Dr Nowfar has been my urologist for a few years. He is one of the best! Professional and…read moreknowledgeable, he has won many awards; he also takes the time to answer my questions and reassures me when I have concerns. The office staff is efficient and friendly. They are in a larger office now, with comfortable seating, a water cooler and tv!

As it turns out, in addition to everything else described, Dr. Nowfar also misdiagnosed my bladder…read morecancer in an attempt to railroad me into his non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) study. According to his own post-surgery notes, he estimated my tumor size at 1 cm. However, in our pathology meeting, he contradicted himself and said (I record all my medical meetings, so I can quote him): "It's a big tumor, it's about 3 centimeters. It was a very sizable tumor." Notably, a tumor over or equal to 3 cm would be the only feature of my cancer that would push me into an intermediate-risk category--and he happens to be running a clinical trial for intermediate-risk bladder cancer treatment. He and his Clinical Research Coordinator, Imma Villamor, then pressed me to join his MoonRISE-1 trial for intravesical therapy for intermediate-risk bladder cancer patients, which is funded by Johnson & Johnson. He said the other option was "a medication called BCG, which is dead tuberculosis, and it just basically burns everything. Burns cancer, burns your bladder, burns everything." He said that I had an 80% chance of the cancer returning, but with treatment, that likelihood would drop to 20%. Boy, that sounds scary! That's because what he said was either an exaggeration or, in the case of the size of my tumor, a complete lie, to get me into a medical trial that serves no medical purpose for my condition. Since my tumor was 1 cm (not 3 cm), I'm in a low-risk category and do not require intravesical treatment, particularly not with BCG. My current urologist estimates recurrence at 50-60%, clearly explained his rationale for treatment, and recommended two regular cystoscopies for monitoring--which obviously is better than the hassle and side effects of two years of intravesical chemo treatment. My future is still uncertain, but I am thankful I eventually got a correct diagnosis and didn't rely on these unscrupulous researchers. Imma Villamor has not returned my emails, and I've had a phone call with Genesis Headache Clinic Program Director Alicia Duyvejonck. Nobody seems to think there's any problem with anything that happened to me. So you be the judge--would you want to be treated by doctors who lied to you and misdiagnosed your cancer to get you into their study?

Came for a vasectomy. Nothing but good things to say. Dr. Pugach, his PA (I believe her name is…read moreEvans?), and Kim were all very friendly, straight to the point, and more than willing to answer any questions I had. I got a little attitude from the front desk because I didn't show up 15 minutes early for my initial consult (which I totally understand bc I also work for a private health care clinic), but I had also pre-filled out all of my paper work and was still there before my appointment time. On to the surgery. I was in and out in about an hour with the actual procedure taking about 15 minutes or so. There is going to be some pain...obviously...but recovery went well with just some light discomfort here and there. I was back exercising and running in 1 week. Highly recommend!

Requires a primary care referral even though you have PPO insurance. Seems like a unneeded…read moreinefficient policy

It was Thursday, August 23, 2007. I was 57 years old and I went to my regular doctor for a…read morecheck-up - blood pressure, weight, blood test results, listen to your heart. The doctor said your PSA (prostate specific antigen) is 4. I said that's kinda high for me. So he did a DRE (digital rectal exam of the prostate) and said everything feels fine. The next day Friday I'm at work and I urinate deep red blood. Freaky! I thought did the doctor nick an artery when he was doing the prostate exam? I drove myself to the ER and by then I had a lot of pain on my right side. The ER did a CT scan. They came back to me and said we see a renal mass, we suspect kidney cancer, and we want you to stay in the hospital. Wow. Thank God Dr. DeOrio was on call that weekend. He came by on Saturday, told me he was going to take care of me and would try to schedule my operation for Thursday. Thursday Dr. DeOrio operated and removed my right cancerous kidney. Thanks to him I'm still here 13 years later and I'll be forever grateful. Now I'm 70 and I have the old man's disease - an enlarged prostate. I thought I was having a urinary tract infection, but Dr. DeOrio thought it was more than that. He scheduled some tests. It turns out my bladder is not emptying as it should because of the enlarged prostate and urine is backing up toward my one and only kidney. Not good. I agree with the lady Jeanah who posted here on Yelp about Dr. DeOrio thinking about things that other doctors overlook. I couldn't agree with her more. Dr. DeOrio told me of an operation to reduce the size of my prostate that would be a solution for me. It's called a TURP. Before he would do that, he did a biopsy of the prostate to see if I might have prostate cancer. No cancer on the prostate. The TURP operation was on Nov. 10, 2020 and it went very well. I'm home now recuperating and once again thank you Dr. DeOrio for your excellent care. There is another review here on Yelp by Perry. I won't repeat what he said, but I agree with him 100%. The urologists at Ascent Urology are the best.

Dr. Liu DOES HARM. All she wants to do is stick you with a catheter. It is clear she gets giddy for…read morenew medical tools and a chance to use them on you, and your copay! Her cheerful attitude is a PHONY FRONT FOR FUNDS, she has no actual respect for people or dedication to improving their health and care. She offered to "relieve my bladder" at the first visit, when there was no medical need to do so. BE CAREFUL, DO NOT GO HERE. Her office staff then lied to me on the phone, and mis led me to come back to the office when nothing was wrong, only to make money. Dr. Liu clearly stated she "only looked at my test results 15 min prior to the visit", and I needed to come in bec "if I had cancer" that news, she would not want to give over the phone. IDK about you, but if that were the case or my results did show something serious, I wouldn't want a doctor that just pulled a treatment plan out of thin air, as I was in the waiting room... Not only did I call and email Ascent Urology prior to returning to confirm the cost of the visit, I was then told "my portion" would be $150, insurance would be billed, and that it was "indeed necessary" to take off work. But also the staff LIED and made NO EFFORT to ensure the visit was needed, as Dr. Liu confirmed with saying she did not even try to review my results prior to arrival. At my first visit, the incompetent office staff billed me and insurance incorrectly, costing over $800. After waiting nearly an hour (for the confirmed "necessary" follow up appointment") They refused to bill my insurance as directed or see me, wasting everyone's time. However, while waiting, I watched as 3 other patients went directly to a consultation room. Yet her staff made no accommodations for me (both before the visit or during the scheduled time), REFUSING TO LET ME ENTER TO USE THE RESTROOM, at a Urologist, this behavior and lack of commitment to patients needs is down right HARMFUL. Indolent Dr. Liu ended up just printing out my ultrasound results (which we both had access to online for several weeks prior to returning) and canceled the appointment after I spent hours preparing and waiting. FIND A DOCTOR THAT WANTS TO HELP YOU, not just stick you with needles because she thinks it's fun.

-Office is Suite 210, not in main hospital, in building with café attached…read more -Parking available in new structure east of location, otherwise timed parking spots available in local neighborhood...pay attention to parking signs local PD active/aggressive with citations. There is a turnaround driveway for easy p/u and drop off next to café on ground level (n/w area). Living nearby, I was very pleased to have been introduced/recommended to this facility. The staff is extremely helpful and friendly keeping the wait times down with a fast paced environment. The lobby is modern with a TV and a kids wall with toys. I had a vasectomy completed with Dr. Hightower who is very professional and kind. The procedure itself was under ten minutes with no complications, I would definitely recommend.

Dr. Marc Abboud and his office staff are amazing! They…read morescheduled my appointments for surgery and made sure I had all the information I needed. Dr. Abboud is very thorough when explaining what was going to happen during surgery. He has a wonderful bedside manner. He listened to my concerns patiently, and answered all my questions. While I was in hospital, he came in to make sure I had everything I needed. If I could give Dr. Abboud 10 stars, I would.

Ocean Plastic Surgery Center, Los Alamitos, CA…read more HIFU is the best option for most prostate cancer patients. It is less invasive & time consuming than other options. Dr. Pugach is the expert in this field. He listens to his patients' concerns & responds to questions thoroughly. His calm demeanor will put even the most concerned patient at ease. Dr. Pugach will ensure a positive experience during a challenging time in his patients' lives. Dr. Rodriguez, Anesthesiologist, will ensure that you sleep well during the procedure & have as few side effects as possible. Another gem who helps patients through this experience. We did not have much contact with Dr. Aynechi, (Surgeon). What time we did spend with him, reinforced our already positive experience with the Surgery Center. There are 3 Shannons in the office & they all are absolutely fabulous! Katie, RN, will care for you before, during, & after the procedure. as if you are family. Her professionalism & empathy are exemplary! She explains everything with detail, answering any & all questions. She calms fears, she keeps family informed & updated during the procedure. She is the epitome of what a nurse should be: knowledgeable, professional yet endearing, patient, generous & kind! I hope to never have to spend time with her again but I am ever grateful for the care she gave my husband during such a stressful time in our journey together. With all my heart, I thank you Katie. May God bless this team & all those who are fortunate enough to experience their expertise when life throws you a curveball!

My husband just experienced HIFU treatment. It was a very scary thought for my husband having…read moreprostate cancer and the idea of the treatment in a very sensitive area was even more concerning. We have always trusted Dr Pugach through different issues as he is at the top of his field. However, enter a nice surprise.... Nurse Katie. She comes in the room to explain how it all works and it was like a ray of sunshine! So professional and good at explaining. Like any good teacher she could read her audience and we probably looked so confused at all the paraphanallia and meds that we were to handle but she explained with visual aids to make sure we got it. Even said we could call or face time her if we were at a loss. It put us so much at ease. Steve breezed thru the procedure - not hard at all and Katie did such a good job of explaining that we are doing well. The procedure was at the Ocean Plastic Surgery Center which also was a lovely place. Kudos to everyone!

There is something dreadfully wrong with Genesis Healthcare. Among the doctors and staff, I've…read moreexperienced bad communication, ethical violations, and a culture of avoidance. I had a terrible patient experience with Dr. Nowfar. He made a joke about my having cancer, giving me a panic attack during a cystoscopy. When I had to go to the ER for complications from the TURBT surgery he performed, they said "talk to your doctor"--and I tried. I called twice a day for an entire week to get in touch with him for medical advice. He said he would upload reports to the patient portal that he never did. But the worst part is that Dr. Nowfar lied about diagnostic information about my cancer, apparently to get me into his clinical trial. In the post-operative notes that HE himself wrote, he estimated my single tumor at 1 cm (see attached post-operative report). Yet, in a meeting to review the pathology report, he blatantly lied (see transcript attached--I record all medical meetings). He exaggerated the size of my tumor at 3 cm, which placed me into a higher risk category. Coincidentally, he was running a trial for intravesical therapy for NMIBC, which is funded by Johnson & Johnson (MoonRISE-1), and immediately tried to recruit me for it. Whether I got the new treatment or standard treatment, it would have been around two years of intravesical chemotherapy. Luckily, I thought this all smelled fishy, so I transferred care to a new, far smarter and more communicative urologist. After I finally saw the post-operative report, I realized that my tumor was just 1 cm (not 3 cm, as Nowfar lied), meaning my low-grade, non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) was, in fact, low-risk, not intermediate-risk. I shouldn't have EVER been considered for the treatment path he recommended or eligible for MoonRISe-1. My current urologist is recommending that post-TURBT surgery, we monitor with regular cystoscopies. While my path to a cure isn't certain, this is certainly welcome news! Far better than the hassle and side effects of two years of unnecessary intravesical chemotherapy. What really burns my bacon is that nobody at Genesis Urology cares that I was mistreated, lied to, and intentionally misdiagnosed. Clinical Research Coordinator Imma Villamor has not returned my emails. In a phone call with Alicia Buenrostro of Unio Health Partners, she made it clear that this is a "personnel issue." It's just... all very ethical treatment, I guess? Everyone's passing the buck on this very fine colleague! For whatever it's worth, if you're going here for cancer treatment, there are better cancer treatment facilities in the area. My partner has been treated for over a year at City of Hope for a far more serious cancer (stage 4, high-grade peritoneal) and endured two major surgeries and a year of chemotherapy. It's been the most difficult time of her life but the customer experience at COH has been phenomenal. If you have any problems, there are people and teams you can call 24/7. Everyone is upbeat and a problem-solver--nothing like this place.

New Office Staff Welcoming Patients. Very Professional & Nice greeting the patient with a smile. Dr…read moreAgastein, Ernest is one of the best in Los Angeles, California . Keep up the good work staff.

First impressions leave a lot to be desired. Parking requires you to pay as you walk a distance to…read morethe building (which is rather run down). The waitroom is filled with grumpy old men that seems to be hard of hearing as they talk way to loud. The patients are greeted by a glass partion where you would expect a nurse. The sign in sheet basically says "Sign here and sit down". While waiting, you notice that you can hear everything behind the glass...Dont think we need to know the size of a guys prostate or the date of an upcoming biopsy. The doctor is friendly and knowledgeable but rather be chatting about things unrelated to your condition.

Dr. Liu is kind, attentive, and very knowledgeable about the latest treatments. Staff is very…read morefriendly, too. Recommend highly.

Dr Baghdassarian is a wonderful Dr who Is empathetic and helps you understand exactly what is going…read moreon and what will help with you diagnosis. He explains what your problem is and how it needs to be solved. I highly recommend this doctor. You may have to wait to see him, but it's because he cares and gives each patient the time they need.

Do not come to this doctor, I had a catheter done and he literally shoved it in me with no…read moreexplanation, it hurt so bad. I then had to use the restroom he gave no advice as I was bleeding out. On top of that every question I had would go unanswered and if I wanted to explain something on my cell phone to show him, he would say "put that thing away, not needed here and it's useless technology. Honestly avoid this place, he talks about his credentials more than cares about you.

staff were attentive and responsive. procedure was smooth…read moreand professional. procedure was done 2 months ago and today the Pediatrician complemented the quality of the work and asked for contact info so that he could refer patients there. so it must have been really great work.

We had our first baby boy and he had a buried penis. Our OGBYN and Children's Hospital recommended…read morea professional specialist to perform the circumcision. Dr. Padra Nourparvar did a great job and was able to perform the circumcision with ease. Scheduling a date and time was smooth with Erik. The staff onsite were friendly and kind. The facility was clean. Procedure went smoothly. The staff prepped our son and had a shusher sound machine to play during the procedure. My husband and I were there to sooth our son during the process. After the procedure was completed we were able to take photos to send my son's recovery progress and ask questions if we had any through email. Thank you Dr. Padra Nourparvar and team!