Small Tolbert J, MD

I still see Dr. Small even though I moved from Oakland to San Francisco many years ago. His exams are more thorough than any doctor I’ve used. He thoroughly reviews your chart to make sure he understands your health over time, not just your current health. He has spent money out of his own pocket to challenge accepted but medically unsound practices by blood labs on behalf of patients. He’s an excellent doctor whom I would recommend unconditionally.

Front office staff is the worst. Middle aged Asian woman can’t be bothered to do her job or to behave like a normal person. No one EVER answers the phone. Ever. I called like 20 times in the morning before leaving a message and didn’t get a call back until late the next day. But I did hear the receptionist making a personal call while I was in the waiting room, so maybe that’s why. Replace your staff please; it can’t be that difficult to find decent people to work with.
*I’d like to amend this to say that the new office isn’t any better. We waited awkwardly at the counter for a full five minutes to even be acknowledged by the front staff and then a full HOUR after our appointment time to get into the room, which was followed by yet more waiting. Others in the waiting room had been there even longer than we had. I’m surprised there wasn’t a mutiny in there. I definitely heard at least three people talking about how they’re looking to go elsewhere because this is common practice here. Those of us who have day jobs can’t afford to waste time this way. It’s ridiculous and completely unacceptable.

I called to see if Dr. Small and his team could help me with some necessary medical labs and immunizations that I needed in order to volunteer at highland hospital. The lady who answered the phone was so considerate and thorough and honest. They only were able to do part of what I needed so she referred me to a local clinic hat might be better able to fulfill my checklist of premed volunteer requirements
I was so grateful!

Rude receptionist that yells at you on the phone. The doctor is booked up for months so you have to see a NP. If this is how you’re treated on the phone, I can just imagine actually going in the office. Don’t waste your time!

Front staff attitude is horrible. Geting them to help you when you need medical assistance or need a referal is imposible. Staff is not there most of the time, so you have to leave messages that get answered by any other nurse around that is not really providing adequate care. I tried to have a medication change, an emergency office visit and a referral to another provider, I still haven’t received proper support with this yet. Very disapointed.

Simply put I have trusted Dr. Small with my life for 35 years. As I age I see more and more doctors. All of them hold him in the highest regard. That goes equally for the hospital staff that work with him. He is caring, focused, knowledgeable with an encyclopedic grasp of medical conditions.. He treats everyone with the utmost dignity, respect and kinds.

VERY good doctor. Always listens then tries to find the real problem without guessing, becoming indignant or dismissing your fears. You will have to wait for some time but it’s worth it to get healthy.
I was referred by my sister in law and I have been VERY happy with the results.

This has been my doctor for 3 years and my parents doctor for about 20. I’ve lived in many places and have been to more than my share of doctors, and I can say I NEVER like the experience. Here though, I feel peaceful, with no anxiety. I don’t know or understand what someone is saying on here, but Dr. Small has always been patient, kind, empathetic, and concerned about how to treat me, with zero attitude. My father has stated several times that he credits Dr. Small for literally saving his life, which I am extremely grateful for. The office, though a little older, is clean and well maintained.
As for the rude statement saying you have to be a certain «type» of person to be treated well here, that is obviously based in someone’s intolerance or ignorance. There are people from all walks of life that come here, and have for many years. Dr. Small is a physician with an amazing history, not just medically, but through his activism and eastern practice incorporation. No one is completely perfect though, and sometimes you do have to wait, but not as long as some other doctors you could go to. Also I highly recommend seeing Dr. Small himself as opposed to the nurse practitioners, at least that has been my experience.

I have been a delighted patient of Dr. Small for about 35 years! There is so much to say about him and the Harriet Tubman Medical Clinic in general that it could fill a book. Several years ago I had a critical medical issue. Dr. Small called and left me a message and gave me his after hours direct line so he could speak to me personally as soon as it was possible. Recently I asked him about any retirement plans he might have and he told me that he isn’t retiring any time soon because he is committed to his patients. There is no doubt that he is one of a kind and deserving of more kudos than I or even 5 stars can express.

I used to be an employee and have had a string of bad health lately. Robert and Angelique are life savers. Dr. Small is in the top 3 doctors I have ever worked for. I’ve been a medical assistant for more than 11 years and worked at the the 2 big guys. This clinic spins circles around them. Historically, this clinic is amazing too.
There’s always a wait. Chill out and bring a book or an ipod. It’s so worth it.
And finally, Mona and Markeda, the office staff run circles around any office I’ve worked at. This is an amazing office.

I have been a patient of Dr. Small (and each of the doctors & nurse practitioners that have had the opportunity to be a part of Harriet Tubman Medical Center) for YEARS…
To know Dr. Small is to Love Dr. Small. There is absolutely no question that his dedication to his patients (new and old) is unwavering… He has spent a lifetime caring for people in the most non-​egotistical manner possible.
Having lived a life with some (minor) recurring medical issues, I had grown accustomed to doctors with «God» complex’s, who are unwilling to act and react as normal human beings do in very nerve-​racking situations. Dr. Small has contridicted every assumption I had. He is the definition of a «FAMILY DOCTOR», he has a FAMILY-​RUN practice, and frankly, he makes you feel like FAMILY.
Now, lets be honest… I know all too well how it feels to wake up and realize that I forgot about the required TB test (in my case, it was to chaperone my son’s field trip! lol!)… And proceed to call around begging doctor’s to help me on such short notice. Who’s fault is it that he couldn’t accomodate your precious schedule? Perhaps he was on call to patients with REAL medical issues, some of which are in the hospital and need his intellect and expertise to SAVE THEIR LIVES… Not to save your schedule.
Sorry Marco, but you are sadly mistaken… Not only did you miss out on the TB test, you also missed out on a great doctor and a great family practice.

sThis negative reveiw of Dr. Tolbert Small is the most ridiculous thing I have ever heard of! To impugn a physician with over forty years service to his community, with his account of an alleged phone conversation? In court this is called «hearsay». I first became his patient at the old Bobby Hutton clinic in Berkeley, which Dr. Small opened at the behest of the Black Panther Party. He was not only the first local physician to bring the politics of sickle cell illness, and the lack of funding, he and the Panthers made it a national issue. At the time there was less then a half a million a year spent on this illenss. He went to China with the Panthers and became the first American doctor, to train in accupuncture while there. He led the call to have this ancient form of healing included in our modern medical practice. He was honored by Summitt Hospital for doing so. His list of patients reads like a «Who’s Who» of the progressive community in the East Bay. He is probably the one remaining private practice physician in East Oakland that still has Medi Cal patients in his practice. He has been consistently honored by the nurses at the hopitals he has worked in for his egalitarian concept of administering care. This is known as bedside manner, and his is superb!
Further the inane, contrived dialog sounds like nothing, anyone has ever heard come out of the mouth of Dr. Small .This is hyperbole of the most cynical contrived order. I have personally had my life saved by the man, when Summitt admitted me for pneumonia in 1993. Dr. Small woke me up at 7 in the morning. In his slow laconic manner he told me «this does not look like pneumonia, but heart failure» Indeed he went to the emergency room where I had come six weeks before suffering from chest pains. I was diagnosed with Pleurisy and sent home. If it had not been for the conscientious care at the hands of Dr. Small I would not have survived the night as I was receiving Albuterol. It is to bad that Unilocal cannot survey the community as this is your limitation. A person who is not even a patient can spread this type of maiicious screed across space. I am and will remain a proud patient of Dr. Small.

Days Later Im still Upset about this Experience… Incredible.
ZERO STARS