Imelda DeForest, MD

Horrible! Took my son to her 3 days straight. She kept arguing with me why was I back I’m just wasting my copay. I told her my son is sick and he isn’t getting better. She didn’t even want to touch him she was so mad. She tells me I already told you it’s the flu. I said I have two other kids they had the flu before and they never keep getting worse they stay steady he’s worse every day. I had to beg her to give him a flu test. She sent us to Saint John’s where they said the flu test results would be ready in two days. By the 4^th day he would not respond to anything couldn’t open eyes or talk. We rushed him to hospital where triage nurse took him from us and rushed him to the back. We had two doctors and nurses around him. IV was put in immediately X-​ray were done. They admitted him into the hospital. Turns out he had severe pneumonia and doctors say he would not have made it another day. Two days later Saint John’s calls to tell me he has a type of pneumonia. I say I know we’ve been in hospital. Thank god for Ventura county Hospital. My friend had posted on Facebook her son was sick like mine same symptoms I tell her about what happened to my son 2 years before. And ask what dr she’s seeing. Happens to be this same one. She takes her son to hospital and they admit him too. He had severe pneumonia. I don’t think this doctor even cares.

I had the most unpleasant experiences with Dr. Deforest.
My son initially gained weight very quickly after he was born, and then it slowed down around 3 months (catch up/​catch down is what this is called), I was not personally worried about it, but at his 4 month appointment, Dr. Deforest made it clear she was unhappy with how much weight he did gain since it was not up to par with what she wanted. She strongly suggested we start on rice cereal immediately, which my husband and I were not comfortable with — we expressed this. We asked about alternatives such as avocado, she made it clear that rice cereal was the best choice and avocado was not to be introduced until later. She stated that rice cereal was traditional and the best route to take. My husband and I left feeling down and discouraged. After a lot of research, we decided to wait until our son was six months to start on solids and we decided to go ahead and start on avocado.
At his six month appointment, I went with my friend, not my husband. My son had again gained two pounds over two months and Dr. Deforest made it very clear that this was not ok. She asked about solids and I told her we started on avocado, and had introduced bananas and peas as well, and would be starting apples that week. Dr. Deforest proceeded to tell me that I was ruining his palette by introducing sweet foods first, that I should have started with rice cereal because it is «traditional», and it was just all bad. She didn’t remember that I had a husband because she asked me what the baby’s father was like physically. It was just all bad. She assumed that I was accepting WIC (nothing wrong with WIC, but she didn’t even ask or care to know), she talked to me like I was dumb. It didn’t matter that my son was meeting milestones early, because, for her, he hadn’t gained as much weight as SHE wanted. I left her office feeling like a failure of a mother, which no first time mom should ever feel.
A fat baby does not always equal a healthy baby, and a skinny baby does not always equal an unhealthy baby. A pediatrician needs to be a partner to the parents and I truly did not feel that Dr. Deforest was trying to work with us.
I have since spoken with a director at the clinic, and I truly hope Dr. Deforest acknowledges that there’s a lot of research that has been done and that every parent is a little different than the last. There’s many different correct, safe, healthy ways of raising a child.

Love Dr De Forest and staff! She takes the time to listen and answer questions and concerns. The wait was a little longer than normal but it was a first time visit. We will be coming back for all Dr. visits from now on!

Dr. Deforest is a great doctor! She takes the time to let me know all there is I need to know about my son and his growth. She takes the time to listen to your questions and concerns and always has recommended reading material as to what it is I’m looking for along with some great advice. Finding a good pediatrician is hard but we were very pleased when we met Dr.Deforest. We plan on having her as our sons doctor for a very long time ! I would recommend her to anyone looking for a pediatrician for their child.

I have been bringing my kids to Dr DeForrest for the last 16 years she always knows what is best and has been awesome the kids love coming to her

Dr. DeForest and her staff are awesome. She has been taking care of my girls for 11 years and I’ve aways felt comfortable asking questions and getting an honest answer. She takes as much time as she needs to make sure that you get that one on one feeling. Unlike some Dr.‘s offices where you feel like you are being rushed out the door. (You know THAT feeling.) In my book, Dr. DeForest goes down in history as one of the best Dr’s we have ever had.

She’s the best! Like another reviewer, we’ve followed her around for years. Great bedside manner. Very easy going and likeable. If I could find a provider like her for myself, wouldn’t hesitate for a second.

Dr. DeForest is such an amazing doctor she is great with kids I am truly glad that I switched my son’s pediatrician she caught so much that the other doctor didn’t

Dr. DeForest is the best! She is so professional and amazing with her patients. She really cares! Thank, thank you!

We’ve been following Dr. Imelda DeForest, pediatrician, all over Ventura County for one reason… She’s AWESOME! Her compassionate eye has been keeping track of all my munchkins since we relocated to Oxnard quite a few years back now. (Time sure flies even more when ya got kids!!!) «We’ve» (Hah!) delivered @ St. John’s Regional Medical Center and she has privileges there. So she’s been caring for some of them from the first time they blessed my world! Bubbly, engaging… my kids love her! She interacts with them lovingly. As they’ve grown, the dynamic changes, but they still enjoy telling her stories and she listens to them so enthusiastically. Not that she ignores us parents at all. Wifey ALWAYS comes with questions and she listens & responds to all of them. Never has she cut her off. Never appears like she’s anxious to leave. She’s raising kids of her own, so she completely gets the parent point of view. If we needed a prompt visit, her office has always been able to fit us in. And, the office staff? Just as friendly & loving. All you’ll hear from us is praise about that woman! Love her ;)