Ming Jeffrey Kao, PhD, MD

Pain management specialist, General musculoskeletal physiatrist, Physiatrist


Clinical Associate Professor, Anesthesiology, Perioperative and Pain Medicine

View Professional Summary »


Biography


Dr. Kao is faculty at Stanford Pain Management. Dr. Kao studied molecular biology and psychology at UC Berkeley. At Harvard University, he earned a PhD in biostatistics after developing statistical methods in genomics and computational biology. He then pursued medical training at the University of Michigan, Yale-New Haven Hospital, and Stanford Health Care.

He is the author of more than 30 scientific journal articles, ranging from genetics, genomics, proteomics, combinatorial chemistry, artificial intelligence, oncology, epidemiology, rehabilitation, and pain, . His mission is to offer all of his patients comprehensive interdisciplinary pain care, leveraging the full extent of what is known in state-of-the-art Pain Medicine.

In addition to providing clinical care, Dr. Kao teaches physicians and trainees on diagnostic work-up of complex pain, techniques of interventional procedures, and scientific methods of pain studies.

Dr. Kao is a Certified Interventional Pain Sonographer (CIPS) as well as a Fellow in Interventional Pain Practice (FIPP).

Professional Summary


Education & Certifications
  • Board Certification: American Board of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Pain Medicine (2014)
  • Board Certification: American Board of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Physical Medicine and Rehab (2013)
  • Internship: Yale New Haven Dept of Internal Medicine (2008) CT
  • FIPS, World Institute of Pain, Fellow of Interventional Pain Practice (2018)
  • CIPS, World Institute of Pain, Certified Interventional Pain Sonologist (2018)
  • Fellowship: Stanford University Pain Management Fellowship (2013) CA
  • Residency: Stanford University Physical Medicine and Rehabiliation (2012) CA
  • Medical Education: University of Michigan School of Medicine (2007) MI
  • PhD, Harvard University, Biostatistics & Computational Biology (2005)
  • BA, UC Berkeley (1999)

Honors & Awards
  • 2013 Outstanding Paper Award for Medical/Interventional Science, Spine Journal & North American Spine Society (NASS) (Oct 2013)
  • Best Musculoskeletal Research Presentation, American Association of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation (Nov 2011)
  • Best Original Research, PM&R Journal (Oct 2015)
  • Best Poster Award, SpineWeek, International Society for Study of the Lumbar Spine (ISSLS) (Jun 2012)
  • Best Poster Finalist, Center for Disease Control, Center for Health Statistics (Aug 2012)
  • Best Spine and Pain Research Presentation, American Association of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation (Nov 2014)
  • Concurrent Poster Research Highlight, American Academic of Pain Medicine 2015 (Mar 2015)
  • Concurrent Poster Research Highlights, American Academy of Pain Medicine (Mar 2014)
  • Concurrent Poster Research Highlights, American Academy of Pain Medicine (Mar 2016)
  • First Place, Health 2.0 Developer Challenge Code-a-thon (Oct 2010)
  • Howard Hughes Pre-Doctoral Fellowship, Howard Hughes Medical Institute (2000)
  • NIH Training Grant, National Institute of Mental Health (1999)
  • Peter Singleton Award, Stanford PM&R (Jun 2012)

Memberships
  • Member, American Association of Pain Medicine (2013 - Present)

Administrative Appointments
  • Associate Division Chief of Operations, Stanford Pain (2015 - 2017)
  • Chief Fellow, Stanford Pain (2013 - 2014)
  • Chief Resident, Stanford Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (2012 - 2013)
  • Clinic Chief, Stanford Pain (2017 - Present)

Publications

Specializing In

Practice Locations


Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Division ,
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Sports Medicine (CP) ,
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Pain Management Center in Redwood City ,
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Pain Management Center ,
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Pain Management Center in San Jose ,
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Pain Management Center in San Jose - 2585 Samaritan ,
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Pain Management Center in Emeryville ,
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Pain Management Center at Stanford Medicine Outpatient Center ,
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Family Medicine Associates ,
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Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation in Redwood City ,
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Stanford Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (CP) ,
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Patient Ratings

(87 Ratings)

Overall Rating
4.7/5

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4.7/5
Friendliness
Friendliness/courtesy of the care provider
4.6/5
Explanations
Explanations the care provider gave you about your problem or condition
4.7/5
Listens
Concern the care provider showed for your questions or worries
4.6/5
Care provider's efforts to include you in decisions about your care
Care provider's efforts to include you in decisions about your treatment
4.7/5
Recommended to others
Likelihood of your recommending this care provider to others
0.0/5
Wait times
Wait time at clinic (from arriving to leaving)

How Our Ratings Work

The Patients Ratings and comments are gathered from our Patient Satisfaction Survey and displayed in their entirety.

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Patient Reviews

(298 reviews)

The Best!
Dr. Kau was most helpful in explaining the treatment and scheduling the appointment
He listened to me and offered empathy
He was on time! And patiently answered my questions.
I always look forward to my procedure with Dr Kao
Dr. Kao is extremely knowledgeable, compassionate and clearly articulates potential treatment options etc.
He was very pleasant to talk to.
I appreciated your wanting to understand the aspects of what I'm dealing with and the care you took when you thought maybe there might have been a memory problem. I was a little embarrassed by that but I also saw the compassion behind it and that meant a lot to me. I feel seen and heard by you and that means a lot to me. I appreciate going a prescription route for now to see if something like that might work rather than another procedure that it sounded like short of surgery there wasn't much else that could be done. If you come up with something else that could be done please don't hesitate in letting me know about it as I know medical things change literally daily sometimes when new procedures become available.
I have found Dr. Kao to be very knowledgeable, professional and co,mpassionate for a long time.
He provided good explanation that I understood, though my husband, the patient was confused so that is why I am always at his appt. I was pre-med and understand the language, my husband is ADHD/Dyslexic and has a difficult time understanding medical or dental discussions.
Thanks.
I am happy with the care he and Stanford are providing me.
Excellent Doctor who genuinely cares about discovering the best course of action for his patients. He finds the balance extremely well.
Excellent Excellent communication Thank you Dr. Kao for listening to my health concerns
I felt that I was heard by Dr. Ming- Chin Koa and he was empathetic to my issues and provided workable solutions if only my primary care physician would follow his recommendations.
Dr Kao is a very kind, thoughtful and very smart doctor. I highly would recommend him to others for pain management.
Please see my comment on the previous question. Dr Kao is an excellent doctor. He cares about me and my quality of life, he listens very closely to what I say, he asks great questions, he is thoughtful and comprehensive in his responses, and he even quickly diagnosed and remedied a technical issue during today's video visit. Brilliant and caring man; I am so so lucky to have found him and to have him continuing on with my care!
Dr Kao listens to what I say and responds kindly and makes changes in my medication so that they are the most effective. I really appreciate and value Dr. Kao's care.
Dr Kao is very thorough and understanding.
Thanks so much for the treatment advice. It's very rare that a doctor "gets" my whole complex neurological profile, but you are always so helpful and you take all aspects of the picture into consideration. I appreciate having you in my corner!
I have been with Dr Kao for a long time and I would refer him to my friends. He is a great Dr.
He is a great doctor. He is compassionate and will tell you all the possible treatment.
He was very helpful
Informative and friendly
Thank you for always listening
Dr Kao is simply the best. He listens intently to what you say and follows up with good questions to help diagnose the issue. Bottom line, he cares deeply about his patients and it shows in the time he takes with you and also his quality of medical care.
Dr. Kao is a very thorough and caring physician.
friendly and professional
He had a good understanding of some new ways to treat my medical condition that did not involve narcotic pain medication, but still will work to give me some relief from the post herpetic Neuralgia That I have have after Recently having shingles.
Dr Kao is very good at explaining things in a way that I can understand. I usually have questions and he takes the time to answer them in a substantive way. He is kind and interested in helping me
I"ve wrote them on the previous page: Dr. Kao spent one hour to assessed my overall diagnosis to understand what treatment is good for what not. He made some adjustment to the dosage of my medication. His explanation ad recommendations were very clear. It was very pleasant emotional atmosphere during the meeting. I hope he can help me to reduce constant pain all around-the-clock. Thank you doctor Kao.
Have been seeing him, either in person or on video for several years. I wouldn't continue unless I had the utmost confidence in him.
Dr. Cal is the best pain management doctor at Stanford
Thank you for your kindness!
I thoroughly enjoyed my first conversation with Dr Kao. He is a compassionate caring doctor. He answered all my questions and offered new information for me to consider.
Always a pleasure to see Dr. Kao!
Dr.Kao is an excellent doctor provide excellent care is concerned and professional and the best doctor I think in pain management at Stanfois!
He was very kind and gentle, explained every part of the procedure and made sure I feel ready.
Friendly, caring, professional, very good listener and problem solver.
Excellent and very caring doctor, listens and provides lots of good recommendations and information.
He is professional, friendly, comprehensive, and resolved issues with obtaining info from other doctors during the visit. He is excellent.
Thank you for your time.
He is a compassionate, clear doctor, and I have great faith in his medical knowledge and practice.
Dr Kao was extremely informative and helpful. He answered all my questions and concerns and together we discussed further treatment for my chronic pain. I will be following up with him in 2 months. I appreciate Stanfords quality medical team!
Dr. Kao is very easy to talk with and made me very comfortable
Dr. Kai is a good listener and always has good thoughts and ideas to help me with my pain. I get excellent care from pain management and I think my pain is better treated at Stanford than anywhere else. I really appreciate Dr. Kao calm, thoughtful approach.
Dr. Kao is an excellent pain doctor and extremely talented with a needle.
Dr kao felt bad he was late for my video appointment. I did feel like he wasn’t that interested at first or even knew me. He gradually read and figured it out. It wasn’t the best appointment overall….
Dr Kao Always been concerned about my health and take cares of my pain when I bring it up to his attention very satisfied with Dr Kao
Dr. Kao explained very clearly what was expected in a spinal epidural procedure and the benefits and that my body may respond positively.
As usual, the entire process was efficient, friendly, and professional
Dr Kao was outstanding and very helpful both with the reason for my visit and for other topics that came up…..I am very grateful!
He was great. He listened well, he asked appropriate questions, he asked about other previous procedures and tests, and he gave me some initial steps to take for further/current analysis of my conditions. He was very professional and friendly.
Personable and knowledgeable
I always feel very well taken care of and listened to at Stanford. Providers are more curious and less stressed (it seems like)though the times are stressful
Dr. Kao is very knowledge and professional.
Dr. Kao is incredibly caring and I really enjoy my visits with him. I feel like he listens to me and goes out of his way to communicate with other health care providers to ensure my medical needs are met.
willing to give me complete treatment
Dr. Kao has been very helpful in managing my care and getting me help that I need medically to address the issues I have. I am very grateful to have him on my medical team!
Very attentive and thorough. I wish I could say more. Also, The medicine I had forgotten was Meloxicam.
I enjoyed how thoroughly everything went and they listened to what I was going through to help get a better treatment plan
He is a wonderful doctor. He listens very well and hears what you say. Very friendly, assessable demeanor.
Loved his patient, informative, & honest/transparent consultation.
Very good doctor. Took his time to understand and discuss other medical options in details. Never felt he was rushing to end the visit. Thank you Dr.
Dr. Kao seems to be very professional and quite competent.
Very satisfied with Dr.Kao
Dr Kao was very thorough and took time to ask questions and explain treatment options.
I thought he was terrific!
He seemed attentive and engaged.
I thought he was excellent. I personally have difficulty in trying to articulate my issues and I had a very warm feeling Dr. Kao understood what I was trying to communicate and he was able to quickly make detailed, specific recommendations.
I was intitially nervous about the procedure, but Dr. Kao put me at ease and explained the procedure clearly.
Dr. Kao is a great doctor. There was more for me to say during my visit, but there was not enough time for me to say everything I wanted.
Dr. Ming-Chih Kao was conscientious and thorough in assessing my problem. He was patient and empathetic.
Caring
I really like Dr Kao. He is an excellent Dr
good visit.
Dr Kao is extremely well prepared for my video visit. I think it has something to do with the fact that Dr Kao has followed my case for many years throught the thick and thin. I appreciate Dr Kao for being thorough and understanding.
He’s always on time and easy to understand. Always pleasant. Answers all my questions and really listens to my input.
Dr. Kao is awesome and his fellows are always warm and caring.
He's a good doctor
he was great! Very likable,
We liked him a lot. He was encouraging and helpful. I have real respect for him!
Excellent listener, provided good advice.
I like Dr. Kao's approach to my different pain areas. I also like him not prescribing medicine unless needed. He helped me with all four areas of pain.
Dr. Kao and his team explained things well, answered all my questions and eased my nerves before the procedure.
Dr. Kao provides outstanding care, and his fellow, D.Lee was extremely friendly, professional and empathic. She helped Dr. Kao perform the procedure, and there were no problems.
On time and asked questions that were needed. Provided feedback and scheduled a appointment for the Livermore office.
Dr. Kao is always very professional.
Dr. Kao is just outstanding and really understands and empathizes with patients.
Dr. Ming-Chih Kao was amazing! He really listened to my concerns and gave great options for treatment and medications. Everything was thoroughly explained.
Dr Kao has been extremely on top of things in my case, I am very grateful for his care
Dr. Kao addressed HIS issues with my treatment. He did not want to continue my medication for TMJ and sent me back to Dr. Jehensen. She was very helpful regarding a plan for treating my TMJ. Labs were ordered and done. All values were in the normal range. When asked about the pain from Crohn's, he cut me off. I specifically requested what he could offer for the Crohn's pain, and he would not answer the question. A message was sent via MyHealth requesting addressing the Chron's pain after an abnormal Calprotectin, and no answer has been received as yet.
He’s great I’m very happy 😃
VERY CARING AND KNOWLEDGEABLE DOCTOR
good doctor, helped me.
Great full to have had the time with him, my appointment was helpful in understanding potentially what has developed.
He was, as always, very helpful with my concerns and a real pleasure to talk to.
Excellent provider he listens and understands my needs!
Very Professional, very helpful.
Dr Kao has been extremely attentive to my problems and is leaving no stone unturned to help me through the pain process.
Dr. Kao is wonderful! His fellow, Dr. Yuen was also amazing and I would recommend him to others, too.
Dr. Kao is wonderful. He listened to all the problems areas I was having pain and came up with a plan to help manage my pain. I’m very grateful to have him. He does all he can to help you and makes you a priority. He takes his time with you and is excellent at explaining things and finding ways to help you. He is also extremely kind and polite.
He is open to re-thinking approaches, which is the sign of a good physician.
Again, I like Doctor Kao very much! I have only met with via Video Visit, but his genuine concern for my well being, his sense of humor, his outstanding bedside manner, his perpetual smile and feeling at ease that he genuinely was an expert in Pain Management, who knew exactly what might be done, what could be done and what could be done, not mention what should be avoided was extremely reassuring.
Dr. Kao was and has always been very supportive and compassionate. He takes time to listen to any concerns I have and answer my questions. On this visit, he had two fellows with him (I cannot recall their names). They were both extremely friendly, professional, and showed tremendous respect for me and my privacy.
Dr. Ming-Chih knew exactly what to inject and where to inject. He's a true expert because I was in the most excruciating pain & the injection took it from 1000 pain to a level 8.
Dr. Kao is wonderful!
Dr. Kao is a caring and most excellent physician!!!!
Dr. Kao is very knowledgeable and always does his best to help me. He helped me with my shoulder pain. He is very professional, honest and kind. He is a wonderful dr. with the best bed side manners.
Dr. Kao is fantastic! I would recommend him to anyone with chronic pain, he listens, and clearly articulates the care plan. Dr. Kao is mindful to check-in and make sure that I am comfortable with the care pathway and always takes the time to answer my questions and any of my family members questions who might join me for an appointment after first checking with me.
excellent care provider. He came up with great plan to manage my long term pain that is working for me after many years
Dr. Kao is wonderful!! He listens to me and together we develop a plan. We haven't gotten the problem solved, but I'm confident we will.
Did not explain decisions or include me in many. Felt rushed. Tried to follow up with questions through the portal and keep playing phone tag with the nurse. Still haven't gotten my questions answered.
My initial visit was supposed to be an hour long and was likely shorter because the doctor was already so far behind; I was OK with that but left wishing I had gotten a chance to discuss a couple more things.
So nice, knowledgeable, HELPFUL, intelligent & respectful.
I feel so fortunate to have an EXCEPTIONAL provider like this in the South Bay! Exceeded my expectations in every way.
Dr. Kao was amazing! it is very apparent how knowledgeable he is as well as his dedication to his work and providing evidenced based cutting edge treatment. he was also very friendly and courteous and showed genuine concern and care for myself as a patient. as a new patient to Stanford I was extremely impressed with this level and quality of service. I would strongly recommend him to anyone seeking pain management services. Stanford is very lucky to have him. I feel very relieved and grateful for getting such good care.
Where multiple doctors at various clinics were unable to figure out the source of my pain, Dr Kao found it and treated it. I had been suffering to the point of hardly sleeping, I have finally had 5 consecutive months of NO pain. I owe it all to Dr Kao
Dr. Kao is gracious, understanding and is a fantastic listener. HE CARES.
Very good.
Dr Kao is an excellent listener and encourages me to ask questions. He gives thoughtful, well considered answers and does not "dismiss me" like some doctors do when they're rushing through appointments. I trust him a lot.
Friendly and well done.
As I have said many times Dr Kao is the best. To have a doctor that I have seen for so many years who is still interested in me and my pain is exceptional. When he walks in and says: " I have been thinking about you," I know he will be trying something new and interesting. I always feel he sees me as a priority and a person. He cares and is a super Dr. I have recommended him to many. Now I want to ask you why doesn't he have his own clinic in SJ???? We need his exceptional skills here.
I was very, very happy with Dr. Kao. I had been very nervous about seeing a new doctor after seeing the same doctor for the past 6 years. He was wonderful! He listened to me very well, did not try to reinvent the wheel as to things that had been working well for me with my old doctor AND came up with a couple of new ideas for me. I couldn't have been more pleased with him!
Very good.
Dr Kao has had a hugely positive impact upon my quality of life. He is willing to work with me and think outside of the box in order to reduce my pain levels, and he's also helped facilitate other aspects of my care as well. I am delighted that he's seeing patients in San Jose, as it's challenging for me to get to other Stanford locations.
Very time I have an appointment with Dr Kao, he listens to me, we come together with what the next step for my health is and we both agree with what we are going to do. I love that he really listen to me and my concerns and we work together on my plan.
I would absolutely recommend Dr Kao, he is so good with areas of medicine that most doctors like to treat like they don't exist.
very good
Dr. Kao always shown so much compassion and empathy for me and my experiences. Before I started seeing him, the pain I was living with was untenable. Dr. Kao gave me hope that I could improve the quality of my life, which I have been able to do since he has been treating me. I'm now able to do more activities with my children, be more social, and accomplish more at work. This is so meaningful to me.
I was very impressed with Dr. Kao's credentials and his knowledge of pain management and the different treatments.
Dr Kao is amazing. He is kind, understanding and knowledgeable. I would recommend him without hesitation.
this provider is one of my favorites here at Stanford! I love Dr. Kao! :)
Dr. Kao is fantastic!
Excellent.
Dr Kao is always kind and helpful
I have already recommended Dr. Kao to many friends with pain. Dr. Kao is exceptional. He not only cares, he is always think of various solutions to my pain. He has often said: "I have been thinking about you." I have no other doctor who cares as much about me and my pain. Dr. Kao should head a Stanford pain clinic in San Jose. Stanford is so fortunate to have him on staff.
Super.
dr Kao is an excellent physician. he always tries to fit me into his schedule as he is highly booked. I had a bad flare up of my neck pain and he was trying to quell the flare up and even spent time to listen to me to find other ways to control the flare up. he truly cares about his patients and is there for us whenever he can be. he reads a lot and thinks of new therapies to help us. I'm very lucky to have him as my pain md.
Dr. Kao is a very good doctor, but he doesn't remember - or look up beforehand - basic information about my case, such as what body parts are affected or which treatments at Stanford have worked - treatments that he's ordered. He doesn't seem terribly invested in my getting better. He also... very well. And he's not always the best listener, but he's very bright and kind. I think he's just spread too thin.
Dr. Kao is a wonderful physician and extremely talented with a needle.
I was informed by the doctor during the consultation that I would be having a procedure performed(epidural injection) for my low back. I was given a summary report of what we had talked about during the consultation. Dr even wanted to me bring the mri on a disk that i had done. On the day of the procedure I was told that I would have an injection around my knee cap from a fracture I received in 2014. We had spoken about the problems I was experiencing with my knee but it wasn't a priority of mine when I was consulting with the doctor. On the after visit summary he recommended me getting sessions of therapy and reducing pain medications. So after a day having an injection in the knee it seemed to have no improvement. Very bad experience!
Dr. was very good.
My visit did not feel rushed. I felt that Dr Kao cared about answering all my questions in a thorough, thoughtful way.
doctor was great! made a treatment plan and was very informative.
Dr. Kao and his assistant always do a great job once they are in the room with us.
I always feel Dr. Kao sees me as an individual and takes care to explore & explain options.
Dr. Kao is amazing!
Very good
the doctor and his colleague was ver very very good and friendly and take care of everything need to be done
this time I didn't feel I was being listened to, I think there may be something physically inhibiting my mobility and the response I got was you can follow up with your ortho surgeon. did not seem interested in helping to identify root cause, only interested in treating symptoms
It's great to be able to see Dr Kao at the San Jose location. He's a wonderful doctor, and goes above and beyond for his patients.
Dr Kao is a great doctor, as thinks outside of the box, is kind, and goes the extra mile for his patients. I really appreciate that I can now see him in San Jose, as I struggle to get to any of the other locations where he does procedures.
Felt rushed.
Dr. Kao is one of the best doctors I have had. He is as compassionate as he is smart and he always has new ideas. He never gives up on trying to make my tough problem better. He is a huge asset to Stanford and I am so lucky to have him.
doctor was very brusque and condescending during this visit, which was uncharacteristic
Fairly new to me... 2 prior visits. I like him and think he is pretty good... I like him so far.
Dr Kao goes above and beyond, listens, works to resolve issues, and is willing to think outside of the box. I feel lucky to have him as my doctor.
I know Dr. Kao is very busy but he makes great effort to listen to my concerns and provide what I need. I really appreciate his organization of Ketamine infusions which have been tremendously helpful.
Dr. Kao is a truly exceptional physician. Stanford is fortunate to have him on staff. I really want you totreat him well. He is special
Dr Kao, as always, goes above and beyond for his patients, including me. He has made a huge impact on my quality of life, and the other people who I've sent his way have all had very positive experiences as well.
Dr Kao is a wonderful doctor who is smart, willing to think outside of the box, really listens, and has a great bedside manner. I know a number of his patients and have recommended him to other people as well, and we have all had very positive experiences with him.
Dr. Kao spent quality time with me and was very thorough and detailed showing concern.
she was very nice and took her time explaining everything to me.
Dr Kao provided excellent care in all aspects of my visit
was very late then rushed and wouldn't listen or give same kind of options or information or any kind of visit like the first appointment we had where he was completely the opposite-helpful, explain things, explore what may be happening with my health and give many options and explanations and information. was completely different and left me so frustrated after waiting months to see him.
just grear service
thay did a great job
Dr. Kao was concerned about muscle weakness and falling I had experienced, so he took the time to collaborate with my neurologist and PCP between my visits. He is always supportive and empathic, and, despite his busy schedule, takes time to listen to all of my questions and concerns.
Dr. Kao is very professional and experienced in giving the Botox injections. I am very confident in him.
Dr. Kao was great, he listened and heard me, which is rare since I'm so young.
Dr. Kao was concerned about a problem I was having, so he contacted one of my physicians and followed up with me right away. I appreciate his concern and his willingness to follow up on little details, despite his very busy schedule.
Dr Kao is always kind, knowledgeable, and takes the time needed for any questions or concerns without making me feel rushed. I've recommended him to others who also think that he's a wonderful doctor.
Dr. Kao took time to research and make calls about medication for ear pain, as topical ear drops had been discontinued. He did this with me during the appointment so that I wouldn't have to wait. I always appreciate his effort and the time he spends with me.
Dr. Kao is so intelligent and educated but is so friendly, caring and down-to earth. He always makes me feel cared for and heard. He has other ideas of treatment. Other Stanford doctor have not had in the past Dr. Kao is so supportive ALSO! I really both respect and like him!
dr kao is always great. always listens to concerns. asked how everything was going and asked about the entirety of my treatment thus far.
Dr. Kao was excellent in all regards.
Dr. Kao is always professional He never makes me feel that He is in a hurry. He takes his time to answer my questions concerning my health
all good
I would recommend Dr. Kao, and I would seek his help again if needed.
Care giver seems very caring.
Dr. Kao clearly communicates and I have already recommended him many times. He cares, considers my situation, and is brilliant in his approach.
Dr. Kao is the best and I love it that he comes to San Jose 2 miles from my house...lucky me.
Only bad: Provider doesn't answer portal messages.
Dr. Kao provided me with excellent care & medical advice.
Dr. Kao was respectful, knowledgeable and caring. He made sure I was comfortable and understood the procedure before proceeding. And I felt confident in the care he gave. Great experience.
Very knowledgeable and explaining things whenever I ask for.
very explanatory of all
Dr Kao is great. He's really helped me and given me options that work for my pain management. I'm unable to metabolize opiates and SSRIs which was all I was offered in the past. It's great that he's always finding new ways to help his patients.
I deeply appreciate Dr. Kao as he was the first and only doctor to accurately diagnose my condition of hypermobility in 15 years of searching for answers. He is very helpful, kind, and knowledgeable in his field and I feel like he listens and wants what's best for me. He is very interested in helping others with my condition and has taken any suggestions that worked for me so he can recommend them to other patients.
I feel that the care provider that cared for me was among the best there is. He was genuinely interested in my welfare and that I understood what was happening. He obviously knows his job exceptionally well and I'm grateful for his care.
Dr. Kao has been incredibly supportive and empathic towards me throughout my difficult recovery. His treatment has been thoughtful, and he has involved me in the planning process. Dr. Kao has made such an amazing difference in my life. Before I met him, I was in so much pain that I spent most of my days lying flat in bed. Now, after being treated by Dr.Kao, I am able to be upright for longer periods of time. I'm now spending more quality time with my children and friends, gardening, and volunteering. I recommend Dr.Kao every chance I get!!
Dr Kao goes above and beyond to help his patients. He's actively trying to find new solutions to help us. He's fantastic.
Very impressed!
Dr Kao really goes out of his way to provide quality care and he patiently thinks outside of the box. He's very knowledgeable and also kind.
dr kai is great! he always listens to me and seems too sincerely care about me and my well being. always takes the time to listen to my concerns
I am so impressed by this doctor and feel so fortunate to have found him. He has such a great depth of knowledge about my condition, and explained things to me in a way I could understand but did not talk down to me. He is intelligent and capable as well as compassionate. I have had this illness for 5 years and have done a lot of research but learned new things today. He also provided me with new options for care and hope of improvement. I trust this doctor. Thank you Dr. Kao!
Dr. Kao always takes his time, and makes sure my son is heard. He does a great job of giving us options and letting my son know that the choices are his.
I am very happy with treatments I received from Dr. Kao. Only problem I have is to schedule apt with Dr. Kao
Dr Kao went above and beyond to help me out when I was dealing with vertigo. He's always helpful and patient and willing to think outside of the box.
Dr. Kao spent far more time with me than I was allotted for this appointment. My case is very complex. I left this appointment with Dr. Kao with the impression that I was working with the best pain specialist ANYWHERE. He is a truly remarkable man.
Dr. Kao is always friendly, professional, extremely knowledgeable, understanding, helpful and kind! I so appreciate his continued care and support!
Dr Kao is amazing and his staff are the best.
Dr. Kao is outstanding in every way - knowledge, relateability, flexibility, bedside manner, integrity, etc.
I am grateful to Dr. Ming Chih Jefferey Kao PhD/MD who is very professional Physician,Operates very strong effective treatment to me, Consulting ,explaining clearly before apply procedures..., Follow up with intensive care , met my needs.. It builds up more positive thinking about my diagnose . So, I did introduce my co-workers, my co-worker Mother, my friends and family members. Dr. Alexandre Dawin Pham MD is also very Professional Physician too. Ms. Shannon Assistant to Physician at Pain Management is a very professional Assistant.
Dr Kao is the best doctor in pain management. He has patiently worked with for 2 1/2 years. I have gone from levels 7/8 pain to 1/2 because of his treatments and care about me as his patient.
Dr Kao is a superlative physician
Dr. Kao is just the perfect example and role model of how doctors should interact with and treat patients. Best teacher for residents. Maybe one of the smartest doctor ever met says my mom -- Dr. Kao is humble and kind with great sense of humor. I will continue to go to Dr. Kao as long as he practices-- wherever he practices. He is my favorite doctor at Stanford, hands down. No other doctor compares at Stanford (except Dr. Kara Flavin possibly)
My doctor (Dr Kao) is probably one of the best doctors in the Stanford system. He is knowledgeable about any medicines, treatments, or surgeries dealing with pain management and has been able to take me from someone barely able to function to a 90% normal healthy person
Dr. Kao did an exceptional job during his time with me during the Botox procedure. He was professional and courteous.
Outstanding physician and I loved his handouts. I appreciated the time taken to discuss everything.
Dr Kao went way above what was originally scheduled for this appointment due to the start of extremely plainful new symptoms. Not only he did he provide a treatment for the symptoms but discovered the cause during the treatment. He very carefully explained what he found and what it meant. He then gave me a brochure that explained the treatment for it and he carefully explained in detail what he would do to fix the problem. Dr Kao is the most amazing Doctor I have ever had. He has worked very hard for 2 1/2 years to successful control or refer me to other doctors for my various ailments. I trust him with my life.
I have seen 25+ doctors over the course of 9 years in chronic pain and Dr. Kao is simply the best!
One Dr. Kao arrived he was as always caring to take the time to explain the next steps and has worked hard with the Cigna to push through the red tape so we can complete by year end.
Excellent clear explanation of result. Gave us plenty of time.
Spoke too fast - maybe not his fault - I just needed a softer bedside manner.
Spoke to me like a human
ultimately ended up with different dr for procedure and would have liked to have somebody familiar with my case.
Dr Kao always so friendly, knowledge, helpful and supportive!!!
Dr. Kao has not been my normal dr for the last couple years. I have been a patient of Dr. Singh. However, seeing Dr. Kao was an extremely good experience. He is very friendly, easy to understand and really involved me in everything. He is an excellent dr. and will be seeing him for a procedure in November. I would HIGHLY recommend Dr. Kao.
I like Dr. Kao. I just wish he was in Emeryville more often.
Dr. Kao was very knowledgable about my condition and did very well explaining to me options that I didn't know existed.
the experience & medical appointment was fully encompassed & complete from start to finish.
dr. kao is the best. he is always looking for new ideas and ways to treat my pain. please get him to come to CAMPBELL to open a Stanford pain clinic. we went from Los Gatos to Emeryville to see him. he is the best
Dr. Kao excels in all areas. He spent a great deal of quality time with my husband and me explaining my diagnosis and future plans. He is so brilliant that he even took my data from the past weeks and created a chart during my appointment, allowing him to draw conclusions about the effectiveness of my SCS implant. He is the most remarkable physician I have ever known!
The doctor seemed in a hurry and spent less time than former ones.
Dr. Kao is one of the best doctors I have ever had. Very caring doctor. Don't know how I'd being doing if he wasn't my doctors.
Care Provider ( Physicians) who treat me conduct very professional, experience and effective treatment . I am Sincere appreciated to Care Providers ( Physicians and Physician Assistance...) , especially Dr. Ming-Chih- Jeffrey Kao MD PhD, Who treats me in very professional, great experience , strong effectively ... Therefore I did introduce Dr. kao to my family and my co-workers.
I have tremendous respect for and confidence in Dr. Kao. My pain issue is complicated and he is clearly dedicated to helping me gain relief and re-gain my ability to function in life activities. He shows empathy and is very informative.
Dr. Kao is the best pain doctor I have ever had. He is not only extremely knowledable but very caring. He is one of the most favorite doctors, I trust him very much.
dr knowledgeable and open to questions
1. Excellent.
Dr Jeffrey Kao is the best doctor I have ever dealt with and I have experienced a lot of doctors. My friends, who have Kaiser or other doctors, all envy me when I talk about Dr Kao's dedication to helping me with my pain management over the almost two years. He makes me feel like a have a partner who trusts me that I will follow his advice and do what I can to help myself get better.
Dr. Kao is a GREAT doctor. I have had a lot of medical care providers over the years. He is fantastic.
Excellent and personable as usual.
Very good.
Dr. Kao is special. He cares & is always willing to discuss & try new techniques to address my chronic pain. he is the ONLY pain specialist I have found to address my issues with concern, creativity, & a willingness to try to address my pain. Dr. Kao needs more hours in pain clinic or we need him to come to Los Gatos. My wife & I hope you know how fabulous Dr. Kao is - I love working with him.
Dr. Kao developed a treatment plan and back up for options - excellent.
Dr. Kao is the most accomplished and caring physician I have ever met. I have complete confidence and trust in Dr. Kao to help me overcome my multi-year pain and limited mobility. Thank you, Dr. Kao!
Dr Koa was very professional. He listened and suggested a few treatments. I feel very good that he is part of my team of doctors
Dr. Kao is awesome and 100% helped me in what I needed.
Dr. Kao was great in detailing, review of MRI, answered many of the questions that I had including medications. The highlight was understanding how this back condition may be the potential root cause of other misdiagnosed ailments.
Dr Kao is one the best doctors I have ever had.
It was a follow up appointment scheduled for 30 min and Dr Kao spent exactly 12 min with me.
The Dr is absolutely fantastic!
Usually Dr. is very attentive and spends time making sure I understand treatment regimen. He seemed very distracted at this visit and rushed. I know he is in high demand - but perhaps he should reduce his caseload a little so that his patients are not neglected.
I was very cold upon arriving, and he took the time to get me several warmed blankets before starting the injections, it was very thoughtful.
Dr Kao was very friendly and professional
Dr. Kao gave me phone # to send message directly to him. This was a problem in past. Before left message for him using "My Health" - never got a reply with that site. Using his personal # to leave message had reply THAT day. Huge improvement/Thanks.
Good.
We really enjoyed the way Dr. Kao took care of us during the visit.
Dr. Kao is very professional and knowledgeable. He listens to my concerns and tries to find solutions. He is very attentive. He is one of the best doctors I have ever seen.
Dr. Ming Chih J. Kao, a very professional Physician who explains my diagnose very clearly, conslutation and discuss with me the method of treatment and mediation,.. It makes me strong beleive , strong trust Dr. Kao, therefore , I already recommended Dr. Kao to my co-workes and my family...
Dr. Kao is the most exceptional physician I have ever had in my life. During my last appointment, he was thorough and concerned about my complex pain problem. He discussed my next options with my husband and me, and he even drew sketches to help us understand. Dr. Kao not only has amazing expertise, but he can also effectively communicate complex information to patients. It is also clear that he cares about outcomes for his patients.
he gave me hope again
Dr. Kao is amazing! He spent time with me discussing the changes in my condition and what we could do differently to address my concerns and pain. He made calls to the pharmacy to look for new solutions while I was there. He is always looking for new ways to help. I hope Stanford recognizes what a difference he has made to the Pain Clinic since his arrival.
Dr. Kao was excellent. He explained my upcoming procedure clearly, even drawing sketches. He is not only brilliant, but also compassionate.
Dr. Kao and the resident were the best that I have experienced. Patient and caring!!
Your business is very professional & personal!
Dr. Kao is the consummate professional! He is warm, genuine, supportive, knowledgeable, caring and all around awesome. I am so grateful for all his support! He has bent over backwards to support my health needs and recovery from my pain and medical issues! He has made a real positive difference in my life. I owe him and his fellows a great dept. No one else was able to help me. Dr. Kao and his fellows listened and kept working with me to find solutions that have really helped me! I was in chronic pain and felt it was hopeless. I am now feeling so much better, seldom in pain and living a much improved quality of life. Knowing Dr. Kao and his team are there to continue to help me heal is so comforting. Dr. Kao has become like family! He is truly a life saver!
4-5 different surgeon and doctors told me there is nothing can be done for me and I need to live with it with pain killer but Dr. Goodman and Dr. Kao are helping me a lot and I am about 50% better.
I was very happy with my doctor. He was very thorough in his examination. He spent a lot of time to make sure. I understood everything.
Dr. Kao was very friendly and answered all my questions.
NO response when I had sent an online message.
Don't remember any of such conversations in goes the needle - out goes the patient!
The doctor showed a lot of care during my visit and made sure I received any extra tests.
Excellent time & rapport with Dr. Kao.
Very supportive, willing to think outside the box to solve complex medical problems - that really help my healing and recovery.
He was truly amazing. Kind, compassionate, skilled & concerned.
I am sincere appreciate to Dr. Ming-Chih J. Kao, MD. Dr. Ming-Chih J. Kau, PhD, MD has a great professional knowledge and skill to treat patients very efficiently and effectively. Dr. Kau visited me, explained very clear instructions and consultation properly and respectfully my decision about doctors treatment to solve my problem. I feel very strong confident ad did introduce to others.
I have good experience.
VERY good.
Despite my English not being good the doctor took the time to explain to me and decide that it was the best.
Dr. Kao is very knowledgeable, kind, supportive and open-minded. I very much appreciate his care and concern and honesty. He's awesome!
Dr. Kao refused to accept any other diagnosis than the one he thought was great. In the end he missed the mark and another doctor made the right call.
Great doctor. Polite, professional, attentive, communicative & nothing negative to say here.
I was only given 20 minutes with Dr. Kao and he was not listening to my medical history or what I wanted as a less invasive approach to treating my chronic pain.
While my father, mother & I waited in the room to be seen, the door was open and I heard staff talking and laughing outside our door, with each other. This went on for several minutes. I walked out of the room and down the hallway, I turned to see a male with a cup of coffee in his hands, talking & laughing with two medical assistants. This went on for awhile. Then I watched the male enter my dad's room. The doctor was the one who was chit-chatting with the female staff while we were waiting for him to see my dad. The doctor was 30 min. late for our appointment because he was having a personal conversation. This is HIGHLY INAPPROPRIATE!
Very good.
Just fine - but remember I had only 1 visit.
Front lobby receptionist was very kind and helpful in offering assistance in overcoming a very stressful mishap I experienced involving making it to my appointment (I got lost and was late and a bit over wrought... i.e., long hair, disorientation, etc.).
Dr. Kao and his fellow Abhishy Gowda (who is no longer there) have bent over backwards to help identify and authorize operations, procedures, therapies, MRI's etc. Mediations that have literally helped to save my life! I am so grateful. My quality of life and ability to live it has improved exponentially due to their willingness to really listen and not give up!
Dr. Kao made a point to say. "I am sorry that you have been in pain for so many years." No physician has ever done that before. He was very attentive and effective - I am feeling so much better now.
Dr. Kao was great, seriously, top marks. Just very, very busy, in a very, very busy office. Get him some help!
Dr. Kao explained the next stage in my care in details I could understand. He was very positive.
This was my second procedure with Dr. Kao & he's always thorough & explains what he's doing the whole time, even explaining the anatomy @ my request.
Very good.
Dr. Kao went beyond what one might expect.
Good.
He was very considerate and listened to what I had to say.
Seemed uninterested in my report of symptoms; preferred to read notes from previous visits. Explicitly declined my offer to describe my history with this problem.
Always pleasant.
Dr. Kao was very thorough and professional. Showed sensitivity for my pain and past medical issues.
I have a 15 yr. old injury. Dr. Kao is thorough. Caring, friendly and very knowledgeable.
Excellent.
I felt like he did not give me the respect I needed - about my injury.
Didn't answer my questions; was confused by the addition required to calculate my prescriptions; treated me as if I was an addict instead of a post-op pain patient. Very bad experience.
Good.

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