James Cisco, MD

We can’t begin to say enough good things about Dr. Cisco and the Burgess Pediatrics practice.
The best way to describe him is that he’s like the wise pediatrician «you» had when you were a kid: he takes the time to get to know the entire family (not just the kids). If there’s something serious going on, he’ll take the time to meet with the parents individually. If he doesn’t know something, he’ll tell you, but then he’ll figure out the answers. He’s always available, and even if he’s on vacation, his on call partners take the time and effort to make sure that they’re giving advice that makes sense holistically for your child based on what Dr. Cisco had been suggesting.
There’s no question that cost may be a relevant question for parents (there is a flat amount paid per month per child that is not reimbursed by insurance), but we are absolutely convinced that the care we receive is worth far more than the amount we pay.
If your kids’ need for a pediatrician is limited to one check-​up a year (lucky, lucky you), then maybe it’s not worth it, but if you find yourself at the doctor more frequently, you should absolutely consider Burgess.

Dr. Cisco was my pediatrician when I was a kid and I stayed with him until I left for college! He was absolutely wonderful and now, at 24, I wish I could still see him as my doctor! He and his staff are exceptional and talented and make you feel so comfortable that, as a patient, I felt no hesitancy to express any concerns.

Dr. Cisco was my pediatrician when I was a kid — I’m 29 now, but I stuck with him until I went to college! I really liked going to him, was never afraid or uncomfortable. I remember my little brother being terrified of needles but they took great care of him, and he always got the shots he needed with minimal trauma.
I’m so happy to see he’s still practicing because I think any kid would be lucky to have him as their doctor.

It’s been a while since Dr. Cisco was my pediatrician (I am 26 now), but to this day he is the best doctor I have ever had. I remember how nice I thought he was, and how I never seemed to have a problem going to him when I was a child. When I was 10 years old, I was diagnosed with Diabetes Type I and Dr. Cisco came to my fourth grade class to explain what Diabetes was to all of my classmates. I remember that day like it was yesterday. I couldn’t believe that he was willing to come and explain what was going on with me to my peers. As you can see, Dr. Cisco will go above and beyond to provide your children with the highest quality of care possible. I am so lucky to have had him as my pediatrician!

Dr. Cisco has been our pediatrician for my two daughters since birth and my step-​son. He is an excellent pediatrician and has earned our respect and trust to care for our children. We live in Hillsborough and have no problem having our Dr. in Menlo Park, given the personalized and exceptional care we receive. We have followed Dr. Cisco to his new practice and have enjoyed the benefits of even more personalized care. If you are looking for the highest quality pediatric care, you will find it in Dr. Cisco

Dr. Cisco was my three boys’ pediatrician for 5 years; he definitely earned our trust and respect during that time. We have also heard numerous other Peninsula doctors refer to Dr. Cisco as «the best» pediatrician in the area.
Sadly for us, he’s recently moved from Menlo Medical to Burgess Pediatrics, a specialty practice offering a new flavor of medical care. From their website:
«We will provide a different brand of high quality outpatient pediatric care. By caring for a small number of patients, we will be able to offer the accessibility and time it takes to provide a more personalized level of health care. We will offer easy, direct and unlimited access, either by phone or in person, and ample time for examinations, education and discussion.»
Patients at Burgess Pediatrics will pay a flat monthly rate for unlimited care from the pediatricians. This seems like a wonderful idea and service for patients who either have chronic medical needs or very deep pockets. We don’t currently fall into either of these camps, so we’re going to work with another pediatrician for now.
If this program makes sense for your family, however, I would strongly endorse Dr. Cisco… and I suspect that their new brand of more-​time-​per-​patient care will be great for patients.
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Original Review from Dec 2005
Dr. Cisco has been my boys’ pediatrician for the past 3.5 years and we have been consistently pleased with his care. He is a member of the excellent Menlo Medical Clinic (see review) and affiliated with Stanford Hospital.
In terms of style, Dr. Cisco is somewhat «old school» and tends to brush off many of our concerns as unnecessary angst. Some of our friends prefer pediatricians who are more cautious and likely to order that extra test just to be sure… if this is you, Dr. Cisco is not your guy. Our boys are prone to asthma and have several allergies, so we really appreciate the fact that our doctor has been around the block and can quickly differentiate between those situations that are serious from those that aren’t. And even when the situation has been a bit more serious, it’s good to have someone who can look you in the eye and just lay out what needs to be done without causing alarm.