Dr. Karen S Kolba, MD

If you did not find this doctor to be the best, you need to think again. In 20 years, I have been treated by many rheumatologists.. I came to Dr. Kolba a cripple. No doctor was able to help me. Instinctively, this brilliant, understanding woman knew how to help me, and to help me quickly. The atmosphere of her office is warm and home like. Her therapy dogs are just that . Dr. Kolba is retiring. She saved my life, and I will always miss her and feel grateful! J. Wright

A very gruff and nonprofessional manner was the starting point of our appointment. the doctor totally decided with no real basis most of my long established diagnoses were not accurate. she performed no real physical exam. . when we are asking for help in the medical sense, one does not expect to be so completely disrespected. after an hour of talking AT me, while typing the entire time her notes into the computer, she hit the print button and gave me a copy of what she felt what was "wrong" with me. wow! she apparently decided my medical status on the basis of reading the 10 or so med history pages we were required to submit prior to our appointment, which i assumed were the "starting point" to our appointment. rather, they became her basis for "her" diagnosis. (they were all very accurate medical professional diagnoses from doctors at different med centers). after reading what she had typed, i thought she must have spent the hour with "another patient", not me. i believe she thought… because i was still walking at all with my many diagnoses, that they must be wrong. THAT IS THE NATURE OF RHEUMATOLOGICAL DISORDERS!! they flare and the severity comes and goes. the one disorder i was actually referred to her for did yield some good information.

will obviously treat pt's nice, because she has to. but people should be judged by how they treat individuals they don't have to treat nicely. She definitely will treat those that she does have power over like trash. Including her office workers, medical students, pharmaceutical reps, waitresses. I would go to a knowledgeable physician who treats everyone nice.

Dr. Kolba communicates extremely well with her patients, takes her time to be sure you well cared for and she is a very knowledgeable doctor. We are lucky to have her in our area.

Dr Kolba is one of the best doctors I know. She takes the time to listen to what is going on with each patient. She is very knowledgeable in all areas and gives the best advice ever. She has helped my husband through several difficult diagnosis. We love her.

Of all my excellent doctors, she is my most caring. I trust her completely.

Not well liked, from what i can tell. As a patient she treats us very nice, but the way she is when she is not seeing patients is what, I think, turns people off. Overly critical person? I can see it. Psychological issues? I wouldn't doubt it. Mean and abrasive towards others? Definitely. My question is can you find a very good Rheumatologist that doesn't exhibit any of that? Highly likely and probably beneficial in the long run.

cruel, cranky, old, and did i say not very nice.

She may be board certified in medicine but I think this doctor needs to be board certified in people skills. She may be bipolar or has some sort of personality disorder.

She always gets you in no matter what. She's terrific!