1 out of 5 stars (for office staff -- 5 stars for Dr. Schultzel) I had gallbladder surgery with Dr. Schultzel in September 2025. He was excellent -- kind, thorough, and professional. Unfortunately, my post-surgery experience has been made extremely stressful due to the office staff and management. When my EDD paperwork was first submitted, the staff only gave me two weeks off work, even though the doctor clearly stated I needed six weeks due to lifting restrictions. After multiple calls, I finally spoke with Julie, who was rude, argumentative, and dismissive. She even said sarcastically, "Fine, I'll give you six weeks off," which is completely unprofessional. I later spoke with Emily, the office manager, who apologized, but Julie's poor attitude continued. Despite Emily's assurance that she would personally handle any future issues, she never returned my follow-up calls. Since then, communication has been inconsistent. Some emails were answered, but usually with short, unhelpful replies, and many others went unanswered altogether. Each visit I've made to the office has been met with cold or dismissive attitudes. Even when my doctor extended my recovery another two weeks, Emily questioned it inappropriately in front of other staff. I've had to show up in person multiple times just to get updates, only to be brushed off again. The doctor and PAs are wonderful, but the back office is disorganized, unprofessional, and lacking empathy. I've felt ignored and unsupported -- especially regarding time-sensitive EDD paperwork that directly impacts my income. It's unfortunate because Dr. Schultzel deserves better representation from his staff. Patients shouldn't have to fight this hard for basic communication and follow-up care. Edit: I split the difference and gave 3 stars. I have no issue with Dr Schultzel. It's sad I had to place a review to actually have someone try to call me or respond to the issues at hand. read more

Matthew Schultzel, DO - Proctologists Near Me - Murrieta, California

Dr. Schultzel relieved over a year of hemorrhoid and skin tag issues. Be patient and assured that he will do it right. Yes, you may wait a bit in the office and yes, it may take a few months but it will be worth it. With another doctor, I was promised my issues would be resolved in one visit and things just got worse. I am so thankful for Dr. Schultzel's expertise. I'm grateful for the earned trust that my pain and discomfort would be resolved. Thank you Dr. Schultzel! You are the best! read more

I am so thankful I went to Dr. Schultzel for my colorectal surgery. My previous Dr said my tumor was so big he would have to cut me open to remove. I wanted a second opinion so I went to Dr. Schultzel and he said I didn't have to be cut open, arthroscopic surgery is his specialty and he could remove it no problem. Recovery was so much better and because he is hands on he didn't just pass me off after surgery. I will be with him for the next 5 years if scans and procedures if needed. Thank you Dr. Schultzel!! read more

Dr Matthew Schultzel is a fantastic surgeon. He was personable and knowledgeable using the newest robotic technology to remove my gallbladder with the least invasive procedure. Post op appointments he was informative and had a great friendly demeanor. Highly recommend his skill and his office team. Busy doctor but worth the wait. read more

My journey to Dr. Matthew Schultzel was fairly unconventional. During my first scheduled robotic excision of endometriosis surgery, Dr. Chandra Spring-Robinson found that I had a frozen pelvis and that my uterus was adhered into the rectosigmoid colon, which meant that I required a co-surgery with a colorectal surgeon...queue in Dr. Matthew Schultzel. :) From being told for years that my pain and constipation during my menstrual cycle was normal, to now being told that I would possibly need to remove a portion of my rectum and colon was not something that I was prepared for. Within a week of my first scheduled robotic excision of endometriosis surgery, Dr. Chandra Spring-Robinson and Dr. Matthew Shultzel agreed to operate on me given the severity of my condition and the fact that my life expectancy would be cut down to 6 years if we did not intervene. With an awe-inspiring dedication to beneficence, they both embarked on a ~7 hour surgery to save my life and free me from the Stage IV deep infiltrating endometriosis that was obliterating my colon, rectum, and abdominal cavity. Dr. Matthew Schultzel restored my quality of life and performed nothing short of a miracle with his low anterior resection. He is an absolute blessing from God, and thanks to his surgical tenacity, his staff (thank you Emily and Harper!), and Dr. Chandra Spring-Robinson, I have the ability to live a much longer life than expected (not knowing that my life would have been cut short), with the hope of being a mother one day. Thank you Dr. Schultzel, I am eternally grateful! read more

Dr. Matthew Schultzel completed a 6 inguinal hernia repair surgery successfully with skill. He kept me updated while my husband was in recovery and provided excellent customer service as well. We are grateful beyond words. I would recommend him to close friends and relatives. read more

Dr. Schultzel was part of my care team when I had my 2nd laparoscopy with Dr. Chandra Spring-Robinson last week. I also had a colonoscopy with him earlier this year and he was extremely empathetic, and I found him to be professional and caring. He was there in the OR ready to jump in as soon as my doctor asked him to. I'm really happy with the results of my second laparoscopy and I'm not even a week postop. The collaborative effort of both doctors is truly extraordinary and I'm thankful to Dr. Schultzel for his expertise! read more

Had umbilical hernia surgery in early April, still recovering but appreciated how precise and understanding Dr. Schultzel and the staff were the quality of care was excellent and I would refer this doctor to anyone looking for a surgeon. Office staff was also helpful with paperwork and information. read more

Outstanding surgeon. Explained the whole surgical process and met with me on the day of surgery. Anesthesiologist also met with me prior to the surgery and explained the procedure prior to surgery. Office staff was friendly and professional. The staff scheduled the surgery and follow up appointments. I would highly recommend Dr. Schultzel for your surgery needs. read more

I am beyond grateful for Dr. Schultzel, his team of Physician Assistants (especially Harper Smith who exceeded my expectations) and the entire team at Sharp Memorial Hospital. From my first consultation to post-surgery care, they were professional, compassionate, and highly knowledgeable. I was nervous about my minimally invasive colorectal robotic surgery, but they took the time to explain everything and made me feel completely at ease. The procedure went smoothly, and my recovery has been much better than I anticipated. The bowel prep was the easiest I had been through as compared to my previous colonoscopies. I feel healthier and more comfortable than I have in years. My bowel movements are normal, more regular and lost over thirty pounds as a result. If you're looking for a skilled and caring surgeon for colon-related procedures, I highly recommend Dr. Schultzel! Thank you for giving me my quality of life back and looking forward to my regular colonoscopy procedures with you at Sharp! read more

I am so grateful I found Dr. Schultzel I recently had a hemorrhoid banding procedure, and the results have been excellent. The process was smooth, and everything looks and feels great. I truly appreciate the care and professionalism Dr. Schultzel. read more

If you have time to wait for 2+ hours for your appointment to even begin, then this is the place for you. The scheduling department needs some serious training. Speaking with other patients in the waiting room during both visits I had, this is an every day normal thing. My 2nd visit, I ended up leaving from the patient room. I will not go back here. read more

I'm at a complete and total loss for words as to how there can be a single negative review for Dr. Schultzel. Unreal! I've had 2 separate surgeries, both performed by Dr. Schultzel. I was super nervous going into the first one (naturally), but I was calm and confident heading into the second. This was entirely due to the doctor and my overall experience with the first surgery. Dr. Schultzel is meticulous, thorough, calming, knowledgeable, personable, and inspires a degree of confidence that is unfortunately rare in doctors today. The PAs (shout out to Harper) must be pumped to work under a mentor of that caliber, and the entire staff at the office are pleasant and genuine. There are just next level standards at play across the practice. I wish all doctors were like Dr. Schultzel. read more

While he is knowledgeable, he is always behind on appointments. Almost 2 hours before he walks into the room. Front staff don't even tell you when you check in there will be a wait. Waiting room is always full with others still waiting. Quite disappointing read more

So amazing. Another surgeon made me feel like my colostomy couldn't be reversed. Dr. Schultzel didn't over promise but also made me feel confident in his ability, knowledge and showed empathy for what I was going through. His staff was wonderful, responsive, and very efficient. Surgery was a success. Couldn't recommend this surgeon and staff more. read more

Attentive and understood issue at hand and how to effectively treat. Additionally identified issue with gallbladder and was able to get me in fast to perform procedure. Highly recommended. read more

Dr Schultzel is an awesome doctor! He's been my Dr since 2022 when he completed emergency minimally invasive surgery due to a complete tumor obstruction in my colon. He had to put in a colostomy bag, do a resection to cut out my cancer and when he completed the colostomy reversal, he repaired a hernia that I had gotten. When my cancer returned he was the doctor I reached out to so it could be removed. That surgery went well as well. He has a great demeanor and is very thorough and responsive. He explains your problems to you in a way you can understand. His office staff is great and very friendly and are available even after hours if you are having medical issues. I recently had to call them in the middle of the night, they called me right back and guided us on what to do for my issue and saved us a trip to the emergency room. He is 110% the doctor you should reach out to when having gastrointestinal, hernias or rear issues. He does more than that but those are the issues I have seen him for. He's definitely a life saver! read more

Dr. Alyssa. Serena. The clinic is organized and clean. Five stars indeed. The least we can do is show off her elegance.

I have been seeing Dr Schultzel and his staff for almost a year and a half for care between his Murrieta and Encinitas office and time after time he provides thorough and great care. His staff is very professional and proficient at being able to get my pre authorizations approved in a very timely manner. It's very convenient to make appointments because he has multiple offices and I'm not having to wait a month for an appointment like other offices. Highly recommend! read more

I've received excellent care with Dr. Schultzel and his associates. Office staff are always respectful and kind. I've gone through 2 major surgeries with Dr. Schultzel and it eased my mind knowing he was my surgeon. read more

Dr. Matthew Schultzel is amazing! He saw me and was able to assess my issue and made a plan to help me. He made an embarrassing thing feel like normal and made me laugh while doing it! He is very knowledgeable and friendly, he was able to get me back to my daily workouts without having any issues! His staff was great, I was able to make an appt and get in quickly, they always kept me in the loop if any changes occurred. He answered all my questions and let me know if I need anything in the future, to reach out and he'd be able to help! Thanks again Matthew! read more

My father underwent three surgeries with Dr. Schultzel to repair hernias and a diseased colon. Schultzel and his team took excellent care of him and spent a lot of time with him explaining and comforting him with each diagnosis. They were really great with following up with us to ensure he was healing properly and you can tell that they genuinely care for their patients. We're extremely pleased with his team and staff. It was also very funny to see that Schultzel comes from a famous family. Not only is he a renowned surgeon, but his dog is also the live action Scooby Doo :) read more

So it was time for another colonoscopy, and as a new resident of California I needed to find a doc to get it done. I did my research and decided on Dr. Matt Schultzel. Why Dr. Schultzel? Because he gave me the impression he sincerely cared about his patients, was all-in on cutting edge technology, and had a darn friendly appearance! I booked myself in for the "procedure" and was surprised to find out that there was a "pre-visit" before getting it done. During that appointment, Dr. Schultzel gave me a complete going over and discovered I had an umbilical hernia that needed attention. Holy cow! I had noticed a bit of a bulge but figured that was part of turning 62. Nope. He told me he could take care of it with a short robotically assisted surgical procedure that would take about twenty minutes. So after scheduling (and having) the colonoscopy, we booked the surgery at Sharp in San Diego. It was just as he described. I went home the same day. Followed up with two visits and was given a clean bill of herniatal health! I cannot recommend Dr. Schultzel highly enough. His staff is caring and friendly, and every person in his office does everything they can to make you comfortable and at ease. He is not "just a doctor" but an actual warm and friendly human being. That's become rare in the field of medicine, and is a pleasure to see. How often does a doctor thank YOU for allowing them to be your surgeon? That's exactly what he said to me on my last visit with him. Am I looking forward to my next colonoscopy? Heck no! But I know it's going to be a much better experience with Dr. Schultzel! read more

So I don't usually leave reviews. I'm a pretty private person. But considering the fact that reviews helped my wife and I choose Dr. Schultzel. I honestly consider it a duty and feel that I must. I have been suffering for the past couple years from an umbilical hernia. Which most likely developed from work. I did eventually see my normal doctor about it and was told to just watch it, wasn't like a big threat yet or anything. So I just kept going and you know it just kept growing. The anxiety of having this thing and working all the time and the amount of pain I was in I can confirm for you that waiting around is not the best option. Surgery is the only way to fix these things. I reached a point where I came home from work one night and my hernia area was throbbing. I noticed a little discoloration and the lump started to become hard. I knew something was severely wrong and that's when my amazing wife started looking online for an exceptional doctor. We prayed and scoured through reviews and honestly felt God led us to Dr. Schultzel. This is major you know you need someone who knows what they're doing. This was my first surgery and I'm not going to lie I was scared. But then I met Dr. Schultzel. And I knew right away that he was the guy, and that fear disappeared. He did an evaluation and confirmed my suspicion that indeed the hernia had become constricted and I would need an operation immediately. Dr. Schultzel and his team made space for a very urgent surgery and got me in within a week. I know my circumstances may have been more emergency like and not everyone can get in that fast but just the fact he cared that much and saw the agony I was in and had that empathy for me. To work me in the schedule and lift me out of those dire straits. Just shows you the amount of character and goodness this man has. Dr. Schultzel saved my life, not only did he save my life but he did an amazing job doing it. My surgery went excellent. Dr. Schultzel is incredibly skilled and I will recommend him without hesitation to everyone I love. My wife really appreciated his kindness as well. He even gave her an update and let her know how I was doing. We both are just so thankful for Dr. Schultzel and cannot empathize again the amount of confidence we have in him. The whole process went so smooth and his entire team were all so amazingly kind. I would like to give a special shout-out to Emily. Who went above and beyond handling my case, even calming those last minute nerves. She was crystal clear on all my instructions and made sure I understood the ins and outs and all the details. That definitely would have been overlooked without her. The amount of time and care she spent making sure I was comfortable and understanding of the situation was awesome. She is also exceptional. So thank you. Thank you so much Dr. Schultzel. Thank you Emily. Thank you to the entire team. So if you're reading this review and have found yourself in a similar situation. Take solace from my experience and rest assured. I can confirm to you that not only is Dr. Schultzel the absolute best... He also surrounds himself, with the best read more

Knowledgeable, took the time to explain things and worked to make an uncomfortable experience more comfortable.

My situation was relatively minor, but Dr. Schultzel's positive manner helped immensely. Although being busy, he was able to explain the treatment plan and executed it exactly as he said with little discomfort during and after the 3 procedures. Highly recommend him. read more

When he found out I had colon cancer, most likely from Agent Orange, Dr. Schultzel did not delay and took the stage 2 cancer tumor out within a week at Sharp Memorial Hospital. In short, he saved my life. I will always be thankful to Dr. Schultzel for this. He scanned 27 lymph nodes where he was only required to scan a surrounding 14. Thanks Dr., you're the best! read more

This man is very caring and very knowledgeable. I really feel like he treats me like family. Thank you Dr. Schultzel.

First let me say that Dr. Schultzel is a blessing. He truly cares about his patients and does everything he can to help. Back story, husband needed surgery right away. He had went to the ER due to abdominal pain, so he thought. Ultrasounds we're done and he ended up having gallstones. ER doctor says u need to have surgery ASAP but then discharged him and told us to follow up with his pcp. Next morning, called around and searched for surgeons and found Dr. Schultzel. Right away, I messaged him and his team right away responded. Explained what happened with my husband and he right away told me to call his office to speak with his assistant Emily. She right away helped my husband and Dr. Schultzel didn't hesitate and told me to take my husband down to the ER and when we got there, he got admitted and ultrasounds and work up again done and he ended up having multiple infections and needed emergency surgery. Dr. Schultzel was again a BLESSING! He did surgery and my husband looks and feels so much better. We're so grateful for him. He's amazing and will tell you what's going on in detail. He literally saved my husbands life and for that, me, my husband and our family will forever be grateful! Thank you DR SCHULTZEL! read more

DrSchultzel and his entire team were absolutely the best. I needed colon surgery and they took the best care of me from pre op to post op. I always felt I was heard and provided the best care possible. I really appreciate everything they did. I want to note that not all medical practices provide the caring I received from Dr Schultzel's practice. From my personal experience, there have been Doctors that are so sub par.. very disappointing. However, with Dr Schultzel, I felt I was in good hands. Thank you to Dr Schultzel and his entire team!!!!! read more

Dr. Schultzel was a life changer for me. He was quick and accurate in diagnosing my illness and he and his team were detailed and provided exceptional service, and care from his office consultations and through hospital care. Dr. Schultzel's state-of-the-art surgical procedures along with his pre-op pain management made for a quick comfortable recovery. Thank you team Dr. Schultzel read more

Really awesome team for Dr. Schultzel staff was amazing and Dr had best interest and gave me great advise to get some awesome results. Thank you read more

Let's get real, Dr. Schutzel is the King of Butts. Super friendly, super respectful, and very professional in his field of work. I get it, you don't like your "private parts" invaded and proded with cold fingers and cold instruments , but I can assure you all, there is none of that whatsoever...well the cold fingers and instrument part that is. Not only is the doc awesome, but the whole staff members are as well. And yes, there might be a bit of a waiting time, but reality is no matter where you go, who you see, there will always be a waiting time. I guarantee it. So treat them with respect and appreciate their hard work and dedication and just be patient. I totally recommend making an appt to go see him. Bring some treats for the whole staff while you're at it. Good luck! read more

Excellent bedside manner, friendly and easy to talk to. excellent surgeon I healed quickly and has no complications. highly recommend Dr. Schultzel read more

He was so arrogant and full of himself. It was a two minute consultation. It's like he was too good to even really comfort me when I am as miserable as I am. I'm just another patient in the room. read more

Dr. Matthew Schultzel is fantastic! Not only is he considered among the best in the world of surgeons, he also inherits something that is special and at times can make the greatest difference, passion! I will spare you all the details, but in my experience and opinions, he's the best in what he does. When I was diagnosed with a terminal disease, I wasted zero time and made an emergency consolation with Dr. Schultzel. Immediately following my consultation, Dr. Schultzel got me into surgery as time for me was crucial. Without a doubt, his knowledge, expertise, and passion worked in unison to save my life of cancer and I'm eternally grateful to him and his staff. If you need or your looking for the best today, I would say you've found this hope in Dr. Schultzel. read more

Amazing doctors. The whole medical group really cares and spends time trying to make sure you get the treatment you need. I had Dr. Matthew Schultzel and could not have had a better experience from pre surgery, surgery, and post op. Highly recommend. Couldn't have imagined a better doctor or experience to get through a trying health issue. The other staff was also kind, knowledgeable, and always responsive and professional. I felt very supported and was happy with my experience. read more

If you are ever in need to have colorectal surgery, Dr Schultzel is the only surgeon to contact. He is a very caring doctor, easy to understand as he explains the whole surgery! The staff is amazing, so professional. I'm very happy with the out come of my surgery. so great to be pain free! read more

Dr. Schultzel provided exceptional GI care. He listened to my concerns and worked with me to correct the problems I was experiencing. His staff was kind, patient, and professional. A superb experience overall. read more

Dr. Schultzel was very professional and got the job done. Don't hesitate, call him today, he's the best around.