Re: Fabulous pediatrician needed!
I would recommend Dr Annemary Franks (middle aged, really nice person and very good doctor) at Berkeley Pediatrics (my kids' doctor), as well as Dr. Cuthbertson (older man)or Dr Kalar (younger woman) at the same practice. My 2 kids go to Dr. Franks and she is great, and among the other docs whom we have seen multiple times as on-call docs, Dr. Cuthbertson and Dr. Kalar seem most open to talking and explaining and also seem like great doctors. There is a website with biographical info. Good Luck! anon

Re: Pediatrician for complicated medical problems
I highly recommend my pediatrician, Lisa Kalar with Berkeley Pediatrics. She has seen all three of my boys and has been calm, reassuring and just a fantastic part of our children's support network. My oldest is almost 10 and my youngest is 6 months. She has always listened to our questions, concerns and made suggestions that are on par with our values. Best of luck. Kelly

Re: Intellectual Pediatrician near Berkeley?
I LOVE Dr Ben King at Berkeley Pediatrics http://www.berkeleypediatrics.com/ . My son is 13 months old; I also have some health/medical knowledge but am not an MD; we have Blue Shield HMO. Dr King explains things and answers questions at my level (doesn't talk ''down'' or ''up'' to me, gives me the detail I want). Wanna be know-it-all

Re: Pediatrician who is smart and available
We really like Berkeley Pediatrics and my son especially likes Dr Ben King. He is smart and friendly and great with kids. We have been with the practice for 19 years and feel comfortable with every doctor there... gretchen

I am a mom of a toddler and am expecting a second child. I am looking for a new pediatrician for my family. Does any one have any experience with Dr. Grace So of Berkeley Pediatrics?

Re: Need recommendation for pediatrician
I use Dr. Olivia Lang at Berkeley Pediatrics. I went to her when my now 5 year old was a newborn. She's terrific. Incredible, awesome support for me with a newborn. Always calm and candid. My son has always loved her. She's tops! Happy Mom

Hello, I am due at the end of January and I am looking for an excellent pediatrician for my daughter. I am looking for a patient, warm, very professional and accessible doctor. I would like a pediatrician who will return my calls in case of an emergency and who has an efficient administrative process. Based on the research I have done so far I have liked: Dr. Lisa Kalar from Berkeley Pediatric Medical Group and Sarah Handelsman from East Bay Pediatrics. I am interested in hearing opinions about these practices. Thank you very much for your advice. Andrea

We've recently moved to Berkeley from SF and are looking to switch pediatricians. I am wondering if people could give me their impressions on Dr. Franks and Dr. Kalar at Berkeley Pediatrics - in particular about bedside manner with kids and parents, openness to alternate vaccination schedule, experience with twins, patience with questions, and thoroughness of exams (do they ask questions and take their time). We have 14mos. twins. Any feedback is appreciated! new to berkeley

However Berkeley Pediatrics is probably not the place for you if you are against vaccines or follow ''alternative'' schedules such as Bob Sears. They are very committed to vaccinations and just yesterday I was in there and while waiting I read several articles posted on the waiting room wals which thoroughly critiqued ''alternative schedules''. Best to look somewhere else. Happy with Berkeley Pediatrics

Oddly enough, Dr. Franks circumcised my younger son when he was born because Dr. Kalar was out of town. She was fantastic then and was very easy to talk to and comforting in those first few days. We have not had any professional contact with her since but I don't think you can go wrong with any of the doctors at Berkeley Pediatrics. Good luck with your decision. Anon

Re: Gay-friendly Pediatrician near Berkeley
You should definitely check out Berkeley Pediatrics. They are a terrific practice in general, and seem not concerned one tiny bit about all kinds of family variations. All the doctors there seem great. http://www.berkeleypediatrics.com Congratulations! === East Bay Parent

Does anyone have recent experience with the doctors at Berkeley Pediatrics on Walnut and Virginia in Berkeley? My son's (11 years old) doctor recently retired and am looking for someone who is kid friendly, competent, accessible, and gentle to transfer to. I'd appreciate positive and negative comments. Thanks anon

Re: Do you love your Pediatrician?
I recommend Dr. Ben King at Berkeley Pediatrics. 848-2566. He has 3 boys - two of them are twins. He's the doctor of my two young boys. Very happy. Mom

Re: Pediatrician for 14 and 18 year old daughters
Our girls are 12 and 16 and see Annemary Franks of Berkeley Pediatrics. She has girls herself and has a great rapport with our kids. There are other female Pediatricians in the practice. They cover for each other. We think every doctor there even the men are very nice. They are on Virginia by Shattuck 510-848-2566 Denise

Re: looking for a good pediatrician
Olivia Lang at Berkeley Pediatrics. She is spectacular. She is very easy to talk to. She explains things thouroughly and is never condescending (unlike a previous pediatrican we had). She has helped us through several scary moments with my kids. She is always on top of things and doesn't over push the meds either which is great. Their # is 510-848-2566 Shannon

Re: new to the area, looking for a pediatrician
Recommend Berkeley Pediatric Group -- all physicians excellent. We have been going there for 12 years, and given weekend emergencies, have seen them all. All the doctors are high-quality physicians and open communicators. Doesn't matter who you are assigned to, all are great!

Re: Pediatrician near Montclair for twins
We love Dr. Benjamin King with Berkeley Pediatric Medical Group. He's been caring for our 3 year-old son since birth. He and his wife have 4 year-old twin boys and are expecting another baby. It's nice to have a doc. with recent parenting experience. He is equally great with new parents and tots - helping kids feel at ease in the office. He returns all his messgaes personally and promptly. We live in Oakland, but used to drive to his office from San Francisco. Worth it! King, Benjamin N MD - Berkeley Pediatric Medical Grp (510) 848-2566 - 1650 Walnut St, Berkeley, CA Oakland Mama

Re: Pediatrician for our 8-year-old son
My children have been going to Berkeley Pediatric Medical Group for over 18 years. (She still sees them while in college if they wish.) Their primary is Dr. Annemary Franks. I don't know if she's taking new patients; however, another doctor in the group probably is. On occasion, we have had to see another doctor and they have exhibited the same caring attitude that Dr. Franks has. I feel that Dr. Franks' opinions on matters are very reasoned. I feel confident in her advice and the course of action chosen. BPMG is located at 1650 Walnut Street, Berkeley. The number there is 848-2566. rishida

Does anyone have Dr Kalar from Berkeley Pediatrics as their children's pediatrician? She is fairly new to the practice and is taking on new patients while the other doctors are not. Thanks! Mother of 3.

Our first interaction with Dr. Kalar was over the phone-- we were traveling & my daughter got this horrible skin infection. She did lots of phone check ins & prescribed some meds over the phone & made us promise to come in after we returned from our trip. So, I liked her immediately :)

Since then, we have had a few follow up appointments & she was quick to make referrals for an allergist & a dermatologist to get to the root of my daughter's skin issues. She calls on the weekends to follow up & even gives out her cell phone! She also insists on being called Lisa by parents & kids alike (I still call her Dr Kalar-- all that med school should have some payoff!)

I have VERY minor complaints—she has a bit of a potty mouth (my daughter thought it was cool that her Dr said ‘damn’) & she said something to the effect of ‘I am sure your mom will take you to get ice cream if you don’t cry when you get your shots’

Dr Kalar is personable, great with the kids, takes your concerns seriously, & takes lots of time during visits & on follow up outside of office hours. I recommend her wholeheartedly! -member of Dr Kalar's fan club

I would like to recommend Doctor Robin Meezan at Berkeley Pediatrics on Wooster Street in Berkeley. She is amazingly intelligent, polite, kind and a great listener. Being a mother herself, she could give me advice on breastfeeding and other mothering issues from her first hand experience along with the vast knowledge she has as a pediatrician. She knew about every concern I had about my infant son (questions about vaccinations, growth and development milestones, etc.) If she didn't know about something (for example, the effect a certain medication would have on my breast milk) she would look it up immediately. She is really great and makes you feel at ease. My son adores her! I actually switched over to her since the doctor I first dealt with at Berkeley Pediatrics, Doctor Kowaleski, seemed very rude and dismissive of my maternal concerns. I did not feel comfortable with his manner at all. Rebecca

We are moving to El Cerrito from SF and looking for a new pediatrician for our 9 month old. There were comments in the archives on the Berkeley Pediatric Medical Group (on Walnut St) and Kiwi Pediatrics on San Pablo, but the comments were from June 2006. I'd love to hear any more recent experiences. At the Berkeley group we could see Drs Cuthbertson, Davenport, Franks, King, Kulshrestha, or Lang; at the Kiwi group, we could see Drs Kittam, Salsburg, or Winokur. I would really like a doctor who will take the time to answer my questions and is not afraid to give advice (our current doctor is a fan of the Socratic method, it seems). Extended or weekend hours would be a plus. Thanks! Susan

Our original pediatrician was Dr. Winokur at Kiwi. We left the practice within the first month of our daughters life -- we really didn't like it. They didn't have separate sick/well waiting areas and their practice is split between two locations -- but you are only supposed to go to one as they like you to be at the location where your files are. As a result it was impossible to get an appointment with Dr. Winokur -- and in fact we never met her. The doctor we did see was extremeley checked out and blase about our concerns (at the time our new born daughter had jaundice). Anyway, my strong advice would be to go to Berkeley Peds! love berkeley peds!

Scheduling has been a breeze, in the last year, besides well-checks, only one ear infection and one false alarm, I read on the archive that one person said it was a fight to bring in a sick kid, I have never had this experience with Dr. King. He is very thorough, patient, offers advice, friendly, more or less our age (mid/late 30s I think, maybe v. early 40??) which was important to us, and has kids himself- also important to us. He has never resisted me wanting to bring in my baby ''just to be sure''. Every call I have made (probably about half dozen in past year maybe 10?) to Dr. King has been returned same day, within an hour or a few hours at most.

This may not matter to you, but we feel the facilities at Berkeley Peds are preferable to those we encountered at Kiwi. The office reminds us of a small-town docs office, with lots of toys in every waiting room, nice prints on the walls, not super fancy, but very clean- we like this. I was worried about parking in this area, but I usually get a spot right across the street, and have never parked more than 1/2 bock away.

Moises, one of the medical assistants is great, I have a son, and look forward to having a male presence besides the docs in the office, the other women medical assistants are also great, just don't remember any of their names. They all seem to actually like kids, which is very nice.

Dr. King gave us a free consultation before we became a patient, (interview) I think the other docs at Berkeley Peds do the same, at Kiwi we had to pay like $65 or $60, can't remember, out of pocket (insurance doesn't cover) to talk with Dr. Salzburg. I suggest going to talk to the docs and check out facilities for yourself. All the advice/opinions don't matter anywhere near as much as a first impression, your own impression. Compared for myself and love Berkeley Pediatrics

[Editor] reviews also received for Kiwi Pediatrics

Does anyone have any feedback of Berkeley Pediatrics Medical Group on walnut st? Which of the doctors there would you recommend. I have a 9yr girl and 4 mo boy and i am thinking about joining the practice but would like to hear feedback. Thanks roxy

We are expecting in early March, and are looking for recommendations on Pediatricains. Berkeley Pediatrics has been highly recommended, however the Dr we wanted to sign up with is not taking new patients, however DR's Davenport, Lang and Franks are accepting new patients. Any recommendations re. these doctors is most appreciated. nicole

You'll see other docs in the practice in the hospital (whoever is on call) and if your child is unexpectedly ill and we have loved everyone we've seen from there. Also, the archives said that they put you on hold on the phone too long and general negatives about the office staff, but we haven't found that to be the case at all! jane

We are expecting a baby and looking for a pediatrician. My OB recommended Berkeley Pediatric medical Group. Dr Davenport Elaine, Dr Frank Annemary, Dr King Benjamin and Dr Lang Olivia are accepting new patients. I only see recent recommendations for Dr King,I would like some advice on other doctors too? Dr Cuthbertson and Kulshrestha who were my first choices are not accepting new patients. Thanks in advance new mom

Over the last 8 years of ear infections and fevers, etc... I have been in for several (in my mind) emergencies. If Davenport can see them, she does. If she is unavailable, one of the other doctors sees them. It all goes fast. The guy that gives shots is a sweetie. I have read complaints here over the years about the office staff and have had some of those experiences myself but no more than at the dentist etc... actually less....in general, they are competent enough. They ALWAYS get you seen right away when you have a sick kid.

All in all, I heartily recommend Berkely Pediatrics annie

Overall, I feel that I am getting the best available care from Dr. King and BPMG. I would highly recommend Dr. King satisfied mom

Re: Pediatrican near Montclair
I have been very happy with Berkeley Pediatric on Walnut since my oldest, now a teenager, was an infant. There are more than a couple of doctors in the practice, but we almost always see our primary physician, Dr. Jim Cuthbertson. The only exception is in an emergency when we need an appointment on Dr. Jim's day off (the other doctors are also excellent.) We have really developed a relationship with Dr. Jim, and I feel like he knows my kids and their health history well. We don't have to wait long to see a doctor when we arrive, and when my kids were small I appreciated the fact that they have both ''sick'' and ''well'' waiting areas, so that my babies would not get exposed to others' germs when I was bringing them in for a well check. Happy with Berkeley Pediatric

We are expecting a baby very shortly, and we are still wondering about which pediatric group to go with. I checked the bpn archives, and all reviews are over a year old. How about Berkeley pediatrics, only Dr. King seems to be taking new patients, any advice on this doctor, or office in general? Haven't had a chance to visit them yet. Thanks in advance for your advice, we are hoping to find a pediatrician and location that suits our needs.

Re: Preemie Specialist Pediatrician?
I don't know if she's taking new patients, but give Dr. Kulshtretha at Berkeley Pediatrics a try. We were one of her first patients in 2002, and we have enjoyed her young, enthusiastic approach. We didn't have a preemie, but the reason I recommend her for such is that she had a preemie herself in Summer 2004, and so I am sure she is very knowledgable from her own personal experiences. Good luck, Kris

Re: Queer-Friendly Pediatrician
Try AnneMary Franks at Berkeley Pediatric Medical Group. 848- 2566, located on Walnut and Virginia Streets in Berkeley. Lots of postings on BPN archives. Lori

Was wondering if anyone have any current experience with Dr.King at Berkeley Pediatrics (Walnut St). Good ? Bad? The info on the site dated back to 2004. Thanks. mom w new baby

We're switching to Berkeley Pediatrics for my two girls, ages 2 and 3. There are three doctors taking new patients: Dr. Cuthbertson (woman), Dr. Kulshrestha (woman), and Dr. King (man) . My initial preference is for a female doctor, though I'm flexible if there's a big difference in skills/experience/manner with kids. Does anyone have experience with these doctors? Patricia

That's been the nice thing for us about this practice... that when you are sick you don't always get to see your main doctor so the quality of all the doctors matters.

I'd pick Dr. Cuthbertson as my main doctor and be happy to see the others -- each doctor provides their own insight into a situation -- the more voices the better I think.

Good luck with your decision. anon

I am thinking about signing my son up with Berkeley Pediatrics. Dr. King & Dr. Davenport are currently taking new patients. I am looking for a couple of recommendations. Also, I'd like to hear about the nurses in the office. We are looking to leave our current family practice due to the low quality of nursing care at the office. We have had problems due to unskilled or unpleasant nurses. (Being off by a pound when weighing our 2 month old, taking an incredibly long time between needles at innoculations, etc.) Thanks for any recommendations or words of assurance. Lori

Dr. King is also great. I have spoken to him on the phone and my husband brought our daughter in one time when Dr. Davenport was out. He loved Dr. King and said he was really good with our daughter.

My only criticism of the practice is that the administrative staff could be better. They aren't rude, but they aren't friendly either. I feel anonymous when I come in to the office until I see Dr. Davenport. I would not use that as a reason not to choose Dr. Davenport though. She is an excellent doctor and no place is perfect.

The staff there, however, has the occasional issues of being ''unskilled or unpleasant'' that you mention - in our case: not communicating clearly, letting child bleed into clothes a bit after immunizations, measuring length wrong (by 2 inches, without trying to measure again but just making an estimate! I was too baffled to demand better measurement, but swore later I will in the future) or letting us wait long to get our immunizations.

Some more observations: We never had to wait long in the waiting room before our appointment (only afterwards to get the shots). The phone line can be very busy during the day and we've often been asked to hold quite a seemingly long time. They also did not tell us that some insurances (e.g. ours) do not cover the well-child checkups after a certain number per time period, and if you just go with the BPMG schedule, you may end up with an unexpected bill for an uncovered visit. The one time we complained about an unfriendly nurse our doctor truly apologized to us and assured us of future improvements. Staff (and doctors) don't always wait for upset babies to calm down (or be calmed) before continuing with their routine, which I guess is often necessary to keep their business going, but can be quite stressful to new parents or when you want them to observe something in your kid's ''normal'' behavior.

So for what it's worth, I'd say remain a critical consumer and give them a try. I'd also recommend interviewing the doctors you are considering to see if their personal style works for you. Parent of a BPMG child

I have generally found her easy to get hold of, and when she was not available, the other doctors at BP were also very nice. That said, as my kids are older, I rarely go to their offices anymore and don't have much familiarity with the current nursing staff. Certainly the office is very busy and you should expect to be put on hold when you call.

The only thing I find slightly disappointing about Dr. Davenport is her lack of interest and support for alternative health care (homeopathy for example, which has been amazingly helpful for me and my kids, and cranio-sacrial therapy -- ditto) although, to be fair, I have not discussed this with her for quite a few years and she may be more open to it now. But in terms of what she offers -- and it is considerable -- she is everything I could want in a pediatrician. Zoe

In 10 years I don't recall having any problems with them that weren't at least partly my own fault. (I now keep my co-pay receipts in case a payment isn't recorded and I get billed... the one time it happened they took my word that I'd paid and checked it off).

They are very busy and I'd suggest treating them with the same respect you expect to get back. For me that means:

NOT blaming them if I'm placed on hold, when calling at a busy time... my kids aren't the only ones who get sick on weekends, etc.

NOT assuming an appointment won't be delayed... the office has seen my kids in emergencies that probably delayed someone else. I don't make appointments without some flexibility.

NOT wasting their time unnecessarily, and NEVER being rude to anyone in the office. Having worked in offices I'm aware of how rude and condescending some people can be, and how much a little kindness means.

I trust my pediatrician implicitly. 90% of the time he can answer my concerns by return phone call instead of making an office visit.

By the same token -- several times my doctor has taken my opinion on treatment or referral into account (but only when I was right!). I hope that most of his patients are as impressed with him as am I (no, he's not taking patients right now).

Long story short, no reservations about Berkeley Pediatrics -- Like most group practices they are limited by the vagaries of medical insurance, and dealing with large numbers of patients, etc.. but they do an excellent job of providing good, consistent care, in a comfortable environment.

If you need additional information you can contact me. Heather

We are former Kaiser members who just changed insurance plans, and are looking for a great pediatrician. Our neighbors have recommended Annemary Franks from Berkeley Pediatrics, but the archives do not have any recent recommendations about her specifically. Is there anyone who can give me a current information on Dr. Franks? How about the practice in general? Thanks! Margaret

My only complaints are: 1) the front office staff has in the past been somewhat brusque and unresponsive, but I think that may have improved over the last couple of years, and 2) they no longer have a preferred provider contract with Blue Cross PPO -- our insurance carrier -- so we pay out-of-pocket for well checks and get a lower reimbursement rate for other visits. We value the care we've received and the continuity enough to justify making that choice rather than switching to another pediatrician. In good hands

I also take my kids to see a homeopath, and while I don't think Annemary regards that person as her medical equal, she hasn't been disapproving or dismissive of that path at all. All in all, I'd say that I like working with Annemary because it feels like we are working as a team for the health of my child. She's a mom, and we relate well on that level. If you want a parent-type figure, though, she might not be right for you. She's not authoritarian in her style. happy

When I gave birth to my 2 year old, I REALLY did not want to spend the night at the hospital. Staff wanted to keep me (after a very routine, straightforward birth that afternoon), but I finally wore them down, and they agreed to release us if I could get my pediatrician over to the hospital to check my baby. Although she has kids of her own to get home to at the end of the day, Annemary very graciously agreed to come to the hospital in the evening so that I could go home that night. I thanked her profusely months later, and she did not even remember having put herself out for us.

So, if Annemary is taking patients, I think you'll be in fantastic hands. We have had other good pediatricians that we were fond of before moving to the Bay Area, but Annemary is absolutely our favorite. Please email me if you have any questions. Alison

Dr. Franks has been my two sons' doctor for many years, and I couldn't ask for a better pediatrician. She's knowledgeable, patient, and exudes a calm that promotes trust from her patients.

Berkeley Pediatrics is an excellent operation overall, but it's not uncommon to be put into an examination room for up to an hour before the doctor is able to see your child. I'm sure that sometimes there are good reasons for the delays, e.g., emergencies, but I also think that this office, like so many these days, engages in overbooking strategies to ensure a steady cash flow in case of unexpected cancellations or no- shows. So it goes. I wonder if any medical office these days is immune from this syndrome.

Overall, I give Dr. Franks a very solid endorsement. And since the medical staff at Berkeley Pediatrics is excellent overall, you can have confidence that if Dr. Franks is not present on a day when you need an appointment your child will still be well cared-for. Doug

Even though my experience with Dr. Gruber, as well as the nurse practicioners on staff, has been very pleasant, the office staff leaves much to be desired. They are un-organized and inefficient in their follow up of financial matters. If it wasn't for my relentless follow up, I would have never received my check back. Needless to say, we will no longer go back to this office as a great office staff is as important to me as a great doctor. unhappy with Berkeley Pediatrics

i have read the past postings about Dr Davenport at Berkeley Pediatrics but am interested in reading something a little more current, perhaps someone who has recently started with her in the past year or two. Specifically, is she willing to take time to discuss/answer questions? What is she like in terms of ''bedside manner'', so to speak? I would like to hear any feedback on the subject. Interested in Dr. D

Remember- your child's doctor is one of many professionals in your child' life. Their job is to guide and advise. Some people get bent out of shape when a professional offers a different view. Rarely is it simply a relection of their peronalilty or style. Rather, I think it's a sypmtom of unrealistic parent expectations. Happy fan of Dr. D

Has anyone had any experience with Dr. Ben King at Berkeley Pediatrics? He is a newer member of the group now that Dr. Gruber has retired. We're a two-mom family and are having twins and want someone who is comfortable with both. (Unfortunately Olivia Lang who has twins isn't accepting new patients.) Rachel

My teen daughter has been a patient of Dr. Boynton at Berkeley Pediatric all her life. Now, just as Dr. B. is leaving, I have some concern that my daughter is developing an eating disorder. We have been assigned to Dr. ''Kay'' Kaulshrestha who seems quite pleasant over the phone. Does anyone have positive or negative experiences to share regarding seeking treatment for anorexia with any of the Berkeley Pediatric doctors? concerned mom

Almost 27 1/2 years ago I was lucky enough to be assigned to Berkeley Pediatric office. I had heard about them though my midwife, who unfortunately left a couple of hours before my first child was born. I arrived at Alta Bates ER and they asked who my pediatricican was. My get acquainted appointement was still off in the future but because my child was in danger (and even though Berk Ped was no longer accepting patients) Ragna Boynton showed up. From the moment I met her in the recovery room I knew I couldn't find a better pediatrician. My youngest doughter still has one more visit ( a college physical) before we retire from Berkeley Ped. Though sometimes we had to wait, we ALWAYS recieved EXCELLENT care from Dr. Boynton and who ever filled in for her. THANK YOU BERKELEY PEDIATRIC!!! May you continue to provide loving care. Susan

We are in the process of selecting a pediatrician for our first child (due in mid-April), and we really liked the pediatrician we met at Berkeley Pediatric Medical Group. However, after reading up on the practice on the Berkeley Parents web site, I'm somewhat concerned about all the negative comments regarding the BPMG office, receptionists, and other staff. These comments are from May 2002, and I'm wondering whether anyone has seen improvement since then, or whether people are still experiencing similar frustrations with the office. Thanks, Alison

As far as staff goes, most have been very nice every time we've been there. There have been a few times when one may have been a bit more brusque than would be ideal, but on the assumption that everyone has bad days once in a while, I've never been too bothered by it. I would never NOT go there for staff/office reasons - the doctors are great, and the office issues minimal now that billing isn't a problem. There are some very nice nurses, too, and my kids are quite comfortable going there - a biggie for me.

The only other ''complaint'' I can think of is that waits are sometimes a bit long, which can be frustrating. But sometimes they aren't - you never know. I try and make appointments for early in the day, bring a drink and a snack for the kid(s), and keep in mind that if one of my kids was sick, I'd want the doctor to fit me in and give us that extra time. Which they have in the past, so I consider it worth it. Heather

Both of my children are patients of Dr. Ragna Boynton at BPMG. She is an excellent doctor and I feel is very much in tune with my philosophy of medical treatment. There was one nurse at BPMG who I thought was very abrupt with me when my infant son needed to get his vaccinations (raising her voice when I wasn't holding him the correct way), but I try to give people a break since BPMG is a very busy office and the nurses and doctors and front desk staff are very busy (perhaps she was having a bad day). However, I feel that my children have received a lot of personal attention there, more than I would have expected given the busy office.

For example, my insurance company billed me for a respiratory chamber that my son needed to take his medication. After going back and forth with the insurance company, and them telling me this device was not covered, they told me to talk with my doctor's office to clear it up. Melinda at the front desk at BPMG battled Blue Cross for me for 3 days, being put on hold for hours, etc. I never expected that kind of service, and my problem was solved. When I need copies of medical records, they usually have them ready the next day for pick up, and will also mail out health records forms for daycare and school usually within one week. They have even written a special letter for my daughter, noting when she would receive her next vaccinations, so that she could register for kindergarten before the deadline.

Regarding waiting time, early morning appointments are best if you can make them - less likely to have to wait since they are not behind schedule yet. I feel that as parents we have to be somewhat flexible since there are other parents with sick kids that need to be seen. I have never had a problem getting an appt. when my children are sick. Usually, I leave a message for Dr. Boynton, who promptly returns my calls (even after regular office hours!) and then we assess what should be done and when my children need to actually be seen in the office.

All in all, I am very happy with BPMG. We moved to Hercules (10 miles away from Berkeley) and I still bring my children there. However, I am heartbroken because our dear Dr. Boynton will be retiring this summer. I believe Dr. ''K'' (only an abbreviation b/c she has a lengthy surname) is taking over most of her patients. I have interacted with Dr. K and she is quite pleasant. Happy BPMG Mom

The office is clean. They separate the sick from the well. And we never wait very long to see Dr. K. And she spends lots of time with us.

I think you have to accept that no place is perfect and you're bound to have rough moments. We're all human. I highly recommend BPMG. anon

The waits have varied. I tend to schedule my appointments first thing in the morning so my wait time is less. However, I have waited extraordinarily long times for vaccinations - that has been consistent. But because I feel that the care I receive, and the time the doctors are willing to spend with me to answer my questions, concerns, etc. I think it is worthwhile, and I recommend them heartily. happy at BPMG

Hi, We've ben going to BPMG for almost 14 years, and we couldn't be happier. Dr. Franks is our doctor and I feel she has taken the time to know me and my son well. She always returns calls, listens patiently to him ( and me), and is always willing to work through a problem. She was particularly helpful when my son was diagnosed with asthma, working with the pulmonary specialist to work out a treatment plan that would be doable for my son. She also went to bat with Blue Cross to get his flu shots covered. Jamie

There was a time when I did switch doctors, because we had no insurace coverage and could only qualify for Medi-Cal. I only did that for a couple of months, because the one visit I did have to this new doctor was horrible. I had to wait 3 hours to be seen, even though we did have a scheduled appointment time. The doctor was great and very patient though some of his advice I thought was a little wrong, but I refused to sit in a waiting room for 3 hours or more for a check-up. As soon as could I switced back to BPMG, and they accepted my Medi-cal, which I don't think they do anymore. Just thought I would let you know of my one bad experince outside of BPMG. Good luck in you choice. a happy mom of 2 BPMG patients. Soon to be 3 patients

My daughter's doctor is Dr. Elaine Davenport at Berkeley Pediatrics. While I have been happy with the care she has received from her doctor, I have been brought to tears 4 of my last 5 dealings with the rest of the nurses, doctors and administration at BP. Messages aren't delivered; I am on hold for up to 20 minutes at a time when I call; the receptionists seem put-out by my requests for appointments; my daughter's records haven't always been on hand for an appointment and the time in the waiting room is always way too long. Has anyone managed to find a way around all this unpleasantness at BP? I hate to switch doctors but at this point, I feel like dealing with the emergency room at Oakland's Children's Hospital is easier than BP. Please send me any advice you have about how to be treated better by BP. Thank you.

But we finally cried uncle and switched practices. We now see Jane Hunter at Pediatric Medical Group, and I am very happy with the change. I like Dr. Hunter as much as Dr Franks, and the office is so much more pleasant. I have yet to wait more than fifteen or twenty minutes, and usually we're with the doctor much, much faster. The staff seems less harried, and the rooms are clean enough for both my son and me to play on the floor. It's not perfect, and the drive to the office is long for us. But I don't dread going to the pediatrican's the way I grew to with BPMG. Deciding to change doctors was not easy . Now I am very glad we did. Carolyn

We are looking for a pediatrician and have generally heard good things about the doctors at Berkeley Pediatrics. Right now, 2 doctors are accepting new patients, Dr Lang and a new doctor whose last name (I think) is Kulshrestha. Apparently Dr Kulshrestha has been filling in for other doctors on leave for some time. Has anyone had any experiences with her? Thanks! Kathleen

I was wondering if anyone has ever had a physician from Berkeley Pediatrics perform a circumcision? Specifically, I am interested if Dr. Davenport has performed this surgery on any of your children, and if so, how was the experience/outcome. I am considering using a urologist, but I would love some feedback from people who have used Dr. Davenport. Thank you.

Older recommendations:

My husband and 2 children (10 and 7) are devoted fans of Ragna (aka "Ronnie") Boynton of Berkeley Pediatrics on Walnut St. She's taken us through some tough times and has been thorough, caring, patient, and very attentive. I have no idea whether she's taking new patients. Berkeley Pediatrics has closed at times to new patients from particular health plans; you'd have to check with them. Phone # is 848-2566.

I highly recommend Dr. James Cuthbertson. He has excellent rapport with children and parents alike, always returns phone-calls promptly (generally within an hour) and is extremely knowledgeable and caring. Although he is busy (one must book well-baby appointments several months ahead of time), he gives great advice and takes time to get to know his patients. We had started with Dr. Howard Gruber -- but found Cuthbertson to be much better so switched after about 9 months with Gruber (I wish I had changed doctors earlier).

I have a recommendation on a doctor for the person with a 16 year old son. I have 3 sons, ages 19, 14, and 5. They all have Dr. Cuthbertson at the Berkeley Pediatric Clinic, 1650 Walnut St., Berkeley. He's always bouncy and so positive whenever they see him. He doesn't talk down to my 19 or 14 year old and seems to know exactly what they are thinking about if they just look at him and don't know the words to express their concern. He's very down to earth and doesn't talk too much, just enough. He's always open to questions and won't belittle any concern. They've been going to him since they were born. I don't know if he's accepting patients but it won't hurt to ask.

We love our son's pediatrician, James Cuthbertson. His office is in North Berkeley on Virginia near Shattuck (just down the hill from campus). He has a great deal of experience and identified a rather rare problem at our son's birth when several other doctors, including a specialist, could not. He explains things to parents without talking down. He has two kids of his own, now in college, is brisk and commonsensical and he is one of my son's absolute favorite people. (perhaps I should add that my son is 2)

Let me add my voice to those recommending Jim Cuthbertson, of the Berkeley Pediatric group. He has been our son Brandt's pediatrician since Brandt was moments "old" (Brandt will be two in March) and has been a caring, cheerful, non-judgmental care-giver, ever since.

I switched over from Kaiser last year to Dr. Elaine Davenport at Berkeley Pediatrics. I asked my obstetrician for a recommendation and she highly recommended this group of young doctors.

Some things that have impressed me are:
1) they do home visits for newborns
2) your doctor examines your baby the day they are born and before they are released
3) Dr. Davenport is very personable, always returns my calls the same day, and my children like her a lot too! (very important)
4) they are affiliated with Children's Hospital and use them for emergency care and after hour services

My daughter Erin got whooping cough at 5 weeks old and was in ICU at Children's Hospital for over 2 weeks. Dr. Davenport stopped by to examine Erin, talk to their doctors, and relay information to me just about every day.

Dr. Davenport is fairly new to this medical group and is a recent graduate of UC Davis. She also completed her graduate work as a top intern. I thought initially that I wanted a more experienced doctor, but Dr. Davenport being a recent graduate has proved her knowledge of the most recent studies in Pediatrics. She also has a child under a year old.

Berkeley Pediatrics is at 1650 Walnut St. and their phone # is (510) 848-2566.

Good luck!

Our pediatrician is Anne Marie Franks, and we think she's been wonderful. She is warm, patient and gentle with our child (who's now almost 2 1/2) and she has a great style for us in that she's low key and relaxed, and very reassuring to new parents. We haven't had any major medical problems (knock on wood) but she's been great with all the little things and very good at returning calls.

My daughter has been with Berkeley Pediatrics since birth which is now over 3 years ago. Anne Mary Franks is her pediatrician. I really like it there. I have rarely had a long wait to see a doctor. I find Anne Mary to be wonderfully competent, gracious, sympathetic, so caring, and very sweet with children. I can see in her face just how much she loves interacting with kids while she talks to my daughter. The nurses and staff have also been really pleasant --- I like seeing them joke around with each other, you can see the friendships there. And to back up a little, Anne Mary was there the morning after my daughter's birth to examine her. I was exhausted and Anne Mary's happiness and congratulatory mood was infectious. It felt wonderful. Within the first week or two, Anne Mary made a house call one evening just to check up on the baby and see how things were going. I'm not sure if this just came with my insurance coverage or whether she visits all her new babies at home, but it was delightful. And on the occasions when we've seen the other partners, I was very pleased with them, too.

We've been using Berkeley Pediatrics for 8 years. Dr. Annemary Franks is our doctor and I like her very much. She is friendly, knowledgable, practical and has a sense of humor. My step daughter saw Dr. Boynton for many years and liked her very much

Dr. AnneMary Franks at Berkeley Pediatric Medical Group, 1650 Walnut St., Berkeley tel. 848-2566 is young, on top of latest research, loving, full of common sense and everything else you want a pediatrician to be.

Kim (12/96)

Dr. Howard Gruber is an *excellent* pediatrician, in my opinion. He is very experienced (he started there 30 years ago), very reassuring, very excellent as a doctor (he is listed in the database of the finest doctors in the Bay Area, highlighted yearly in the San Francisco Focus magazine as doctors that are recommended by other doctors as people they would choose for their own families), and not at all condescending. He has seen both of my sons, and when the eldest needed surgery, he referred him to an excellent specialist who did marvelous work; when the younger had an irregular heart beat at birth, he arranged for a cardiologist at Children's to do an EKG on our way home from the hospital. I cannot say enough good things about this doctor! I especially like the way he can explain things. When you are a worried parent, it is so great to have a doctor who you feel will take your concerns seriously but will not be an alarmist. My friends who have Dr. Gruber have said similar things.

I recommend Dr. Gruber with great enthusiasm. He has been my three year old's ped. since before she was born and I have the most unqualified confidence in his skills and his judgement. Dr Gruber isn't the kind of person who has his whole philosophy of medicine up for grabs and he won't have endless discussions with you, but he has well reasoned positions on

Berkeley Peds. is incredibly good -- they are the only place that will open up for your child if she gets sick in the wee hours of the night; the only ones that make HOME visits after babies are born; and much more. There may be new entrants in the baby health biz. but when I did a thorough research job four years ago Berkeley Peds. was by far the best.

We have a 10 year old and an 8 year old who have been patients of Dr. Gruber for the past 5 years. We have all been very happy to have Dr. Gruber as our family's pediatrician. In our experience, he connects well with the children in a warm, gentle, soft-spoken way. He has consistently treated us with cordial respect. Dr. Gruber has conscientiously returned every phone call we've ever made to him in a timely fashion. He is one of the more experienced pediatricians in the practice, and according to other physicians we know, he is highly regarded in the medical community for his knowledge and sound judgement. Dr. Gruber has often discussed with us up-to-date research findings of relevance to our children's health. We have been impressed that while he seems to be well read and stays abreast of current medical information, he combines this knowledge with the wisdom of experience in making medical recommendations and decisions. One of our children recently underwent evaluation with a specialist for what might have been (and fortunately was NOT) a serious medical condition. Even in a highly stressful situation, we were pleased with Dr. Gruber's handling of the matter. He was reassuring to all of us. He spent considerable time and put out the effort to give us a thorough explanation and to answer all of our questions. All in all, we recommend Dr. Gruber without reservation.

I had been meaning to write when the discussions about Berkeley Pediatrics were going on a week or two ago and didn't get around to it. We've been taking our son to Dr. Gruber since we got to Berkeley a year ago. He has been wonderful throughout, and I would recommend him wholeheartedly. On our first visit he sat and talked to us for quite a while before examining our son to be sure that Dylan, who was then 18 months, would have time to get comfortable with him first. We've been to see Dr. Gruber a number of times since then, most recently two times a week because of a thumb slammed in a door, and he has always been extremely caring and thoughtful. When we have called with questions about vaccinations or coughs he has spent a lot of time, once twenty minutes or more, talking us through the worries and issues over the phone and discussing whether it made sense to come in. I point this out because of course there is no reimbursement for long phone consultations and that is clearly not part of what motivates Dr. Gruber. In our experience he has been a great, calm and caring, pediatric doctor.

Howard Gruber has been my pediatrician for 13 years and I think he's terrific. He's wonderful with my children, answers phone calls promptly, is respectful of my anxieties, generous with his time and most important seems to be first rate medically (this last opinion has been confirmed by conversations with a number of area physicians who have worked with him).

I would like to add my family's endorsement of Berkeley Pediatrics physicians, Dr. Howard Gruberin particular, and the BP nurses. I have had many of the same experiences others report and would like to add an example of the quality of treatment they routinely provide. A little over a year ago, Henry, our soon-to-be 3 yr. old, fell and hit his head on a brick on our back patio, receiving a serious cut on his forehead. when I called Berkeley Pediatrics, I was all ready to be told to rush to the emergency room but instead was told by Dr. Gruber - who returned my call immediately - to bring Henry right into the office. Between he and the amazingly patient and talented nurse, Gordon, they were able to get three stitches in -- aligning them so Henry now has no scar on his forehead. And, while it makes me want to cry now to repeat the story, at the time, the confident, swift and caring skills of Dr. Gruber and nurse Gordon provided me with great assurance. I feel we are extraordinarily fortunate to have Howard Gruber and Berkeley Pediatrics for the care of our child's health.

I only just got caught up with the newsletter for the first time since coming back from vacation. Please let me add my recommendation for Dr. Gruber (apparently it's not at all necessary, but I would really feel just terrible if I missed out on my turn!). Dr. Gruber was pediatrician for both my younger brothers beginning in 1971 (wow - 28 years ago!). One of my brothers was his generation's grand champion of ear infections & allergies, so my dad & stepmother got to know Dr. Gruber rather well. They liked & appreciated him so much (& I remember liking the waiting room so much, compared with my pediatrician, who was somewhere else) that before our son was born I of course called Dr. Gruber first, & was mighty thrilled that I didn't have to look any further! Our son is a lot healthier than my brother was, so we don't get to see Dr. Gruber very often. And though I always like to see him, I really appreciate the fact that he calls (almost immediately) & takes care of minor things over the phone when possible. However, when our son was born he was really unwell for a short time, and Dr. Gruber's competence, patience and kindness were our saving grace. I will never forget when, after several days of dragging our infant son everywhere for testing (ask me about HMOs sometime - very different story) and had basically gone completely out of our minds, Dr. Gruber sat us down in his office & said very seriously "Now your job is to calm down, and get used to having a healthy child." Without that reminder it would've been a lot harder to let go of the stress, I'm sure. Maybe the best thing about Dr. Gruber is that my brothers & my son respect & admire him an awful lot. They would all do just about anything if "Dr. Gruber says so." (Thanks for including me on the bandwagon!)

I have two children, a boy and a girl, and Dr. Gruber has been our pediatrician for the past 14 years. I think he's wonderful. He is very conservative in his approach to medicine and I like that. He is very warm and caring individual, but also soft-spoken. Some of the other doctors in the practise are more animated, but Dr. Gruber suits us just fine.

Dr. Gruber is the pediatrician for my 6-year old twins and he is fantastic: caring, interested, knowledgeable. He's been our pediatrician from the beginning and was especially wonderful when the twins were only a few months old and there was a question about whether one of them had had a seizure. Seizures are very difficult to diagnose in babies. Howard Gruber was helpful and supportive without giving us false hope and he negotiated with our health insurance to get us the best specialists. Fortunately, our son turned out to be fine; what we thought was a seizure was only normal, if erratic baby behavior!

Since then, he's been great, too. He sees us whenever we need medical attention -- once, even on Christmas Day!. And my kids adore him -- they never mind going for a visit. I'd jump at the opportunity to have him for your pediatrician.

Both my kids have been with Howard Gruber since birth. I think everyone in the group is very good. What we like about Gruber is that his years of experience really tell. His mild manner and expert touch alleviate any fear or anxiety my kids have over going to the doctor. He is always frank and open with us, and has a very down-to-earth philosophy. He is very thoughtful in his diagnosis. A couple of times he has told me that he wanted to think about (a particular problem) for a day or two, then call me (not in an emergency situation, of course!). He has handled our emergencies calmly and skillfully (and is pretty good at calming me down in those circumstances, as well!). He patiently answers all of my 4-year-old's questions (like "how much blood do I have?") in terms he can understand, and treats kids as little human beings.

I have another recommendation for a pediatrician. I have twin boys, aged 3, and Dr. Howard Gruber at Berkeley Pediatrics has been their pediatrician since birth. He is gentle, knowledgeable, and very caring. In addition, he deals with crises with a great deal of grace: in our case, the crises have included everything from diagnosing whether my weeks-old son had suffered a seizure to removing a small rubber ball (from the espresso machine) from my son's nose ...

I would like to hear from people who have any advice or comments about the new pediatrician, Dr. Lang, in the Berkeley Pediatrician Medical Group. Any relevant information would be greatly appreciated. Thanks, Grace (8/4/00)

Jeffrey Messenger

Regarding Dr. Messenger at Berkeley Pediatrics: my two-year-old was treated by Dr. Messenger, the on-call physician for our regular doctor, Ragna Boynton. I found him warm, helpful, very gentle with my sick child and reassuring to me. He offered sound advice and alternatives to rote, perscribed treatment. Dr. Messenger dealt with us in a thoughtful and professional manner.