Heidi Reetz

MD

Pain and family medicine physician
Mother, yogi, foodie, and aficionado of nature's arts

Dr. Heidi Reetz is a pain and integrative medicine specialist who primarily treats adults. Her practice approach involves applying multiple methods of pain management, including those of integrative medicine, which combines Western methods with complementary therapies.

Reetz has a special focus on techniques that allow the body to regenerate and heal, including acupuncture, nutritional strategies, therapeutic yoga and mind-body medicine (a holistic approach that works with mental, emotional, social, spiritual and other factors affecting an individual). She also cares for patients who want help managing pain without opioids or through buprenorphine therapy.

Reetz's current research interests include integrative pain medicine and dextrose-based injection therapies, which aim to stimulate healing by injecting points involved in chronic muscle and joint pain.

Reetz earned her medical degree at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine and completed a residency in family medicine – which emphasized social justice advocacy, compassionate care and personal growth – at Sutter Health. She also completed a fellowship in pain medicine at UCSF.

  • Education

    Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, 2008

  • Residencies

    Sutter Health, Family Medicine, 2011

  • Fellowships

    UCSF, Pain Medicine, 2016

  • Board Certifications

    Family Medicine, American Board of Family Medicine

  • Academic Title

    Associate Professor

My goal is to help patients gain a sense of control over their pain using lifestyle-focused methods that allow them to function better.

Where I see patients (2)

    My reviews

    4.8

    Overall Experience
    116 Ratings
    About our process
    Sep 12, 2024
    Dr Reetz provides cutting edge, compassionate care
    Sep 09, 2024
    A rare find! Caring and brilliant professional.
    Aug 03, 2024
    I felt the provider was excellent in listening and providing feedback and information
    Jun 29, 2024
    Dr Reetz and her team could not have been better. They communicated before during and after in a way which made me at ease and included in the process.
    Jun 03, 2024
    Dr. Reetz is an EXCELLENT doctor who listens & hears, is thoughtful, thorough & provides whole person care including referrals & follow up to ensure the best possible patient outcome. She's patient, kind & highly intelligent - a treasure of an M.D.! Please provide her with all the tools & support she needs including salary increases & bonuses that reflect her Excellence.
    May 11, 2024
    Dr. Reetz has treated me for many years and has been very helpful and supportive.
    May 04, 2024
    Dr. Reetz is an All-Star doctor & I hope UCSF recognizes, sppreciates & provides all the support she needs to provide cutting edge, world class medical care. When her salary & bonus are being determined please use a multiplier faction that reflects how she helps to reduce the severe suffering patients like myself have been experiencing. Her staff hold her in the highest esteem & I feel extremely blessed & grateful to be her patient. THANK YOU DR. REETZ
    Apr 07, 2024
    My experience exceeded my expectations as Dr. Reetz is an exceptional physician that shares her expertise and care within an easy and comfortable rapport.
    Apr 06, 2024
    Dr. Reetz obviously spent a lot of time reviewing my medical records, which I really appreciated.
    Mar 26, 2024
    Very professional and goodDr to all
    Mar 26, 2024
    I think the fellow supporting my visit was Dr G - she was great, probably the best I've encountered across all of my visits. I would not have known she were a learner based on the way she conducted herself. As always, Dr. Reetz was outstanding both in terms of my pt care experience - but also in her role as a clinical educator. I am always inspired by the way she seamlessly supports the learners without compromising my experience as a patient. And especially the way she supports learners without me ever feeling an increase in anxiety due to their learning curve.
    Nov 18, 2023
    Very professional and thorough.
    Oct 24, 2023
    This provider gives post visit instructions very fast before the procedure when I am still quite nervous. Would be great to implement a close the loop/teach back model with the patient for the most important info. I myself would receive the info better after the procedure but am not sure about other patients
    Sep 16, 2023
    Dr Reetz is attentive, answers all questions, and provides good explanations.
    Sep 12, 2023
    I can never say enough positive things about Dr Reetz. She has always gone above and beyond for me. I'm am so greatful for her to have made time for me in her schedule yesterday. After being in pain for weeks, I called the office and got a same-day appointment. Today I woke up nearly pain free!
    Aug 16, 2023
    One of my best MD
    Aug 01, 2023
    Dr Reetz is top notch!
    Jun 08, 2023
    Dr Reetz listens and discusses my issues thoroughly and intelligently. She is able to talk with me without dumbing things down or over-complicating things. It's so refreshing to be real and frank and clear with a person.
    Jun 07, 2023
    Constantly changing my appointment and stating it was a billing issue and I called my insurance and it was stated there was no issue.
    May 04, 2023
    Dr. Reetz was one of my favorite providers as she listened, really listened to me. She also gave me treatment ideas that were a bit more alternative than most doctors which I appreciate. She addressed issues not directly connected to pain (but contributory) and recommended some very helpful books as well.
    May 01, 2023
    Dr. Reetz is caring and patient, I never feel rushed or dismissive. She is great!
    Apr 11, 2023
    Guest drs are nice to
    Mar 25, 2023
    Dr Reetz has done her very best for me everytime without reserve
    Feb 11, 2023
    The provider was not familiar with my record or needs despite the fact that I had waited about 2 months for the appointment. She insisted on going thru a standardized checklist, despite my wishes. She seemed disrespectful of my needs.
    Feb 07, 2023
    Dr. Reetz is OUTSTANDING across board. Not only is she clearly up-to-date with the latest research, even for things that are still emerging she is also exemplary when it comes to the educational components of her role - both educating me as the patient - but also supporting learners (today was a Fellow). She was able to identify when the fellow had made a mistake in preparing the solution - clearly articulated what needed to be different and why - and then when he was still learning how to do the injections she seamlessly changed her position to scrub in to be able to step in and provide additional support. I never feel less confident in the care I was receiving - and I never sensed that the Fellow felt embarrassed, undermined, or unsupported. In medicine when there is such a culture of excellence - the art of teaching and providing effective feedback is not a skill that everyone has.
    Feb 06, 2023
    Dr. Reetz is one of my most favored doctors! She understands me as a whole person, not just a pain management patient. She is willing to think out side of the box and try experimental tactics in dealing with my issues. She's a great listener. I have some unusual problems which 'clinical pathways' are not so effective on and Dr. Reetz has made valuable suggestions not usually offered by physicians. I really value her insights!
    Feb 05, 2023
    Dr. Reetz Is wonderful! Truly cares about minimizing my pain all the way down to rubbing my calf to providing comfort with anesthesia for injections.
    Jan 29, 2023
    Dr. Reetz is absolutely wonderful. She is extremely thorough, professional, and competent. She comes across as an expert in her field and really knows her stuff. Plus she is kind and really seems to care so much so that she readily goes above and beyond to exhaust each and every option available, no matter how outside of the box they are. I am so lucky she's my doctor, she's the best. Thank you Dr. Reetz!
    Dec 08, 2022
    Dr. Rietz is one of the best doctors I've ever had.
    Nov 23, 2022
    I like this doctor very much because she thinks outside of the box! We are discussing some rather unorthodox treatments which I appreciate, as just about everything else I have tried has not worked very well. Also she is willing to address peripheral problems contributing to pain and not just pain itself--like sleep, breathing and fatigue. On this visit we had a rather hurried discussion about using electrical stimulation of the vagus nerve as I mentioned being interested in it. She wanted to do the whole set up during our appointment--which I was not prepared for. She did grant a postponement and wrote up some instructions in her notes but later I found further and more detailed information on-line.My problem is that I have (genetic) medical issues not easily addressed and have tried many treatments and so I am grateful that someone is viewing my issues from a different lens and not just offering steroid injections!

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