Dr. Joanne Ferguson Smart, MD

I'm sure Dr. Smart is overall a fairly decent doctor, but in 2004, when I was having a GREAT deal of pain and she couldn't figure it out, I requested at least a cervical MRI--and asked if an MRI of my jaw would be a good idea (she ended up adding a brain MRI), she told me I'd be in "deep sh-t" if the results of the 3 MRIs came back normal (she was angry; I have no idea why). My husband was with me & he nearly lost his temper--I was in a wheelchair & feeling horrid. I started crying after she cursed at me; she realized she'd gone too far. As it turned out, my brain MRI was the ONLY one that was normal. My cervical & jaw joint MRIs were abnormal. She had to eat her words; she should've apologized, but she didn't. That was VERY unprofessional! Just because my illnesses aren't as visible as others doesn't mean my pain isn't as real. Since then, my rheumatologist found that I have ankylosing spondylitis (a progressive, auto-immune that affects the spine AND the neck--& can affect some… internal organs). Dr. Smart also hasn't contacted me to follow up on my high cholesterol. The last 2 times I tried to get in to see her, I couldn't. I had to see a nurse-practitioner. Obviously, I need a new primary care doc (my rheumy has been doing that for awhile now). Dr. Smart's bedside manner is atrocious!