Are you a healthcare professional?
Is this your profile?
background
background
Dr. Esther Kim, MD

Dr. Esther Kim, MD

Family Medicine*
25+ years of experience

Dr. Esther Kim, MD is a family medicine physician in San Diego, CA and has over 25 years of experience in the medical field. She graduated from University of California at Berkeley in 1998. She is affiliated with medical facilities such as Scripps Memorial Hospital Encinitas and Scripps Mercy Hospital San Diego. She is not accepting new patients.

2.6 Star Rating
Based on 12 reviews 2.6 Star Rating (12 reviews)

Scripps Clinic Rancho Bernardo

15004 Innovation Dr San Diego, CA 92128
Telehealth available
Show Phone Number

Compare with other Family Medicine Physicians

Compare Dr. Kim with our nearby Family Medicine Physicians at Palomar Health.

Filter by:
Provider Ratings

Make an appointment at Palomar Health today at
(858) 480-5558.

Experience Check

Search for experience in a specific area

Learn more about experience and why treatment frequency matters

Dr. Kim's Reviews

Likelihood to recommend Dr. Kim

2.6
12 ratings, 9 with a written review
5 star
33%
33%
4 star
0%
0%
3 star
0%
0%
2 star
25%
25%
1 star
42%
42%

Your trust is our top concern.

We strive to keep reviews honest, trustworthy, and fair.

Doctors can not pay for good reviews, nor can they pay to have negative reviews removed.

We monitor all reviews to ensure they comply with our guidelines and don’t include personal information, profanity, libel, defamation, harassment, obscenity or fraud.

Any reviews that are deemed fraudulent or violate our guidelines will be removed immediately.

All reviews are confirmed and audited before publication, and community members have the ability to flag inappropriate content for further review by our team.

Too Rushed
I was a patient of Dr. Kim's for years and I loved her. However, the last time I saw her it was a completely different experience. She didn't take enough time. She was rushed. I think because medicine has changed, and doctors don't have time to spend with patients she is moving to fast. I think this is also due to a shortage of family physicians. I have found that specialty physicians have been able to take more time. I was sorry but I had to move on. She went from a 5 to a 2.
What went well
  • Appointment scheduling
  • Staff friendliness
  • Trusted the provider's decisions
  • Wait times
What could be improved
  • Didn't listen or answer questions
  • Didn't explain conditions well
  • Appointment was rushed
Helpful
Feb 02, 2025
Hi there, we are here to help. Please send your... Read More
×Post a ResponseAre you Dr. Kim?
As her patient for over 14 years, I trust her implicitly! She is knowledgeable and caring. With experience, she has gone above and beyond in my care and the care of my family members. I always recommend her to everyone!
What went well
  • Office environment
  • Appointment scheduling
  • Listened & answered questions
  • Staff friendliness
  • Appointment wasn't rushed
  • Wait times
What could be improved
  • Didn't explain conditions well
  • Didn't trust the provider's decisions
Helpful
Oct 22, 2019
×Post a ResponseAre you Dr. Kim?
Best family medicine doctor we have ever had. Very caring, compassionate, understanding, very smart, really wants to help her patients. Highly recommend!
What went well
No results
What could be improved
No results
Helpful
Mar 10, 2019
×Post a ResponseAre you Dr. Kim?
rude, no compassion, brisk, horrible bedside manner, it almost seems like she is burned out and has no desire to practice medicine.....she cant be bothered with any details or even hearing what a patient has to say. Makes Scripps look bad. Disappointing.
What went well
No results
What could be improved
  • Didn't listen or answer questions
  • Didn't explain conditions well
  • Appointment was rushed
  • Didn't trust the provider's decisions
3 others found this helpful
Helpful
CA – Nov 30, 2018
×Post a ResponseAre you Dr. Kim?
One of the rudest doctors to ever encounter. The visit summary was obvious pre-written as it was inaccurate and not customized to my appointment. Her handshake alone was disturbingly painful. She puts the 'pain' in pain management. Will never return.
What went well
No results
What could be improved
  • Didn't listen or answer questions
  • Didn't explain conditions well
  • Appointment was rushed
  • Didn't trust the provider's decisions
1 other person found this helpful
Helpful
Apr 15, 2018
×Post a ResponseAre you Dr. Kim?
We all have off days, so I try not to let first impressions sway me too much. However, both my encounters with Dr. Kim were unpleasant. She was dismissive of my concerns and made rude comments during my appointments. Maybe she doesn't have bad intentions, but is just unaware of how she comes across to her patients. Either way, I will not be visiting Dr. Kim again.
What went well
  • Office environment
  • Appointment scheduling
  • Staff friendliness
  • Wait times
What could be improved
  • Didn't listen or answer questions
  • Didn't explain conditions well
  • Appointment was rushed
  • Didn't trust the provider's decisions
4 others found this helpful
Helpful
San Diego, CA – May 26, 2017
×Post a ResponseAre you Dr. Kim?
Dr. Kim has been my physician for several years and she is a genuinely caring and compassionate person. If my issue is very minor or routine, I do sense a bit more of a rush (medicine is a business, after all!) but she always spends as much time with me as I need and answers my questions fully. She's an empathetic listener and has a wonderful way of explaining things. Great staff, too!
What went well
  • Office environment
  • Appointment scheduling
  • Listened & answered questions
  • Explained conditions well
  • Staff friendliness
  • Appointment wasn't rushed
  • Trusted the provider's decisions
  • Wait times
What could be improved
No results
Helpful
San Diego, CA – Feb 24, 2017
×Post a ResponseAre you Dr. Kim?
Dr Kim has been my doctor for many years. She's very polite, friendly, and cheerful. Over the last 5 years or so I've noticed that she much more in a hurry to get me in and out of there as quickly as possible. Maybe it's the health insurance industry that are causing her to have to see a lot of patients quickly in order to make a living, or maybe it's greed, I don't know. I do know that this rush she's in is not appealing to me as a patient. I'm going to change doctors soon. :(
What went well
  • Office environment
  • Appointment scheduling
  • Staff friendliness
  • Wait times
What could be improved
  • Didn't listen or answer questions
  • Didn't explain conditions well
  • Appointment was rushed
  • Didn't trust the provider's decisions
5 others found this helpful
Helpful
Patient X in Carlsbad, CA – Aug 09, 2016
×Post a ResponseAre you Dr. Kim?
Always in a hurry. She is not that interested in patient's status, feeling. Almost I don't care attitude
What went well
  • Office environment
  • Wait times
What could be improved
  • Difficult to schedule appointment
  • Didn't listen or answer questions
  • Didn't explain conditions well
  • Appointment was rushed
  • Didn't trust the provider's decisions
4 others found this helpful
Helpful
Anonymous in San Diego, CA – Mar 19, 2016
×Post a ResponseAre you Dr. Kim?

Leave a review

How was your experience with Dr. Kim?

Know Before You Go

About Me

care philosophy

Family medicine physician Esther Kim, MD, provides comprehensive primary care services, focusing on preventive medicine. Dr Kim has expertise in women's health, adolescent medicine and minor gynecological procedures, including biopsies. In addition...read more

biography

Family medicine physician Esther Kim, MD, provides comprehensive primary care services, focusing on preventive medicine. Dr. Kim has expertise in women's health, adolescent medicine and minor gynecological procedures, including biopsies. In addition...read more

  • Family Medicine

*Healthgrades does not verify qualifications for medical specialties. Please verify your provider's specialty and qualifications directly with your provider and applicable medical board.

  • University Of California At Berkeley

    Medical School, 1998
American Board of Medical Specialties®
American Board of Family Medicine®
- 
Family Practice
For detailed information about any of the below board actions, please search for the provider's records on the linked state licensing board or the Federation of State Medical Boards. To learn more about the difference between these sources, please refer to our FAQs.
Healthgrades has not received any data indicating a board action exists for this provider.

Healthgrades receives board action history for physicians and physician assistants. The information displayed here is sourced from independent information providers, such as state board websites, and may not be the most up-to-date information. Healthgrades makes no representations with respect to the accuracy of any information provided here and assumes no responsibility or liability for such information.

Learn more about medical license public record check

  • English

  • Korean

Focus on Brain Health

Insurance Check

Search for your insurance carrier and choose your plan type

Locations

Scripps Clinic Rancho Bernardo

Scripps Clinic Rancho Bernardo15004 Innovation Dr San Diego, CA 92128
1
See all Family Doctors in San Diego, CA