Dr. Candice Chenier Snyder, MD

Dr Candice Synder was a provider for me in 2023 at Akron Childrens MFM. I unfortunately had a negative experience with her 2 times before requesting her to be removed from my care team. Her bedside manner came off as unconcerned, bored, and condescending. She informed us that our baby had 1 indicator for Down Syndrome while cornering us in a dark exam room with only the light turned on over the sink. She informed us that the baby had this single indicator (short nasal bone) and that this was a strong leading indicator for Down Syndrome. Her demeanor was predatory as if she was awaiting us to have a huge reaction and when we proceeded to ask questions (my husband and I) she gave vague changing responses. We unfortunately saw her again 2 weeks later for repeat US and the appointment following was worse. She once again said the indicator was a serious one for Down Syndrome and then (without genetic testing) proceded to tell us all the horrible things that could and likely would… happen such as baby being still born, heart and lung issues and disabilities. We asked questions regarding early intervention and how that would affect outcomes and her response was that she didn't know. She continued to repeat the negatives of a child with Down Syndrome and also kept focusing on the fact that the baby was a male (we had done IVF through a clinic that did a modified natural for us where I was able to ovulate and then a week after medically induced ovulation they transfered a female embryo) she kept insisting that IVF genetic testing was often inaccurate and the baby was likely intersex. We explained that we had had twins and that one was a natural pregnancy and the other was either the female embryo or another natural one that never developed a heart beat (blighted ovum). She insisted I was confused and that she had never heard of this before (modified natural). She continued to bring up hardships and said she would be recommending the pregnancy be induced at 37 weeks due to high likelihood of stillbirth and other complications. This was all before we had the blood test to test for Down Syndrome. I was 33 year old without family history of Down Syndrome and she was presenting the situation like it was some horrible life shattering possibility. She continued to harp on the negatives and when we continued to ask questions she acted bored and annoyed. We ended up seeing another doctor several weeks later who had a much more neutral but uplifting outlook on the situation and expressed concern thay she was discussing these negative potential outcomes and birth plan without having genetic testing done and only one indicator. He encouraged me to write a review and expressed other pts had similar complaints but never wrote. I couldn't help but feel (and my husband said the same) that her intention was to scare us. I seriously hope she has improved her bedside manner but after hearing about similar experiences with her from friends and colleagues I would be cautious about her. Not sure if she had some issue with Down Syndrome patients, got a kick out of scaring patients, or was just unaware that she negatively affected people with her behavior but I hope she never ruins another person's experience for months at a time. I want to add that she was not just presenting facts and was not just curt. I can appreciate a provider who is curt and perhaps cold but offers facts and follows the science and states any recommendations will be shared when test results come back. She was not that, and her response of I dont know was nearly every other response. Also as an example, she wanted to proceed with the echo that was scheduled due to baby being conceived in an IVF setting even though he wasn't the IVF baby (was the natural pregancy) I expressed concern over pain as a good friend of mine had echoes for her baby who had heart defects decred in utero. Her response was "sounds like your friend had a low pain tolerance, they aren't that b