Dr. Nathaniel Halpern Robin, MD

Do not waste your time and money here. This Dr was extremely dismissive and Rude. The entire appointment left me frustrated, upset, and in tears. He came into the room already looking annoyed and was not pleasant at all. He spent probably 5-10 minutes in the room total. I came in to be evaluated for Ehlers-Danlos. Within that 5-10 minutes, he told me I didn't not fit any diagnostic criteria and I was not even on the hypermobility spectrum (which I know is incorrect because I've not only looked over it myself, but have been told by multiple other drs that I fit a good bit of the criteria). He recommended exercise for chronic widespread pain. He told me after I started explaining my symptoms, "you're pretty young, and you look fine so I don't really see anything wrong". I tried explaining my symptoms in more detail and he brushed me off and spoke over me. Completely unprofessional and rude. If you're looking for a geneticist who will listen and at least try to help you, I suggest you go… elsewhere. I will be filing a complaint come morning.

I am extremely disappointed that you would dismiss somebody with ehlers-danlos syndrome that has come to you after a year of anxiously awaiting the visit. Not seeking pain medication but seeking help for inflammation. For you to tell this person that the only problem is in their brain which is connected to their body, is one of the most disgraceful comments I've heard from a medical professional. you should be more than ashamed of yourself! You are not God you are a doctor and a poor one at that.I'm a mother of a young woman with this condition and I can tell you the invisible disease is extremely debilitating to the entire family and we fight very hard to be understood and recognized and we depend on the medical professionals to assist us in doing so. Your denial or lack thereof experience in this condition is a disgrace

I have been told by various Drs that I may have a connective tissue and joint disorder. After going to the ER over a year ago I finally arrived at the referred and long awaited appointment excited. I have spent the majority of my life being shuffled around from clinic to clinic because Drs never know how to deal with me or help after lots of therapy, medication and misdiagnosis. I applaud the Dr who is already aware or at least tries if they are not sure how to best treat me. This Dr. Robin, however, was downright rude. I thought to myself maybe Im just being sensitive after being hopeful. This feeling was debunked as Dr Robin not only behaved as if he was annoyed when he walked in, asked me questions only to cut me off and did not listen to any of what I had to say, but the man looked me dead in my eye and verbally attacked and judged me. Within the 5 minutes that he remained in the room before dismissing me, he told me "I am not the Dr for you. I suggest you learn to better mentally… manage the pain you have concluded to have over these years. Maybe meditation or some sort of mental therapy can take your mind off the fact that you believe you are hurting. I wont need to even refer you to anyone else because Ive been doing this long enough to know you dont have anything seriously going on outside of your brain that's actually extending to your body." At this point I simply left. Feeling attacked and defeated. I feel like I have been robbed of not only my copay but my dignity. I have filed a complaint with UAB Highlands Birmingham. I will make sure to give a review of my ENTIRE experience in the support group he advised I join on the internet. People with disorders similar to mines have went through chronic pain and have to endure others who dont understand it telling us we are lying, lazy, whiners. We finally get a specialist and he belittles and dismisses people. I did not come or ask for pain medication. I asked for something to help with the inflammation. He didn't speak or look at me long enough to even know if something was wrong with me or not. It was so bad that his genetic counselor intern attempted to speak over him and soften the conversation with a more polite tone and choice of wording. At least the up and coming Drs still have hope and the ability to maintain patient advocacy. The hospital is suppose to be one of the main places where you can come and seek help without being afraid or judged, but not at UAB Highlands seeing Dr. Nathaniel Robinson.

I have gone more than once to Dr. Robin and I leave in tears every time. He makes the thoery of “learned helplessness” true. At the end of the appointment you’ll feel as if you’re faking your condition and it’s “in your head”. Everything he tells you, is what you already knew. I commend him and his degree, and I respect his position. However, he doesn’t know how to physically and mentally help you in the ways he should be able too.

Dr. Robin's exam was short and he didn't perform the diagnostic criteria established to diagnose or exclude the genetic disorder(s) for which I specifically went to UAB. He didn't take the time to discuss the different complications of the genetic disorder except for the overtly obvious. Dr. Robin seemed clueless to the fact the pain is common, severe and associated with functional impairment with the genetic disorder. He instructed me to, "take an acetaminophen if I was going to overdo my activities." Such a statement just reinforced my belief that Dr. Robin had true no understanding of the genetic disorder and certainly no connection with the patients with that disorder with whom he was diagnosing. If I wanted the simpleton's diagnosis like I received from Dr. Robin, I'd have saved the travel time and $$$ and asked my family physician to read a published paper on the matter then diagnose me.

While he did spend time with me, he failed to address my concerns and didn't seem to provide specific answers to any of my questions. My mother and I came in to be evaluated for a connective tissue disorder and have the symptoms treated (or referred to another doctor who could). When I brought up how the pain had been difficult to treat and has significantly affected my quality of life, he stated that he "didn't believe in antidepressants" and that my pain was "all in my head," even though I've had surgeries as a result of the disorder. I then asked what he felt I should do next, he basically said don't worry about it. I left the office in tears, with no answers.