Jonathan Terdiman, MD

Dr Terdiman is the BEST GI Doctor. He saved my colon. He is giving me the best treatment. His staff is incredible. I could go on and on. I feel very fortunate to have found him.

I was not able to book an appointment without a referral even though I told her I have Blue Cross Blue Shield PPO; the admin stated «it doesn’t matter what insurance you have, all patients need a referral». Therefore I chose another highly recommended Gastroenterologist on Unilocal; the other doctor’s office, took my insurance and provided an appointment. I have no idea why this doctor is different from every other specialist I have seen in SF.

Dr. Terdiman has been nothing but wonderful since I have been under his care over the past year. I was diagnosed with IBD (Ulcerative Colitis) in 2001 and have been to probably 20 different doctors around the country over the last 13 years.
Though I have come across some good or even great doctors in my 13 years of fighting IBD, Dr. Terdiman absolutely stands out as one of the best doctors I could ever imagine taking care of me.
My case has never been an easy one to deal with, as I’ve had doctors debate back and forth for over a decade if I have Ulcerative Colitis… or maybe it’s Crohns? Regardless, Dr. Terdiman reviewed all of my previous scans, scopes, bloodwork, and took an approach to look over and monitor everything himself and form his own professional opinion on my diagnosis.
He is exceptionally knowledgeable and takes time to listen to your concerns. His bedside manner is wonderful and he really cares about making sure his patients are given all the answers they need.
Getting in touch with him via mychart is so easy. He is one of the most responsive doctors I’ve ever dealt with! Any time I have an issue I am able to get in touch with him and figure out a game plan.
Highly highly recommended!

Terdiman is a busy busy man but straightforward and to the point. I am in the wealth management business and see many clients a day for portfolio reviews. Having enough time and energy to balance many appointments can be challenging.
He is crisp and to the point. I like that about him. He is an excellent doctor. He cares about his patience. He did an excellent job answering my questions. I feel very comfortable with him. Great doctor

I haven’t met Dr Terdiman yet but after reading the terrible reviews the office staff has received I was hesitant in even phoning up for an appointment. I had to get a referral from my general practitioner and after reading the reviews I thought I would really be given the bums rush. It was such a comfort when Tracy Steward answered their phone. She assured me that I was in the best of hands with Dr Terdiman then went above and beyond to help me get all the proper referrals and medical records that were needed. She was pleasant and patient I can’t say enough about her.

Do not go there! I went for a routine upper and lower endoscopy. I didn’t receive any service from them however I ended up paying $ 500 for nothing. First of all I was in the room with the nurse for 15 minutes before they could find my medical reports that I previously faxed to them as per their request. In the meantime the nurse was just checking me in to schedule the procedure. She did all the job needed. Then Dr. Terdiman showed up without addressing me by my name since he didn’t even looked at my personal info. I told him was my 4^th check up routine after 14 years surgery. He answered to me that he didn’t mind at all of what was done prior his procedure. Thanks a lot… kind of arrogant huh? The whole visit with him was about 5 minutes. Since the impression I had was very negative, since I felt treated like a number and just a source of income for the doctor, besides receiving complete lack of attention, I decided to go somewhere else where I received attention, compassion and respect.

Dr. Terdiman is an outstanding doctor who is one of the best experts in his field. I do a ton of research before selecting a doctor trying to find the best. This was especially important when I had to get a colonoscopy. I have e-​mailed some questions and he got right back to me with very reassuring answers.
The reason for only 4 stars: his staff. UCSF has many great things about it but one very disappointing part is that sometimes it is run a little like the DMV. When you call, you are not exactly treated with the utmost respect. But his nurses were terrific.

Dr. Terdiman is one of the best doctors I’ve ever had. First of all, his expertise cannot be questioned. My previous GI would often defer to Dr. Terdiman for advice with particularly difficult cases (like mine), and it became increasingly clear to me that Dr. Terdiman is the foremost GI expert in the area.
Second, he is extremely responsive to his patients. One of the most frustrating things about many doctors is that they can be really hard to get in touch with. Dr. Terdiman readily responds to most emails (though he now uses the UCSF messaging system).
Finally, many GI doctors are quick to dismiss natural remedies for certain intestinal ailments, often to the detriment of the patient. Not so with Dr. Terdiman. Though he has spent years researching the western approach to many of these diseases, he will not discount some of the popular natural remedies. For instance, there is a popular diet ascribed to by many with my particular condition, though unfortunately there has not been much official study conducted on its efficacy. Personal anecdotes abound about how this diet has been far more effective than many debilitating drugs often prescribed for these conditions. Many doctors dismiss it, not so with Dr. Terdiman.
In summary, if you are fortunate enough to become one of his patients, you are in good hands. One word of warning, his schedule can get pretty busy, so see if you can get a recommendation from another doctor to get an appointment faster, or be prepared to wait a few weeks to see him (especially on your first visit).

Dr Terdiman is a good doctor, although when I go, I always seem to get his nurse practicioner or a student he is mentoring. i know hes a busy guy; I guess my case is not terribly interesting or publication-​worthy.
His NP is super-​nice so I dont mind seeing her at all.
The reception staff are terrible. Its a major reason I have not been back in 2 years. Calling the office is less fun than a root canal. Just today I had to call back four times because I was hung up on three times. On the fourth time, I had to wait 20 minutes to spend 30 seconds making an appointment for March (that was first available)
And when you get to the office, they won’t even look at you or speak to you as a human being until your insurance and co-​pay is processed. I understand these things are important, but a smile and «hello» goes a long way with sick people.
If you’re an IBD patient with serious issues, he’s a great doctor to see. UCSF has great facilities. and his wife, Dr Varma, is a most excellent colorectal surgeon. (most people dont even notice my tiny scars)
but if you’re just a mild to moderate case, go in with low expectations to avoid disappointment.

Dr. Terdiman is the BEST gastroenterologist in the Bay Area. Trust me, I’ve been to many GI doctors because my family has a hereditary polyp condition. I drive two hours (four hours round trip) to have him perform colonoscopies. It’s a huge hassle but well worth it. I should also mention that I work in a field which involves strong knowledge of medical conditions. I do my homework and shop around for my physicians. Terdiman is the best doc around although I cannot say the same for his staff. But I hold him in such high regard, I let the staff issues go. Also, I have emailed him before and he is very responsive. He has a good bedside manner too. Terdiman has performed eight endoscopy procedures on me so I am coming from a place of experience.

While he came highly recommended, in the end gave an inappropriate diagnosis.

It’s true, Dr T will not spend a hour talking about your life. But, he’s a great gastrointerlogist. He’s got a reputation research-​wise for being among the top doctors in this field in the US and the world, and he works in SF.
He’s on top of all the new medications (trials, pro’s, con’s) and he shares that knowledge with patients. Also, he is a very nice guy that cares. He’s busy, and I actually appreciate how efficient he is. True, he won’t spend a hour with you, but he also won’t make you wait a hour to see him.
If you want a doctor who will be your best friend, he may not be for you. But if you want a specialist who can heal and work with you, he’s a great doctor.

I can not rate Dr. Terediman highly enough. I have seen many gastros. Dr. T is exceptionally knowledgeable — but most importantly, beyond his abilities is talent. He successfully performed a very delicate procedure on me that saved me from having surgery right away — other gastros would not even try since it was so delicate. He thoroughly researched my condition and gave me all of the options and great advice. He has a reputation for being skilled at handling other gastro’s «impossible» cases. He was recommended to me by 2 different specialists at Stanford at Harvard. If you have a serious or unusual condition — he is without question the person to see. If you need more time to talk with him, make an appointment specifically stating your need. He is a kind person but not a hand-​holder. I have those kind of docs and it is a great luxury when that can be your priority over talent in diagnosis, research, and technical skill.

I received Dr. Terdiman’s name from a dear friend of mine who is an exceptional doctor. When Dr. Bob said he would have a colonoscopy through Dr. Terdiman, that was a good enough endorsement for me. Dr. Terdiman was great. He was extremely professional, straight-​forward, and thorough, as was his assistant doctor. I had to have a colonoscopy and the care I received during the prep, procedure, and recovery process was terrific. The staff was excellent. I would highly recommend him, even though this ain’t much fun to go through. I would strongly recommend him.

To sum it up, his nurses, office staff and answering service are the worst I have ever had to deal with. The people you hire and the people that work for you are a reflection of you.
Medication I can get from any Dr. bedside manner, discussion and my calls return I expect from the Dr. This is not something you will get from him. I would go elsewhere if you can, I know I did.

I once agreed with Stephanie S. when she said that ‘Dr Terdiman is a talented Gastrointerologist and a nice guy, but spends little time with you before he prescribes medication.’ I’ve had several, very similar experiences with Dr Terdiman but after reading the comments by the last reviewer I decided to write him an email in lieu of making one of those 5 min appointments. Dr Terdiman responded to my email that day, in fact, he responded at 10pm later that night!
He is a brilliant Doctor who is highly respected by his peers. I just don’t think there is enough time in the day to teach graduate students, publish articles and books, perform medical procedures and see hundreds of patients with the bedside manner we expect from our family practitioner when were kids.