1. Heidi Kao, DAOM, LAC

0

Oakland, CA

Cancel

Open app

Search

Heidi Kao, DAOM, LAC

5.0 (71 reviews)
Closed • 2:00 pm - 6:00 PM

HEIDI KAO, DAOM, LAC · YELP ASSISTANT

Ask Yelp Assistant

Heidi Kao, DAOM, LAC Photos

You might also consider

Recommended Reviews - Heidi Kao, DAOM, LAC

Your trust is our priority, so businesses can't pay to alter or remove their reviews. Learn more about reviews.
Yelp app icon
Browse more easily on the app
Review Feed Illustration

Reviews With Photos

Herbs. Make sure you ask what their ingredients and function are.

This is my experience as someone who suffers from endometriosis/adenomyosis. I'm just sharing my experience since a lot of the reviews here look like they're mainly from women who has infertility issues. It's neither a good/bad experience but may be helpful for others who are suffering from it and looking for a natural treatment. I had an appt with Heidi 2x and Eve 2x. It's once a week so 4 weeks total. I will say their way of acupuncture is very different. Eve uses more needles and you feel more 'pain' (but theres a good reason behind it -she will explain it to you) and with Eve's treatment I was able to feel more immediate effect esp with my bloating. With Heidi's treatment there were less needles and less pain. Also I wasn't able to feel immediate effects. I was given herbs to take during day 4 to 28 of my cycle to help egg quality and optimize fertilization. I usually finish my period on the 6th day but because of the herb, I started to continue to bleed heavily until I realized it's the herb that's causing my bleeding. Dr Kao said the main goal is not for blood flow but it does have some elements in there that does that. She also mentions that endo and adeno in Chinese medicine is called blood stagnation so everytime there's movement/flowing of blood, it's normal to have heavier bleeding & passing clots in the beginning. For me I stopped the herbs immediately as I was bleeding quite heavily and it's quite concerning to me. I didnt want to have blood loss to the point of needing transfusion (which happens with women with endo). I also had MRI and my adenomyoma has grown within 2 months since my last ultrasound which also happens to be the same months overlapping with the acupuncture & herb treatment. It may just be coincidental but who knows. My advice is to make sure you're clear what is in these herbs and their function cause I was just told to drink it and wasnt really explained anything until I kept pushing for answers. They are also quite pricey ranging from $40-60 each and I was only able to drink it only for a few days. It's money wasted now. Alas that's my experience. Hope this review is useful.

See all

2 years ago

Helpful 4
Thanks 2
Love this 1
Oh no 0

2 years ago

Helpful 3
Thanks 3
Love this 2
Oh no 0

1 year ago

Helpful 2
Thanks 1
Love this 1
Oh no 0
Photo of Anna H.
10
65
11

1 year ago

Helpful 2
Thanks 1
Love this 2
Oh no 0
Photo of Mrs M.
2
99
5

3 years ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 1
Love this 1
Oh no 0

2 years ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 1
Love this 1
Oh no 0

4 years ago

Helpful 3
Thanks 2
Love this 0
Oh no 0
Photo of Sarah B.
361
19
10

7 years ago

Helpful 2
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

6 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 1

6 years ago

Helpful 2
Thanks 0
Love this 1
Oh no 0
Photo of Lisa L.
32
71
156

7 years ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

8 years ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

8 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 1
Oh no 0

8 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

10 years ago

Helpful 11
Thanks 0
Love this 1
Oh no 0

6 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 1
Oh no 0

7 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

14 years ago

Helpful 10
Thanks 0
Love this 1
Oh no 0

12 years ago

Helpful 8
Thanks 0
Love this 4
Oh no 0
Photo of Jorge T.
0
302
39

9 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

11 years ago

Helpful 2
Thanks 0
Love this 1
Oh no 0

17 years ago

Helpful 2
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0
Photo of Kate H.
368
78
3

7 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 1
Oh no 0

8 years ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

17 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0
Photo of Zoe S.
0
20
0

8 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

8 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 1
Oh no 0

8 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 1
Oh no 0

8 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

7 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 1
Oh no 0
Photo of K L.
0
2
0

6 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

13 years ago

Helpful 4
Thanks 0
Love this 3
Oh no 0

8 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0
Photo of Mike K.
141
27
4

9 years ago

The best! Super knowledgeable and compassionate, Heidi really cares about her patients.

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0
Photo of R L.
3
30
0

9 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

14 years ago

Helpful 3
Thanks 0
Love this 2
Oh no 0

18 years ago

Helpful 4
Thanks 0
Love this 2
Oh no 1

18 years ago

Helpful 2
Thanks 0
Love this 2
Oh no 0
Photo of Kira L.
55
21
2

19 years ago

Helpful 2
Thanks 0
Love this 2
Oh no 0
Photo of Andrew M.
217
17
28

19 years ago

Helpful 2
Thanks 0
Love this 1
Oh no 0

Page 1 of 2

Ask the Community - Heidi Kao, DAOM, LAC

Review Highlights - Heidi Kao, DAOM, LAC

“I've seen both Heidi and Shawna and am so incredibly pleased with the care and support I received.”

Mentioned in 4 reviews

Read more highlights

You might also consider

Spring Fertility

Spring Fertility

4.1(31 reviews)
1.2 mi•Uptown

My husband and I had been trying to conceive naturally for about a year when we learned that I had…read morelow AMH and high FSH, indicating a lower egg count than typical for my age and making natural conception more challenging. We discovered Spring Fertility online and ultimately decided to move forward with Dr. Okeigwe as our provider. After reading the many positive reviews--and now having experienced their care firsthand--we have nothing but great things to say about the entire team. The journey was not easy, and we certainly faced our share of trials and tribulations. Although I often worried about whether it would work, Dr. Okeigwe consistently reassured me and expressed complete confidence that we would be able to achieve a successful pregnancy. I went through three rounds of IVF, and with each round she adjusted the approach, resulting in better outcomes every time. We ultimately needed two transfers, but they led to our baby boy, who is now seven weeks old. The team's confidence truly helped ease the anxiety I felt throughout the process. In addition to Dr. Okeigwe, my nurse, Megan--who worked closely with me from start to finish--was incredibly patient and supportive. I reached out to her on weeknights and weekends, and she always responded promptly and appropriately. She never made me feel uncomfortable or uninformed, no matter how big or small my questions were. The front desk staff was consistently kind, and the medical assistants who handled my blood draws were wonderful as well. I would wholeheartedly recommend Spring Fertility to any family member or friend because of the exceptional experience I had. Thank you for helping bring our miracle baby into the world!

It's been a few years now since I was a patient at Spring, and I want to share my terrible…read moreexperience at this clinic in hopes that it will be helpful to other people in my situation who are seeking compassionate and competent treatment. My spouse and I sought out Spring specifically because they like to position their clinics as experts in LGBTQ+ family planning, and claim to have expertise treating transgender and nonbinary people. My spouse is a nonbinary person on hormone replacement therapy, and it was extremely important to us to find a clinic and a doctor with some experience treating trans people. We were referred to Dr. Dovey as the clinic's "LGBTQ expert," and I went into my first consult with her having high hopes for a good experience. During that consult, Dr. Dovey misgendered my spouse every single time she referred to them. To give her credit where credit is due, she would correct herself, and then misgender them again two sentences later, correct herself, and so on and so forth. At the point at which someone misgenders you ten times in a row, you really start to wonder if they are even trying to get it right, especially when the person in question is supposed to be the organization's "LGBTQ expert." Dr. Dovey also proposed a lot of unnecessary measures with regards to my spouse, like stopping their hormone treatments to collect even more genetic materials from them (when they had already cryopreserved more than the recommended amount of reproductive materials prior to the beginning of their transition). Ultimately, it felt like Dr. Dovey didn't actually care about trans people, understanding trans experiences in medical settings, or my spouse's individual experience at the clinic. My spouse had a range of experiences with other staff at the clinic, from being gendered correctly to other people misgendering them. Not a particularly great sign from a place that is supposed to be "good" about trans issues! Even so, we might have tried to stick with Spring, but they also messed up pretty badly in another area. Like many people who wind up in fertility clinics, I have some chronic health conditions. Most of them are not genetic and are not genetically transmissible. However, I do have one very rare genetic mutation that results in lower bone density than the average person my age. IF my spouse were to be a carrier for the same very rare genetic mutation, it MIGHT cause a child of ours to experience a similar condition. I want to be clear that in my day-to-day life, this condition does not really affect me negatively and I have no reason to think about it unless I'm discussing my medical history. While we were in the initial steps of our process at Spring, Dr. Dovey and her staff repeatedly communicated to me that they would essentially require my spouse to have a very particular genetic test done (one so specific that my spouse's PCP could not order it and would have had to refer them to a genetic specialist to do so) to ensure that any potential embryos we created would not have this condition. The clinic refused to move forward with our process until my spouse got the testing done, and it really came across as "we don't want your potential child to turn out like YOU." Which, to be honest, felt insulting, gross, policing, and completely unnecessary. It really didn't feel like the clinic's business or call whether we chose to get the genetic testing done or not, but Spring absolutely made it their call. This is what really killed any chances of our working with Spring, and we just quietly dropped out of the process. Spring comes across as a clinic that cares a lot about its numbers and success rates, and a place that doesn't have a problem throwing up roadblocks for people whose health conditions might possibly impact how good their numbers look. For chronically ill and disabled people, this kind of vibe essentially sends the message "we don't care about you and we don't really want to treat you." At least, that's the way I felt after my experience at Spring. People and organizations can change, and I hope that in the years since I attempted to be a patient there, Dr. Dovey and Spring have improved. In fact, I know people who have had positive experiences with Dr. Dovey and Spring! However, based on my personal experience of this clinic, I can't recommend her as a practitioner or the clinic as a safe space for trans people or chronically ill and disabled people. If you belong to one of those groups, do your research, interview clinics and ask about their training and experience with these patient populations, and go from there -- but don't go to Spring.

Photos
Spring Fertility
Spring Fertility
Spring Fertility - Our son who is almost 3.

See all

Our son who is almost 3.

Reproductive Science Center in Oakland, CA - RSC Physicians and our Lab Director

Reproductive Science Center in Oakland, CA

3.1(73 reviews)
0.5 mi

This review is way over due, I was refereed to Dr Rosenbluth by my OBGYN and I'm so glad i made the…read moreappointment. He was compassionate, kind, respectful, very knowledgeable and his bedside manners were impeccable. I had a pleasure working with Heather and Mayra as a case manager and both ladies are so sweet and phenomenal. Marya is very responsive in responding to my calls and email. We got pregnant on the first try of iui and we had a healthy bouncing baby girl. I'll be forever grateful for this clinic, if it weren't for them, I don't think we will have this strong and lovely family. I'm currently going through them for baby number two. Ms Edessa has been such great help, she is sweet, empathy, and really love what she does. I will highly recommend this RSC, so far all the staff I've encountered are very professional and kind. If you have any question feel free to private manage me. Please don't give up, have hope, stay strong and go there with a positive attitude and energy. Good luck and baby dust to you all.

I DON'T RECOMMEND!!!!…read more I'm in a process to cancel the process with this clinic. Stephanie - the financial educator for Dr. Harriton is the worst. She refuses to verify the right information from the insurance and refuses to call the insurance back even though the insurance advocate team outreached her.

Photos
Reproductive Science Center in Oakland, CA
Reproductive Science Center in Oakland, CA - Dr. Hinckley joins Melanie and the rest of "Team Mel" at the Making Strides Against Breast Cancer walk in Walnut Creek. June 20, 2015.

Dr. Hinckley joins Melanie and the rest of "Team Mel" at the Making Strides Against Breast Cancer walk in Walnut Creek. June 20, 2015.

Reproductive Science Center in Oakland, CA

See all

Ijeoma Okeigwe, MD, MPH, FACOG

Ijeoma Okeigwe, MD, MPH, FACOG

4.7(7 reviews)
1.5 mi•Uptown

As a Black woman, seeking excellent healthcare has always been stressful. We are treated…read moredifferently, and I've always had to fight to get proper health care. At first, I was so nervous about this procedure because I hate needles, and I didn't know if I would be treated like a human being. I've wanted to freeze my eggs for a while because I haven't found my life partner yet. So, I wanted to make sure that I had options for my future. Thank you to everyone at Oakland Spring Fertility for giving me such a fantastic experience. But, I especially want to thank Dr. Okeigwe for guiding me through the process of freezing my eggs. She's a GEM, and it's so rare to find a Black fertility doctor. I was and still am ECSTATIC that she was my doctor! She took such great care of me, and I was informed every step of the way of who, what, where, and why of everything I needed to know. Dr. Okeigwe even helped me heal a trigger. I had an abortion when I was 20 years old, and unfortunately, the doctor and nurses treated me like an animal and pinned me down while they did the procedure. So from there on, every time I went to an OBGYN and put my legs up, I would go into shock from that experience. I never thought that trigger was going to be healed. But, because Dr. Okeigwe listened to my story, answered all my questions, and equipped me with all of my options, the trigger began to go away. It got to the point where I would come in for a check-up, and we would laugh, and before I knew it, I was already lying down, looking up at all of my eggs progressing. This is why representation matters, and I know for a fact that I would not have received a better experience anywhere else. Give this woman a raise and hire more diverse fertility doctors!

I thought the doctors were good and thorough and new what they were talking about but no one else…read moredid. They also would not tailor the experience to you. For example- i did not need a bunch of the genetic tests but not inly did I have to have them done but dine with a specific company. I also had to speak with a specific therapist they contracted with which screams kick back to me and was really expensive. There are alot of ways to have therapy and I would not be surprised if many people with fertility concerns already have a therapist. Similarly I work at a hospital and do not need training on how to use a needle but there is a required course on it. The biggest issue I had was no one but the doctors new the plan. So when you call in for refills they may be reading off an algorithm and have no idea what you need and do not need. I transferred care to a different fertility clinic and had a much better experience and they also had all sorts of discounts for self pay patients, would have as much done by your insurance as possible ( like having an in network person order your labs or do your ultrasounds) and since it was a larger location they were doing alot of research. Once again the doctors are great but the rest of the team and/or the algorithm they use to treat you was not.

The Oldershaw Clinic

The Oldershaw Clinic

4.9(83 reviews)
1.1 mi

I've been seeing Nicole Gonzales at the Oldershaw Clinic for 3 years and couldn't recommend her…read moremore! As a "geriatric" IVF patient going through the process for the first time, I felt very overwhelmed and uncertain. Nicole has helped me make sense of complex info from my clinic, OB, and other providers, and supported me with diet, supplements, and holistic care. Nicole's expertise, warmth, and levity have been invaluable. She guided me through a successful retrieval, transfer, and pregnancy, and now I'm grateful for her support as we are preparing for baby #2. I've also seen Autumn and Blair, who are both wonderful. The entire team is caring and skilled. If you're looking for thoughtful, expert fertility support, I wholeheartedly recommend Nicole and the team at Oldershaw. I'm a big fan!

The guidance, unwavering support and loving care that Nicole provided me over the last six years…read morehas resulted in the arrival of my beautiful four month old baby girl. Nicole's extensive knowledge of eastern and western medicine paved the way for me to become a mother, I will forever be grateful . All of the amazing yelp reviews here paint a beautifully accurate picture of how the Oldershaw clinic changes lives for the better and makes dreams come true. As we navigated a challenging medical world, Nicole translated, explained and eased fears along the way. I'll spend the rest of my life in awe of the mountains Nicole can move.

Photos
The Oldershaw Clinic - Dr. Blair Baker, LAc, DAIM
  
 Acupuncutre for Fertility, Pain and Women's Health

Dr. Blair Baker, LAc, DAIM Acupuncutre for Fertility, Pain and Women's Health

The Oldershaw Clinic - Leslie Oldershaw, Licensed Acupuncturist

Leslie Oldershaw, Licensed Acupuncturist

The Oldershaw Clinic - Reception

See all

Reception

Spring Fertility - Thank you!!!

Spring Fertility

4.1(147 reviews)
9.3 mi•Lower Pacific Heights

Our experience was great, our family is complete thanks to this awesome and extremely professional…read moreteam.

Our experience with Spring Fertility was disappointing from start to finish. We came in hopeful,…read morebut quickly realized this clinic was not the right fit for us as a same-sex couple. We've spoken with multiple people who have used their services, and the feedback is truly mixed--some had good experiences, others barely satisfactory and some were REALLY BAD. Unfortunately, ours fell on the negative end. If you are a heterosexual couple, you may have a smoother experience. However, as a same-sex couple, we did not feel welcomed or supported. We've since connected with five other LGBTQ couples who shared very similar concerns, which says a lot about a pattern rather than a one-off experience. Our doctor, Dr. Nam Tran, came across as arrogant and condescending which has the same tones in some of the other reviews on this platform. At multiple points, we felt like we were wasting his time rather than being valued patients during what is already a very emotional and vulnerable process. He was late and then proceeded to say he has another appointment and we didn't get the full time. We constantly had to call the clinic because they don't call back after leaving a message from the previous week. We always were on time for our appointments and were always delayed to be taken in. While the clinic may now have an LGBTQ staff member, that alone does not make the environment inclusive or affirming. Our experience did not reflect meaningful change or genuine understanding. We ultimately decided to leave and seek care elsewhere, which was the best decision for us. For anyone considering this clinic, we strongly recommend doing thorough research. There are lawsuits filed in 2025 in California alleging negligence and embryo loss, with concerns raised about prioritizing profit over patient care. These are serious issues and worth looking into before making such an important decision. We would not recommend this clinic to LGBTQ couples seeking compassionate, respectful fertility care. YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED AND ADVISED of this company! Take your business and $$ elsewhere where you are respected of your time and your self worth. https://www.dailyjournal.com/article/384511-venture-capital-s-role-in-ivf-clinics-under-fire-in-lawsuits

Photos
Spring Fertility - View from the side. Blob is the cyst.

View from the side. Blob is the cyst.

Spring Fertility - Big blob in the middle is the cyst covering all of my internal organs.

Big blob in the middle is the cyst covering all of my internal organs.

Spring Fertility - Drs. Vaccari, Tran, Torcia, and Klatsky in our state-of-the-art lab

See all

Drs. Vaccari, Tran, Torcia, and Klatsky in our state-of-the-art lab

RMA Northern California - San Francisco - Dr. Alice Shapiro - RMA San Francisco Reproductive Endocrinologist

RMA Northern California - San Francisco

4.0(93 reviews)
7.7 mi•Financial District, SoMa
Certified professionals
Consultations available

My wife and I worked with Dr. Kort and now have a 5 yr old and a 15 month old. We joined when they…read morefirst opened in SF so we had a great experience. We saw the same doctor, nurse, and front desk people. It was a smaller operation back in 2020 but we always knew RMA would blow up once people discover how awesome they are. For reference, we wasted 18 months (and $15,000) at Laurel Fertility before coming to RMA. When we went back to try for our 2nd child in 2024, the practice did grow significantly. We will admit the second time around, it felt less personal, but that is OK because we still got great care. Spruce was just as awesome as before and all our records were saved. IVF is a numbers game and I feel like their protocols are spot on. I purposely waited until we are all done with kids before I write this review. We are blessed to put this IVF journey behind us now and we absolutely give RMA (Dr. Kort and Dr. Morin) all the credit.

For those of you on your fertility journey, RMA is owned by PE. I wish I had known that before…read morechoosing to go with them and after my experience with them, it made sense they are owned by PE. They are also on the very expensive end, and I originally went with them because I thought premium price meant premium service and quality, and that couldn't be further the from the truth. I've gone back and forth about writing this review, but ultimately felt it's important to share my experience because fertility treatment is an incredibly high-stakes process where patients need to be able to trust both the medical guidance and process. There were serveral points during my treatment that seriously eroded that trust, and this experience put me in a dark place for a long time. At one point, I was sent incorrect trigger instructions. Given how time-sensitive and precise this part of fertility treatment is, this was extremely stressful. When I eventually reached the physician, Dr. McQueen, there was significant noise from her children in the background and I felt my concerns were handeled dismissively than with the seriousness I expected. I also went through the process of creating embryos, none of which were ultimately succesful. I understand that outcomes are never guaranteed, but what was difficult to hear afterwards was that we should have tested the sperm first. As a patient, I would have had no way of knowing that was something I should have requested or considered on my own. My experience with builling afterwards was also frustrating. I was initially told there were no refunds and that the money I had paid was gone. I pushed back because part of what I had prepaid covered other services including embryo storage that was never used. I was then sent a multi-page document that I was told I needed to sign in order to receive money back. At that point, I was exhausted by the proces and chose not to sign it (as it seemed odd/predatory), assuming I would simply have to accept the financial loss. RMA subsequently refunded the unused portion anyway, which I appreciated, but it also left my confused as to why I had initially been told that none of it was refundable or why signing additional paperwork had been presented as necessary. All in all, my experience left me without confidence in the practice and if I were starting the process again, I would definitely choose a different clinic.

Photos
RMA Northern California - San Francisco - RMA Northern California in San Francisco doctors named in Top IVF Doctors in 2025

RMA Northern California in San Francisco doctors named in Top IVF Doctors in 2025

RMA Northern California - San Francisco - Dr. Alice Shapiro reproductive endocrinologist at RMA Northern California - San Francisco

Dr. Alice Shapiro reproductive endocrinologist at RMA Northern California - San Francisco

RMA Northern California - San Francisco - Dr. Dana Mcqueen reproductive endocrinologist at RMA Northern California - San Francisco speaking with nursing staff

See all

Dr. Dana Mcqueen reproductive endocrinologist at RMA Northern California - San Francisco speaking with nursing staff

Eve F Zaritsky, MD - Kaiser Permanente

Eve F Zaritsky, MD - Kaiser Permanente

4.9(57 reviews)
0.4 mi•Piedmont Ave, North Oakland

Dr. Z really is at the top of her field in her expertise and experience. She is truly a unique,…read morecaring and exceptional surgeon and human being. I am exactly one year out of robotic laparoscopic hysterectomy at 55 due to a very large fibroid filled uterus, heavy bleeding and bulk symptoms. I am so grateful that Dr. Z performed the procedure. Due to my age being so close to the menopause average and having no real pelvic/ period pain, I continued to choose to "watch and wait" many, many years. Like the metaphor of a frog in boiling water, I had no idea of how much the bleeding and anemia and the bulk symptoms were affecting my life. Before I finally chose to get this procedure all the medications and efforts to lessen bleeding and/or possibly the very large size of my uterus pressing on arteries provoked a pulmonary embolism. Combined with my bleeding uterus had me in the hospital for 12 days trying to manage both. I had a Uterine Artery Embolization while in the hospital that did not last (most likely due to the large size of the uterus and the arteries supplying it.) I had been so concerned and worried about missing time with my child, surgery risks, and the pros of keeping a uterus for my hormones. I ended up with serious health issues requiring hospitalization, years of low energy, missed work, and missed adventures with my child. (And hormone issues that whole time anyway!) The actual procedure and healing time afterwards was surprisingly short and uneventful for being so large. I attribute this to Dr. Z's technical skills. I felt safe and cared for by her and the whole surgical team. Within a day afterwards, I was walking with my husband to grab a coffee. I soon realized how much my bulk symptoms negatively affected my health and quality of life (digestion, sex life, breathing!). Most importantly, the energy I have back (that I had forgotten was my healthy normal) has been profound and life changing to my physical and mental health. I have no regrets about having this surgery, only for having waited so long to do so.

If I could leave negative stars, I would…read more I've endured A LOT of medical trauma and BS over the years, but the surgical consult I had with her is one that literally still haunts my dreams more than a decade later. At best, I can say that she's not a trauma-informed provider and seems to be a stereotypical surgeon with zero bedside manner and an ego the size of Canada. At worst, it seems like she may not actually care about her patients at all beyond seeing them as potential stats with which to bolster her career and her own self-image. My experience with her was truly loathsome and I don't wish one like it on any other patient. It took five more years of excruciating pain and going to another KP district, out of her sphere of influence, to get the care that I'd needed for 20 years at that point. To that surgeon, it was perfectly obvious that I needed surgical intervention. All was explained by the crap she later hauled out of me. It took a surgeon willing to be curious, to listen, and to believe what she was hearing. Eve Zaritsky did not have any of those in her at that consult nor in the communication that followed; she was nothing short of a cold, abrupt, impatient, gas-lighting troll. Far from being a healer, she did damage to me that day and later refused to take any responsibility for her words and actions. Suffice it to say, I'm not a fan.

Cheruba Prabakar, MD - Lamorinda Gynecology & Surgery

Cheruba Prabakar, MD - Lamorinda Gynecology & Surgery

4.6(61 reviews)
8.8 mi

I highly recommend Dr. Cheruba Prabakar…read more Over the last two years, she has helped me navigate everything from future fertility decisions after having three children, to breast cancer risk given my family history, to now exploring hormone replacement therapy and all of the nuances that come with it. What I appreciate most is that she takes the time to look at the whole picture. When needed, she's connected me with other specialists and helped me build the right team so I could make informed decisions with confidence. I've sought information through various third-party women's health companies, but none have come close to the depth, thoughtfulness, and individualized care that Dr. Prabakar provides. I'm learning that HRT is rarely straightforward, and what will set her apart is how carefully she reviews my history, symptoms, and bloodwork before making recommendations. Her bedside manner is warm, knowledgeable, thorough, and never makes me feel rushed. As a physician affiliated with Northwell Health, she brings a level of expertise and professionalism that has given me tremendous confidence in her guidance. Private care is certainly an investment and a luxury for most, but I genuinely believe Dr. Prabakar saves her patients significant time, confusion, and heartache by helping them make thoughtful decisions from the beginning. I leave every appointment feeling informed, supported, and confident in my next steps. I feel incredibly fortunate to have her in my corner.

I do not recommend this clinic from my experience as a patient…read more Poor assessment & clinical management. Waisted time & money going to Lamorinda Gynecology & surgery. Dr. Christianson's first question was if i live in Lamorinda. As a Nurse, I asked how her surgical approach for endometriosis surgery. Her answer was a bit questionable to me being in the field and after research & second opinion at UCSF. That is not the best option I will go for. My endometriosis has improved by 80% with UCSF non surgical recommendation. You only have one set of reproductive organs. The bay area has the best endometriosis doctors in the nation. There are other established programs (Stanford, kaiser, south). It was a mistake to go here because it was close to home.

Photos
Cheruba Prabakar, MD - Lamorinda Gynecology & Surgery - Dr. Prabakar

Dr. Prabakar

Cheruba Prabakar, MD - Lamorinda Gynecology & Surgery - I use the DaVinci Robot for most myomectomies, hysterectomies, and pelvic surgery.

I use the DaVinci Robot for most myomectomies, hysterectomies, and pelvic surgery.

Cheruba Prabakar, MD - Lamorinda Gynecology & Surgery - Dr. Cheruba Prabakar

See all

Dr. Cheruba Prabakar

Joseph Chen MD, FACOG

Joseph Chen MD, FACOG

5.0(43 reviews)
0.4 mi•Piedmont Ave, North Oakland

Dr.Chen graciously took me on after years of being dismissed and denied care from my previous…read moredoctors. I have struggled with symptoms of Endo for 16 years. After having surgery for a 10 cm cyst on my ovary last December I was finally diagnosed with Endometriosis. My doctor said I would probably need surgery again but just suggested more birth control. My symptoms seemed to have always been downplayed and my doctors were very dismissive. When I asked to see a specialist I was denied. Thankfully someone I know recommended Dr Chen and he agreed to care for me without a referral. I'm telling you this man has been a godsend to my life. He's the only doctor that has ever shown any sense of urgency to help me. He's genuine, very down to earth and easy to talk to. During my first visit I was still struggling with my recovery from my previous surgery. Dr. Chen later discovered my ovary had been damaged. I was overwhelmed physically, emotionally and just learning about endometriosis based mostly on researching online. I had so many questions and he patiently answered every one of them directly. I knew very quickly that he was highly intelligent in this field. He went over the same images that my previous doctor went over with me and the knowledge that he shared with me was so much more in depth. Not only that he was ready to take action. My endometriosis was stage 4. It had traveled into both sides of my diaphragm resulting in chronic neck pain and a stiff neck that would flare up once a month with my cycle. My organs and pelvic floor were frozen together with scar tissue and lesions causing inflammation in my stomach, hip pain, pain with sex, abnormal bleeding and fatigue. Dr. Chen performed excision surgery alongside a thoracic surgeon for my diaphragm and a hysterectomy. The day of my surgery everyone was so kind and although I was expected to stay in the hospital for two days, I was able to go home the same night. I instantly felt relief from my previous symptoms. I am 7 weeks post op. I am still sore and I will be starting physical therapy but finally feel optimistic about the quality of my life improving. I'm so thankful to finally feel heard and cared for. He and his team have been top-notch from the beginning.

I am a new patient still going through the process of getting screened for endometriosis. But I am…read morevery thankful to be under his care. I feel heard and confident to take the next steps to advocate for myself.

Photos
Joseph Chen MD, FACOG
Joseph Chen MD, FACOG - Me and stuffed animal preparing for surgery :D

Me and stuffed animal preparing for surgery :D

Joseph Chen MD, FACOG

See all

Heidi Kao, DAOM, LAC - acupuncture - Updated November 2026

Loading...
Loading...
Loading...