Dr. Mary Allison Bowles, MD

My first two visits were very good and I got the right tests and a diagnosis (which I read on my chart online). Afterwards, it has now been 6 months, I haven't seen her - 4 appointments have been cancelled the day of. I finally got disgusted and asked to have my records sent to another doctor and when I got there they had not been received - it's a bust all the way around.

Arrived at 2:45 for my 3:15 appt. Was taken back by the nurse to the exam room at 4:15. At 4:45 no one had come into the room and the practice closes at 5; I had to leave the exam room, find someone cleaning, who found a nurse, who called Dr. Bowles in. She arrived in the exam room at 4:50, 10 MINUTES before the practice closed! Her attitude was harsh, she had not reviewed my chart and continuously asked me what tests and imaging I have had, which was faxed to her and available in the records she had with her. She told me my neurological symptoms were psychosomatic, even though my pyschiatrist had ruled that possibility out when I began seeing her 2 years ago, and disregarded the fact that the treatment for that disorder is antidepressants, which I have been on for 2 years as well. If it was psychosomatic my symptoms would have gotten better on those antidepressants, not worse, which was also confirmed by my pyschiatrist. She told me she would be sending a message to said pyschiatrist… to let her know to "consider" this disorder (she already ruled it out 2 years ago!) When I asked her whether certain symptoms aligned with the psychosomatic disorder she described she would tell me no but they could potentially be related. She was condescending, rude, and implied that what I am experiencing was due to childhood trauma, of which I have none. I understand that this IS the case for some people, but I do not personally meet that description and have already had this ruled out very early. It has been a difficult two years learning to advocate for myself and trust that my physician is doing what is best for me and Dr. Bowles' treatment put a giant setback to that progress. I believe she had forgotten that she had me as a patient that day and wanted to get me out of there asap. I ended up leaving at 5:20, had to leave out the back, and couldn't even make a follow up as the front desk staff had gone home and the lights were off. The ONLY positive is that she ordered two tests that will be beneficial to me in excluding other conditions. Other than that, I will not be seeing her or any other doctor in that practice again. I was thrilled to have this referral thinking it would help me sort out the issues I have been working with my PCP with for 2 years and instead I left feeling devastated and frustrated that I had waited so long just to be ignored and not taken seriously. Find another neurologist; it is not worth it to see Dr. Bowles no matter how long you have waited for a neurology consult.

Impossible to get a sick appointment in less than three weeks.not good

She isn't an investigative neurologist, just wants to write a prescription for meds that have heavy duty side effects. First you have to have the correct diagnosis.

We just left from Dr. Bowles appointment and she was amazing. She did a through examination she also listened to our conversation concerns. Her explanations of what the problem was and the plan of she was taking to make him feel better.

Terrible experience, she didn't want to listen. She wanted to hurry up and send you here and there, just to get you out of her care. If you didn't want to go to pain management, she couldn't help you. Her nurse was very rude and unprofessional. Never followed up on any test she orders.

I spoke to her and tried to explain to her what tests had already been done on me and my circumstances. She just tried to throw different pain patches to me. That's not what I was looking for I told her I wanted solutions and she didn't really truly seem to care.. I called in regarding issues to the medicine, she just wanted to take my off the one medication that was working and put me on something completely different. She didn't listen to any of my concerns.

I've been seeing Dr. Bowle's for 7-8 years. She is fabulous! I've been through at least 3 of her nurses throughout those years. I can think of 1, Melissa, who was courteous & respectful, always upbeat. The past 2 have been horrible!!! I'm actually considering switching Neurology groups b/c of them, which is a shame! BUT, I deal with the nurses as much as I do Dr. Bowle's. The nurses handle prescription refills, visits, questions, test results, etc. Crystal has the worst attitude ever~ I have NEVER seen her in a polite demeanor! She really shouldn't be working as, "nurse" or LPN dealing with patients. It's a shame Dr. Bowle's might take the loss in this one, by losing patients.

I've been going to her for many years and always been satisfied! At my request she sent me for a 2nd opinion and then to UVA. She has my seizures under control!5 years now no grand mall seizures! Iv'e been living with epilepsy for 40 years and I highly recommend her!

Never in my life have I felt so uncared-for by a doctor. I had to switch to a different doctor in the same practice because of persistant cancellation on my appointment, difficulty setting new ones, waiting forever, and a complete non-chalant approach to me and my condition. She upped my medication on what seemed to be a whim, and when I was sent to the emergency room after having a seizure, she jsut talked to the ER doc over the phone and told him to up my meds again instead of coming to examine me herself, or at least talking to me (she was just in another wing of the same hospital i was in!).