Dr. Ellen Ya-Ting Yang, MD

A year ago, I entered AA Hospital with an inflamed spleen that was about to rupture. The surgeons were at the ready to remove it and had scheduled surgery when Dr. Yang came in for a consult and stopped the procedure having diagnosed my symptoms as endocarditis. She indicated that if that was the cause, I would need my spleen to fight the infection which had become rampant in my body. Leading up to this point I have been misdiagnosed with everything from acute mono to kidney stones. She zeroed in on my symptoms and prescribed a regiment of antibiotics and immune disease meds. While it was slow and I spent 5 weeks in the hospital I survived what my cardiologist and internist was high probably of dying due to the advance stage of infection in my heart valve. I agree that her bedside manner can be abrupt, but I would rather that than the friendly demeanor of the doctors who misdiagnosed me and gave the infection time to really take hold. Dr. Yang is a talented and effective… doctor!

I saw Dr. Yang several years ago when I had three parasites. I had nausea all of the time and struggled to take care of my young son. Dr. Yang said that the parasites I had don't make a person sick, and that I probably had irritable bowel syndrome. She also intimated that I was over exaggerating my symptoms. I was pregnant at the time and Dr Yang begrudgingly treated me with metronidazole after my first trimester - letting me know that I could NOT take the follow-up medication at all due to my pregnancy. I was unaware that metronidazole can make a person feel even worse. So, after about a week I called her in tears, having had to pull the car over to the side of the road I was so sick, asking if it was normal and was it possible that I wasn't getting better? Dr Yang snapped my head off! - letting me know that I probably had irritable bowel syndrome and that she certainly would not be re-treating me! I never saw her again of course. But, long story short, after several weeks I felt… better, baby delivery went fine and life was good. However, 9 months later I was completely ill and bed ridden again, as the parasites were back! All due to the fact that I had not taken any follow-up medication! So, patients be aware: Metronidazole can make you feel very sick. And, come to find out in the Journal of Microbiology there are plenty of articles and studies showing that the parasites I had do make a person sick. And, I had plenty of time to read them all because I found myself back in bed all day long :-( I am recovered today and have never had an inkling of irritable bowel syndrome. I suggest you go to George Washington or Hopkins, really. And, become an educated patient.

Yes, Dr Yang's bedside manner leaves alot to be desired. However, when I was in AA Med Center, 4 other doctors mis-diagnosed me. Dr Yang was the one who took the time to put it all together and make the correct diagnosis, and INSISTED the surgeon do the telling biopsy. She'll work tirelessly for her patient.

Dr. Yang has the worst bedside manner I have ever encountered. However, she is one of the only ID's in town. So, if you must just be prepared.