Accepting New Patients
Pamela W. Yao, DO
- Internal Medicine
Average rating:
5.0
Star ratings are displayed only for those physicians who participate in UCLA Health’s patient experience survey program and have received a minimum of 30 survey responses.
Santa Barbara Primary & Specialty Care
|
111 East Victoria Street, Floor 2, Santa Barbara, CA 93101
US
About
Dr. Pamela Yao is a UCLA Health primary care physician who is serving patients throughout the greater Santa Barbara area. As an internal medicine physician she focuses on treating the patient with an emphasis on osteopathic medicine. Dr. Yao was raised in Sacramento and is a proud UC Santa Barbara alumna. Upon graduation she moved into medical research concentrating both on MS and burn injuries at Shriner’s Hospital for Children/Northern California on the UC Davis Health System campus.
She then went on to graduate medical school from Burrell College of Osteopathic Medicine and completed an Internal Medicine residency at Mountain View Regional Medical Center in Las Cruces, New Mexico. During her time there she took on extra course work and hands-on training to become recognized in Osteopathic Medicine. Once she completed her training she moved back to California in order to be closer to family.
Outside of the office she enjoys going to the beach, movies, cooking, watching live music and sports (basketball and soccer) with her family.
Languages
Education
Medical Board Certification
Internal Medicine, American Board of Internal Medicine, 2023
Residency
Internal Medicine, MountainView Regional Medical Center, 2023
Degree
DO, Burrell College of Osteopathic Medicine, 2020
Locations
Areas of Focus
Videos
Meet Pamela W. Yao, DO
Insurance
- Aetna
- Anthem Blue Cross
- Blue Shield of California
- Centivo
- Cigna
- First Health
- Health Net of California
- Interplan (part of HealthSmart)
- Medicare Advantage
- MultiPlan
- UFCM Health System
- Prime Health Services
- Private Healthcare Systems (PHCS)
- TRICARE
- UnitedHealthcare
The list of health care plans above may not be comprehensive and could change.
Please contact your benefits coordinator or health insurance company directly to verify coverage.
Visit our health insurance information page for more details.
Reviews
Overall Rating:
5.0
Star ratings are displayed only for those physicians who participate in UCLA Health’s patient experience survey program and have received a minimum of 30 survey responses.
303 total ratings | 208 reviews
5.0
May 29, 2025
Felt comfortable from the start. Like that my doctor was swift and very knowledgeable and informative.
5.0
May 29, 2025
On line meeting went smoothly and advise was clearly presented.
5.0
May 29, 2025
Dr. Yao is caring, competent and prepared. She is personable and professional. I was handled professionally by the staff, and everything ran on time.
5.0
May 29, 2025
The nurses assistant warned me that they were a little behind and gave a realistic estimate . The dr was thorough and friendly. I also overheard her coaching the staff on something outside the exam room. She was also very positive in her interactions w them.
5.0
May 29, 2025
Dr Yao listened to me and then ordered some blood work which I had done right in the exam room. I did not have to make an extra trip to a lab. It was great
5.0
May 29, 2025
I love Dr. Yao. I always feel better after OMT
5.0
May 28, 2025
Dr Yao is the best doctor at UCLA!
5.0
May 28, 2025
Concerned about my welfare
5.0
May 23, 2025
Listens thoroughly
5.0
May 21, 2025
Doc and Nursing Staff took good care of me.
5.0
May 21, 2025
Dr. Yao is great, always answers all of my questions and is thorough and professional
5.0
May 21, 2025
Everyone was kind, professional, and timely.
5.0
May 20, 2025
It was outstanding. Dr Yao is extremely conscientious, intelligent, compassionate, insightful, and a great listener and explainer. I could not ask for a better doctor.
5.0
May 20, 2025
Asked excellent questions and is setting my up on an OMT program
5.0
May 20, 2025
Dr. Yao is friendly, reassuring and answered all my questions. Very happy to have spoken with her.
5.0
May 20, 2025
Very helpful and through.
5.0
May 20, 2025
It was a nice follow up She is really helping me
5.0
May 19, 2025
Great communicator. Helpful knowledgeable kind
5.0
May 19, 2025
Dr Yao is caring, professional and goes the extra mile to help
5.0
May 17, 2025
Very nice, professional and good use of time.
5.0
May 15, 2025
I love Dr. Yao! She listens and gives me useful feedback.
5.0
May 15, 2025
Dr Yao is thorough, caring, and very efficient. She’s the best Dr I’ve ever had
5.0
May 14, 2025
Very personal front desk over the phone and in person. Ex. “Good morning, who do I have the pleasure of speaking to?” Love my Dr. Yao, felt very looked after.
5.0
May 14, 2025
Dr Yao is the best!!
5.0
May 12, 2025
Dr. Yao was very professional, knowledgeable and caring. Even though she was behind her schedule, I did not feel rushed.
5.0
May 11, 2025
Dr. Yao was prepared, listened to my needs, and came up with an appropriate plan.
5.0
May 9, 2025
Dr. Pamala is always kind,never seems rushed and elicited more information than I knew I knew…
5.0
May 9, 2025
Doctor is very knowledgeable and efficient, kind and patient.
5.0
May 9, 2025
Dr Yao was just awesome today. Very attentive!
5.0
May 8, 2025
Dr. Yao is timely, efficient, thorough, knowledgeable, and responsive. I am confident that I am in good hands.
5.0
May 8, 2025
Well prepared, responsive, get to the problems quickly, provided answers and a plan quickly.
5.0
May 7, 2025
Dr Yao Is just the BEST in all aspects
5.0
May 5, 2025
Expert in her field and charismatic.
5.0
May 1, 2025
Dr. Yao is great. She's professional, friendly, easy to talk to and we'll informed.
5.0
May 1, 2025
I love Dr. Yao. She is easy to talk to and she listens to my concerns. She is great about reviewing test results and discussing my concerns.
5.0
April 30, 2025
Dr. Yao was very nice and professional. I appreciated her complete attention.
5.0
April 30, 2025
Dr. Yao is amazing! Takes the time to listen!!
5.0
April 28, 2025
Very knowledgeable, professional, attentive, and caring. Great doctor, no complaints whatsoever.
5.0
April 25, 2025
I have chronic pain that she is addressing. She really listens to my weird series of symptoms and has a plan to address it.
5.0
April 25, 2025
Dr Yao is very knowledgeable and caring and always makes the session pleasant
5.0
April 24, 2025
Dr. Yao is the best doctor I’ve ever had. She listens and gives excellent feedback and advice.
5.0
April 24, 2025
comforting, pleasant, informative and cordial
5.0
April 23, 2025
Dr. Yao is wonderful ! She listened attentively and gave me great feedback. I felt very cared for, she was very thorough.
5.0
April 21, 2025
Kind and thorough doctor. Her treatment made me feel much better.
5.0
April 16, 2025
Dr. Yao is always friendly and thorough.
5.0
April 12, 2025
Very positive and informative
5.0
April 11, 2025
Explained everything that I needed to know for my treatment today
5.0
April 10, 2025
Dr Yao is always on time, ready to go, with a positive attitude and good energy.
5.0
April 9, 2025
Excellent!
5.0
April 8, 2025
Lots of information, answered all my questions with a smile. Offered services i didn't think about. Knowledgeable. Great experience.
5.0
March 24, 2025
Responsiveness
5.0
March 20, 2025
OMT with Dr Yao. She is an excellent doctor. Always professional!
5.0
March 14, 2025
She showed concern and was very considerate of my conditions
5.0
March 12, 2025
Dr. Yao is very thorough and listens well. She has a great bedside manner.
5.0
March 9, 2025
Friendly and explained things in an easy to understand manner.
5.0
March 4, 2025
Really great, was a bit fast but understand the constraints.
5.0
March 3, 2025
Dr Yao is best!
5.0
February 24, 2025
Great-professional yet welcoming desk staff, medical tech/nurse and physician!!
5.0
February 20, 2025
She was prepared, spent time asking about my health issues, and then addressing them.
5.0
February 20, 2025
She is awesome, competent, caring, diligent. Just the best :)
5.0
February 20, 2025
Dr. Yao explained my test results in a way I could understand
5.0
February 19, 2025
Very thorough intake. I’m very happy with my first appt.
5.0
February 19, 2025
Dr. Yao is always warm, informative and seems genuinely interested in helping me.
5.0
February 18, 2025
Dr Yao is always on time and provides excellent care!
5.0
February 13, 2025
Dr Yao was friendly and knowledgeable. She also cares about her patients.
5.0
February 13, 2025
Dr. Yao is the best! She is very caring and kind. She remembers everything about me. Love her!
5.0
February 13, 2025
Dr Yao is fantastic! Always on time always professional!
5.0
February 13, 2025
Listens to concerns, answers thoroughly
5.0
February 12, 2025
She was thorough and caring as always.
5.0
February 11, 2025
No wait - great staff - great doctor!
5.0
February 8, 2025
Dr .Yao is very patient, friendly, and knowledgeable! I like her a lot
5.0
January 30, 2025
Dr. Yao provided excellent care today. She saw to the issue that I came in for, and I felt very listened to, and like I had a lot of agency to make my own medical decisions. She also took my opinions and experience in to account while providing care, and it was very appreciated!
5.0
January 30, 2025
Dr Yao is always professional and always on time! A valuable asset to your clinic!
5.0
January 28, 2025
Thorough and detailed, present, referrals and follow up excellent.
5.0
January 24, 2025
Dr. Yao is knowledgeable and pleasant to work with and is good with sharing data with me.
5.0
January 23, 2025
She is pleasant and her OMT skills are so wonderful.
5.0
January 23, 2025
She was on time, prepared, seemed to care about my health issues and finding solutions.
5.0
January 22, 2025
Dr. Yao does a great job doing OMT and has been very proactive in trying to resolve my hip and back issues.
5.0
January 22, 2025
Very efficient, kind, and focused.
5.0
January 14, 2025
She listens and clearly reiterates plan of care.
5.0
January 12, 2025
As a new patient, Dr Yao, was able to look over test results and give her suggestions and reasons why she wanted medications tweaked. Her explanations were simple to understand and she listened to my concerns which she acted upon.
5.0
January 11, 2025
She was very helpful
5.0
January 11, 2025
New patient. She was thorough and understanding
5.0
January 9, 2025
Dr. Yao is so efficient and effective. She is the best doctor I’ve ever had.
5.0
January 9, 2025
She was on time, got through a lot in time allocated and listened to my concerns. She is also always very pleasant and upbeat.
5.0
January 8, 2025
Helpful with multiple concerns and attentive
5.0
December 20, 2024
Dr. Yao is so caring and kind. She manipulates my back and it eases the pain. She has been so attentive with my back issue.
5.0
December 19, 2024
Dr Yao is the best! Always on time and always thorough and professional!
5.0
December 18, 2024
Kind, attentive, knowledgeable and the best Doc I’ve ever had!!
5.0
December 18, 2024
Dr. Yao is a great doctor. She is now my primary and OMT. I’M EXTREMELY GLAD I FOUND HER.
5.0
December 16, 2024
Dr. Yao is very attentive and receptive to concerns brought up during any visit. She’s truly the best!
5.0
December 15, 2024
She was more through than any doctor I’ve ever been to.
5.0
December 14, 2024
Thorough, clear, efficient.
5.0
December 13, 2024
Receptive to my concerns and update was helpful.
5.0
December 13, 2024
Wonderful Doctor
5.0
December 12, 2024
Wonderful Doctor
5.0
December 10, 2024
Dr Yao is a great listener and very thorough!
5.0
December 10, 2024
I appreciate my patient/doctor relationship with Dr Yao. I communicate my medical priorities and issues, and we work on a plan forward. I am very pleased to have my primary care physician understand how to help me navigate primary care and specialist needs to keep me healthy
5.0
December 6, 2024
Extremely patient and kind. Made sure to answer my questions and concerns. Didn't belittle or condescend to me as can be the case with some doctors.
5.0
December 5, 2024
Dr. Yao is an excellent doctor. I have been to 9 UCLA doctors in 2024. They have all been fantastic. Dr. Yao is the BEST of the best!
5.0
December 5, 2024
Dr Yao is an exceptional physician. Always on time and very caring and competent!
5.0
December 3, 2024
Dr Yao is the best doctor I have ever had. So caring, compassionate, cautious, researches issues and medications before making a decision in what is best for me.
5.0
December 3, 2024
I really liked Dr. Yao. I was nervous before the call and she immediately put me at ease. She listens, explains well, and is very friendly while still being professional. I am very pleased with her!
5.0
December 2, 2024
She is wonderful! She is so caring and kind.
5.0
November 25, 2024
She listens and answers all my questions. She gives me great advice. Plus, I always feel better after the appointment.
5.0
November 21, 2024
Dr. Yao was very skilled in administering OMT. Her technique worked well to relieve my pain.
5.0
November 20, 2024
All good
5.0
November 20, 2024
Dr Yao was professional, considerate and caring for me and my needs. She listens and takes action, recommending new options for treatment and pros and cons of changing medications and treatments.
5.0
November 20, 2024
Overall good experience
5.0
November 19, 2024
Dr Yao is always thorough, professional, and organized.
5.0
November 17, 2024
No problems
5.0
November 8, 2024
I appreciate how knowledgeable and cheerful Dr. Yao was. She explained my new medication well
5.0
November 8, 2024
Terrific
5.0
November 5, 2024
Dr. Yao is outstanding. Calm, reassuring and professional, but clearly invested in my wellbeing and dedicated to providing excellent care. Great listener, which is crucial in a primary care provider. She’s truly a medical partner, not just a consultant.
5.0
November 5, 2024
Appreciate Dr Yao thoroughness and care.
5.0
November 1, 2024
She was patient and fully listened to my concerns.
5.0
October 31, 2024
Very caring and professional
5.0
October 31, 2024
Dr Yao is wonderful! She listens to me and cares about my overall health and wellbeing. She is also incredibly knowledgeable and thorough.
5.0
October 29, 2024
She was kind, thorough and clearly explained everything.
5.0
October 28, 2024
Dr Yao is very thorough, caring and kind
5.0
October 23, 2024
I’m am so glad to now have Dr. Yao for my primary care physician. She is so thorough.
5.0
October 21, 2024
OMT with Dr Yao. Excellent!
5.0
October 17, 2024
The doctor listened and explained everything. Very nice.
5.0
October 17, 2024
I was promptly seen and treated. Doctor is knowledgeable and kind.
5.0
October 16, 2024
Dr. Yao is great!
5.0
October 14, 2024
Dr. Yao is so caring and thoughtful. She is helping to heal my back with a hands on approach. I really appreciate her kindness and concern for my well being! Support staff is great too.
5.0
October 14, 2024
Dr yao answers all my questions completely. Very knowledgeable with OMT I’m getting results.
5.0
October 14, 2024
Dr. Yao was personable, easy to talk to, and validating. She explained the details of the visit and procedures before each part so I knew what to expect and made the whole process seem less and easy.
5.0
October 9, 2024
All good -quick review and discussion
5.0
October 9, 2024
Very thorough and professional. Dr. Yao covered so many points and had so many suggestions. She is very impressive.
5.0
October 8, 2024
Dr Yao best doctor I’ve ever been to!
5.0
October 7, 2024
My visits with Dr. Yao are always so helpful. I come in and so much pain and leave feeling so much better.
5.0
October 2, 2024
This was my initial visit with Dr. Yao and I appreciated her attention and attitude about my treatment plan.
5.0
October 1, 2024
Front staff great and physician on time in meeting with me.
5.0
October 1, 2024
Dr Yao is very personable, efficient, and thorough
5.0
September 30, 2024
Dr Yao is an excellent listener, physician, and great health advocate. I have received quality care from her and it has helped me manage my issues with confidence and a good forward -looking plan. I appreciate her empathy and guidance, and I feel that my health has improved as well as my mental health from dealing with chronic pain.
5.0
September 29, 2024
Great attention to details and thorough reviews with me .
5.0
September 26, 2024
Dr Yao very professional, thorough, personable and on time!
5.0
September 26, 2024
She listened well, had reviewed my previous history and it felt like, even though I was a new patient, that I had been seeing her for years.
5.0
September 25, 2024
She reviewed my record, made changes to medication. Explained things well.
5.0
September 24, 2024
Dr. Yao was very patient and took time to answer questions and tell me what to expect during my appointment.
4.0
September 24, 2024
she was easy to talk to
5.0
September 23, 2024
Dr. Yao is awesome. She is so kind and helpful. She did a procedure that I’ve never done before. She was slow and explained everything. She was wonderful! I am grateful to have a great doctor!
5.0
September 23, 2024
Dr. Yao provides the best experience I've ever had with a physician.
5.0
September 21, 2024
Dr. Yao is personable, efficient, knowledgeable, and thorough.
5.0
September 19, 2024
Great doctor and she’s helping me a lot
5.0
September 17, 2024
Dr. Pamela Yao is what we all would like to experience with care providers. She listen, is attentive and gives advice that is easy to follow. Excellent care.
5.0
September 16, 2024
I appreciate that I have a kind, caring, knowledgeable doctor.
5.0
September 16, 2024
Dr. Yao is responsive and has a great bedside manner. She educates as well as listens. I really value having her as a provider.
5.0
September 12, 2024
Dr Yao the greatest!
4.0
September 12, 2024
Great info. Dr talks too fast tho. She was way delayed to see me. I get it but to feel rushed after waiting so long in the exam room was no great. I have anxiety so it wasn’t alleviated by the waiting and the feeling of rush-ness. Answered all my questions, etc. just a fast paced atmosphere was stressful bc I didn’t have time to think and respond before she was on the next thing. Great Dr don’t get me wrong.
5.0
September 11, 2024
Dr. Yao is terrific. Great attitude, excellent doctor, very patient.
5.0
September 10, 2024
She was nice, efficient, listened to any concerns and came up with a plan for my healthcare.
5.0
September 10, 2024
It is delightful to see so many female doctors. Thank you! They all have great bedside manner and all the staff and MDs at Victoria street are amazing!
5.0
September 9, 2024
Dr. Yao is the best doctor I have ever had and I am 47 years old. She communicates well, is extremely knowledgeable, thorough and most important she listens to me. I am so glad I was able to connect with her as my PCP.
5.0
September 9, 2024
Dr Yao is an excellent practitioner; attentive listener, analytical and able to integrate a lot of data quickly to provide great medical assessment and service during the visit. She is an excellent communicator and strives to make sure the problem is addressed at the visit, as well As making sure any future plans and visits are discussed. She is patient and kind...that's a BIG DEAL
5.0
September 5, 2024
The office was immaculate, modern and had a great feel. The receptionist was lovely and timely. The hired was lovely and Dy Yao was exceptional. She was thoughtful, she set expectations, she was incredible through, gave me clear follow up. So impressed and excited to finally have a doctors office here in SB.
5.0
September 5, 2024
Dr. Yao is my new internist and she has been amazing. She has been meticulous about learning my history, which is extensive.
5.0
September 4, 2024
No Dr. Yao could not have done better. She helped me so much today.
2.0
September 3, 2024
Didn’t seem to care to know me at all, no basic rapport building questions… didn’t even ask how my dad recently died. Seemed to just be clicking boxes and ordering meds. In personal, no effort to connect with patient.
5.0
August 30, 2024
Dr. Yeo cares about my whole "being"..I could not ask for a finer "Primary "
5.0
August 29, 2024
Dr. Yao was fast to address concerns I had, and she was clear about medication interactions that kept her from prescribing Paxlovid for my covid diagnosis.
5.0
August 28, 2024
Easy to talk to. Really listens. Thorough review of labs and health issues.
5.0
August 28, 2024
She was on time, prepared, cared about my issues and explained the what and the why of what she was doing, and changes she re recommended to my prescriptions...
5.0
August 24, 2024
Pleasant, Easy to communicate with, seemed interested in my needs
5.0
August 23, 2024
Dr Yao is great
5.0
August 23, 2024
Truly concerned and helpful.
5.0
August 22, 2024
Dr. Yao is amazing!!! She listens to me and adapts therapy accordingly.
5.0
August 22, 2024
Dr. Yao is amazing! She listens carefully and moves forward with a plan. Thank you!
5.0
August 19, 2024
I am going to Dr. Yao for physical therapy once a week. I am extremely happy with the results
5.0
August 19, 2024
She was thorough, sensitive, informed and sympathetic. I felt very well cared for.
5.0
August 13, 2024
Thoroughly answers all questions
5.0
August 13, 2024
She was friendly, well Informed and professional. Excellent doctor
5.0
August 12, 2024
Our first meeting and she took a lot of time reviewing my history and discussing my current issues.
5.0
August 8, 2024
The doctor explain me kindly with respect.
5.0
August 8, 2024
I love Dr. Yao She is very interactive and practical
5.0
August 6, 2024
She listens and does address anything she can. Her treatments are so helpful.
5.0
August 4, 2024
My doctor is through in trying to help with my problem
5.0
August 1, 2024
Polite, on time
5.0
July 31, 2024
Efficient, got to the points
5.0
July 29, 2024
Dr Yao is excellent.
5.0
July 27, 2024
The check in was fast. The nurse was very knowledgeable and efficient The Doctor was very skilled fast and pleasant All in all a great experience for me.
5.0
July 27, 2024
Dr. Yao is helping me so much. She’s very popular and I am trying to get as many visits in with her as possible because it is helping my PMR
5.0
July 26, 2024
She is perfect in every way!!!
5.0
July 25, 2024
Is very proactive and advocates for assessing lifestyle risk factors now so that medical issues do not grow.
5.0
July 24, 2024
Very knowledgeable and compassionate.
5.0
July 24, 2024
Thorough and personable
5.0
July 22, 2024
She’s very efficient and caring. I was late due to traffic problems and she adjusted without eliminating anything from the exam.
5.0
July 22, 2024
Dr Yao is amazing. I've never had OMT and it was a great experience!
5.0
July 20, 2024
Our first meeting. She was very knowledgeable patient and answered all my questions.. She was very thorough and I would recommend her as a primary care physician..
5.0
July 19, 2024
Excellent Doctor
5.0
July 19, 2024
Doctor Yao was available same day to see me personally about a questionion regarding meds.
5.0
July 17, 2024
She paid attention and asked about all the things I came in for.
5.0
July 17, 2024
Dr. Yao is so very thorough and checks everything for you like drug interactions and talks to you. Let’s be her
5.0
July 17, 2024
ON TIME!!!!! Very professional and attentive.
5.0
July 16, 2024
She listened and was going to follow up on missing radiology report.
5.0
July 15, 2024
Dr. Yao is exceptional. She takes her time, asks great questions about my health, works her magic and makes me feel better.
5.0
July 13, 2024
Dr. Yao is we ‘in tune’ with my needs and has helped me with my pain level. She is very Knowledgeable and Listens to me regarding my issues. I always leave her office feeling better after osteopathic treatments.
5.0
July 12, 2024
Doc details, thorough and caring!
5.0
July 11, 2024
Great first meeting with Dr. YAO ! She is thorough and knowledgeable. Happy to have her as my primary MD. She explained my situation and the needed follow up.
5.0
July 11, 2024
Dr. Yao does a great job.
5.0
July 8, 2024
Dr Yao is so thorough and her approach is to focus on the details necessary to have all the information she needs to clearly treat the patient with skill.
5.0
July 8, 2024
Dr Yao is very thorough and care
5.0
July 6, 2024
She was available for me .
5.0
July 5, 2024
Dr. Yao is one of the BEST doctors I have ever had! She is professional, kind, and thoughtful. I feel so fortunate to have Dr. Yao as my new primary care physician.
5.0
July 5, 2024
Dr. Yao listens and cares. She’s very personal and I feel very comfortable with her. She’s wonderful! Thank you, Dr. Yao. -Lauren
5.0
July 3, 2024
Dr Yao is nice, calm, knowledgeable and takes her time listening to patient concerns.
5.0
July 1, 2024
Everyone good and on time.