Rachel has been our toddler's primary care provider since birth, and we absolutely love her. She provides an amazing combination of knowledgeable, compassionate and empowering care. She clearly knows what she's doing and, of course, performs thorough examinations. She's extremely skilled at communicating what will happen at each appointment, her findings, expectations and next steps. We had a challenging first 6 months with our little one that involved concerns around weight gain, growth, feeding, and digestive discomfort -- i.e. basic survival -- and Rachel was the perfect medical ally. In hindsight, there was a lot of stress around the advice we received and what we were attempting to implement at home, which probably could have been avoided (e.g. frequency and amounts of feedings) if I'd known what questions to ask. But I attribute that to a misalignment between my expectations for what a medical provider is able or should be advising and the support we really needed on a daily basis. Unfortunately, there just aren't many other places to turn for that kind of advice, even among postpartum doulas. So with all that said, I would recommend Rachel to anyone in a heartbeat, especially to first-time parents who would appreciate that extra touch of kindness and concern. We never feel rushed in our appointments, and she genuinely cares how we're doing as a family beyond the requisite pediatrics. She makes an effort to connect with us parents every time. We've had a couple appointments with Dr. Glynn, who I would characterize as 'nice enough', but Rachel's a pretty hard act to follow. Dr. Getzelman is not taking new patients, so you probably won't see her if your family is new to the practice. The service is definitely expensive; we happen to be blessed with amazing health insurance. We even take regular advantage of their home visits, which have been a boon to our sanity. The office is pleasant, but it'll always feel cold and sterile compared to the comforts of home, especially to our cautious youngster. We're also extremely COVID cautious, so the home visits have felt safer in that regard, too. If their services are within your budget, it's definitely worth considering; you'll receive kind and competent medical care for your extra money spent. read more

Not the cheapest, but they make healthcare easy. The care is high quality. It's easy to get ahold of a doctor or nurse practitioner, and they can easily any referrals. If you can afford it, this is a great choice. read more

We signed up because they called this a "concierge" style model on the website. It's not really concierge at all in my opinion. You pay a fee like $40/month I believe to join the practice. We ended up leaving after 2 months of our baby being born and went to another truly concierge-style pediatrician. The issues we had here was that 90% of our encounters were with a Nurse Practioner. Maybe I just got unlucky and never had an md available. The final straw was probably when my baby had his 2 month vaccine, ran a fever the same night, and the NP picked up the after hours call. She made us really nervous that something was extremely wrong even though it was just the vaccine. I mean after hours is for emergency. What if it was something worse- couldn't a doctor at least be on call? They also bill you for everything. I mean everything. Just sending an email with a photo of my baby's red bump, and then they ask to jump on a call for a few minutes just to tell me it's baby acne and then they bill $300-$400. Why not just respond via email. The same thing with asking basic questions like he's spitting up, constipated. Need to jump on a call and then get billed $300-$400. Money is not an issue for us but overtime it just seemed so ridiculous and prevented me from even wanting to email or call in. They also seem to love probiotics here. My baby had dry skin and the nurse told us to use probiotics to resolve it? He's spitting up, she told us to use probiotics. He's constipated. The solution was to use probiotics. My baby also developed a flat head. They sent us to physical therapy and to get advised for a helmet right away. At my new practice, the MD wanted to take a look at him first and then sent a referral to UCSF to get consultation with their cranio team. Anyway. I just felt like it's really cookie cutter here. Didn't feel like they cared about my baby at all. It's more like they provide good service. Yes someone will always respond to your email right away and answer your call. But just expect an NP or to be billed for every conversation you have with them. read more

We had a visit to pierce my son's ears. The nurse did everything in their power to distract the kid. She confirmed with me a few times on whether the markers look aligned/symmetrical to do the piercing. Took the time to get the marking right - which was awesome and on par with my expectations from all the reviews. When ear was pierced, it was away from marking on his right ear close to the inner lobe. Nurse did not notice this and when I mentioned this, she shrugged it off with "after the wound heals we can re-pierce to get it right next time". Would have been nice if she took a closer look at the minimum - which shows care. This was not the experience I was hoping to receive based on all great reviews. Since this is meant as a temporary 2-3 month thing, I'm not worried. But for folks who plan to keep it as permanent, might want to pay attention on alignment. read more

Nothing but the best for my little and I truly believe by taking her here instead of a hospital system is the best I can do for my little. I love the staff, the Noe office we go to. read more

In this age of assembly line doctoring, where you get 15 mins with a harried physician who throw antibiotics at your kid, Getzwell Pediatrics is a true miracle and godsend to new and longer-term parents. Julia Getzelman has been my daughter's pediatrician for 10 years, and I am so grateful for her and her dedicated staff. In addition to being a highly skilled doctor, Julia is intuitive, empathetic, and uniquely versed in alternative treatments like homeopathy. She is patient and kind and my 10-year-old loves her almost as much as my husband and I do! We are currently addressing a health situation and if it weren't for Julia, I would be feeling a lot more worried and scared. I know she's my partner and is there for me when I have questions or just need reassurance. There is simply no other pediatrician in San Francisco who compares. She has even suggested supplements for myself that have helped with a recurring health situation. I totally wish she could be my Primary Physician too! I recommend her and her practice 100 percent. read more

I just can't say enough wonderful things about Getzwell. We have been seeing Rachel since my little was a week old and he's now 3. Rachel has been the perfect caregiver, balancing sound medical advice with compassion and kindness, a truly holistic approach to medicine. She was so comforting to me as a new mom, a wonderful guide on the rollercoaster of motherhood. Getting appointments has been so easy whenever he has been sick, they always figure out a way to get us in quickly. They are always sure to check in with us after the appointment as well to make sure everyone is doing ok. read more

If you call with a question and your call goes over 5mins you are billed $80. It also can take a long time to get a call back and in my case, most of what the nurse practitioner told us was clearly from a script. I had a pediatrician in Nashville who was 100% covered by insurance (no additional yearly fee or office visit) and the doctor would spend 30mins with us in office answering all our questions, the nurse would always call back within the hour and then again after speaking with the doctor (or the doctor would call me directly), and i was never charged. Granted it's the South and things are culturally different there... That said, the clinic in the South didn't have an alternative/eastern medicine compliment that this practice has which i greatly appreciate! Pros and Cons. All and all I think part of why this practice is highly reviewed is because it's gives more of a small town feel in a large city. But comes with a premium price. read more

I have to agree with Julie C. - We were not happy with Dr Getzelman or the practice. I felt as thought I was rushed and not given adequate attention for the extra money we were spending. I wish Noe Valley had a better place for pediatric patients to go to. I feel as though there are better options out there - other cash-only - physician direct care medical practices. We did find another pediatrician in the Marina, that works quite well with my family are much more satisfied with the prompt and experienced care we receive from him. read more

My wife and I totally love Julia and her staff. She is an amazing pediatrician who is very willing to work with you to figure out what is best for you and your baby. Also, she has a sense of humor which is very very necessary. As parents we have already made a lot of mistakes but choosing Julia is one we feel really really good about. read more

When I was pregnant, we interviewed three highly recommended pediatricians before choosing Dr. Getzelman. From our experience, the GetzWell practice is the perfect balance of openness and expertise. We've always found Dr. Getzelman to be open and non-judgmental about our parenting choices at the same time providing us with fact-based advice coming out of the most recent research in pediatrics. As first-time parents, I can't imagine having found a more comforting and reliable pediatrician as we navigate our way through becoming parents. Her response time to phone calls and emails is unbelievable, even at night and on weekends. Always within the day, sometimes within the hour. As nervous first-time parents, I can't imagine how much time and money her phone and email consults have saved us in visits to the ER. When our son had an earache on a Friday, she called us on Sunday to see if he was feeling better -- and her vigilance seems to come out of sincere concern and caring for our baby. Dr. Getzelman has a wonderful rapport with our son, and he never has anxiety about visiting the GetzWell office or having shots. She is silly and kind with him, and unendingly patient and sympathetic with us, answering all our questions and offering truly helpful advice when asked. Johanna and Janis are caring professionals, and overall the GetzWell practice is the best medical provider I've ever seen, pediatric or otherwise. If only Dr. Getzelman saw adults! read more

Dr. Getzelman and Getzwell pediatrics has been a godsend for our family. We've been with Getzwell for 4 years and continue to say with Dr. G even though we've relocated out of state. She was such an important part of making sure that my son got an early ASD diagnosis and has responded to our son's specific and chronic medical issues with care and compassion. I feel confident knowing that anytime I call Getzwell inside our outside of business hours that there will be someone on the other line who really understands my child and our unique medical needs to help us navigate illness, growth, and new treatment options for my child with special needs. It's rare in this day and age to be able to find a practice that gives such personalized and family-centered care. We are very grateful! read more

We moved to Oakland and yet we still go to Getzwell Pediatrics. There's nothing else like it. Dr. Getzelman is one of a kind; I couldn't find anyone in Berkeley/Oakland with the same perspective on medicine. She is ultra-knowledgeable, progressive, uses nutrition to prevent allergies, and often recommends non-traditional treatments like homeopathy as a first response. And she went to Yale medical school, which is good enough for me. Getzwell Pediatrics is a super friendly office staff, never crowded, and even responsive after hours via email questions. We could not be happier (unless she cloned herself and opened a twin practice in Rockridge)! read more

Love our Doctors here! And love that we receive the most natural and integrative approach for my childrens healthcare! The most thing I cherish are the house visited appointments for the 1st month of my babies lives! Totally recommend!! read more

I will always be grateful for Dr. Getzelman's role in identifying our daughter's infant epilepsy. After my daughter's pediatrician from birth dismissed her mysterious episodes as just being "skinny and angry", I asked our midwife for help finding someone who would take my concerns seriously. Dr. Getzelman immediately told us to come in because she was equally concerned. She arranged for us to take my daughter into the ER and told us what to expect regarding hospital stay and neurological tests. Thanks to her, our daughter was correctly diagnosed and put on the proper medication and is now thriving. Dr. Getzelman was also very supportive of me, checking in with how I was holding up, which I appreciated because when your newborn baby has an unknown condition it is the scariest thing in the world. Her practice does not take insurance, and her website explains why, and it makes complete sense. Because of our daughter's health issues, we have decided to continue with Dr. Getzelman even though our insurance is not covering anything due to a very high deductible. Dr. Getzelman listens to me and supports many of my decisions, which include co-sleeping, breastfeeding, and introducing whole foods rather than rice cereal for starting solids. Having gone through 3 other pediatricians, I can say confidently that she knows her stuff and has great bedside manner as well. read more

Simply fantastic. We think Dr. Juila Getzelman may just run the best pediatric practice in San Francisco. And, we *know* she definitely runs the best practice in Noe Valley, based on our firsthand experience with competing practices in Noe Valley. Dr. Getzelman and Nurse Practioner Janis Mandac-Dy are exceptionally professional, caring, and progressive. We see them as "whole family" care - a place where we can never ask too many questions or dumb questions. Every provider seems to know every family. Someone always picks up the phone, 24x7, and it's usually Dr. Getzelman herself. The office environment is very friendly and punctual. Truly unique about the practice is a real depth in nutrition. We had a truly wonderful pediatrician in another state prior to our relocation to SF. We had doubts we could find a practice that matched up to our prior pediatrician. Well, we found that GetzWell was even better than we could have hoped. It's almost odd reading the few 1 star posts about GetzWell. Everyone is entitled to their opinion, but, I'd go out on a limb and guess that the 1-star reviewers are those painful parents you learn to avoid at PTA meetings. Nevertheless, we love GetzWell. We were hesitant about the practice fees at first, but, now we see them as a great value for the money. Our son couldn't be in better hands. read more

I went to the Getzwell clinic to have my 10 month old daughter's ears pierced. After much research, I found two possible locations that met my criteria. One was what seems to be an extremely popular (and insanely expensive) practice for infant ear piercings and the other was Getzwell. I went with Getzwell due to the price ($100 including earrings!) and the piercing was going to be completed by Emily Waight, a Certified Pediatric Nurse Practitioner. I called to schedule my appt and they were able to see us even though we were not 'official' members of their practice. During the appt everything occurred just as they explained it would. I chose the earrings that were gold plated, which isnt a big deal to me as I plan on changing them as soon as I am able to, and they came in a sealed sterile package. The ears are pierced with the earring and the equipment used to push the earring through (not sure what its called) is also sterile, as it is only used one time.. Meaning there is very little risk for infection. I was extremely satisfied with my experience here and I highly recommend Getzwell Pediatrics and Emily for infant ear piercings! D read more

this is a long overdue post. I posted one about this practice when we first started going - about two years ago! I cant say enough about Dr. G and Janice and the support staff. The waiting room and exams rooms are very clean and child-friendly. We have never had to wait past our appointment and we've always been able to get a same day appointment, when needed. Dr. G is amazing with my daughter. The medicine practiced her is preventative rather than reactionary. Its true, that they dont accept accept insurance. However, as a result, the staff are not dicated by insurance company reimbursement rates and 10 minute appointments. We have a stack of our insurance reimbursement forms filled out and after a visit it takes two minutes to mail them in for reimbursement. read more

I can't speak highly enough about Dr. Getzelman and team. I sing their praises every time I get a chance. We've been with her through the birth of my son, now 5.5 years old and our daughter, now 14 months. She is one of the most brilliant women I have come to know and I trust her incessantly. Our children are thriving as a result of her guidance as it pertains to nutrition, development, and medicine. And note - we love everyone in that office so even if it's not Dr. G we see that day, we are always in exceptional care and leave in a really good mood. In 2013 we moved to Sacramento but still keep Dr. G as our peditrician for the kids. Yes, she's that good and it's so worth our time. But don't take my word for it, go discover Getzwell for yourself. You will not be sorry!! read more

Do you remember that time when someone was so exceptional, so unequalled, so beyond compare, and for whom you felt so grateful that you knew you finally had to create that Yelp account and tell everyone about it? You guessed it - for me, that was Julia Getzelman. Julia Getzelman is this rare combination of unparalleled Western medical doctor and holistic child caregiver. I can discuss all kinds of topics with her, such as vaccines and homeopathy alike. Dr. Getzelman's energy is powerful through her calm, intuitive and reassuring care. She has supported our family since our first visit when my daughter was 6 weeks old and not gaining sufficient weight. Dr. Getzelman (and team) worked with us to get our daughter's growth and my confidence back on track, closely monitoring and adjusting, as needed, and checking in and answering questions regularly. And GetzWell has continued its personalized approach to health care for us, including w/r/t vaccine schedule, breastfeeding, potty training, etc., always asking lots of questions/listening first and then guiding/advising according to our family culture and values. Dr. Getzelman also has this ineffable ability to connect with little ones - an infant and toddler whisperer, really. My daughter, of the more sensitive, slow-to-warm type, really took to Dr. Getzelman, engaging with and trusting her during visits. Julia is the only doctor who has been able to take height/weight measurements, shine lights in eyes and administer shots, all with my daughter's cooperation. In our 2+ years with GetzWell, Dr. Getzelman has also taught my daughter tree pose, a few songs and how to draw purple cats with crayons (so there may be a few surprise benefits too). So genuine, so caring, so unruffled, so competent. People always point to the fees, the extra cost. Worth every penny! Especially during the first year when parents have many questions, GetzWell's personalized model of hour-long appointments, same day responses to email questions, and same-day availability for appointments in case of illness has truly been worth the extra cost. And depending on insurance, the differential may not be that great. I am so happy that GetzWell is an option, and that we can support this great team to do what they do so well and care for our children! Even though we've moved down to the Peninsula, we still go to GetzWell. My only regret is that it took me so long to create an account and spread the good word. Thank you Dr. Getzelman! read more

My two kids who are now teenagers have been patients of Dr. Getzelman's for almost 10 years. I switched to the practice when I felt that traditional approaches were too harsh and not meeting my kids' needs. We have been extremely happy with the practice, and Dr. Getzelman in particular. She has developed a great rapport with the kids over the years and they trust her and feel comfortable with her as they grow older and their bodies are changing, and as they are more interested in their health and wellness. It's worth highlighting that Dr. Getzelman's unique knowledge, approach and experience is exceptional, and she has single-handedly managed to help my ADHD child become "non-symptomatic." Through a process of various specialized and cutting-edge tests, Dr. Getzelman was able to pin-point my child's genetic disparities which were causing ADHD behaviors and symptoms. With an elaborate course of supplements (and not medications), overnight my child was able to focus, sit still, and manage impulses. It was remarkable, absolutely unbelievable. It has made a huge difference at school and at home. More importantly, my child is now healthy, and no other doctor or method of diagnosis would have provided or allowed us the (terrifying) insight that his brain was suffering from an autoimmune attack, which was causing the ADHD symptoms. Dr. Getzelman is well connected in so many alternative communities, for those who like to seek out alternative treatments. She has introduced us to many practitioners in SF (osteopaths, homeopaths, acupuncturists, etc.) that have helped to keep my kids (and me) healthy and thriving. She's also well-versed and current re the most effective brands and products. She's reachable, responsive, concerned, and compassionate. Dr. Getzelman is a rare find and my family is grateful she's located in SF! read more

I rarely write reviews but am really compelled to write this one because of how happy I am with Getzwell. The selfish part of me would like to keep them a secret so that they could spend more time with my daughter...But they deserve to get the kudos for a job well done. As a new mom I greatly appreciate how thorough they are with each of our visits. They care and ask about everything (safety, sleep, eating, behaviors, etc) beside doing physical checkups. They spend a lot of time with us, listen with genuine care and also provide good answers, and even if they don't know of one at that moment, they would research and follow up within the same day. They are prompt in getting back to me whenever I call with an issue. They have an integrative approach to care that resonates with me (e.g., incorporating homeopathic medicine, green/organic baby care, less aggressive vaccine schedule). They don't take insurance but we have been able to submit claims to be reimbursed just fine. read more

I have so many positive things to say about Dr. Getzelman but the real test came when we moved to Berkeley a year ago. Our trust in her advice, care, and practices is so strong that we still take our kids to her, despite the bridge, the traffic, and 45-75 minute commute each way. It would make my decade if she opened up an East Bay office. My kids' health and well being are beyond a priority to me (I'm sure most parents can relate) and we always feel heard and taken seriously at Getzwell. Hour-long appointments mean you're not rushed. On-time appointments mean you and your kids aren't going batty in the waiting room. Speaking of waiting rooms, their entire office (both locations) is beautifully and thoughtfully designed. And most importantly, they really care about kids' health and it shows. They follow up. They ask good questions. They want your kids to thrive. Yes, it costs a little more, but we are talking about a child's health here. It is so so important and I would trade in daily lattes and housekeepers (neither of which we ever had) in a heartbeat. If you can swing it, and have a decent PPO, it is worth every extra penny. Besides, the costs are not much different after year 2 when visits are annual. We signed up with them when my youngest was 6 months and I regret not starting with them from the get go. But I'm so grateful they're part of our team now. We truly feel we have a partner and advocate in them when it comes to our kids' health. read more

We have 3 children and switched over to Getzwell Pediatrics about a year ago after the practice was highly recommended by a friend that I trust in these matters. There is a lot of autoimmune disease going on in our family. My oldest is a type 1 diabetic, my son has focus and impulse struggles as well as sensory integration issues and my youngest has Hashimoto's and Celiacs Disease. Dr. Julia Getzelman had us do 23 & Me genetics tests and has literally scoured our genetic story and made recommendations for supplements and more to help us. Truly, when you find a doctor who is not on autopilot but always trying to learn more, ask more, listen more, it changes your life for the better. As a parent, it often feels like you're throwing darts at a dart board in the dark while trying to hit a bulls eye to figure out how to support your children. Dr. Getzelman and Dr. Glynn and team have been extremely supportive of our family. Even Karmi , The office manager, is always looking out for us and listening to me whine and cry as I struggle with caring for my 3 very different children. The one hour appointments make all the difference because the doctors get a big picture of the child and their history. I have taken my son to cognitive behavioral therapy, occupational therapy, psychiatrist, classes for impulse control issues but understanding our genetics and the way it effects our brains and bodies has been a game changer for us. I feel like I can't do Dr. Getzelman justice in particular as she is always looking to learn more. I just heard Walter Isaacson say in a lecture about Leonardo Da Vinci that creativity is incredibly important, not just academic intelligence. Dr. Getzelman isn't sitting on her laurels assuming she knows everything. She is constantly studying, learning and working to know more and did a recent fellowship with another doctor. I'm most comfortable with people who don't think they know it all but are always trying to learn. Our brains are so exceedingly complicated and having a clue into the genetic and physiological reasons behind my son's behavior and mine has been so helpful and worth every penny and the most effective thing we have done. Again, I feel like I can't do the practice justice in a review but I will say it's been very helpful for our family. My children like the doctors and the practice. I always get someone on the phone. I don't have to write reminders on my calendar to schedule my children's annual visits 6 months in advance and I'm able to talk about and get support for real concerns instead of rushed through vision and hearing and weight and goodbye. My children have real health issues and we have a strong, supportive, and knowledgeable partner with Getzwell. I know it is extra money and submitting to insurance but it is money well spent and finally we found something that is helping and working . I'm truly so thankful for that. Before I was trying many things without many results. I've struggled to try and explain our experience in a short review but we have definitely been thankful for this practice. Kids are all different and my children get individualized care at Getzwell. I wish every child in the world had this medical care. read more

Dr. Getzelman has transformed my son's health. We have been with her office for about 2 years. When we first met Dr. Getzelman my son was struggling with eczema, allergies, food sensitivites, and frequent illnesses. Dr. Getzelman spent time going through his diet and history. She analyzed EVERYTHING and came up with a game plan that changed my son's life. He's a happy, healthy kid and he's thriving in school. I am so grateful to Dr. Getzelman. We've also worked with Rachel who has taken care of both my kids. She is gentle and warm and so knowledgeable. My son is in love with Rachel. My only regret is that I didn't find Getzwell sooner. And my wish is for all parents to have a team like Getzwell to help maximize your children's health. read more

I found the most amazing doctor, Julia Getzelman, after leaving our first pediatrician because he failed to investigate my daughter's failure to thrive. Right away she had simple tests done and we found out that our then two-month old daughter had a condition that caused life-threatening symptoms and she required hospitalization immediately. How fortunate we were to find her! As a doctor, she listens carefully, treats her patients with respect and is open to using complimentary health care practices & therapies. As a person, she is warm, patient and kind, putting both the child and the parent at ease. I can't say enough good things about her! She has an integrative practice that includes a nutritionist and lactation consultant. She also has relationships with local complimentary providers so her patients can be referred to other specialized professionals that she trusts. Dr. Getzelman regularly attends medical conferences so she's well informed of the latest as well as up-and-coming developments in health, especially wellness and nutrition. Luckily, she's still accepting new patients and is happy to meet with you before you come in for your child's first visit. read more

Executive Summary: Fantastic. Period. We've been clients (2 kids - a 3 yo and 1 yo) of Dr. Julia Getzelman (we call her Dr. J) and Getzwell Pediatrics for over 6 months, and we're THRILLED to be in her practice. This is in stark contrast to our previous pediatrician whose lack of diagnosis and aggressive treatment led to real negative consequences for our family. I began writing this Yelp months ago, and time has only reconfirmed and strengthened my early positive thoughts on the Getzwell practice. That said, what is a great fit for us may not be for you, so here're my criteria and descriptions so you can decide for yourself. It'd be a good fit if you like: +Caring - trite and clichéd as this sounds, you can see that she really cares deeply, whether that be about your kid(s) or the parental interaction. She's totally sensitive to potential parental concerns, and is remarkably thoughtful and collaborative. +Personable/Approachable - she's one of the newer breed of doctors who acts like a person, with a great sense of humor, and a welcoming manner that invites the participation of the parents in the entire process of raising kids healthily. +Intelligent - again, should go w/o saying, but she's wicked smart. This translates into a confidence when she deals with other smart people: she's a partner in helping parents raise healthy kids, and doesn't show any condescension just because she's so sharp. +Ultra-Responsive and Accessible - it's tremendous to know that when you'd like to reach your pediatrician, you can. Her integration of technology makes it great (especially for me, as someone who lives on e-mail) to be able to quickly touch base without having to navigate some phalanx of phone trees, web forms, or night-line operators. *scheduling: just a breeze, as Johanna in reception is super friendly and helpful. We've been able to get all our appointments really quickly (either same day or next, based on the appropriate level of urgency) and efficiently. *e-mail: She responds (promptly and helpfully!) to e-mail! Remarkably, this in included for no additional charge. It's fantastic, and I'm sure it creates a better level of care and experience for everyone, since it means that nobody has to wait until things have gotten so bad that it's "worth going to the doctor." *after-hours coverage - When things were a bit touch-and-go with our youngest, we could easily reach her, and she was proactive in checking in with us. A level of service truly above and beyond. *house calls if req'd - During that same urgent period, she even made an off-hours house call. Fantastic. +Current - Dr. Getzelman seems to be on the cutting edge of recent science and developments in the area of pediatrics, which is tremendously confidence-inspiring. +Scientific - We love that Getzwell is "truly" scientific (and empirical) in the treatment approach, and highly integrative in bringing in multiple disciplines and discussing options with us. The consultative approach works well for us, allowing the whole team to take an empirical journey together for our specific kid(s). +Holistic approach - wellness, not just unsickness. Very refreshing: the goal is a fuller, healthier childhood for the kids, not just avoiding sickness. It's *not* a good fit if you need: -Unquestionable air of unapproachable pronouncements - If you want the grey-haired man with unquestionable authority issuing proclamations, you're in the wrong place. Dr. Welby has left the building. That said, our prior experience with an intentionally reassuring Dr. Welby-type was substantially less than stellar, and we much prefer the consultative/partnership approach. -Automatic insurance billing. They don't bill your insurance for you, but they make it as easy as possible for you to do it (e.g., you get "superbills" at each visit which you can submit to your insurer), and they accept credit cards (which means you can get FF miles and finance the bills until the insurer reimburses you). -Large staff of different doctors - I love the continuity of care that I get from a single doctor, but I know that some people like having a large staff to draw from. I've read about Dr. Colleen Panina on the website, but she was on maternity leave (her 3rd kid) when we were sickest, and so I've never met her personally. When I hear Dr. J detail her background and the glowing descriptions of her, I'm glad that there's a worthy resource to back up Dr. J, and I'm totally reassured in case we ever have to tap Dr. Panina's expertise and connections on hospitalization. We have also had good meetings with Leah (the nutritionist) a few times, and we (including both my kids) think that Janis, the nurse practitioner, is great (despite the fact that she's usually the one administering the shots -- that really says something!). Our conclusion: Our only hesitation in recommending the practice is that we're reluctant to share Dr. Getzelman and her colleagues with anyone else. read more

This is an excellent pediatric practice. Julia is caring, well-informed, flexible, and interested in finding out the right thing both for our baby and for the whole family. We appreciated her thoughtful and engaged approach to vaccination. We want our child vaccinated, but we're taking the schedule at a somewhat slower pace than normal. Julia has been helpful in setting up a schedule that works for us. She has helped us experiment with various minor health issues. She is wonderful with the baby. Her intelligence shines through in all her conversation with us. We are big fans of Janis Mandac, the pediatric nurse who works at Getzwell. She is tremendously knowledgeable and has a great attitude and approach. We bombard her with questions. She never rushes, and is full of good information and advice. One of the special things about Getzwell is that you can call and get either Julia or Janis on the phone fairly easily. You can also email, and they answer the emails quickly. We recently called about a skin problem our child had; it was Saturday and we expected a message referral to an advice nurse. Instead Julia picked up the phone and said to just bring the baby in so she could take a look. In fifteen minutes were there, parked in front, walked in the door, talked to the doctor for half an hour, and drove back home. This is not like any other medical office I've been to. It is always calm and accessible. Because of our schedule we often have to change appointments, and they are always understanding. Really a special practice. We hesitated at first because they don't take insurance, but we have such a high deductible on our plan that it doesn't make that much of a difference. It seems like they are taking the time they would be spending on paperwork and giving to the patients, which I think is great. I'd recommend this practice to anybody. read more

i'll preface this first by saying i hardly ever give a 5 star rating. 4 stars is very good in my book. one thing i always felt at our former pediatrician's office was the sense of limited time. she would answer questions, but she definitely needed to make it brief. also the place seemed a bit too crowded at times. sometimes i'd wonder what we were getting exposed to there. my other issue was the lack of holistic care, knowledge of treatments outside the western medical tradition, and knowledge of the emerging health issues/controversies that this new generation faces. this is why we switched to getzwell. i wanted a doctor that did a bit more then measure, vaccinate, listen to her heart and look in her ears. i have never felt so unrushed as i do at getzwell. i come in with a list of questions and she fields them all. she tells me about the latest findings on nutrition and whatever new information she is aware of. yes you do pay more. better care costs more. if you are on the fence i'd say try her for a year. you won't burn through the college fund and then you can make a decision based on experience. imho this new generation of kids is growing up with health issues we never had to deal with. new diets, new toxins. meanwhile i don't believe the traditional training is keeping pace. my wife and i both agree that traditional western medicine has serious shortcoming. it's good to talk to a doctor who has more to offer then pills and hospitals. read more

I don't hesitate to rate the pediatricians at San Francisco's Getzwell Pediatrics a full 5 stars! When my wife and I recently spent a week in SF at my sister's place, our 6-month old infant spiked his first fever on a Friday and we started freaking out when it hit 102 F. With scary visions of emergency rooms, spinal taps and countless modern medical horrors on my mind, my sister insisted that instead of running to the emergency room, she would "pull some strings" with her "amazing" pediatrician, Dr. Getzelman. So, Tracy called their office, explained our connection to the Getzwell practice, and Dr. Getzelman generously made time for us after her last regular Friday appointment. When we arrived, we waited only a few minutes in their wonderfully clean and modern office and were treated with great sensitivity to the situation. Dr. Julia Getzelman was wonderful! After discussing all the different factors and conducting a careful examination, she was able to eliminate all of the potential worst case possibilities and then thoroughly explained to us what to expect with the fever and how to handle it. We were in and out within an hour, Rx in hand, and were incredibly relieved! Dr. Getzelman called over the weekend to make sure everything was ok.- Unheard of!! We returned for a follow up on Monday and had a similarly positive experience with Dr. Nasta. Both of our visits were beyond our expectations. I gotta move to the City, for my baby's sake. read more

I can't recommend Dr. Getzelman and GetzWell Pediatrics highly enough. I feel like the care they take with our one-year old son is as caring and diligent as a new parent could want. Based on the pediatricians I interviewed it seemed like most fell into two categories -- old school peds who have been practicing the same way for 25 years and don't think there is any need to read new research or change their familiar habits; or new pediatricians who are booking way too many patients in a day, and are quick to diagnose and quick to prescribe. Dr. Getzelman stands out by how much time and care she takes with both kids and parents, and by what is clearly a genuine love of medicine that keeps her reading and researching new findings in pediatrics. As she told us when we interviewed her, her goal is optimum health, not just to treat our baby when he's sick. She even had my blood tested so that she could determine if there was enough Vitamin D getting to my son through my breastmilk - brilliant! These first few years of physical development are so critical, this approach is so important to make sure that babies have the proper nutrition to build a healthy body and mind. And after a year of having an extremely healthy baby, I feel so grateful that we chose to spend a little extra to get a doctor truly dedicated to preventative, integrative health care. read more

Dr. Getzelman and staff have truly been a lifesaver for our family. And this is not an exaggeration. We are new to the bay area without any family support and for us having Julia as our pediatrician has been the most valuable resource we have here. I can't tell you how many times Julia and her incredible nurse Janis have eased our concerns. She has even seen me after hours when necessary. What pediatrician does that? Dr Getzelman is also so caring, quite funny and is fiercely intelligent. One thing I love most about her is she has a very modern approach to nutrition and healthcare but is also extremely science oriented and supports a slower vaccination schedule. Another important thing to consider is Dr. Getzelman's office also provides many resources to support the wellness of the parents. My husband and I recently completed a nutritional cleanse with her staff nutritionist which was one of the best things we have ever done for ourselves. I want to note the fact that they do not take insurance has not been a problem for our family at all. Promptly after the visit I submit my receipt with little paperwork to fill out and we are reiumbursed within 30 days. It seems to me that the time they save on filling out paperwork they can dedicated to spending more time on patients. My son absolutely loves going to the Dr. and engages with Julia and her staff every time. He does not even mind getting his shots as Johanna is always so quick and gentle. We actually are considering moving out of the city and we will still have Dr Getzelman as our pediatrician. I would highly recommend her to everyone. 5 stars is not enough stars for Dr G and her staff. read more

My 3 children have been patients of Dr. Getzelman's since the practice opened. We left one of the large popular pediatric groups over on California Street and I will never go back to that type of practice. When I call the office with a question, I get to speak to the doctor, not an advice nurse. When I email a question, a get a response from the doctor. When I arrive for our appointments, I do not wait more than 2 minutes and I never have to sit in the exam room (with naked wriggly children!) waiting for the dr. to finish with someone else. I never feel rushed and Dr. Getzelman asks so many questions that our last practice never asked about, but are actually very important to the health of my children (for example, what type of support does our family have, what types of food do we eat, etc). My family's diet and over all health has improved dramatically over the past year and that is a direct result of the support and services at Getzwell. read more

We adore GetzWell Pediatrics and everyone who works there. They have brought us through the first year of parenting with ease and charm. The atmosphere is comfortable and pleasing, and the bedside care you receive is super warm, compassionate and down right loving. We were so thrilled to find a pediatric wellness team that is in line with our desire to bring a certain degree of naturopathy in with traditional medical practices. They are always very responsive to any questions or concerns we have and really make us feel very well supported. I could not ask more for my son's healthcare. read more

It may be too personal to gush and over kill to sob, but I love Julia Getzelman with all my heart. I knew that she was a great diagnostician from seeing the care she had given to my clients' babies, but it was when my daughter became super sick that I got to really know her care. She listened to our story, went through the paperwork I had, and checked in with my daughter. We talked about the possible diagnoses and she was so compassionate. Within just a few minutes she was on the phone getting us a place at Oakland Childrens. Dr. Getzelman caught what three doctors had missed. (Three!) A week later when Ruby was discharged from the hospital Julia put her on a heavy regiment of probiotics to counter balance the crazy medications she was taking. From then on I knew this woman was our pediatrician, lock, stock and barrel. And that was just the first experience we had with her, and the first week Getzwell was opened. Since then she has prescribed a constitutional homeopathic for my son, removed splinters from my daughter, and given me a pertussis shot. We were fortunate enough to have a visit with Aarti once and she was also lovely, thorough, and super respectful of my son. Everyone in the office is great and I can't imagine taking my kids to anyone else. Julia and Aarti are intelligent and caring doctors. They're artful in their care. read more

We love Dr. Julia Getzelman and Getzwell Pediatrics!!! We switched to her office after our experience at another practice left us wanting a smaller, calmer and more open minded practice and couldn't be happier. The office experience is peaceful, personal and clean. We're never left waiting in a cold room and we know we can count on a call back from the doctor in a timely fashion. Julia is great with our son and we trust her completely. She is open minded, caring and willing to discuss tricky issues at length (like vaccines) with us. As a mother who tends to be on the more cautious side, I have appreciated her patience and have never felt dismissed. We recently moved to Marin and have decided its worth the travel to continue with her practice. We are so grateful to have found Getzwel Pediatrics during our son's first year! read more

This practice is beyond amazing. I had been with multiple pediatric practices since the birth of my first son in New York. It was identified that he had difficulty detoxing yet not a single physician Knew what to do with it or how to address it. Dr. Getzelman was the first doctor to truly dig deeper and help us understand the genetic causes for detox challenges. We now, for the first time in seven years, have the tools to help our son and support him for the rest of his life. I am so grateful for this amazing practice! read more

My wife and I absolutely adore Julia and are ardent supporters of the culture that has been created at the Getzwell practice! When my wife was pregnant (our baby is now four-months old), we interviewed several pediatricians in San Francisco. We chose Julia because we found her to be extremely bright, conscientious and progressive in her thinking. We also liked that she was building a relatively small practice from the ground up and that she would therefore be accessible and available (which has absolutely proven to be the case!) In every interaction with Julia, we have consistently found her to be thoughtful, thorough and extremely sensitive to the needs of our baby and us. Her "bedside manner" is exemplary--caring, generous, completely transparent and very down-to-earth. The office staff are also very warm and helpful. read more

This is long overdue! We have been taking my son to Dr. Getz since he was born a year and a half ago and we couldn't be happier. Excellent care (in-home newborn visit, after-hours access, etc), excellent staff (I miss both Janis and Rebecca, but their replacements are fantastic too), and excellent sense of community (newsletter, classes, etc). And dealing with the insurance paperwork myself is TOTALLY worth it! The experience is night and day from the fast-food type of service you get at a traditional doctor's office. read more

Dr. Getzelman has been a great pediatrician for our family. She is extremely knowledgeable while also being very approachable. We had a home visit when our son was born which was amazingly convenient. The kids really enjoy her and the entire staff. This is the way healthcare should be. read more