Debra A Levinsky, MD

Horrible. By far the worst ONGYN Ive had in the Bay area. Rude and very inconsiderate. The staff is horrible. Dr. Levinski wanted to remove a large polyp I had but wanted to do it in 3 different surgeries. Who does that? Why risk going under anesthesia 3 times. When I told her I was getting a second opinion she threw her hands up in the air and said «Do as you please, I guess your a Doctor» I walked out so disgusted in her lack of professionalism.

One of the rudest staffs I’ve ever encountered. I literally got yelled at by the receptionist/​assistant when my appointment time had come and gone and I asked if the doctor would be able to see me. (A fellow patient had just complained that she had been waiting an hour.) The assistant told me she didn’t like my attitude. I asked her why she was upset when it was I who was being inconvenienced. It was so bad, the receptionist for the other doctor said «I’d leave if I were you!» I know we’re all stressed these days but what happened to professionalism? I wll be looking for a new doctor — one who hires a higher caliber of support staff.

I normally go to Berkeley to see Dr. Levinsky but have been to both of her offices. I was referred to Dr, Levinsky by my family doc due to some abnormal tests. Dr. Levinsky was open, honest and to the point. She made sure I knew that I was not alone and that what I was going through was normal and that I would be fine. And I was. Dr. Levinsky has made time to see me the same day when I was a little worried and took care of me. She also helped me with an issue I had been having off and on for 15 years. She was the first doctor to give me the right medication that actually really worked! I will have my daughters see her as well should they need to and that is the ultimate referral!

I love Dr. Levinsky because she is smart, pragmatic, experienced, independent-​thinking, and committed to providing the best medical care possible for her patients. She explains her reasoning, answers questions, and treats patients like grown-​ups. I’ve seen her for many years and now my 21 year old daughter is seeing her too. I hope she never retires.

(Note: I am in the process of filing multiple complaints against this doctor, including with the medical board.)
Quick Summary: I had a complication after surgery and Dr. Levinsky treated me like I wasn’t really sick, delayed in ordering proper diagnostics, was rude and disrespectful to me and my family, and refused me proper pain management.
Full Detail:
Dr. Levinsky performed a vaginal hysterectomy on me 6÷10÷15. I was feeling somewhat sick a week later with a low fever and elevated white blood cell count. She put me on antibiotics.
That night I awoke with terrible pelvic pain and went to the ER. The ER doctor said he would call Dr. Levinsky and see what kinds of diagnostics she would like him to run. He paged her. She called back 2 HOURS later and said no scans or cultures, just admit me and put me on 2 IV antibiotics.
She came to see me Thursday. Her demeanor was such that she didn’t seem to think this was anything serious, even as I reported horrible pain, night sweats, and general malaise.
Thursday afternoon’s CBC showed my white blood cell count was going up. She ordered an ultrasound which showed nothing. Instead of following with a CT scan since I was getting worse, Dr. levinsky simply changed my IV antibiotics.
She came in Friday for about 5 minutes. I told her I was feeling worse and she said to give the antibiotics more time. I improved briefly but suddenly felt much worse.
I told my nurse to inform Dr. Levinsky that I wanted an infectious disease doctor to consult on my case. This is when she started to get nasty,
Given the severity and unusual nature of my case the Alta Bates sepsis team asked Dr. Levinsky to give my case over to the Hospitalist and the Infectious Disease doctor. She refused, saying she could handle it.
Finally, on Friday evening, 48 hours after I arrived, Dr. Levinsky ordered a CT scan. I believe she only did this because the infectious disease doctor told her to. I think if I didn’t insist on this she would have just fumbled around with different antibiotics until I got septic.
The CT scan showed I had a golf ball sized abscess in my pelvis.
Saturday morning she came in. She shrugged and said «I guess these things happen.» She then told me I was «the worst patient she had ever had» and that «part of the problem was my father is a physician». (At this point my father hadn’t said more than «hello» to her.)
Saturday they placed a CT guided catheter drain. It was so painful after insertion that I was sweating and shaking from the pain. I asked my nurse to call Dr. Levinsky and ask her for morphine. She said no because «Rachel complained of constipation a couple days ago, this will make it worse.» and said to give me percoset. (Note: THE PERCOSET IS WHAT MADE ME CONSTIPATED.) I was in so much pain I had him call again, and asked for the PCA pump. She said no, but said I could have 2 shots of morphine, and then he could call back. When the second shot wore off I had him call again and she finally relented and gave me the PCA pump.
When she came in Sunday morning I told her how painful the drain was. She said «IT’S NOT PAIN IT’S DISCOMFORT.» She told me she was going to keep me overnight on antibiotics and to see how much my abscess drained and then I could go home.
Monday morning she ran into my mother in the elevator. My mother said they were looking forward to taking me home today. Dr. Levinsky snorted and responded «well that isn’t going to happen!».
Monday morning Dr. Levinsky told me she was keeping me overnight and running another CT scan Tuesday. My father and I both disagreed, with my father reasoning that clinically i was much better and my white blood cell count was much lower so there wasn’t any reason I couldn’t get the scan and go home with the catheter drain in. Dr. Levinsky threw up her hands and said «fine, I’ll manage your care according to you!»
My father followed her into the hallway to discuss it with her further and she walked away while he was talking without saying anything. My father yelled at her «We’re not done here!» I have rarely heard my father raise his voice in my entire life.
The CT scan showed some drainage, but not full drainage. Dr. Levinsky wanted me to stay in the hospital but I was so upset and traumatized by such an arrogant, mean, incompetent, disrespectful doctor managing my care that I insisted she discharge me.
I probably should have stayed in the hospital as I continued to have problems with this abscess (and still do). But getting away from her was more important.
I am traumatized by having such a cold unfeeling egomaniac manage my care. Even thinking about her raises my blood pressure.
Hey look, maybe nothing will go wrong for you and you won’t have to deal with her bad side. But do you really want to take that chance?

I started seeing Dr. Levinsky in month eight of my pregnancy as my OB, Amy Huibonhoa closed down her OB practice without warning. I was looking for an experienced OB who would also be sympathetic to my anxiety around pregnancy and childbirth and Dr. Levinsky had been recommended to me by a two different moms-​to-​be. Dr. Levinsky is an extremely knowledgeable and capable OB and she just delivered my first child via c-​section. I struggle with an anxiety disorder and Dr. Levinsky put my mind at ease during my appointments. She is very empathetic and nurturing and was always reassuring during appointments. Since delivering my child two weeks ago I have been to see her twice due to a breast infection. She helped me treat this immediately and also provided me with breastfeeding advice and support. She has never once made me feel like my concerns are insignificant or a bother to her. When undergoing my c-​section I was confident that I was in the best hands and I am now recovering well.

Office moved to my Diablo bulbs down the road. New office, same old problems with keeping on time with appts. Waiting for 50 minutes mow

If I could give this doctor negative stars I would. One of the worst examples of an OB/​GYN in history. Completely unsympathetic, insensitive and judgemental. Isn’t the hypocratic oath to do no harm?

Dr. Levinsky is an excellent doctor but her office staff is very unfriendly and cold. The receptionist almost makes you feel unwelcome and she expresses annoyance when you check in or ask a question. It is sad, because the first impression of an office is based upon the way people are treated by the receptionist, not the doctor.

I’ve been seeing doctor levinsky for more than 15 years — through pregnancies, breast cancer and other things. She is the absolute best. She knows her stuff, is straightforward and compassionate. When things are really rough, she will call to check-​in or to suggest that you come to talk things over. Over the years she’s provided valuable insight into other health issues that were not gynecological. Her guidance was invaluable. Can’t recommend enough.

If I could leave no stars for Dr. Levinsky, I would. I saw her for bleeding issues which eventually ended with a hysterectomy and later an oophorectomy. I find her to be unsympathetic, uncaring, and arrogant. I always felt that she was way more interested in obstetrics than gynecology. This is fine, but then limit your practice. In the hospital, she lost her temper with the nurses, was rude to the OR staff, and did not seem to care about me at all. I immediately had significant pain and functional issues which she pooh poohed and said were not her fault. It took me two years of intense pain, and I mean intense, to find a doctor skilled enough to say that the nerves in my pelvis had been damaged during my oophorectomy. It apparently is a risk of the surgery. Dr. Levinsky was so interested in protecting herself that she never took my complaints seriously. When I developed breast cancer, she told me it was tough, but that I should just deal and get on with life. I always felt emotionally upset after I saw her. If you have gynecological issues unrelated to pregnancy, my advice is to run, don’t walk, to another doctor.

I have seen several OBGYN’s over the years. Dr. Levinsky is really easy to talk to and doesn’t rush you out. She is open-​minded, doesn’t push surgeries or drugs on you and is a good listener who gives you options. I’m super thankful I was referred to her.
Her staff is kind and well organized and they didn’t make a fuss when I had to change my pre-​op appoint twice.

I love Dr. Levinsky, she saved my life this weekend (and that’s not an exaggeration). When no other doctor could figure out what was wrong with me for 3 months, I went to her and within days she found out that I had an ectopic that could’ve ruptured and could’ve killed me at any moment. She quickly sent me to the ER and performed life saving emergency surgery on me. It’s clear that she’s extremely smart and knows what she’s doing and in my opinion that’s what matters the most. I also love her personality, she treated me like her daughter the whole time, very concerned and checking up on me. She even called my parents for me and allowed them to call her back with questions. She also calmed me down and gave me hope about future pregnancies when I was crying and so worried. I can’t thank her enough.
If you have an easy pregnancy then any doctor will do, if you have any complications then you would be begging to have Dr. Levinsky as a doctor. I found Dr. Levinsky’s «get er done/​no nonsense» attitude refreshing after all of my touchy feely wait and see la-​de-​da doctors. It seemed like other doctors focused more on «Oh, I’m so sorry about all of this, you poor thing, hugs, tissues» And after months of that I wanted more than a therapist! I wanted it to be fixed and over and Dr. Levinsky did just that. I almost hate to leave a good review because I want her all to myself but I hope this encourages any women who isn’t getting the current level of care that they need.
Also, the reviews of the office staff must be old because they were great throughout my visit/​calls. Perhaps new staff? I went to the Lafayette office. Dr. Levinsky will forever be my hero!

Dr. Levinsky is the best. As another reviewer said, she’s no nonsense, but also very caring and compassionate in a non-​touchy-​feely way (which I appreciate). She’s incredibly competent and well regarded as an OB/​surgeon. My pregnancy and delivery was fraught with complications, one that was life threatening to me and the baby. Dr. Levinsky was my biggest advocate and came into the hospital at 4AM to deliver my baby (even though she had been on call the previous night). I have no doubts that she saved my life and safely delivered my healthy baby girl.
Another plus is that she’s very conscious of postpartum depression issues and is quick to prevent and treat (something that is pretty rare for OBs).
Her staff is also great. They may have had issues before, but I’ve been with them since fall 2012 and have never had issues.

I’ve been going to Dr. Levinsky for the past 5+ years and have been regularly impressed with the high level of care I’ve received. She is straightforward and no nonsense and I love that about her. I’ve never had a doctor who knows their stuff more than Dr. Levinsky and I trust her with my life!

I love Dr. Levinsky. She is amazingly supportive in the most pragmatic way possible. A lovely, calm presence with sufficient experience to know what is worth fretting over, and what is not. I had my first child with a doctor that I hated, and switched to Dr. Levinsky on a friend’s recommendation. We clicked from our first meeting. Everything I hated about my first doctor (very judgmental, rude, cold, distant) — I found exactly the opposite with Dr. Levinsky. My pregnancy ended up being somewhat complicated, and she was caring and supportive and made sure everything went as smoothly as it possibly could. I cannot say enough good things about her. I am very lucky to have her!

Best in the East Bay. I’m lucky to have her.

Dr. Levinsky was my GYN for about 3 years until I just couldn’t take it anymore. As others have said, on a good day she is no nonsense. On a bad day she is rude and overbearing.
As someone who only needed annual wellness exams, I was a nuisance. She made it clear she was more interested in OB and brusquely rushed thru my exams. On my first visit at age 38 she told me that if I wanted kids I better get started immediately and not to come crying to her at 40+ wanting a baby. Nice, right? Since I knew I didn’t want kids I ignored the statement.
I finally lost it when they left me in the waiting room for over an hour while they ooh’d and ahh’d over a new ultrasound machine with a medical device rep.
There’s no excuse for how rude and unprofessional she and her staff are.

I love Dr. Levinsky!!! she has been my OBGYN since i was 16 and now 25. She has taken care of the problems i have had, cysts and irregular cycles and did my prenatal care for the first 5 months, unfortunately i had to change Dr’s in the middle of my pregnancy due to insurance chance and she didnt accept it at her practice. But now 4 years later i am back seeing her again and since me and my SO are trying for baby #2… Oh yea and i gave her 4 out of 5 stars because her a few of her staff members are so rude and whenever i call with my concerns since she told me to call they always blow me off like my question is not important.

I’ve been seeing Dr. Levinsky for the last 8 years –my visit was all for my yearly pap smear. My experience with the doc has always been pleasant but dealing with her front desk staff was a nightmare this past visit. Such a nightmare that I am now looking for a new OBGYN and here’s why –
In the last two years, my insurance started charging a $ 40 copay to see a specialist and since my visits with Dr. Levinsky has always been a pap smear, this is all part of a wellness check-​up. In which, they shouldn’t even be charging me a copay or at least refund me when they reconcile their billing. My last pap smear, they attempted to charge a $ 40 copay. I asked why? Since I have always paid a regular $ 20 copay for my pap. They tell me that Dr. Levinsky is a specialist, hence the $ 40 copay. But my insurance card also stated that wellness is a $ 0, which apparently they overlooked. I paid my $ 40 but was suspicious about it so I called up my insurance company after my appointment. Guess what? Pap smear and annual physical all falls under wellness so they shouldn’t even be charging me. I called Dr. Levinsky’s office and argued with their billing person before she reluctantly issued me a refund.
Bottom line –MAKE SURE YOU ARE AWARE WHAT YOUR COVERAGES ARE. This office will overcharge you and it doesn’t look like they will go out of their way to cut a refund check!!!