Nirmala Gonsalves, MD

Very, very condescending, invalidating, and unreachable…awful bedside manner. Research is sole focus- not patient care.

First forgot to send me prep instructions prior to a procedure. Then the procedure was canceled last minute because… they failed to contact insurance and lied about it.

I was late for our intro appointment. I didn't ask but the man at check-in went in the back and asked her to see me anyway. Her nurse rushed me into the back and reminded me how lucky I was she would see me despite being late. She came min minutes later. I apologized for being late. She didn't seem to care, just said "I'm trying to get to my son's recital" - okay, that's great. But once you get through the door and alone in the room with the patient, its supposed to be all about them. Instead she rushed through everything, was condescending toward me when I brought up my anxiety and smoking, and did everything to get me out of there quickly. In spite of all this, we came up with a plan to move forward. Asked if I had any more Q's and I said no, then proceeded to sit back down at the computer and try to put in my prescription/pharmacy info. Thought she was in a hurry? Anyway, I told her I just moved and I didn't know the pharmacy intersections but it was off Belmont and pulled out… my phone. Immediately she starts typing and barking out questions. "CVS OR WALGREENS?" "I uhh... " (again, I suffer from anxiety, I'm here for scary GI stuff, this is now getting weird) "Its a Walgreens?" She then starts yelling the intersections of various Walgreens on Belmont. I tell her "Just a second..." "WELL THIS IS THE NURSES JOB ANYWAY I WAS JUST TRYING TO HELP YOU OUT" "Okay... Its on Belmont and Cumberland, I just found it." "I DIDN'T EVEN HAVE TO SEE YOU BUT I DIDN'T WANT YOU TO RESCHEDULE" "Why are you acting like this?" "THIS OBVIOUSLY ISN'T GOING TO WORK" "What about our plans, the prescription and lab tests?" "YOU'LL HAVE TO FIND SOMEONE ELSE." Bear in mind I never raised my voice or demanded to be seen in any capacity. From there she reminded me again how I was using up her time and she went out of her way to try to see me and help me, doing everything in her power to make me feel guilty. I never asked to see her, I was expecting the front desk to reschedule me when I showed up late. She then leaves, and 5 min two large nurses show up standing at the edge of the door. Not too close, as if I am a danger to the office. The nurse, Derek, hands me my discharge papers, looks me up and down intimidatingly, and tells me to see myself out. I won't be going back to see her and I recommend finding different GI practice than NMH.

Dr. Gonsalves is simply the best doctor in Chicago that treats EOE. I had been going to another GI doctor in the suburbs and by the time I read articles online I knew more about EOE than them. I visited Dr. Gonsalves at Northwestern and her team got me on a treatment plan that is working great. Dr. Gonsalves herself is a very compassionate woman and her bedside manner is excellent. My only complaint is that her department seems extremely understaffed. Getting a hold of anyone takes a significant amount of time. Needed a prior-authorization for some medication and it was a very timely process. I've found the best thing to do is contact them by MyChart. Overall Dr. Gonsalves is great, and I hope they get her further support staff and nurses.

I think she is a good doctor; however, she and her staff are extremely inaccessible. It usually takes 3-4 days for someone from the office to return your call, even when you make it clear that you are experiencing a time-sensitive medical problem. It is very difficult to get in to see her, and once in the office, the wait time averages 30-60 minutes. This has become such a problem that I have decided to find a new doctor, and I would not recommend her to individuals looking for a gastroenterologist.

I saw her about a year ago. I would agree with the comment that she was more interested in research than finding the cause of my symptoms. I had the tests she ordered, and only learned the results thru the online system, with no comments to explain the results. She did not mention a return appointment. I called with sever symptoms one morning, and the nurse returned my call that evening, telling me to go to the ER. I went the next morning, and they ran tests. Again, I only learned the results thru the online system. I have not returned to see her, and have been at a loss for a good gastroenterologist. If only Dr. Charles Winans had not retired at UofC!

Doctor and staff more interested in research than conerned about treating my condition