Dr. Ralph Shearer Northam, MD

Dr. Northam is very approachable and easy to talk to. My child has been a patient of Dr. Northam's for over 5 years. We can discuss health matters in detail. Dr. Northam orders tests on a regular schedule to monitor my child's condition (a genetic condition, a recurrent brain tumor, a recurrent csf leak causing an extensive collection of csf running the course of his spine which was most likely a result of his craniotomy at a major out of state medical center that I will not name). By the way, Dr. Northam was the provider that ordered the MRIs that discoverered that there was the csf leak/collection. He calls me to discuss test results and recommends review and appropriate intervention by a neurosurgeon at JH when needed. Dr. Northam sends a letter to my child's pediatrician after each visit which is appreciated. Dr. Northam interacts with my child to find out how my child is emotionally, how he is doing in school, what his future goals are and is very encouraging to my son. Dr.… Northam is a compassionate and caring doctor and overall person. Dr. Northam's staff is professional. They send reminder notices to schedule follow up appointments.

This guy does not listen to you. He is a great doctor if your child has an easy to treat neurological problem. Our child's condition deteriorated and then we got to see the real Dr Northam: a callous and arrogant man out of his depth. When the treatment he sold us as the only option actually made our child much worse, he stopped returning our phone calls. He then hid behind his partners and wouldn't see our child again or respond in any way to our concerns. He is a coward and has a gigantic ego. He is poorly trained and out of touch with the latest research and unwilling to try newer treatments. If your kid is a complex case avoid this creep and go to vcu uva duke or johns hopkins. They have real experts there. Not ex-military, country bumpkin wannabes who are more interested in their own financial and political gains than your child's health.

Did not listen, not look at reports, did not want to look at future reports coming in, said My son just had learning problems and ignored the diagnoses he had formally been given, said he did not agree with anything I was doing for my son, wrote my son is LD-not the case, sent his report to my son's PCP w/o my consent which impeded the process for interventions and tests needed to see a specialist. He was doodling while I was talking. His account of our discussion documented was not accurate as a result. He did not wear my son's fm unit to speak to him during the exam...since he did not believe in it!!!!!!! Education is needed on neuro disorders other than Autsim and LD-so many are out there and if KD does not have the equip or means to test...then you will have to accept reports and exams form others who do or at least say you do not have the expertise to see children like this. In terms of an IEP: man I have a service plan and I will qualify for non-profits..In addition you… should be happy when a child is thriving where they are in school and advocating for them. My advice pick one career or the other: medicine or politics. When you are advocating for a child ....politics and med don't mix!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1