Institute For Specialized Medicine: Shikhman Alexander R MD, San Diego CA

Dr. Shikhman gave me my real diagnosis and my quality of life back. I went for 7 years prior to discovering him with misdiagnosis after misdiagnosis suffering needlessly trying to get out of pain. My first visit he had me pretty figured out and verified through proper testing. It was a relief to know I wasn't crazy or causing psychosomatic symptoms. I'm so truly thankful for his brilliance and passion for research. I encourage anyone who is having mystery symptoms that are being written off by other physicians to please go see Dr. Shikhman. He will connect the dots for you and get you on your way to healing.

Did not even make an appointment with me. Decided not to treat me and told me to go back to my primary physician. These people are jerks.

I had an appointment booked for 4 months and then received a phone call that Dr. Shikhman had decided not to treat me. I was told that my appointment was cancelled and that if I wanted to I could email him. I am a cash patient and was told that he didn’t even remember why he decided not to see me but it must have been a good reason! I have been waiting over a year to be treated by him. I asked for a referral to someone else that specializes in his kind of medicine and was told to get a referral from my insurance company. Incredibly frustrated and disgusted with the elitist attitude I encountered at this practice.

I am seeing them for Lyme disease and Dr. Shikhman and his PA have not only treated and tested me for that but other issues as well. They are great for obscure "mystery illnesses" other docs at Sharp and Scripps look at you like as if you just landed on Earth. However, they have one receptionist that has poor manners. There's one named Daisy and it wasn't her, it was the other lady seated next to Daisy. I called re: an issue with insurance and billing that my carrier instructed me to notify them about and her reply was "then why didn't your insurance let us know? " Not, "hmm, let me get the person that deals with that, or what specifically did the letter say? " Basically, "why are you bothering me" in other words. For the amount I'm paying them, some customer service would be nice. Otherwise, that is my only complaint and they are great!

Dr Shikhman and his staff are wonderful and they all work extremely hard to assist every patient with managing debilitating disease and chronic illness. Dr Shikhman is a genius at diagnosing and treating a wide variety of medical conditions. IFSMED is a comprehensive treatment center where patients can be closely monitored & treated with the most effective modalities available!
If we hadn’t found Dr Shikhman and IFSMED, I can’t even fathom the amount of excruciating pain and prolonged suffering I would’ve endured. My family and I are so grateful to the entire team for their part in getting me better and keeping me there!

Dr Shikhman saved my life! After a 3 minute conversation he knew what I had, he did blood tests and was spot on! I had seen a dozen doctors over 4 1/2 years, ending with an insinuation "it's all in your head" in spite of a long list of physical symptoms. I had deteriorated from a very healthy, physically fit woman to a weak, thin, pale whisper of myself. I was unable to hold a thought or finish a sentence. I thank God for this amazing doctor!

Didn’t get to meet the doctor but I’ve heard great things. The assistant’s here are super professional and understanding.

After my initial $600 appointment with the PA, my follow-up was with Shikhman. He walked into the examination room clearly preoccupied with other matters. He stood against the door, quickly ran through the lab results, told me to avoid certain foods, take a $150+/month probiotic for 6 months, and then return for retesting and treatment. I've been suffering for a decade, now I'm supposed to wait 6 months for treatment? What's the point of retesting if there's no treatment? I felt like there was no care and compassion. The time with him was at most 10 minutes for $155 fee.

One star is too much for him. His Website says he accepts Medicare. I called to make an appointment. The lady at the appointment desk repeatedly placed me on hold. She said they just accept patients who have Medicare plus Supplemental. I told her, yes I have Plan F Supplemental. Then she placed me on hold again. When she came back, she asked me "with what language you prefer us to talk to you". I told her "English". Then she placed me on hold again because she said she is the only one at the desk. Then she came back and asked for my Medicare ID Number, then she placed me on hold again. Then she came back and told me, she just spoke with the Dr.and starting from that moment they will not accept Medicare Patients. I told her, but your website says you accept Medicare and at the beginning of our conversation, you told me you accept Medicare with Supplemental and I have both. What made you change your mind? It must have been my name or my accent that made them not to like me. Do you think you can trust your precious health with a Doctor like this? I couldn't believe it.

If you feel stuck with your medical issues, then let Dr. Shikhman come to the rescue. He can solve problems that other doctors don't understand.

If I could put zero stars I would! I called to make an appointment, was told he was booked out for three months. I then asked if he takes Medi-Cal (state health insurance) and was told by the receptionist he doesn't.

I said "Okay, I'll pay out of pocket for my visit then in three months, please go ahead and put me on the calendar. "

The receptionist said, "I'm sorry, he doesn't see patients with Medi-Cal. "

I reiterated, "I understand, I will pay out of pocket. "

She said, "He doesn't see patients with Medi-Cal. "

Of course I asked why and she couldn't give me an answer. WHY IS A DOCTOR NOT LETTING ME INTO HIS OFFICE WHEN I AM OFFERING TO PAY OUT OF POCKET? !

Does he think just because I have insurance from the state that I am some loser who doesn't deserve medical treatment?

Hope someone from the office reads this because the ONLY REASON I AM ON MEDI-CAL is because I HAVE GOTTEN SICK AND HAVE LOST ALL MY MONEY, MY HOME, MY CAR and I cannot afford heath insurance anymore due to undiagnosed illness.

What's your agenda, Dr. Shikman? Clearly this doctor doesn't care about people if he is that prejudice.

I think Dr. Shikhman is a nice guy, kind of, but the office is run terribly. His wife is extremely rude and she's in charge. I went there for 1.5 years and she's never said a word to me. Dr. Shikhman had me on heavy doses of antibiotic injections and IVIG infusion, and I believe that my health went backwards in the time that I saw him. I saw other Dr. 's and told them I had been seeing Shikhman, and multiple Doctor's told me that he's known as "The Strep Doctor" due to the fact that he diagnoses everyone with Strep. I would just recommend getting a second opinion before you go through with his protocol, especially if it involves antibiotic injections and infusions. I do also want to say that I counted multiple times where he would recommend that I take a supplement that he had already told me to be on. That shows a lack of organization, note taking, caring, patient review and research.

Dr Shikhman is a great doctor. He figured out my medical issue as well as the solution (no other doctor was able to). I'm 100% better now thanks to him. If you're far, it's worth the drive.

I went thru Dr.after Dr.with no luck in my diagnosis, within 5 weeks Dr. Shickman was able to diagnose what other Dr.s couldn't. After a regiment

Christine is just a firecracker of hope when walking into the clinic that made the gloom fade away. I thought she was my doctor not assistant by her professional candor coupled with exuding warmth.