Dr. John Ananda Van Aalst, MD

Dr. Van Aalst is amazing. Beyond his areas of expertise, and there are many, he is very patient, courteous, and considerate. My experiences with him were always pleasant...He listened, answered all my questions and was available! He repaired my lip! and my life! BETTER THAN I EXPECTED! He is amazing! 5-stars

Dr Van Aalst preformed a phargeal flap surgery in my son with that has 22q11.2 Deletion Syndrome. He and his team did a perfect job and gave my son the ability to speak correctly!! Every time we go for a follow up I get emotional because how do you properly thank someone that gave your child the ability of speech they didn't have before!!

Met Dr. van Aalst when I was 20 weeks pregnant with my son who had been diagnosed with cleft lip during ultrasound. He was born w cleft lip/palate & his lip/cleft repairs were done by Dr. van Aalst. He is an excellent doctor/surgeon. Cranio-facial team @ UNC is top notch. Been driving 2.5 hrs oneway for appts, for 8 yrs. Would not trust my son's care to anyone else. Hope he's still there in 10 yrs for son's last surgery. Never waited more than 15 min for appts. Had scheduling problems 1 time due to new coordinator.

My experience with Dr. Van Aalst is colored by continuous problems being seen on time. Getting my procedure scheduled took a ridiculously long time 3 months. The hospital clinic is very chaotic and disorganized. In spite of having an appointment time, the seeing of patients appeared to be random. My advice is to complain loudly and often if it appears you have been skipped or have been waiting an hour past your scheduled appointment time. I was never seen within an hour of my scheduled appointment. My initial wait was 3 hours. My multiple calls leaving messages to schedule appointments were never returned. I would never repeat the experience.

After several disappointing experiences with this doctor we have sought care elsewhere. He is very busy, which we believe led to mistakes in the care of our son.

I think Dr Van Aalst is a friendly enough doctor, and I have heard wonderful things about him. I do not share those sentiments. Once my son had an appointment with him, and we saw a fellow, without any explanation why. Another time, instead of seeing pts in the order of their appointment time, they were seen in room order. A 2 year old should not have to wait over an hour for an appointment. And when I expressed concern over a problem, I was told my son did not have it. Guess what? He did have the problem. Hmm...

Dr Van aalst is by far the most outstanding physician and individual that I have ever encountered in my 35 years in health care. His technical skills as a surgeon would be obvious if you saw my before and after pictures. His work is outstanding and I am extremely happy with the results of my surgery.Where Dr Van aalst is head and shoulders above any physician that I have ever encountered is in his interpersonal skills, compassion and caring with his patients. He listens, he responds, he values what you have to say, what you think and relates to you as a person.He put me at ease, and really made me feel he understood what I needed, and related to me in a way that inspired absolute confidence.I believe that UNC should make sure every physician trained in their school of medicine is exposed to Dr Van aalst interacting with patients and should be held out as what every physician should aspire to.

I liked they way he answerd all the ? i had and he talks to u like he knew u 4 ever thank u