Dr. Michael Phillip Santa Maria, MD

I felt that my concerns were ignored and my knowledge belittled. I do not trust that he offered a diagnosis that is rooted in knowledge, or an understanding of the patient.

He claimed my scoring in the 99.9th percentile on my IQ testing was “normal”, indicated I definitely don’t have autism. Oh yeah, I shook his hand, so I can’t have autism, according to this terrible doc. I had a single friend at the time. He said I couldn’t have any friends if I had autism. I laughed in his face when he told me scoring 99.9 percentile (better than 1 out of 1000 students) was “very common”. He doesn’t like to admit in HFA or Asperger’s type autism.

Back in 2014 I saw this so called doctor for neuropsychological testing due to my traumatic brain injury. This doctor opinion is so false it’s not even funny. This doctor Drafted up a report stating I was malingering my symptoms. And I had no problems with some of my chronic tbi symptoms such as my memory. As I really declined as it’s normal for patients with traumatic brain injury to decline. I pushed my doctors in 2017 to send me for brain imaging called spect at one of the best imaging places in the country. where it can tell if someone is malingering. Since it looks at brain blood flow patterns in different parts of a person’s brain. So I get my results and not only did the radiologist say I wasn’t malingering but they considered a bunch of different brain diseases. So as I continued to decline in 2021 i pushed my doctors to send me for another brain spect scan given I was having trouble holding really any form of Emplyment longer then 9 months. I found a doctor that listened to… me and sent me for another brain spect scan. As the radiologist viewed my scans. This time a different radiologist. Again I’m still dealing with a traumatic brain injury that could be degenerative. Two different radiologists 4 years apart agreed I’m dealing with a traumatic brain injury and I wasn’t malingering my symptoms. This so called doctor I wouldn’t trust his opinion. Cause he can be absolutely wrong it’s not even funny. Anyone that reads this. Be extremely cautious dealing with this man. Cause he can be extremely wrong it’s not even funny. I don’t like writing reviews but this one I had too.

I have never written a review for a doctor before, but my daughter and I had such a bad experience with Dr. Santa Maria, that I felt I needed to post this. First off, let me say that his staff was very friendly and professional. It was just Dr. Santa Maria that we had problems with. I was disappointed in his decision to not diagnose my daughter with high-functioning ASD, as his reasons for denying the diagnosis were either not based on diagnostic criteria or not based on facts. He also reached this decision after spending a total of about 30 minutes with her. The minimal testing his staff (not Dr. Santa Maria) did with my daughter was academically based, which was not at all my area of concern. There was very little testing done in the areas of my concern. I was also disappointed in the way we were treated when he discussed his decision to not diagnose. When I tried to further explain the situation or my concerns, he would not listen to me and cut me off. He admitted to not… contacting counselors or teachers that have personally worked with my daughter, as he felt it was “not necessary”. He accused me of “shopping around” to get the diagnosis I wanted, instead of recognizing that I am simply a mother that wants to help her daughter succeed in life. My impression was that he had already determined to deny the diagnosis before my daughter and I ever entered his office. When it became apparent that he was not going to truly listen to me, we got up to leave. He shouted several comments after us as we walked down the hall on our way out. It was the most unprofessional doctor’s appointment I have ever been at. He did not say one sympathetic or encouraging comment during our entire visit; rather, he seemed to be trying to make me feel badly about pursuing a diagnosis. My daughter left his office in tears - truly a terrible experience for her. I have wasted almost a year of valuable time looking for someone to do an evaluation, and then waiting for an appointment. I would not recommend this doctor to anyone.

a minute ago I was diagnosed with level 1 autism by a very thorough doctor and a psychologist who specializes in Spectrum Disorders when I was 23. Seven years later, I am looking for assistance in independent living due to terrible executive function. The OPWDD referred us to Dr. Santa Maria for a re-evaluation. The first meeting was HIGHLY uncomfortable and the doctor often waved off information given. It was incredibly brief and not at all thorough. Nothing was asked about sensory issues or my developmental history at all. The second visit for testing was also 1/4th the time I spent with my first doctor where I was tested for memory, attention to detail, attention, and pattern recognition (most of which are high in autistic individuals such as myself.) My mother reports filling out surveys of my developmental abilities, but I was not asked about these - the only psychological evaluation I was given was for depression. Despite my developmental scores being in the fourth pecentile,… Dr. Santa Maria determined that because I had managed to make a handful of friends in my life (most of whom were made for me), learned to mask as to avoid bullying, and had a high IQ, I couldn't POSSIBLY be on a SPECTRUM of a disorder that has made my life incredibly difficult. Thanks to him, I will not receive the help I need because he somehow believes that high-functioning autism doesn't exist. I desperately need help managing my executive functioning, and I will receive none, continuing to be drastically behind my peers. Side note: for an office that evaluates autistic folx, your music is incredibly loud.

Excellent child psychologist. Took my son to numerous doctors and Dr Santa-maria not only diagnosed correctly but found things others missed. I recommend him to every parent of a child with special needs.

Very detailed and enlightening neuropsych exam

The neuropsych exam that my daughter had with Dr. Santa Maria was very detailed. It involved a whole day and Dr. Santa Maria's staff worked hard to get many of her records. The exam and Dr. Santa Maria's report were critical to getting her the school supports that she needs to be successful in school.

My Medicare insurance was denied payment for dr. Santa Maria who I was asked to see 2 times for autism testing to get a group home. Then to find he didn't do the testing I had in school or speech in school or after my appointment. I need a group home. His schizophrenic diagnosis is not something I have problems with because I have no symptoms of it let alone doctors say I not on meds for this. Then to not get group home because of this misdiagnosis. It's like 57 misdiagnosis of all kinds of mental health not 1 doctors of any aggressive. Then to have confirmed diagnosis of autistic disorder, auditory processes disorder, communication disorders and adhd for Dr. Santa Maria not to do testing needed. I had autistic disorder in school. To get services I am to get testing every 3 years I am told.

I don't pretend to know about the testing - but he never asked me a single question about how I function as an adult, his only concern was whether or not I got into trouble as a kid in school. (35 years ago). He was arrogant and uninterested. He insulted me and told me I just wanted drugs & that I just need to make lists. When I told him I've tried every kind of planner, organizer, he told me I didn't want it badly enough. When I tried to tell him that the testing didn't begin to address things like I start 10 projects at the same time, then having a hard time finishing the jobs because I've gone off and started another thing. That just focusing on one job - like the dishes was nearly impossible. He told me that my husband should be proud that i get so much done (!!!) That because I tested well that I don't have a problem. No interest in figuring out what the problems are. So I'm out thousands of dollars with for one series of tests and one 5 min interview with the PhD and… 15 Min followup. I was horrible, shameful and embarrassing.