Garo K. Balkian, MD
I speak: English
My gender: Male
Where I practice
- Emergency service
- Urgent care services
- After-hours services
- Pharmacy services
- No emergency services
- No urgent care services
- No after-hours services
- No pharmacy services
About me
Welcome to my Web page. I’m happy to have this chance to introduce myself to you and tell you about my practice. I am privileged to work at Kaiser Permanente with wonderful colleagues and members, and I look forward to working with you to care for your health.
Biography
I grew up in Southern California and decided to become a physician with the guidance of my father’s cardiologist. This physician encouraged me to volunteer at a local hospital to see if medicine could be a good fit as a career. After attending college at UC Irvine, I went to Philadelphia for medical school and then returned to California for my residency training. I got married and started a family while in residency. I currently have a son and a daughter.
About my practice
I practice full time in the Emergency Department, which is always a challenging work environment. We work as a team to care for the sick and injured members who come to us for emergency care. Easing people’s fears about their conditions is an important part of what I do in the Emergency Department, in addition to providing prompt care.
How I thrive
Staying physically active is an important part of recovering from the stressful environment in the Emergency Department. I enjoy running, biking, and swimming, and I have competed in the Los Angeles Marathon and the Los Angeles Triathlon. I have also started mountain climbing in the last couple of years and have made several winter ascents of Mount Whitney; I also reached the summit of Mount Rainier in 2016. I’ve adopted a mostly plant-based diet that has reduced my weight, increased my energy, and made me feel younger!
My office
Languages spoken by medical staff
Help is available in your language. Learn more.
My provider type
Physicians and SurgeonsMedical groups, plans, and locations
Southern California Permanente Medical Group
Plans accepted
- Exclusive Provider Organization (EPO)
- HMO
- Medi-Cal Managed Care
- Point-of-Service Plan (POS)
- Senior Advantage
Woodland Hills Medical Center
Contact information
- Appointments/cancellations/messages
- 1-833-574-2273 (toll free)
- California Relay Service
- 711 (TTY for the hearing/speech impaired)
- General information
- 818-719-2000
- Inpatient room information
- 818-719-2770
My training, certifications and licensing
Medical school
Jefferson Medical College of Thomas Jefferson UniversityBoard certification
Emergency Medicine
American Board of Emergency MedicineMedical training
Internship
Transitional
University Medical Center (UCSF Program)Residency
Emergency Medicine
University Medical Center (UCSF Program)Joined Permanente Medical Group
2000Active license information
License number
A63683License type
Physician and SurgeonLicense issuing state
CALIFORNIANational Provider Identifier (NPI)
1326154063Cultural Competency Training (CCT)
CompletedMy hospitals
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The information in this online directory is updated periodically. The availability of physicians, hospitals, providers, and services may change. Information about a practitioner is provided to us by the practitioner or is obtained as part of the credentialing process. If you have questions, please call us at 1-800-464-4000 (toll free). For the hearing and speech impaired: 1-800-464-4000 (toll free) or TTY 711 (toll free). You can also call the Medical Board of California at 916-263-2382, or visit their website.
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This page was last updated on: 02/04/2025