Samuel Van Kirk , MD

I had a great experience with Dr. Van Kirk with my twin pregnancy, however the experience I’ve had since has been far from stellar. During what should have been a routine IUD removal he continued to pull on it when it was obviously imbedded. He managed to pull it out and broke a piece off inside of me. His response was to do an ultrasound a week later which showed nothing. I then had a CT scan which also showed nothing. His treatment suggestions were exploratory surgery, tubal ligation with ablation (I’m only 31), or to just see what happens. Meanwhile a bill rolls in for the ultrasound that he did. When I contacted his office stating that I didn’t feel liable for the charge as it was a result of his negligence, I was told that because I agreed to the ultrasound that I am responsible. Umm… who wouldn’t want to try and find a foreign object that was broken off inside you? I am appalled at the way he and his staff have handled this situation. Needless to say effective today he’s fired from being my OB/​GYN.

I’ve seen Dr. Van Kirk for about 4 years and through two pregnancies. Dr Van Kirk is a very talented OB/​GYN. His bedside manner is relaxed and humorous.
In my second pregnancy, I showed up feeling a bit anxious for my 36 week check up. I told his assistant, Trina (who is also awesome and so friendly/​supportive) that something didn’t feel right and I had felt a weird movement and then less movement since a couple of days ago. They didn’t blow me off. They gave me an unscheduled ultrasound immediately and we learned that my previously head down baby had flipped to breech. Van Kirk gave me the option to do an External Celiac Version where they flip the baby from the outside. It was pretty daunting but after a little research I told myself to trust Dr. Van Kirk and go for it (like most women, I wanted to avoid a C Section.) When he came to the hospital for the procedure he had a completely different demeanor than his office bedside manner. He had his game face on and he meant business. (Not that he was unfriendly in any way but it was interesting for my husband and I to see him with a different demeanor because he’s so relaxed and casual in his office.) He covered all his bases, checking the baby’s position and decided which way he wanted to rotate, the staff assisted him with ultrasounds and literally there was a nurse there to wipe the sweat off his face and he gently and firmly convinced my baby girl to flip back where she needed to be. ECVs aren’t known for having a high success rate (only about 70% IF you are on your second pregnancy) and it was my impression speaking to him and the hospital staff that he has one of the highest success rates for our area. Personally, I was impressed.
I also have a friend who sees him and he found a CCAM (mass on the lung) of her baby during her 20 week check up. At 8 months along she was being checked at Stanford and the drs there told her that they were impressed VK found it as early as he did because even though they are specialized and know what they’re looking for, they even have trouble seeing it.
I highly recommend this doctor.

Phenomenal doc. I appreciate his personality and easy going nature. His skill is superb as well! Highly recommend.

Dr Van Kirk and staff are WONDERFUL. They are very knowledgable and make you feel very comfortable in what can be very «uncomfortable» situations. Thank you for making my pregnancy and delivery of our little girl a great experience!

Great staff & doctor. Friendly, efficient & educated. I can’t speak to the child birthing part, but like the office dr and office for everything else. Friendly without being creepy. Efficient, without being rushed. Good follow up. Online patient portal options. Best thing. I don’t think I’ve heard him say «scooch» once. ;)

I could not have had a better experience with both the staff and Dr. Van Kirk. I was really nervous, as it was my first exam, and he took time to make sure I had any and all questions and concerns addressed. He was very professional & compassionate. I could not recommend him enough!

After recently voicing concerns about not feeling heard by Dr. Van Kirk, he contacted me personally to see about addressing my complaints and also suggested that I fill out a patient survey so that he could better help not only myself but all his patients in the future.
To be quite honest, I was more impressed than anything by his efforts in trying to consoling me as I feel most doctors wouldn’t even take the time to be bothered by such nonsense, and for that, Dr. Van Kirk has officially won me over and I’m now a dedicated fan.
Two thumbs up to this guy for truly caring about his patients.

Dr. Van Kirk is great! USC Medical school education (Stanford Undergrad) — very kind doctor — answered all my questions, and I felt he was genuinely concerned for my health (i was not just an assembly line patient as so many of these doctors can treat you). Office staff is very pleasant and quick to smile. Modern equipment, yet felt I was treated like a human being. No other choice for OB/​GYN in Redding in my opinion. Highly recommended.

I have to say that Dr. van Kirk is probably the best dr I’ve ever had. He’s super knowledgable, engaged and he has a great sense of humor, which puts me at ease. He always takes the time to clearly explain things and is not quick to recommend invasive procedures, he makes you feel in control and informed… I am leaving Redding and will be truly sorry to be losing him as an OB. I really can’t recommend him enough.