Sandra Goldstein is in the East Bay Internal Medicine group in Orinda.

Re: Doctor Interested in Complex Medical Issues
I must recommend Dr. Goldstein She is an amazing internist. Both my husband and I have ''interesting'' conditions. After seeing 5 specialists over many years, she was able to diagnose me within 2 visits when I started seeing her. She also diagnosed my husband's very unusual disease in a week. Dr. Goldstein is very smart, caring and intuitive. She can come across as abrupt or harried but that is the nature of modern medicine today. She has always taken time when I have needed it, to probe and think. Late last Friday she called me because I had been in sick that week. She wanted to know how I was and had been thinking more about what we could do to make me feel better. She is in a great all woman's practice just over the hill in Orinda, and the I have been impressed with the other doctors. They are worth the schlep. A medical lab is next door to their office. She is affiliated with the John Muir Medical Group. I have found the other doctors and hospital first rate. Please contact me if you have any questions. carol

Re: Female Primary Doctor
Dr. Sandra Goldstein has been my doctor for over 10 years and has seen me through some very rough patches. She is incredibly knowledgeable, compassionate and skilled. My husband and I have ''unusual'' chronic conditions and she was able to diagnosis usquickly and make appropriate treatment decisions. There are many doctors in our respective families and they have all been impressed with her professional decisions. I usually bring a list of questions and concerns I have and she spends as long as I need with her. She is open to ''alternative medicine'' and is very good about saying when she doesn't know something. She stresses the importance of excercise and moderation in diet. The only problem is, because she spends so much time with each patient, she is often running late with her schedule. If you book one of the first appts in the morning, this isn't too big of a problem. I usually just bring a book and wait, because I feel like she is worth it. She is part of an all womans' practice and the other doctors are great as well. The number is 925-254-9090. Good luck anon

Re: Physician who has time for longer appts
We have a great GP out in Orinda (not a very long drive from Berkeley if you're not going at rush hour.) Her name is Dr. Sandra Goldstein, and she is wonderful in the ways that you are looking for, will take as long as you need, answer any questions, is open to alternatives to drugs, has a very healthy body approach (very into excercise and moderation in diet.) The only problem is, because she spends so much time with each patient, she is often running late with her schedule, but if you book one of the first appts in the morning, this isn't too big of a problem. I usually just bring a book and wait, because I feel like she is worth it, and when she is seeing you she really just focuses on you as her patient and you don't ever feel rushed (spends 1/2 hour, 45 minutes with you if you need it.) I'm not positive that she's accepting new patients, I know it took me a while (2 months) to get an appointment with her when I first started seeing her, but it's easy to get follow-up appointments and the office staff is great. The office number is (925) 254 9090. good luck! Elizabeth

Sandra Goldstein isn't my regular doctor, but I had a very good experience with her when I had a medical emergency a few years ago and she was on call. She was prompt and serious about following up, getting test results and reporting them to me, etc. My regular doctor at Albany Medical Group is Dr Unger and I'm very happy with him. Hannah