Dr. Melinda F Somoza, MD

This is a typical va doctor. More concerned about entering info in the va system than actually interacting with the patient. A doctor should not be asking the patient what they want to be done. I presented my issues and all I heard was very lame explanations. The va does not care and never will. She spent all of time entering info in the system than a actually showing any concern. Once again the va makes you feel like they really do not care. In their minds the best vet is a dead vet!

I had a long time distrust of doctor but Dr Somoza made me trust her in all aspect of what I experience in the past. I did make a point of listening and following her advice. It really has made a difference in my life and attitude. I thought medication was the only way I could function. Following a new diet plan and exercise regiment made me feel 100 times better than before. I slowly realized the medicine I was taking could be affecting HOW I was feeling. I feel even better because I have reduce my dependency on the numerous pills I was taken. It lifted me out of my fog that I had been in for decades. Without a caring Doctor this would never have happen. This comes from trusting and following the advice given. Never felt this before until now. Thankfully Dr. Somoza is not the run of the mill doctor and cares about her patient that are willing to change. Something like my former self would never admit that with a little change in my attitude that I would feel like I was in my 20s. I… struggled for a long time thinking that I would die feeling the same but Dr Somoza change that for me. Thanks for being a caring professional and not given up on me when other including myself did.

Thinking I knew more about my drug tolerance and the effect it had on my body lead to a very dangerous situation. I overdose on prescribed pain medication prescribed from a previous provider. I finally faced the fact that I was an ADDICT and learn with Dr Somoza's help and approach other ways to be healthy and pain free but most important drug free. I knew all the words and situation to make someone prescribe me more pain medicine but it stopped when the doctor stood up to me and would not fall for my tricks. I thought this doctor is not for me but that was far from the truth. She allowed me to see the path that lead to a life time of pain addiction and help me get away from that. Because she cared about me and not my lies to get me to that point. I owe my life. I am grateful for her taking a stand where others would not. She tries to help and give advice and if she is not comfortable she says so. A satisfied patient from her growing list. Many do not hear the good thing about a… person only the bad but I disagree with other reviews of how a patient was treated. I never experienced anything further from the truth. Many patient think they know better than a doctor I was proven wrong.

I think reading Patients prior reviews that really does not indicate what type of treatment one can expect from a new doctor. I have always asked questions and if I did not understand it, I wanted it explained to me. Reviewing past medicine history also helped me reduce my medication from eight down to four. Saving me money. This does not happen over night but I persisted and feel better than before just by listening and following Dr Somoza orders also with increase physical activity. Who knew a thirty minute walk could achieve so much. Doctors today have a limited time with patients and cannot get a full history on a patient on one or two visits. Each Doctor have there own ways of dealing with patients and those dealing with pain. Dr Somoza has explained her position on pain management because if you continue to take the same medication over time you will eventually need higher and higher dosages because you reach a point where it does not work. There are sites and programs set… up within our local community that list patients being seen by local doctors. This local list help cut down on those looking for pain pills from more than one doctor. It is obvious that those prior patient review does not reflect the true situation and seem more about proving why the doctor was so bad. You have to trust YOUR Doctor based on your OWN experience not that of other patient. Because it is hard to believe that other patient fear their doctor. It seems more like the patient not getting what they want and wanting to vent rather than the face the facts. So do not believe what you read because I have never had that experience and I am glad that Dr Somoza is my doctor.

I was assigned Dr. Somoza at the VA hospital in Albuquerque. She is the WORST doctor I have ever seen. She actually yelled at me when the hospital operator connected me to her office by accident, then hung up on me. She did not believe my description of pain, even though I had fallen and my knee was swollen to the size of a grapefruit. No eye contact, didn't want to know about what was actually going on, only wanted to get me out of her office. She always seemed to be in a very bad mood and even her staff was scared of her. I requested (and was granted) a change in doctors. So glad she's out of here now, but I feel sorry for anyone who had to deal with her now.

Dr. Somoza is the worst Dr. I have ever seen. She did not ask me anything about my history with my anxiety. She never asked me how I was feeling on either of my visits. She only said she wasn't comfortable renewing my current prescription with my original Dr. that retired. I left the office wondering how I was going to be able to get myself off a medicine I have been on for several years. I am feeling abandoned :(

Dr. Somoza was very professional and on the first visit explain her outlook on pain management which she tries to limit. She give me simple ways to keep my pain level down including diet and exercise and weight loss, which did the trick instead of using medicine. The numerous questions asked were to give full medical history including medicine and vitamins that are being taken. The previous medical provider/person did not think to even ask or do this. It is apparent how very important these questions are because family history and other past events are vital to a full and complete medical history that the records may not reflect plus with the lack of time to read each and every patient makes up for this. I felt at ease at the initial and follow up appointments. She completed insurance paperwork that I need for work on her own time. Given me option to feel very comfortable about her ability and future care.

Genuinely compassionate and attentive. Well thought out diagnosis. A metamorphosis from prior reviews? I WILL be back.

I lost my original MD.. I wish he was still here but I was very un eased and uncofortable with Dr Samoza... I was asked questions never asked before about my past... I wan't healing for my future not for my past? And if my past only realted to my illness.. She should have had records to review...

WORST DR.No eye to eye contact,lives in her own bubble,Doesn't have a clue,on pain management,Just cocerned with herself,not the patient...