Two months ago, I had a really bad fall and dislocated my shoulder. To make a long story short, the…read morefirst orthopedic surgeon I saw completely misdiagnosed me and refused MRIs as he said they were not necessary he knew it was wrong with me. He had indicated I might need a full shoulder replacement and then referred me to PT. For two months I have been at a pain level of 9+ and have not had any sleep. I finally had to demand MRI imaging because the pain was so excessive I needed to find out what was really going on. His office also totally messed up the request for the MRIs and I had to go twice. Another delay and more pain. I knew I needed a second opinion and was referred to Dr. Skyhar by two friends, and I have to say was one of the best decisions I've ever made in my life. He is one of the most caring and intelligent doctors I have ever spent time with. He reviewed the MRIs slide by slide and explained in detail what each slide was showing. He determined that I did not need to have any kind of surgery and that my pain that I was experiencing was neurological in nature. He even explained the MRI report by the radiologist that to be honest was not written correctly. He is a wonderful doctor. He is a kind and loving person and I cannot thank my friends enough for referring me to him. My husband said OK. we now know any orthopedic issue that we have guess where we're going: to Dr. Skyhar. His staff are absolutely lovely people truly a blessing to find a medical professional that really is truly an expert.

As a former dental specialist in private practice and now as his patient, I consider Dr. Skyhar the…read moredefinitive choice for orthopedic care. My background allows me to appreciate the high level of clinical precision he brings to his work. He was remarkably meticulous in identifying the source of my shoulder pain and limited mobility, delivering a diagnosis that was both accurate and actionable. Furthermore, he excels at communication, explaining complex medical alternatives in clear, layman's terms. I was also particularly impressed by his technique; I experienced zero discomfort during the administration of a cortisone injection. What truly elevates my confidence in Dr. Skyhar is his distinguished history of medical leadership. Having served as Chief of Staff at Scripps Memorial Hospital Encinitas, he was responsible for leading the medical staff and serving as the primary liaison for clinical excellence. His tenure in this executive role focused on: Elevating Patient Safety: Overseeing hospital-wide protocols to ensure care met the highest safety benchmarks. Defining Surgical Quality Standards: Setting the agenda for surgical best practices and ensuring staff adhered to rigorous quality metrics. Clinical Governance: Leading the Medical Executive Committee to maintain the hospital's status as a regional center of excellence. Dr. Skyhar's commitment to these high-level standards--further evidenced by his past roles as Chief of the Department of Surgery and Physician Leader for the Scripps 'System of Excellence'--translates directly to the high-quality treatment he provides in private practice. I highly recommend him to anyone seeking an orthopedic leader who masters both the science of surgery and the art of patient care.

I first saw Dr. Bunyak seven years ago after having debilitating lower back pain, which was keeping…read moreme from being active with my children, and doing things I love like snow skiing. I was depressed and frustrated after dealing with years of lower back pain, which did not resolve even with oral steroids/surgery ie microdiscectomy. Upon first entering the office, the staff was extremely empathetic, professional, and the office was absolutely beautiful (artwork/cleanliness). Dr. Bunyak was extremely professional, provided me with extensive bedside time and had the most amazing bedside manner. She first recommended a steroid injection, which unfortunately did not help with my pain. Thereafter, she recommended PRP and this was an absolute godsend. My lower back pain completely resolved, and I was able to play and wrestle with my young children as well as get back on the slopes and ski again! I wrote her a thank you card, essentially thanking her for giving me my life back. I have been doing well over the past seven years until now when I unfortunately herniated a disc at L5-S1 causing severe pain and sciatica. I made an appointment again with Dr. Bunyak planning/expecting to get another PRP injection (as that was what cured me in the past). Dr. Bunyak spent an hour at the bedside with me discussing all of my options in a very calm, informative manner. She informed me that given my current state, she believed the PRP injection that I was hoping to get would actually exacerbate my pain and not help with the issue and she rather recommended a steroid injection at this time. Dr. Bunyak refers out her steroid injections to an extremely reputable physician. Dr. Bunyak could have proceeded with my anticipated/expected PRP injection and made way more money off of me, but rather she did what was best for me (the patient) and my health. I trust Dr. Bunyak with my life and I think she is an absolutely amazing woman and physician. She is so well educated. She attended Yale. She has been a practicing physician for decades at this point. I would wholeheartedly recommend anyone who is dealing with acute or chronic back pain to consider seeing Dr. Bunyak for possible help with your pain. Lastly, Stacy the RN, was so kind and comforting from the moment I walked in the door. Steve the clinical manager, was also so kind and went above and beyond to help me with ancillary issues/tasks I needed assistance with. Overall, I cannot say enough about the entire BOUNDLESS team. Thank you for being a resource in our community.

I have no clue what goes on here. I have had some important…read morehealth issues that have made me cancel a zoom appointment. Each time it's a month until the next virtual appointment. She seems knowledgeable when you do get to see her.. but big deal!! NOBODY EVER ANSWERS THE PHONE!! I have absolutely no faith in this practice!

What makes the best chiropractors? 1- sports chiropractor, 2- investigate the issue(s), 3- they…read moreonly adjust where it is needed given the issue(s) (none of that let's crack the whole back & call it done), 4- Give exercises to compensate for the underlying issues. Dr. Leah Helin fits all these criteria and a lot more. I have seen maybe ~15 chiropractors all together in my life, Dr. Helin is the best chiropractor I have been to. Yes, she is expensive and we visited a couple others before finally landing there. The first hour visit will count as probably about 3 or 4 visits at another chiropractor. She is that smart, targeted and efficient. The whole family goes with great success. The biggest success is that one child that was told by two orthopedic specialists that surgery was needed, completely avoided surgery because Dr. Helin was part of the treatment. A 3-year old pain I had was identified, targeted, given exercises in ~15 minutes; she helped more in those minutes than 12 hours of physiotherapy. The now better targeted exercises keep me improving a lot faster. Go see her, you won't regret it.

Other than one other time, I haven't written a Yelp review in years, but I feel like I need to…read morewrite this. I've been to six or seven chiropractors in the past year. Dr. Leah is, by far, the best, and the most honest. I recently went to a guy in Solana Beach because he had a spine stretching machine (Dr. Leah is always booked, also, so I wanted to go to someone right away for my back pain--I'm an impatient person). The guy told me that the only way I'd get better was to come into his office three times per week for 8 weeks, and use his spinal stretching machine. He also told me that I couldn't do anything active except walk on flat ground for a maximum of 20 minutes at a time. I drove home from there, super depressed and discouraged. Well, after sleeping on it, I came to the conclusion that the guy was full of crap. He also wanted to charge me thousands of dollars to do it "his way." He seemed like a nice guy, but please. Dr. Leah not only gives awesome adjustments, but tells me how to cure my bulging discs. She's honest in telling me that nothing can actually revert them back to how I was 35 years ago, but she said I don't have to get worse, I don't have to suffer in pain so much, and I should still be able to surf, run, do yoga, play tennis, all the things I love. I love that she's a sports-minded practitioner too. She has a positive attitude and is super friendly and likable. She's efficient, too. I am writing this because I found her on Yelp and I want to pay it forward. No one should be debilitated from back pain. I cannot thank Dr. Leah enough for all she's done for me. I have so much more hope, and can do the things I love. She's a keeper.

Dr. Kakimoto has been my (Male-50's) PCP for over a decade and I am very happy with the care…read moreprovided by her. Dr. Kakimoto is thorough, always takes her time to explain things and patiently answers any questions I have. I never felt rushed, quite the opposite. It is indeed challenging to schedule an appointment within a reasonably short amount of time with any of the MDs, I attribute that to the general shortage in MDs and nothing specific to Dr. Kakimoto. She was always there for me when I specifically asked to be seen by her for more critical (in my opinion) issues. Thank you Dr. Kakimoto!!!

First time meeting her after complaining of left side leg pain and debilitation, she had me go…read morehome, told me I probably had Covid and that I looked seriously Ill and to go home and rest. Really? What doctor tells this to a patient? Blood work ordered but no focus on my leg pain. No X-ray or MRI offered. She said if I still felt sick to go to ER? Second time meeting with her. She was once again dismissive, somewhat rude, showing no empathy or compassion. I felt like I was taking up her time in her busy day. She never was able to help me (with pain in left leg, hip area). She took all I said personally and defensive. Aren't doctors supposed to be trained or educated to deal with patients under pain? Again, No regard to pain I was having. No X-ray or MRI was offered. I had to ask for a physical therapy referral via online. I felt like I was diagnosing myself. She told me she didn't need new patients if I left and that she was one of the partners. Wow. Doctors need CARE model training or a refresher course if they want to keep their patients. She had the worst medical professional manners. Her words were just plain mean. No attempt on her part to create a relationship with a new patient. Very disappointing.

I've been seeing Dr. Evangelista for over ten years for back issues. He is the most…read morecaring and empathetic Dr I've ever seen. He is patient, listens and hears everything you say, and he truly wants to help you do what is best for you and to relieve your pain. I have never felt rushed by him - he will spend as much time as needed until you get all of your questions answered. I've seen many other dr's for consultations on back surgery and Dr. Evangelista's opinion is the only one I trust.

I've had a few serious sports injuries over the years, from herniated discs in my neck and lower…read moreback, to ankle sprains and more. I was referred to see Dr. E from friends, particularly for my neck injury, and my experience from the first visit on has been phenomenal. When you have an injury that requires you to go to the Doctor, you're not usually stoked, but if you have to go, Dr. E is the man to see. From the start, the staff are super friendly, the office itself is clean, with modern yet beach style decor, and a good vibe. Checkin was easy, and each visit since the first, my paperwork was pre-filled out, which made it even quicker and easier. Dr. E is a really cool, super nice guy, and impressively knowledgeable. He's walked me through all my injuries, and helped me understand what was going on, answered all my questions, and worked with me to form a plan to heal. He has never rushed me out of office, he's always given me his full attention and I've always left feeling like I had a comprehensive plan of attack to fix my injuries. From the visits, to getting imaging done (I've gotten multiple X-rays, MRIs, etc), to consulting about results, scheduling follow ups, you name it, everything has been easy and painless! I highly recommend Dr. E and his team!

Dr. Kieffer is a gifted and skilled individual…read more Our daughter was born via induced labor two weeks early. At about two months old she started having problems with digestion, and was in obvious pain. Sometimes she would cry and then scream herself to sleep after eating. She was on breast milk and we tried different brands of formula and all sorts of combinations to try to ease her digestive problems. She would struggle and struggle to have a BM, her whole body tense and contracting, and when she did it was a small but non-productive explosion. She was born very content but her life was becoming a cycle of waking up hungry, eating, crying/screaming, and sleep. My wife and I were very concerned. We knew we had more than a "colicky" baby as out GP had told us. My wife committed herself to finding a solution and started researching the symptoms. It was a conversation with a friend of hers that brought up Osteopathy, as her friend's daughter had been relieved of acid reflux problems through Osteopathic treatment. My wife found Dr. Kieffer through an extensive search for DOs with specific abilities and familiarity with infants. Within minutes of sitting down with Dr. Kieffer I felt we were on the right path. Dr. Kieffer started out by asking about the pregnancy. She wanted to go back to learn what she could about our daughter's time in the womb. Obviously she wanted foundational information before determining a course of treatment, or if Osteopathic treatment was even an option. After a lengthy conversation she began examining our daughter. What happened next was awesome. Our tired, tense, fidgety infant "melted" in Dr. Kieffer's hands on the exam table as Dr. Kieffer worked her "magic". As she gently and slowly used her skilled and practiced hands to work with our daughter my confidence in our decision grew. Dr. Kieffer was soothing and comforting to our daughter and it was obvious our daughter was feeling relief immediately. That night after we got home from that very first visit our daughter had the best night of sleep she had since entering this world. So did we! We followed up with three more visits. Each time Dr. Kieffer used her skills, knowledge and ability to gently work with our daughter and each time we saw our daughter becoming a happier baby as a result. After the fourth visit Dr. Kieffer advised that our daughter seemed to be doing well and she didn't see a need for more treatments unless symptoms reappeared. We were prepared to go for treatment as long as it took. Obviously Dr. Keiffer isn't in this practice for the money, she genuinely wants to help people feel better. Now a little over four months old, our daughter is a very happy, healthy "normal" baby that sleeps like champ, has a healthy appetite, normal BMs, and is learning to laugh at silly faces and make a variety of funny noises. In my opinion Dr. Kieffer greatly improved our daughter's quality of life. As a parent I am very grateful for her skilled treatment of my daughter. If you or someone you know has a baby that is more than just a little colicky, or seems to be having trouble with digestion or sleep I very strongly recommend a consult with Dr. Kieffer.

If you've never visited an osteopath, please suspend disbelief for the purposes of this review. I…read morewas a skeptic once, before I married my wife, whose family has been committed loyalists for decades. One Xmas, about three years ago, she gave me the gift of a visit to a "D.O." (not hers, as she was not taking new patients at the time)-- instead, I went to see Dr. Kieffer, and I'm glad. Think holistic medicine, fully clothed treatments, and unbelievable results. I had suffered from allergies for almost my entire adult life. Two visits in, I ditched the inhalant, and I've been allergy-free since. Lower back pain? Gone. Now, I schedule a visit about once every six months for a check/tune-up, and I feel better than ever before. I'm a believer, and I think you will be too.

OVER BILLING: Kara their billing coordinator will not take responsibility for billing issues and…read morehas alienated me over $50 because she won't fix their issue with Aetna. Aetna pays NCFMG over $500/visit and each visit I paid my PCP copay of $20. Yet the billing went through as if I saw a specialist ($45 copay) and I only saw a PA, plus North Coast doesn't have specialist they only do Primary Care. This was all because the doctors were listed incorrectly on the bill sent to Aetna. So I called Kara a few times, and I called Aetna a few times and then I put them on a conference call together, and then I followed up with Aetna several times to make sure they were fixing the issue. So after about 4 hours of my time and Kara blaming Aenta and Aetna blaming her I had to give up. And I had a final call with Kara and said there is no way I am paying the $50 because this was billed wrong, just on principal I can't and won't pay it. I can't believe I am ending a 10 year relationship with NCFMG who gets paid $500+ every time I visit over $50 I was wrongly charged for, that is brilliant customer service and a fantastic business model. Note for NCFMG if you even read these reviews: PA Noel and PA Morrison are setup incorrectly with Aetna. They had 2 profiles, one with UCSD and one without. Aetna billing uses the one without which makes them unrecognized so they bill as a specialist. So why don't you call Aetna and fix it before you have more patients leave you over erroneous billing.

I hadn't seen my PCP, Dr. Amy Kakimoto, in over a decade, but I was so happy to find out she's…read morestill at North Coast Family Medical Group. Life happens, and I'd put off routine check-ups for far too long, but I recently decided to schedule an appointment for blood work and had a list of questions, along with a need for some advice and recommendations. Scheduling was a breeze. Their patient portal is user-friendly, and the response time was surprisingly quick. Despite my last-minute request, they managed to fit me in. In the past it would take me months to see my PCP. This was a big improvement. Everything, from lab work requests to accessing clinical notes and instructions is automated in their system, so there's no hassle. On the day of my appointment, I was pleased to find plenty of parking, even on a busy weekday afternoon, which is always a plus. The clinic looks amazing and they've clearly made major renovations. The space is bright, modern, open, and spotless, with an inviting atmosphere. The staff were professional, warm, and attentive. From the receptionists to the medical assistants, everyone made me feel welcomed. During my appointment, Dr. Kakimoto addressed all of my questions and concerns with patience and detail. Even though the visit lasted only about 30 minutes, I left feeling reassured, informed, and optimistic about my health. I also love the reminder texts and emails! So helpful especially when you have so much going on. All your clinical notes are available in their patient portal app for easy access as well as all your medical records, tests, and more. I highly recommend Dr. Amy Kakimoto and North Coast Family Medical Group to anyone looking for quality care.

Dr. Maraio is caring, detailed and thorough, and has a great deal of expertise. She offers HRT for…read morewomen who are otherwise considered too "old" for hormones by regular medicine (my personal experience). I feel that I am truly getting a customized program of health and well-being--the opposite of traditional "cookie-cutter" medicine. I am glad I found her!

I was referred to Dr. Maraio by a friend who was having similar health issues I was. I had noticed…read morea huge improvement with her, not only in her physical health but mental as well- she looked and felt fantastic and everyone noticed. No joke... she literally glowed! And at the same time I was feeling frustrated and upset with my current health situation. I was seeing practitioners and even specialist and getting no answers. So, I decided to go and make an appointment with Dr. M and have been seeing her for over a year and a half now. She is amazing! Her and her assistant Sunny are warm and welcoming and make you truly feel like you are important to them. You feel like you are being heard and every ailment matters. Not only do you feel like you are finally being understood by a knowledgable professional, Dr. Maraio spends a good amount of time with you finding the root causes. She educates you and helps you have a better grasp on what your body is going through and how to alleviate the pain and stressors. For the first time I finally understood what my body and mind needed and how to take important steps towards optimal health. I completely contribute it to Dr. M and her guidance and vast knowledge. Dr. Maraio has not only been a doctor diagnosing me, but a mentor and a support system that has completely changed my life. If you are looking for answers or just better health, I highly recommend Dr. Maraio (trust me- I recommend her to everyone I come in contact with that just doesn't feel 'right' anymore). And to be honest... I think I cried my first couple of appointments because someone finally understood and didn't just tell me that I was getting older. I am so grateful I found Dr. Maraio and you will as well!