John Koo, MD

After seeing a ‘cosmetically inclined’ dermatologist who couldn’t diagnose my husband’s rare autoimmune skin disorder — which was a terrifying whole-​body rash affecting 1:100,000 people — we called Dr. Koo’s office. He immediately made time for us within 2 – 3 days, identified the correct problem and began treatment. Amazingly, the condition which ranges in duration from 2 years to lifetime, was quickly entirely under control and after 22 months the rash is gone. Until you’ve spent 3 months looking like ‘devil boy’ from head to toe, you really haven’t lived. Halloween was especially memorable.
Yes, we have had to wait up to 30 minutes at times, but in healthcare there are unforseen events. Sometimes it’s only 10 minutes. Once it was an hour.
If you are buying takeout food, life is simple. Medicine is not.
Dr. Koo is a nationally renowned dermatologist who is compassionate and kind, as are his staff. We feel lucky to be able to go to him for care.

I was diagnosed with psoriasis almost 30 years ago and psoriatic arthritis 20 years ago. Since then I’ve endured countless doctors, prescriptions, light treatments, foams, creams, ointments, pain killers, injections and general humiliation of having my body poked, prodded and examined by countless medial professionals and not-​so-​professionals. I think half of the practicing dermatologists in the US have seen me naked, and too many med students are likely pursing other specialties after dealing with me.
I can honestly say you are an absolute fool if you suffer from psoriasis and don’t go to this practice. Move to the bay area for no other reason than have the opportunity to go to this practice. Dr. Koo is world-​renowned for his research and advocacy in fighting this disease. Furthermore, he is flexible, resourceful and completely patient-​centered in his approach to adapting a medical regimen to our personal situations. He and his staff worked with me on countless visits to the UVB box, evolved my meds, helped me fight my insurance company to get my ridiculously expensive medications covered, then assisted me in getting my own UVB box partially covered by insurance. When I moved to Europe for 2 years, they helped me find providers there to insure my therapy continued. The nurses are compassionate, dedicated and supportive in helping us cope, fight and deal with this stupid disease.
Furthermore, I have been involved with a number of research studies to find new therapies and I applaud Dr. Koo and his team for focusing on medical research to find a cure or at least better ways to address the symptoms we endure.
Have I waited to see a doctor? Yes. Do I wish the facilities were nicer and less crowded? Yes. Is UCSF a miserable bureaucracy that often times seems to stand in the way of their success? Yes. Will Dr. Koo hold your hand, give you a hug and tell you everything will be OK? No. It’s not his style nor is it appropriate for him to promise that.
If you want to join the battle against this disease and improve your own life and those who suffer from it, go to the UCSF Psoriasis and Skin Treatment Center.

I just had the worst doctors appointment with Dr. Koo and I recommend if you need a dermatologist, go somewhere else. First was the 1.5 hour wait to see the doc. Dr. Koo and his staff are terrible. The rooms are dirty and when my appointment was done, they just left me there. I had to go find the doc because when I came out of the room, the office was deserted. I habe never been treated so poorly. I’m never goong back

I have seen Dr. Koo intermittently for about 5 years. Although I think I have had good care with him and I trust his knowledge, I have hit the point of leaving his practice due to his office’s complete inability to even come close to seeing patients on time.
While I always have had to wait 15 – 30 minutes to see him in my visits over the past years, with some longer times at some appts, I could deal this sort of wait. However, in the past 3 months, I have been to his office and seen him and Dr. Liao (his partner) 3 times. Each time, I have waited between 50 minutes and 1.5 hours in reception before even being shown into a room, where you wait again, to see either Dr. Koo or. Liao. (The fact that the wait exists with both doctors shows that it is an office issue, not just Dr. Koo.) This wait is compounded bc you see first a medical students, then an intern, and then the doctor. That I could deal with — UCSF is a teaching hospital and I understand the importance of that — if you saw the medical student somewhere close to your appointment time.
In light of my experience, at the second to last visit, after waiting over an hour, I told the intern that this was really a problem for me, and that I had work commitment scheduled at which people would be expecting me. He said that the office is always very delayed and didn’t seen to care that the office’s ridiculous delay was causing problems for me (and others). He said that was just the way the office wa and suggested that I book the early morning appt. So, at my last appointment, for today’s follow up, I asked for the first morning appt. When I showed up this morning, for the «first» appointment, there were already 10 people waiting in reception. Again, I waited 50 mintues, before I was even shown to a room, where I waited again. I realize that you can’t expect to be seen exactly at the booked time, but waiting an hour is really not right, particularly when there is no sense of apology and an attitude that «this is just the way it is.»
Today and at the prior appointment, when I arrived, I asked how long the wait would be before I was seen. I was told that they would let me know, and then they never did. His staff is very nice but can’t seem to keep the apointment times moving.
Finally, when I mentioned that I have been experiencing very long waits, the med student, doctors, and reception just give me vacant looks and really no apology. I am sorry to be leaving this practice but I know that I can get at least comparable care and less waiting at another facility. Frankly, I will even deal with having lesser care if I can have a doctor and office that shows some sort of respect for its patient’s time.

I saw three other dermatologists before Dr. Koo and he saw things the others didn’t. Really a godsend for people with eczema!

I am a highly seasoned dermatology patient and I do not recommend Dr. Koo.
I have to agree with Sel M.
Dr. Koo was unprofessionally curt towards me during my visit. He made no attempt to answer my questions. He pawned me off to a kind but only semi-​knowledgable early twenties med student. This is not top level care I expected seeing his «acclaimed» reputation. I have had much, much better care.
Furthermore, Dr. Koo charged me 800+ dollars for a routine visit in which he saw me for maybe 5 minutes.
I eventually found a dermatologist with the human touch. Her name is Dr. Alice Do and I recommend her to anyone looking for a doctor who treats patients with a human touch.

This Dr. has no business being one. I went to him in severe distress over my condition and he treated me horribly with no concern for my feelings. I went to him for help and he made me feel worse than I did when I went in. Since he couldn’t help me, he told me my problem was all in my head and that my ego was the problem! He wanted to recommend a drug that was for a totally different problem than the one I was having. That if I didn’t believe in what he was telling me that I was being stubborn. He is a complete and utter waste of time. He’s extremely narcisistic and could be dangerous I believe, especially to weak people.

Dr. Koo solved by eczema in one appointment after I’d seen several derms. His office runs super smoothly. You’re in great hands with Dr. Koo and staff…
One tip: park across the street in the validated lot for the shopping center and get your parking validated at Peet’s or one of the dozen businesses. Free parking for 2 hrs!

Dr. Koo is the best!!! i have been seeing him since 2000. he is extremely knowledgeable in psoriasis, and does not prescribe meds he is not comfortable with or have not been out long enough to know long term affects. he and his staff are all very nice and understand that psoriasis can cause depression and self esteem issues. some of his staff are also patients which makes it even more comfortable for me.
just wish he had an office in the peninsula: o) then it would be perfect!!!

I have been going to UCSF Psoriasis & Skin Treatment Center since 2008 for phototherapy treatment of my chronic & severe eczema, and Dr. Koo and his staff have been lifesavers. I previously hated dermatologists because they always pushed aggressive treatments that ended up causing more long-​term damage rather than any relief. Thankfully Dr. Koo is very patient and understanding, and helps me make decisions about my own health. The nurses, in particular Mark and Renee (both of whom have chronic skin conditions themselves), are the kindest people I have ever met, and they can put me at ease in seconds even during my worst flare-​up.

I would like to say that good relationships with doctors are built over time, and having known Dr. Koo for 15 years now, I am very grateful for the care that he has given me. His staff is amazing, always involved with patients, and not the type of nurses/​medical staff that look slightly miffed that you are invading their space. The staff all know me by name as well as almost every single patient there, and we are always greeted with a friendly face. And some are just downright funny.
I am grateful to have him taking care of my psoriasis, and he is basically the reason why I stick with UCSF rather than scoot over to Kaiser for care. He is, in short, a wonderful practitioner.