Dr. Toni Jo Hanson, MD

I came to the appointment hoping to get some practical advice regarding the use of my cane, crutches, and other possible assistive devices that would help me ambulate. I am a healthcare professional with excellent training and years of clinical experience. Although appearing to be engaging at first, it soon became clear to me that Dr. Hanson had made up her mind about labeling and "fixing" my condition apriori, even though the majority of tests at the Mayo clinic (ordered by my neurologist) has not been completed at the time of my appointment with her. My experience is eerily similar to the person (also a healthcare professional) who complained about "atypical walking patterns." Like her, I was also hastily advised to enroll in the intensive BeST program to address my "functional" disorder," in spite of the fact that I am an expert in the field of diagnosis and treatment of somatization disorders. I felt belittled and demeaned by Dr. Hanson. I don't think she listened carefully to my… complaints. Furthermore, she did not seem to review my history and intake form properly, and overall, trivialized my fear of falling (that, after reporting numerous falls), pointed out my incongruent symptoms pertaining to "abnormal gait" (even though she did not observe me walking unaided on challenging terrain) without any serious regard to how it affects the quality of my life, and essentially implied that I was over-compensating for a problem I did not really have. She also made blatant errors in her report and mischaracterized some of my comments. Because I disagreed to enroll in her intensive BeST program aimed at REBOOTING my brain and desensitizing my REACTIVE gait abnormality, I was regarded by her and her OT staff as a challenging, uncooperative, (combative) patient. I was deeply disappointed and found the encounter unsettling and demoralizing.

Dr. Hanson came in and started asking questions, never introducing herself. She leafed through my file while asking questions, seemingly in a hurry. She seemed to have made up her mind about me before seeing any objective signs. She watched me walk and said my gait pattern was "atypical" and that she felt it was due to poor motor planning. She recommended a special program at Mayo that would last for two weeks. The problem is, I am a Physical Therapist and have been looking at motor planning problems for 24 years. I feel that I understand walking patterns, and mine is atypical, but only due to several areas of weakness. She seemed to be in too much of a hurry to really understand my problems, and I do not recommend her based on my experience with her.

Dr Hanson is one of the best Specialists at the Mayo Clinic.( my opinion) After 5 back surgurys, I have met with her and her staff many times. Her staff is Great, Very nice group. Can't say enough good things about Her.