EDS Specialists in Los Angeles: A Patient's Guide to Finding Care

· EDS Directory Editorial Team
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Los Angeles has more EDS resources than most cities in the country. The greater LA area is home to two Ehlers-Danlos Society Centers of Excellence, a dedicated EDS clinic run by a provider who lives with the condition, several EDS-experienced physical therapy practices, and major academic medical centers with connective tissue expertise. Finding care still takes work — LA is sprawling and EDS-knowledgeable providers are not on every corner — but the options here are real and growing.

Browse EDS specialists in Los Angeles →

A quick overview of EDS

Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome is a group of 13 inherited connective tissue disorders that affect collagen — the protein that holds together joints, skin, blood vessels, and organs. When collagen is faulty, the effects are body-wide: joints that dislocate or subluxate easily, chronic pain, fragile or stretchy skin, digestive dysfunction, fatigue, and in some subtypes, serious cardiovascular risks.

The most common form is hypermobile EDS (hEDS), accounting for 80–90% of cases. There is no genetic test for hEDS — diagnosis is clinical, based on the 2017 international criteria. There is no cure; treatment focuses on managing symptoms, protecting joints, and building a care team that understands the condition.

We cover the condition in more detail in our articles on EDS treatment and management and what type of doctor treats EDS.

EDS Society Centers of Excellence in Los Angeles

The Ehlers-Danlos Society designates clinics and hospitals that have met rigorous standards for EDS care, research, and education. The LA area has two — more than most major cities.

Re+active Therapy and Wellness

Located in Los Angeles and Torrance, Re+active is an EDS Society Center/Network of Excellence offering physical therapy, occupational therapy, and psychology services specifically for EDS and hypermobility spectrum disorder patients. This is one of the few practices in the country with formal EDS Society recognition for rehabilitation services. For patients whose primary needs are joint stabilization, pain management through movement, and psychological support, Re+active is one of the strongest options in the LA area.

Casa Colina Hospital and Centers for Healthcare

Located in Pomona, about 30 miles east of downtown LA, Casa Colina is a Core Network of Excellence — one of only 16 in the entire United States and one of just two in California. Their comprehensive EDS therapy program brings together rehabilitation specialists with specific EDS expertise. Being seen at a Core Network of Excellence means receiving care from a team that has been formally vetted at the highest level of the Society's recognition program.

Notable providers and clinics

Beyond the Centers of Excellence, the LA area has several other providers worth knowing about.

The BendyCare Clinic (Century City / Beverly Hills). One of the few dedicated EDS practices in the LA area. Run by Catherine Yuen, DMSc, MPH, PA-C — a physician assistant who lives with EDS herself — the clinic specializes in hypermobile EDS evaluation, hypermobility spectrum disorder, POTS, and MCAS. The clinic offers comprehensive hypermobility examinations and customized care plans. Yuen is listed in the Ehlers-Danlos Society's provider directory and serves patients in California and Nevada, including via telehealth.

UCLA Health. UCLA's Cardiovascular Genetics program evaluates vascular Ehlers-Danlos syndrome alongside other connective tissue disorders that affect the heart and blood vessels, including Marfan syndrome and Loeys-Dietz syndrome. For patients with suspected vascular EDS — the most serious subtype — this is one of the primary referral pathways in Los Angeles. UCLA's pediatric rheumatology also has clinicians with experience evaluating hypermobility. Note that UCLA does not have a dedicated general EDS clinic; their relevant services are embedded within cardiology and rheumatology.

Cedars-Sinai. The Heart Institute and Medical Genetics Institute treat EDS patients through their relevant specialties, and their health library includes EDS-specific patient resources. Like UCLA, Cedars-Sinai does not have a standalone EDS program, but patients with cardiac or genetic concerns related to EDS can access care through these departments.

Body Reform Physical Therapy (Beverly Hills). Run by Shannon Harris, a physical therapist with over 20 years of experience treating EDS and hypermobility patients. Harris developed the Bowstring Method, an approach focused on myofascial work for hypermobile patients. This is a cash-based practice, which means no insurance billing — worth knowing upfront.

Children's Hospital Los Angeles. Their Pain Medicine Clinic is listed in our directory and serves pediatric patients with chronic pain conditions, including EDS.

The EDS Clinic (Telehealth). Part of the EDS Society's Centers of Excellence program, The EDS Clinic now serves California patients via telehealth. This can be valuable for patients who want a formal evaluation from an EDS-focused provider without traveling to one of the in-person centers.

Types of specialists you may need

EDS affects multiple body systems, so most patients work with several different providers. The most common include:

  • Rheumatologists — for joint pain, hypermobility, and clinical diagnosis of hEDS. Rheumatology is the largest specialty category in our LA directory listings.
  • Medical geneticists — to confirm your subtype and order genetic testing for non-hEDS types. Especially important when vascular EDS is suspected.
  • Physical therapists — considered the cornerstone of EDS management. See our article on physical therapy and exercise for EDS.
  • Pain management specialists — for chronic pain that is complex or has not responded to other treatments.
  • Cardiologists — for POTS screening, baseline echocardiograms, and vascular monitoring. See EDS and POTS.
  • Mental health providers — the second-largest category in our LA listings. Chronic illness takes a real psychological toll.
  • Gastroenterologists — for the digestive symptoms that are extremely common in EDS.

We cover the full care team in detail in what type of doctor treats EDS.

Browsing the directory

Our directory currently lists 18 EDS specialists across 9 cities in the greater Los Angeles area, with the largest concentrations in Los Angeles proper, Culver City, Torrance, and Beverly Hills. Across all of California, we list 141 providers. Rheumatology is the most represented specialty in the LA area (7 providers), followed by mental health (5) and physical therapy (3).

You can browse all California providers on our California state page or search by specialty using our directory categories.

What to look for in a provider

When evaluating a potential EDS provider in Los Angeles, the same principles apply as anywhere:

  • Ask about the 2017 diagnostic criteria. A provider unfamiliar with the current international framework may be working from outdated information.
  • Look for experience with related conditions. EDS frequently co-occurs with POTS, Mast Cell Activation Syndrome, Chiari malformation, and chronic fatigue. If a provider is surprised by these associations, they may lack EDS-specific experience.
  • Ask about their approach to coordination. EDS management works best when specialists communicate with each other. A provider committed to a team approach is a strong sign.
  • Check directory listings. Providers listed in the Ehlers-Danlos Society directory or affiliated with a Center of Excellence have actively engaged with EDS education.

At your first appointment, it is reasonable to ask: How many EDS patients do you currently treat? Do you refer to genetics or cardiology when appropriate? Are you comfortable coordinating with physical therapy for joint stabilization? If you do not diagnose EDS yourself, where do you typically refer patients?

Challenges in finding EDS care in Los Angeles

Even in a city with the medical resources of LA, finding EDS care has real obstacles.

Geographic sprawl. Los Angeles is enormous, and EDS care is spread across multiple systems and neighborhoods. A patient may need one provider in Beverly Hills for diagnosis, another in Torrance for physical therapy, and another in Pomona for comprehensive rehabilitation. That is the reality of multidisciplinary care in a city that spans 500 square miles.

Wait times. Demand for EDS-knowledgeable providers exceeds supply everywhere, and LA is no exception. Geneticist appointments can take months; waitlists at the Centers of Excellence may be long. Getting on waitlists early and using telehealth options in the meantime is a practical strategy.

Provider awareness gaps. Most primary care providers receive little to no training on EDS. A 2025 study found that 94.4% of hEDS patients were initially misdiagnosed, with many told their symptoms were psychological. Patients in LA face the same challenge as everywhere else — finding a doctor who recognizes EDS often requires persistence and self-advocacy.

Insurance variability. Not all EDS-experienced providers accept every plan. Body Reform PT, for example, is cash-only. Always verify coverage before scheduling, and know that California Medicaid (Medi-Cal) does cover genetic testing for connective tissue disorders with documented medical necessity.

Tips for patients in Los Angeles

Start with your primary care doctor. Ask them to evaluate joint hypermobility using the Beighton Score and provide a referral to a rheumatologist or geneticist. A PCP willing to learn about EDS can become your care coordinator.

Use the directories. Our California state page and the Ehlers-Danlos Society directory are the best starting points for finding providers who have identified themselves as EDS-knowledgeable.

Connect with the LA EDS community. The Los Angeles Area EDS Support Group — listed on the Ehlers-Danlos Society website — covers LA, the San Gabriel Valley, and the Pomona Valley with virtual meetings. Associated Facebook groups including SoCal Zebras are active sources of local provider recommendations.

Consider telehealth. The BendyCare Clinic and The EDS Clinic both offer telehealth for California residents. If you are outside the LA metro area or facing long wait times for in-person appointments, a telehealth consultation can get you started with expert guidance.

Keep your search broad. Instead of searching only for "EDS clinic," try terms like hypermobility specialist, connective tissue disorder clinic, clinical genetics, or rheumatology hypermobility. Then narrow down from there.

Prepare thoroughly. Before specialist appointments, compile a symptom timeline, past diagnoses, test results, medications, and family medical history. Coming organized makes a significant difference in a time-limited appointment.

When to seek care

Reach out to a doctor if you or a family member experience frequent joint dislocations or subluxations, very stretchy or fragile skin, unexplained bruising, fainting or dizziness when standing, chronic pain without a clear explanation, or a family history of connective tissue conditions.

Seek urgent care if there is any family history of unexplained aortic aneurysm, arterial rupture, or sudden death. These may be signs of vascular EDS, the most serious subtype, which requires immediate specialist evaluation. UCLA's Cardiovascular Genetics program is one pathway for urgent vascular EDS concerns in Los Angeles.

Getting started

Los Angeles offers more EDS resources than the vast majority of cities — two Centers of Excellence, a dedicated EDS clinic, experienced PT practices, and major academic medical centers. The key is knowing where to look. Start with the directories, connect with the local support community, and build your care team one provider at a time. Whether you are newly suspected, recently diagnosed, or have been managing EDS for years, quality care in Los Angeles is within reach.

If you are looking for EDS specialists in Los Angeles, you can browse providers by location and specialty here:

Browse EDS specialists in Los Angeles →

You can also view all providers statewide on the California state page or search the Ehlers-Danlos Society's Healthcare Professionals Directory.

Frequently asked questions

How many EDS specialists are in Los Angeles? There are currently 18 listed specialists across 9 cities in the greater LA area, with the largest concentrations in Los Angeles proper, Culver City, Torrance, and Beverly Hills.

Are there EDS Centers of Excellence in LA? Yes. Re+active Therapy and Wellness (LA/Torrance) and Casa Colina Hospital (Pomona) are both EDS Society Centers/Networks of Excellence. Casa Colina is one of only 16 Core Networks of Excellence in the US.

Does UCLA or Cedars-Sinai have a dedicated EDS program? Neither has a standalone EDS clinic. UCLA's Cardiovascular Genetics handles vascular EDS and aortopathy. Cedars-Sinai treats EDS through its Heart Institute and Medical Genetics Institute. For dedicated EDS-focused care, The BendyCare Clinic, Re+active, and Casa Colina are the primary options.

Can I see an EDS specialist via telehealth in California? Yes. The BendyCare Clinic and The EDS Clinic both offer telehealth for California residents.

Is there an EDS support group in Los Angeles? Yes. The LA Area EDS Support Group covers Los Angeles, the San Gabriel Valley, and the Pomona Valley with virtual meetings. Several associated Facebook groups also serve the Southern California EDS community.

Sources

Published by the EDS Directory Editorial Team. Our content is researched using peer-reviewed medical literature and sources from the Ehlers-Danlos Society, NIH, and GeneReviews.