Sam F. Ellison's Online Review Report Card

Great doctor. I struggled with the front desk staff. Following the interaction I realized the value of education and life experience.

Great care

My internal physician wanted me to go to the Hair clinic at UCSF but I needed a referral from a dermatologist. I asked Dr. Ellison, who was my dermatologist at the time, to refer me to the clinic but he refused and said he wanted to treat me himself. Not only did he misdiagnose my illness but he prescribed the wrong medication and I lost six months of effective treatment.

You more or less have to waste an appointment introducing yourself and then come back again to have the actual appointment. I had a simple issue that only needed 15 minutes to review and treat but I had to come back for a second appointment for it and there aren't many appointment times available. It was inefficient and such a waste of time and money.He's also a bit condescending. I'm pretty medically aware and often converse well with doctors. But I felt like he saw my age and thought I was clueless. He even said, "I shouldn't suggest that you make decisions on your own. You don't know enough." Studies have shown that countries where doctors educate their patients and let them make decisions have better outcomes. But this is obviously not his philosophy.That being said, I took his recommendations and everything resolved. So he functionally seems to be a good doctor. But the experience isn't great.

I have been a patient of Dr. Ellison's for twenty years. He is the best dermatologist I've ever had.

worst doctor ever. I had bad acne and he just gave me antibiotics, it works but I don't want to depend on taking antibiotics forever. I asked him if there's anything we can do to fight my acne besides taking antibiotics but didn't give me any advice. He didn't seem to care to his patients.

I had a worst acne since 2016 and I went to his clinic. He gave me antibiotics which was helpful. After several years I told him that I don't want to depend on taking those antibiotics because I'm worried that it can injure my kidney. I ask him for any advice but didn't say anything. I don't want to depend on antibiotics forever.

This practice does not have a patient portal, making it impossible to communicate with a physician or PA electronically. I wanted to email a photo of my blistering face due to prescribed meds, but the staff insisted that I make an appointment, the nearest one being 10-days out.

What a clueless old fart!  I had a tiny pimple on the tip of my nose that wouldn't go away and bled a little when I picked at it.  Ellison said he would "shave" it off for a biopsy.  He assured me that it would heal in 3 months.  He ended up scooping out a crater that could literally hold a bb. No Joke!  Thankfully, the biopsy was negative.  However, he obviously had a different definition of the word "heal" than I did.  I was left feeling self-conscious and angry.  Any doctor with an ounce of common sense would have warned me about this perfectly round cavity of scar tissue left on the tip of my nose.  Also, his staff was about as friendly as an overworked DMV employee.  I ended up going to a dermatologist that wasn't half-senile to repair the damage. (Please read my review of William Kwan MD).

This is for Dr. Ellison. Worst. Doctor. Ever! Terrible bedside manner and super hard to get an appointment. What doctor only works 2 hours a day, 3 days a week?! Deserves 0 stars. Front desk was pleasant however.