Dr. Kristin Philbrick Darden, MD

Not a good option if you have a comorbidity or symptom of anxiety or depression with any other health issues. She made assumptions that all my issues were caused by my mental health. She was dismissive and judgmental. She personally gave me so much medical anxiety that when I was recently hospitalized for three days after collapsing in sweat drenching pain while I was at work and was taken by ambulance and was asked why I didn’t go to the ER before for this pain, my first thought was the look on her face and the way she made me feel. Not only did she assume my chronic pain was in my head, she assumed I was there for pain pills, even when I expressed and stressed that I just need help figuring out the problem. When you’ve spent so long having chronic pain, you put up with a lot until you know it’s not “normal” anymore and needs further attention. I know she isn’t the first or last doctor to gaslight a woman in chronic pain, but she is the one that made me stop trying to get care for… many years. Barely spent five minutes in the room with me in my last appointment with her and still had to pay the bill for that. First doctor (a PA) I saw many years later for just a basic check up diagnosed my Celiac disease (which left untreated can cause symptoms like depression..) and last year another doctor asked follow up questions to my symptoms and suggested endometriosis for the first time in my life. I now have surgery planned for it. (I am well over the 10 year average mark for diagnosis and also diagnosis is not “rare.”) Basically all of this to say- your words as a doctor in that position of authority matter, especially as a “Primary Care” or family doctor. Even if it’s beyond your scope of expertise or skill set, resourcing is a great option to provide. Another great option would be to take the time to review your training from medical school on confirmation bias. Ultimately, I would not recommend her to anyone.

My husband and I both use Dr. Philbrick as our primary doctor and have since we moved to Missouri in 2008. She has always been available to the both of us and is wonderful with speaking to us for as long as is needed to help with our medical issues. We have always been able to get an appointment within a couple of days of our call until today and now the first available appointment is in a week.

I can highly recommend Dr. Philbrick. I value her opinion and she is a great communicator. I never mind going to the office for a visit. I know she has my best interest at heart.

very hard to get an appointment