Dr. Nathan Robert Shapiro, MD

I have been with this practice for 20 years and it has deteriorated significantly over time. The office space is cramped and the exam rooms are so small that they have child sized exam tables. Also, there is no room for a spouse, parent or other patient advocate in the exam rooms. My husband had to stand sideways in a corner. The walkway to the office is uneven brick that someone with a walking aid could not safely traverse. As far as Dr Shapiro goes, he is out of touch and very dismissive. When I tried to discuss sleep problems, he told me to “read a book” and when I tried to discuss unexplained weight gain, without asking any questions about my diet or lifestyle, he told me my BMI was fine as he backed out of the room. Lastly, when I expressed concerns about information another doctor had given me about cognitive impairment associated with a medication I was on, he said “that’s not true” without any further discussion. The side effects of the medication are well documented which… leads me to believe that he does not keep up with current medical information. I have already found a new practice and will not return.

Where do I start? New patient, although he was pleasant, I felt very rushed. I definitely feel like he doesn't care too much about what the person has to say. I have been struggling with weight & recently found out my mother & all 3 of her brothers have Hashimoto which can be detected early with proper testing. I suggested a thyroid issue & he'd said he already checked it (by touch). Early stages can only be detected via blood work & not the TSH test which isn't used until many symptoms are showing. When I mentioned the weight loss issue (I've lost 70lbs already on my own over the course of a few years & plateaued) he said "People stop losing weight when they aren't totally disgusted by what they see in the mirror" which I found completely unprofessional. I felt like my problems were simply a means of me not trying. He went on to suggest a liquid diet of 600 calories for a few weeks which any person who knows anything about caloric needs to function know that this isn't a smart idea. I… exercise regularly - 1 hour a day, 5 days a week, moderate to high intensity - and eat clean & nothing is coming off, only gain super easily. It's a very sensitive subject for me & needed to be dealt with far more delicately than it was. Once I get my physical results back, I'm switching to someone else who'll actually listen & is less old fashioned in their approach to weight loss.

Excellent doctor!