Dr. Joanne Marcet Valeriano, MD

I probably spent five minutes with her. Most of the time was spent with her fellow. She clearly does not care. Her response to my concerns were "but you look good". You should expect more from a specialist who is supposed to treat invisible, chronic illnesses.

Rheumatologists are without a doubt some of the worst specialists: most of them can safely be described as impatient, haughty, condescending, unsympathetic, and narrowly informed. They suffer from severe professional tunnel vision; if you don't have RA or lupus, they won't spend a single minute exercising their gray matter on your behalf, but will shuffle you out the door with complete lack of concern and never give you a second thought. Dr Valeriano-Marcet is no exception. I waited about five weeks for an appointment (perhaps that in itself should have suggested the level of "care") and was given the usual five-minute flat examination. Her resident at USF was actually patient and curious, totally heard me out, but visibly had to bite his tongue when the supercilious Valeriano-Marcet came in to dismiss me. I have something rare, but not so rare anymore that she can afford to be uninformed without completely dispensing with her alleged professional ethics. This is not a failing unique… to this doctor, but plagues rheumatology, which refuses to broaden its horizons to connective tissue disorders and non-articular rheumatism. After all, their time is so very precious, why would they desire to learn more, thus giving them more work to do? And no oversight exists to force them to take these growing disorders seriously. In consequence, people like me are treated with head-shakes and a weak pretense of concern just so we'll shut up and let them keep the patient-mill turning until they get one they can fob off with Humira. Valeriano-Marcet has no manners, no compassion, and is undereducated. Pass.

She is honestly The best doctor I ever had. She would come in earlier jus to see me and always managed to squeeze me in and has even called me on her personal time to tell the results of a test!