Lettie Burgett, MD – Torrance Memorial Physician Network

We have been taking our child to Dr. Burgette for over 8 years.
I’m honestly puzzled by the negative Unilocal review. The doctor described there bears no resemblance to the doctor I and my friends trust our children to. I know from many conversations over the years that Dr. Burgette is well regarded in the beach cities by her patients and colleagues.
Kids with Challenges
Our child has had a variety of medical issues outside what is typical and Dr. Burgette has shepherded us caringly as we’ve navigated every one of them. She has been our partner through it all. The advise she has given us as we work with specialists has been especially helpful.
Returning Calls
Dr. Burgette returns calls during the lunch break and at close of business. She always calls us the same day we call her, and she always calls herself when she receives test results. Like the appointments, she spends all the time needed to be sure we’re clear on the situation. She’ll also call if there was a weekend visit to urgent care.
Referrals
Her list of specialists, and we’ve seen a number of them, is comprehensive and they have all been of the highest quality.
Prompt —
Our old pediatrician never kept us waiting for under half an hour. Dr. Burgette, on the other hand, is virtually always on the dot, which is remarkable because she gives us all the time we need — don’t know how she manages that magic.
Wisdom
Dr. Burgette definitely focuses on the whole child. She has given me so much really useful advice over the years, including reenforcing our decision to have our daughter do an extra year of preschool long before we knew about her health issues. (I was agonizing over that one.) Her perspective meant so much to me, and her advice was excellent. There have been other issues for which she was just as helpful. I consider her a very valuable resource.
Family Focus
Dr. Burgette has always paid attention to my health and my husband’s, not to treat us, but to stay informed about what the issues in our home are. And, I suspect, because she is just a nice person.

Front and support staff is great. Patient and responsive. Just great.
Dr. Burgett is nice but not great. She is defensive and dismissive. If I would ask a question or try to get clarification she would seem defensive and seem annoyed that I would question her.
She was quite dramatic. She would act out what a whooping cough would sound like, but before she would do it she would say that she didn’t like doing it because it hurt her throat but that for our questions she would emulate it, just so that we would know. She would then proceed to pretend to hack out a lung very loudly, to the point our child would get scared. We didn’t ask her to show us what it sounds like, and she could have used a video… it was wierd. She would act things out often.
Dr. Burgett went to Harvard and won’t let you forget it. She mentioned Ivy league schools EVERY appointment. Don’t worry about when your child starts saying words, they wont ask that on his Harvard application. They don’t ask about your childhood diet in college, it doesn’t matter. And if I was still asking the same question, she would say it doesn’t matter. Her way is the only way and if she doesn’t worry about it then you shouldn’t either and she won’t answer any questions about it because she already told you not to worry about it.
She seemed very fear/​litigation based. It seemed like every worry we brought up, she made it worse. He can die from a fall, very easily. He could die from choking and not even the ambulance will be able to save him. It drove me crazy stessed.
no thank you

My Beverly Hills based pediatrician recommended Dr. Burgett to me after I moved to South Bay. Her office has convenient parking. She was extremely punctual. I was SHOCKED!!! My old pediatrician was almost always late.
She took her time with us and went into great detail about what she viewed was important. She checked my son from head to toe and answered all of my questions. We had a bit of a mishap when I was texting while she was talking to me. I was texting her answers to some of my questions, but she said she is old school and found it distracting. I stopped and listened.
Overall, I feel very comfortable with my move to this practice thus far. They have a lot of toys for the kids to play with. The phones are answered promptly. The check in person wasn’t the most personable, but she got the job done. Dr. Burgett seems very knowledgable.
They are also very parent lead as far as vaccines go. I need that, as we are on an alternative schedule. Dr. Burgett is there for advice if needed, but ultimately views it as our choice.
They don’t have separate sick/​well baby waiting rooms. Too bad.
UPDATE:
I have been there twice more and Dr. Burgett is very warm and caring. When I have had questions arise, she calls me back promptly. I appreciate the level of care my son has received.