Dr. Kurt Edward Heiland, MD

My experience with Dr. Kurt Heiland resulted in a complete loss of confidence in his care. At my June 24, 2026 appointment, Dr. Heiland diagnosed acute malignant otitis externa and documented a “gram-negative infection involving the temporal bone” and “gram-negative pseudomonal infection.” He prescribed oral ciprofloxacin, discussed the risk of quinolone-associated tendinitis and tendon rupture, contemplated additional imaging, and instructed me to avoid elective surgery. He knew I was preparing for rotator-cuff repair. I left without understanding the objective basis for conclusions carrying such significant consequences. His comment to me, “I believe nothing I hear and very little that I see,” also left me with the unmistakable impression that my honesty was being questioned. Valley ENT subsequently told me that malignant otitis externa was actually Dr. Heiland’s “working diagnosis” and that he was “not able to confirm this diagnosis” without laboratory studies. I specifically… questioned why his medical record appeared to document temporal-bone infection and pseudomonal infection as established findings when the diagnosis was unconfirmed. I transferred my care to another ENT who reviewed Dr. Heiland’s records and my history. His retrospective assessment was substantially different. He concluded that my original condition was eczematous otitis externa progressing to acute otitis externa and wrote that it “simply needed adequate cleansing and treatment topically to be cured.” He also stated that he did not believe imaging, testing, procedures, or other intervention beyond monitoring had been indicated. I subsequently asked Valley ENT’s corporate leadership for a formal independent clinical review of seven specific issues concerning Dr. Heiland’s diagnosis, documentation and treatment. Valley ENT President Dr. Jordan Weiner responded that my request was “inappropriate” and that the Board would not respond to my “interrogatories.” None of the seven clinical issues was addressed. Physicians can disagree. My concern is the magnitude of the diagnosis and its consequences, the difference between what was documented and what Valley ENT subsequently described as an unconfirmed working diagnosis, and the dramatically different assessment of the ENT to whom I transferred my care. Based on my experience, I would not return to Dr. Heiland and cannot recommend him.

The staff will schedule you for a list of "required" test only to have Dr. Heiland rush in and out at the end saying, "Don't touch your ear for two weeks and then come back for follow up." Cue the bill again for nothing? No, I'm not falling for that. His terrible bedside manner and arrogance is perfectly paired with the rude, dismissiveness of his office manager Cami. That was a first and last visit, save your self the experience and choose another ENT.

The staff will schedule you for a list of "required" test only to have Dr. Heiland rush in and out at the end saying, "Don't touch your ear for two weeks and then come back for follow up." Cue the bill again for nothing? No, I'm not falling for that. His terrible bedside manner and arrogance is perfectly paired with the rude, dismissiveness of his office manager Cami. That was a first and last visit, save your self the experience and choose another ENT.

While I was supposed to be having my vitals taken, the Office Manager who I guess also takes vitals, argued with me and insisted that it was not possible for me to have a respiratory reaction to smoke. She accused me of being there for a lawsuit (absolutely random) and told me they wouldn't provide service to me for a lawsuit, even though I was there for a regular appointment because of respiratory sensitivity I developed from being exposed to open burning of yard debris, green wood and trash daily for 6 months. I waited a month for this appointment. I was so offended by her words, her random ridiculous assumptions and inappropriate behavior, and I told her so. I told her it was rude, and was coming across condescending that she was insisting wood smoke and smoke from debris wouldn't cause respiratory sensitivity and that I was offended. Then she asked me to leave and said that the doctor did not want to see me anyway. I don't know what that meant. She grabbed my arm. She is around 6… feet tall and much large than me. It was very intimidating. I tried to ask for help from the other people at the front of the office and no one would look at me or acknowledge me. Very dehumanizing. She again approached me and began to put her hands on me again. When I asked her to stop putting her hands on me. She called the police on me, when she is the one repeatedly touching me without my consent. They refused to see me. I waited a month for this appointment. The narrative of an imaginary lawsuit is something this lady made up in her head. I just want to get better and find some relief from the awful sensitivity I have to smoke. It's burning season and I get so darn inflamed from breathing in smoke, it's awful. I can not believe that this happened to me. It was humiliating. I'm extremely shooken up over this experience, and if an ear nose and throat clinic is unaware that smoke can irritate a respiratory system... Well, you should probably go somewhere else. I'm not sure if this place is a scam- Obviously, smoke and particle pollution is a major irritant in large due to PM2.5 particulates... also why we have pollution advisories in this city. Also upon arriving they let me know my insurance covered the visit but that I had to pay a fee for a procedure- to have my sinuses scoped and that the doctor would do this procedure even though I have never had a consult here and he doesn't know what I am visiting for. I noticed they told other people the same exact thing. Generally, I would like a doctor to order tests or do a procedure after actually speaking with me and knowing what I am visiting for. Also, because I noted on my medical history that I had a very bad ear infection 10 years ago and I can hear, but it altered how some things sound- they immediately had me do a random hearing test, although that's not what I came in for. Perhaps, they are looking to pad the bill. Maybe that's why she kept insisting that my smoke sensitivity must be "something else"...

Dr. Heiland has been my doctor for almost 20 years when I was diagnosed with stage 3 squamous cancer of neck area. His aggressive treatment of the cancer is the main reason I am alive today. His bedside mannor is as good ad it gets. I continue to have biannual checks for the last 19 years. He is without a doubt the best head and neck surgeon in the phoenix area. Bill Hare Scottsdale AZ

Hard for me to rate Dr Heiland considering his credentials and background but just one advice as an older colleague: 1- Medicine is a practice and always room for errors while dealing with human beings and not objects, while keeping in mind the first rule of practicing medicine. ‘’ make no harms” Dr Heiland is a smart and experienced ENT physician with impressive background but still there is more room for more experiencing and not rushing into conclusions.

I initially liked Dr. Heiland. I was treated by him for a severe sore throat that I'd had for 2 months. He diagnosed me with Laryngeal Pharyngeal Reflux, put me on medication for reflux and told me to eat a low acid diet. In the following 6 months of follow ups with him, those things hadn't helped the terrible throat pain at all. I questioned him as to whether it could be something else and he wouldn't entertain the idea of another possible culprit. He prescribed a Barium swallow study and the results said my cervical fusion plate on the front of my spine, was narrowing my esophagus and compressing it by almost 50%. It did also confirm reflux. When he reviewed that report he dismissed the problem with the cervical fusion hardware, and said everyone who has a fusion looks like that. He told me that maybe I was "just a pain person. I had other physical problems and maybe I would just have pain. He would see me for a follow up in a year." I chose to find another ENT after that. The other… ENT reassured me that the fusion plate was indeed a big problem and contacted my spine surgeon recommending the removal of the hardware. I had surgery to remove the hardware. A bursa had formed between the plate and esophagus, and I had numerous bony prominences jutting into the esophagus. These things had formed from the friction of the hardware against the esophagus. My surgeon removed those things and the hardware, and I woke up from surgery with the pain from swallowing completely gone. Food and medication doesn't get stuck at all anymore. I wasted 6 months in intense pain with every swallow, with an incorrect diagnosis. Dr. Heiland refused all that time, to visit any other possibilities but reflux, even after the radiology report acknowledged the hardware problem. When I questioned him, he chose to label me a "pain person," instead of looking further. I am glad I looked elsewhere, or I'd still be dealing with terrible throat pain until my cervical hardware slowly eroded through my esophagus. He wasn't even going to follow up with me for another year. He is probably a great Doctor with those he diagnoses correctly, but if his diagnosis's is incorrect, my experience is that he dismisses the possibility, and you are on your own.

I found Dr. Heiland to be caring and extremely knowledgeable. He put my mind at ease regarding my upcoming surgery. His staff is also caring and capable. Kami the office manager is wonderful. Si glad to have him as my doctor.

This doctor just care for the money. Very Rude!

It is extremely hard to get to actually see the doctor. On asking the first visit, I was told there was no reason to see him, as the practitioner would know everything he would say. When I did get to see him, it was rushed and cold. Coming in for a follow-up, I called and was assured the doc was on time, waited anyway for 50 minutes, and upon checking, was told he was running another 40 minutes late. The office manager was cold and accusing, saying it was argumentative of me to question why I was told to wait another 40 minutes, when in fact, they were ready to bring me in. Great creds, lousy attitudes.