Santa Monica Podiatry Clinic Patient Testimonials

I started going to Dr. Briskin over 10  years ago when the practice was much smaller.  He took care of my problem (plantar wort) with such care and competence I was amazed.  Plus he has a great sense of humor. The office was spotless, and the staff was wonderful.  The practice is bigger now and as good as ever. I have been back several times for other small things and he has always been such a pleasure to deal with.  I have sent many people to him over the years and now my entire family goes to him for various things. The office takes medicare, they handle all the paperwork, and has always done a good job with insurance. Everyone there is a pleasure to deal with, exhibits intelligence, attention to detail and genuine concern regarding your issue.  I can't recommend the office enough.

I was very happy to find Dr. Briskin and the University Foot & Ankle Institute. I had fallen and sprained one ankle and jammed up/possibly broken my big toe on the other foot. Ice, elevation, etc. worked fine and I was up and around in a day or 2, but my ankle stayed swollen and I still had some pain several weeks later. I'd also been dealing with planters fasciitis for awhile, so I figured it was time to find good foot doctor.

I was able to get an appointment very quickly. The clinic is comfortable, my tech was very knowledgeable and friendly. Dr. Briskin is easy to talk to and very patient (I tend to run on when describing situations/symptoms). He explained why some symptoms might linger after a foot injury as well as conservative management of the plantars.

I was appreciative that they didn't automatically require an x-ray or diagnostics other than Dr. Briskin's eye and physical evaluation, since I was ambulatory with little pain and really just wanted assurance that I was healing correctly. Same for the plantars...he talked about the possibility of orthotics and other treatments down the road, but wanted to make sure I started with the basics (which are working).

I hope I don't have more foot injuries, but I'm glad I now know where to go if they happen.

Top notch!
Dr. Gary Briskin is fantastic, and I have received excellent care from him and his staff for many years. I would never think of going anywhere else for my foot care needs.  I trust him and the institute implicitly. Sometimes as a type 1 diabetic I have urgent needs, and his staff is always very understanding and willing to do what's best for me as a patient.  Foot issues are never fun, but I almost look forward to my appointments!  It's a great office, thank you Dr. Briskin and the wonderful staff at University Foot & Ankle Institute.

Wow
What a great experience. From the front desk to doctor all in all I was very pleased. Dr. Briskin was very thorough and listened to all my concerns and my entire story about my foot pain. He examed my foot many times to figure out exactly what was going on because the x rays were clean. He asked many questions and was genuinely concerned for my foot pain. He gave me a cortisone shot and a I am returning in a week. This place is very busy. When I left the office was full this was around 2:30. My appointment was at 1:30. I will be recommending this place to anyone who has foot pain or needs great foot care!!

I'm very active, and need a foot doctor every 2-3 years to remove calluses or fit orthotics.  The past few years I have relied on Dr. Baravarian.  He is personable, available and wastes no time in making his diagnosis and offering treatment alternatives.  Both his office staff and medical assistants are polite, efficient and obviously well trained.  I highly recommend this office.

I had been going to Dr. Gary Briskin for several years for minor foot ailments, chronic ingrown toenails, , bunion problems, custom shoe inserts, ( I'm a cinematographer and on my feet all day ).. Five years ago in Palestine I fell and broke a metatarsal bone in my foot. Fortunately I did not have it set there. When I returned to Santa Monica Dr. Briskin performed very successful surgery. My foot has been perfect normal ever since. He is a skilled surgeon as well as a great person. Always available, perceptive and full of interesting ideas.

What an awesome group of folks!  Two surgeries in two years and they feel more like family than PT.  Can't say enough good things about the whole team.  If you have to have surgery and PT this is the team to do it with no doubt.

Dr. Bob Baravarian is the only podiatrist in CA who uses platelet-rich plasma injections to cure plantar fasciitis. I had two injections one month apart and the problem is gone! Amazing! Much safer than steroids, they take your own blood, centrifuge it, and use the platelets as an injection. See his article podiatrytoday.com/platel…. Your own blood has wonderful healing stuff in it but the foot's circulation is so poor, the blood doesn't get to the afflicted area.

This is one business I hope I never need to return to but if I do I hope physical therapists Jason and Ali are still there.

Both were very helpful and pleasant to work with. They made the experience as relaxing as I can imagine physical therapy ever being and their interest and concern for me and the other patients I observed them treating was sincere. Their suggestions have proven to be helpful and the treatment successful.

I'd  have given more stars if I'd had any other experiences to compare them to which I hope against all reason will never happen.

Dr Baravarian is awesome!  I say this because he's perfectly willing to admit when he doesn't know something and when he cannot help.  Humility, like that, is a rare and highly admirable trait in any doctor (I know that sounds weird, but you can trust a doctor that tells you their limitations instead of bullshitting you and trying things at your wellbeing's expense).
He gave me some great recommendations on peripheral nerve surgeons to get consultations with.
He also checked out my surgical sites (from previous orthopedic surgeries last year) and let me know his opinion on them.  I wish I had known about him before!  He and his team were great and even though they couldn't help me there... They gave me a direction to go in next.
Thank you Dr Baravarian!

I recommend without reservation the incredible team at University Foot and Ankle and their Physical Therapy department at their Wilshire  Boulevard offices in Santa Monica.  From my first phone call to Irma the receptionist,  I was so impressed with their patience and compassion.  I was never rushed and I had many questions.
The PT staff itself consisting of Gray, Tammy and Ali are the best.  They know their stuff and devote their full attention to each patient even when the room is filled with patients.  I feel my feet are in the best hands (LOL!) and I cannot imagine a better team of therapists to treat any and all foot disorders.  Five stars at least!  I'd give 10 if that was an option.

Everyone is terrific and helpful at both the Santa Monica and Sherman Oaks offices.  Dr. Bob is especially patient with you and will answer all of your questions with easy to understand termNo surprises.  He actually listens to you!  What a refreshing experience for a doctor.'s visit.

I had bad bunions on both feet, and could never wear normal, cute shoes without pain. My feet were always Fred Flintstone feet, and needed lots of support. In my late 20s I did marathons and had lots of foot problems. With age, my feet got worse and were more akin to bear's feet. Bad foot genetics. My grandmother had horrible bunions. As an athletic and competitive person, the bunions and lack of foot support were starting to cause other issues such as knee, hip and low back pain, and thus interfering with all my activities. Making me old before my time! Dr. Baravarian surgically corrected both bunions with a Tailor's Bunionectomy and Osteotomy, on both feet, 3 weeks apart. He also cleaned up the arthritis that was developing. The recovery was easy. Much easier than I could have ever anticipated. NOT recommended but I did do my martial arts class the day after surgery because I felt so good (and without taking the drugs prescribed except Ibuprofen for inflammation). I was careful, but that was stupid. I was swimming as soon as the incisions were clear, and started running a few months after. I could do upper body exercises with the boots on during recovery. Wished I did the surgery long ago had I known it wouldn't be such a big deal. The knee, low back and foot pain went away. Added bonus: feet are normal looking and can wear normal shoes. Several years later, feet corrected but still need support (and I was bad not regularly wearing my orthotics), I developed plantar fasciitis. Currently working w/ physical therapy team and they are fantastic as well. Dr. Baravarian and his whole team are great. All they do is concentrate of foot and ankle issues so you can trust you're in good hands. On that note, a lot of recovery and prevention is up to you, the patient. Stay healthy and continue to do physical therapy strengthening exercises and stretching. Basically, you should commit to the self-care for the rest of your life. The team can fix the structural problems, but it's up to you, the patient to keep yourself healthy and well.

Dr Briskin operated on my toe to correct a hammertoe. He a very professional doctor and personable, as well.   The operation was not painful and was performed as outpatient surgery.  I followed instructions; continued with the recommended P/T for a few weeks following.  The P/T topped off a very successful surgery. The P/T staff at UFAI are fabulous.  Jason and Gray are the therapists who definitely know feet and ankles; staff Ari, Stephanie and  Erma are so caring and assets to the office.  By following instructions and receiving very good care, I am now as good as new!

Dr. Baravarian is an excellent physician that truly understands the industry better than anyone else. I have visited other podiatrists that couldn't fix my issue and Dr. Baravarian was able to help me in one session. Nobody else compares.

I've been coming to Dr. Briskin ever since my son was in elementary school (he's now 29). I don't think there's a better podiatrist on the westside. Dr. Briskin has always been caring, knowledgeable and professional. I recommend him to all my friends and family!

I was traveling recently and injured my foot. Based on the recommendation of a friend (and after reading all the great reviews), I decided to give University Foot & Ankle Institute a try. Considering the circumstances, the whole ordeal was pretty painless! The wonderful staff at UFAI was able to get me in to see Dr. Baravarain quickly and efficiently, they even took my insurance! After a visit with Dr. Bob, I was pain free and on my way in no time! Thanks UFAI for taking such great care of me!

I always come here and see Dr briskin to get my orthotics he's a wonderful doctor great bedside manner doesn't play any games doesn't try and sell me anything. We get right to the point and we get it done my time is very valuable and I appreciate that Dr briskin appreciates that. I used to go to the other foot doctors to get orthotics and they would have me coming back for like 5 different visit they would tape my foot one week they would do this they would do that they would keep billing my insurance and it would make me so angry. they never do that at this office I recommend this office and dr. Briskin to all my friends and I've been going there for 6 years and I'll continue going there

I saw Dr. Jason Morris in the Santa Monica office. I was afraid I was losing my BIG "pretty" toenail and it was hurting like hell. Terrors of terrors! Right in the middle of summer sandal season. Dr. Morris confirmed my fears and gave me a couple of options. In the end, he helped me make the tough choice: the nail had to come off -- it was destined to die and be reborn. His calm, caring demeanor helped me through the "exorcism" of the dead nail that day, and his follow-up was thorough and caring.

Dr. Baravarian is great.  He pays attention to what you say and the medical techs are impeccable and nice.  All around a well-run office.  He solved a tricky, painful and somewhat mysterious ankle problem for me three years ago and it hasn't come back but I still go back to him for orthotics.

Dr. Braxton Little, my podiatrist, was very professional, diagnosed me with plantar's faciitis
and then made a set of orthotics for me.  After two bouts of the plantar's fasciitis previously, since i got the orthotics I've never had another flare up with it.

Gray O'Brien, the owner of the physical therapy section and head physical therapist heads an extremely competent team of physical therapists.  They are all efficient and pay close attention to your progress.  They were able to answer the questions i had for both sets of sessions I had, one for therapy for plantar's fasciitis and the other for a sprained ankle.  I have a lot of confidence in the therapists and would definitely go back if needed, as I did before.

Here's the challenge......find a better doctor's office with the professionalism and caring service that even comes close to Dr. Briskin's team and the entire staff off UNIVERSITY FOOT & ANKLE INSTITUTE. I assure you....next to impossible. I cannot say enough about how well I was treated, diagnosed, and taken care of. THANK-YOU, DR. BRISKIN.