and back. My stenosis would be fixed with laminectomies. Donor bone would jack up my L4-5 where my disc was basically gone. Transfusions were probable. Screws and a V-shaped plate would be installed on the outside of my spine. I could expect a 5-7 day hospital stay. I'd be wearing a brace after surgery. It sounded horrible. So, I got my second opinion. Dr. Oshtory was confident without being arrogant. He was kind and thoughtful in my initial consultation. He offered me a fantastic alternative: an ATEC procedure. Surgery was through my right side. The remains of my disc were removed and replaced with a box (full of a bone-growth stimulating gel) which was screwed in place. During surgery he pulled my L5 into alignment through a small incision in my back, and the whole thing was screwed together with hardware flush to the bone. And he did this in about an hour. He said in my initial consult that I didn't need laminectomies (which would disturb the micro-musculature around the spine) for the stenosis because once my spine was in proper alignment, nothing would be impinging my nerves or the central chord. He was right. I have two tiny scars. I needed pain medication regularly for about a week, then much less over the next week, and almost none by the third week. At 4 weeks and 4 days out, I don't need any. After what I endured for all those years, even the uncomfortable parts of healing are a pleasure. I can walk 4 miles a day without a problem, as long as I am mindful about my posture and holding my core. (I appreciate that Dr. Oshtory considers how much effort a patient can or will put into recovery. A few years of Pilates definitely helped.) I read all of the Yelp reviews of Dr. Oshtory before my surgery. I was struck that the great reviews were from those he operated on and the one-star reviews were from patients not offered surgical solutions. I think he'd operate if he thought he could help. Too bad all surgeons don't have that kind of principled restraint. Any time I had questions I just emailed them to his office and they were answered right away. Camila, who runs his office, is kind, supportive, and diligent. I am absolutely satisfied with the treatment I received from Dr. Oshtory. Highly recommended. P.S. I do suggest if you have this surgery you get a bedrail that slides under your mattress, to support getting in and out of bed properly. PSS. I originally wrote this review 8 months ago but I needed to edit so I'm reposting. I'm now 10 months out and feeling fantastic, never had any issues or complications. Totally satisfied.

I am a physician in SF and have the experience of sending patients to many different surgeons in…read morethe Bay Area. When it came time to have my own family treated for complex spine problems, I couldn't recommend anyone more highly than Dr. Oshtory. He performed a minimally invasive procedure to correct a complex problem left over from prior spine surgery on my father-in-law. My father-in-law has made a miraculous recovery. At three months since surgery, he is now enjoying a pain-free and fully functional life again! Dr. Oshtory has a brilliant career ahead, as he is rapidly becoming the surgeon's surgeon. Other spine surgeons that we consulted with admitted that they even send their own cases to Dr. Oshtory as his outcomes are so good. Dr. Oshtory, my family and I want to thank you for all the years of dedication to your art and practice that have made you such a great surgeon! THANK YOU!

Put simply, the docs at UCSF/OTI put me back together. Beautifully. Back in 2006 I took an…read moreill-advised fall from a third story window. The landing broke 32 bones - including shattered elbows, back, neck, ankle and pelvis. The docs at OTI worked miracles to reconstruct my arms, realign my pelvis, and ensure that the neck/back injuries were stabilized. It is due to their remarkable work (might I say craftsmanship?) that I suffered no long term disability from the fall - in fact, my tennis game has improved and I'm even running faster than before (probably more due to motivation than the titanium that reinforces a few body parts). These docs are at the top of their game - empathetic, expert, and enthusiastic about the practice of medicine. I'm forever indebted to their team.

Dr. McClellan, Colleen, Dr. Duffy, and staff performed nothing short of a miracle with me. I am…read moreforever grateful for their excellent care. He is the finest doctor I have come across and Colleen and the rest of the staff were amazing helping me, and giving me the finest care pre post and surgery. They are what medicine should be all about. And to top it off, he's a cowboy who knows a good horse! Serious cool points there. I completely shattered my femur in a horse training accident the year before, and had a titanium rod put in, by another doctor in my area, then began the long slow pt process. I realized that something was not right. I was in pain all the time, had a severe limp despite all the efforts of my physical therapy group in Monterey, and was getting worse rather than better despite my bone growing back in. I am 28 now, if I had not fallen in their hands, I would be in serious chronic pain and walk with a shuffle/limp for the rest of my life. First off, Dr. McClellan believed that something was up and got me in for a CT scan that showed that my leg and hardware had "healed" 36 degrees off. To say this made sitting, standing, walking, and doing anything a struggle was an understatement of the century. I couldn't work and was really struggling for a long time in every way. Before Dr. McClellan, many doctors turned down my case and I was losing hope at ever becoming better. Fortunately, he said I'll fix this and man did he! He set that sucker at the perfect angle and made it as straight as its mate on the left and put in a much better rod and hardware. He had tons of people in that room helping him work on me. I want to thank all of them as well! I was scared but everyone was very kind and got me in the right mindset before I went under and they worked their magic. The minute I woke up from surgery, I felt giant relief and the pain in my hip was gone. I knew immediately that his plan had worked. 8 months later, my limp is almost totally gone. My pain is at a level that doesn't affect me unless I push the envelope. Thanks to Dr. McClellan and his amazing staff, I'm making a huge comeback and am now taking back control of the chronic pain and my life. If you are unlikely enough to need orthopaedic surgery, get your broken butt to these guys, your luck will change for the better!

Although I am not in the standard age range bracket for testing, I was treated just as seriously as…read moreif I were and my concerns were heard and respected at Avon. It is a really special place full of kind, sensitive, intelligent human beings, aka "staff". Special mention goes out to Rebecca at the front desk who went above and beyond for me, personally mailing my X-ray's and documents,etc. The mammogram technicians here are angels. I fainted during my first and the tech got a physician to help me.The second and third had similarly amazing women, who were so kind to me and patient as I was shaking from being cold, nervous and standing still is really difficult for me. They were so gentle with me and very intuitive. I felt like a human being not just a body being examined by a machine ,which made me feel cared for. Also, the mammogram machines are new so the technology and system overall is superior. My biopsy experience was different, which I expected as it isn't entirely just machine based-it is operation-esque, in a room with more people involved. I had the procedure repeated more than once during the appointment so my experience is probably not the norm, because they went in the wrong area and were experiencing difficulty. I have been told I have dense breast tissue making it difficult to get accurate reads, etc . This makes even the mammograms very daunting and uncomfortable because the physical pressure from the machines and readjusting. So, I think my tissue was an issue. Do make sure if you are getting a biopsy (or anything,really)to ask questions so that you can understand the entire process and what to expect . If you have anxiety , ask them if you can take something prior to calm your nerves-I would have if I could have. Do not be scared to speak up if you are in pain or have a concern. After my biopsy my body was shaking out of nerves and I was bleeding more than expected so the physician/radiologist spent nearly twenty minutes with me holding the area down as I was on a recovery cot just making sure I didn't go into shock and to help with the bleeding. She was very attentive and I appreciate the extra time she spent helping me. After the procedure, you will have to wear one of those stretchy tan wrap things (same as if you sprain an ankle, etc. I forget what they are called) tightly around your breasts every day for a week, just so you know. It was not horrible, just akin to an extremely tight sports bra on top of another. The facility itself is very serene and clean. Every time I have been there has been a cooking competition show on which I adore so that's always a lil treat while waiting to be seen. There is also a courtyard but I never went in it , I just admired it through the windows, but maybe next time...who doesn't love them some courtyards!? I am not surprised at the lack of reviews because it is not the happiest place on earth and no five star meals to yelp about here-but I feel like they deserve a new review. And, whoever you are, if you are reading this wondering if it is going to be scary/cold/impersonal/etc. ,then you deserve to know that is not so. It is normal to be scared, but everyone is there to help you and your beautiful soul. :)

They take appointments only but because I just got done with my primary doctor and I ask can I go…read moreover there since I'm here she sent the paperwork they had to check my information they said can you wait 20 minutes? I replied yes since I didn't have my glasses the girl offered to help me fill out the paperwork so I thought that was very nice of her, so make appointment no walk-ins unless it's under special circumstances. They're very accommodating if you're disabled or you need a wheelchair or someone's in the wheelchair they're going to work with you they have Spanish speaking nurses for those who do not speak English,and they have lockers you have to get a piece of paper because if you don't remember your code you can write it down but if u dnt then they have a special lock to unlock it so it's very secure. Thanks for reading my review. ~Lizzie~

Terrible customer service at front desk area with heavier woman about 5 weeks ago. Very rude to my…read morefamily and seemed annoyed to help and angry for some reason. If you hate your job lady find another one, especially not in health-care. Got helped by the Latino Dr. who was very nice, but will avoid this office again due to the office manager. She left a very sour taste in my mouth. Where is the customer service? Or even a smile or greeting?!

Very unhelpful customer service. The woman at the front desk was flippant, insensitive, dismissive…read moreand lazy. I went in to get an orthotic boot after having my cast removed. I left without a boot and an unprotected still broken foot because the lady at the front desk decided not to call my insurance company for an authorization. She told me she would call for an authorization and 2 minutes later changed her mind completely and said sorry actually I don't believe we take your insurance. UCSF has been treating me for 2 months and has successfully billed my insurance several times yet the UCSF orthotic department won't accept my insurance? I honestly don't believe that. After she dismissed me she referred me to a place on Geary and Masonic then looked down at my foot and said 'I hope you can make it there alright.' This comment wasn't sincere and I felt it was a very snide remark.

After the span of 2 months seeing Dr. Konrad Ng for lower back pain I have not gotten any clear…read morecourse of action, diagnosis nor real help. Instead, I have been charged for several office visits, a super painful and unsuccessful epidural injection and a referral to see his office partner Dr. Oshtory who basically asked me why I was even there since he's a surgeon and my issue was muscular, not the disc L5 which Dr. Ng thought to be the source of my pain but as to what to do if it was muscular ... well, he couldn't comment on that because he's a surgeon and I would have to ask a back specialist. I am in PT, doing at home PT exercises, had an MRI done and even added acupuncture because I am in so much pain day in and out ... but all of that I am doing on my own. I feel like I have been given the runaround here without getting insights, a diagnosis or solutions.

Dr. Aquino and her team over 2-4 procedures performed well. I had visited her from March 2025-May…read more2026 to ensure my progress went well and would recommend the doctor. Only one small concern is sometimes if you have to use both the SF Facility and the Daly City one (she has two locations depending on the procedure), ensure your insurance company does not confuse the location as this caused confusion for me, the staff and others (issues about being in network and then a denial, etc.). This was all cleared up. The procedures are all minimally invasive, short, and you are back on your feet almost instantly. The doctor speaks with you during the procedure, time flies and next thing you know it is over. Also the good thing she is a provider that takes PPO, HMO and most others so hope this helps in your search/this review.

Great experience, wonderful staff. I called in, set up a consultation, and was helped by Carmen and…read moreTiffany - both were super nice and very knowledgable about my options. They were booked up for a while, so I had to wait around 3 months for my ablation procedure. Fast forward to today, I met with Dr. Aquino and she was courteous and very efficient. I was able to walk and drive home right after it was done. Excellent bedside manner from Dr. Aquino and Carmen. I'm really happy with how everything went, and my hope is that my leg won't feel the dull pain and achiness from blood not flowing properly.