Daniel Zalkind,

I had a very upsetting experience with this cardiologist, and I feel it's important to share. This was my first ever cardiology appointment, and I went in because of palpitations related to anxiety. I was already overwhelmed and scared, and I was hoping for reassurance, clarity, and basic compassion. Instead, I left feeling judged, talked to like I was stupid or incompetent, and completely dismissed. I felt like I was judged for my weight from the second he walked into the room -- his expression, his tone, and the way he talked over me just made it painfully clear he saw my size before he saw me as a patient. Throughout the appointment, he made multiple comments about my weight/being obese that felt extremely unnecessary. He compared me to "young slim women" my age and said that if someone thin came in with my same findings, he would "write it off," but because I'm my size, he wouldn't. He also used some analogies about my health that I found disrespectful, among other things I won't disclose, because they are absolutely incomprehensible. Hearing this from a doctor was embarrassing and deeply hurtful. He questioned my physical abilities and repeatedly implied I was likely physically incapable, despite me clearly functioning normally. When discussing my weight (again), he made discouraging comments like "if you don't gain it back" and "I don't think you'll get the results you're thinking you will," which felt more like judgment than actual medical guidance. I left the visit far more confused and anxious than when I arrived. I was given a frightening diagnosis with almost no clear explanation, and his tone made it incredibly hard to ask questions or understand what was happening. I felt like I was being thrown into multiple loops that didn't have anything to do with what I was asking. For someone visiting a cardiologist for the first time, this was an awful experience. A doctor's job is to inform, support, and guide patients -- especially those who are scared -- not to shame, stereotype, or belittle them. I walked out feeling humiliated, dismissed, and even more frightened about my health than before. NO patient deserves to feel like that, especially in a specialty where anxiety is already high!!! - He also tried to cover his own butt through his choice of wording in my clinical notes on MyChart; it was not indicative of our appointment or conversation, it was completely biased and frankly, untrue. After hearing the other reviews, I am shocked St. E won't investigate him. I feel that he is a liability! St. E will also not allow me to do an internal transfer to another cardiologist. Additionally, I have called their patient experience team and left multiple voicemails on multiple of their locations, to which I have not received a reply of any sort. If I could rate a ZERO, I would. I would not recommend this provider to anyone seeking respectful, UNBIASED, and COMPASSIONATE cardiac care. Patients deserve to be educated and treated like human beings, not talked down to or judged for their body size. THIS IS ABSOLUTELY UNACCEPTABLE!!!!!

Doesn't deserve the one star but can't review otherwise. This Dr Z is awful. My husband went to him a couple of times in the past and he looked at my husbands chart and said oh you smoke that's your problem. Would not discuss anything or listen to symptoms his Primary Dr sent him there for. Now my daughter was sent there and as soon as he walked in the room looked at my daughter and said oh your obese no wonder. Anything she tried to discuss was cut off by well your obese loose the weight. Way to go doc talking to a teenager this way. Grace is certainly not your middle name. Didn't discuss the fact that dad had issues, grandfather had issues, aunt died at very early age due to heart issue (and oddly enough she wasn't obese). My daughter was not able to speak and was left with Get on a treadmill as a resolution. What a joke. Now we are on the hunt for a REAL cardiologist. I wonder with all these bad reviews why St. E keeps him what a liability.

Will never see this doctor again. Very rude, very unprofessional. Just had a baby and he kept telling me I was obese. Visit was very rushed. He seemed irritated and made me feel like my visit was unnecessary. I scheduled an appointment with a different doctor the same day. I will never see this doctor again.

Did not feel as though he listened to me. Ordered Stress test and told me results were fine and to continue taking BP meds, I have not had a script for BP meds for over 2 years. Saw another provider in group who informed me my stress test was indeed NOT normal and is running more tests.

Definitely has a horribly bedside manner. My first encounter with Dr. Zalkind -- or with any cardiologist for that matter -- left me feeling worried for patients who actually have severe heart conditions. Mine is quite minor, for now. He seemed to have formed a solid opinion about me overall & seemed honestly downright annoyed by me. I tend to ask a lot of questions by writing them down ahead of time to ensure that I'm 100% informed about my health, even down to what medication is being prescribed & side effects as well. Dr. Zalkind wouldn't even take the time to answer, elaborate or explain anything to me. He wouldn't even elaborate on my condition until I pressed him about it. Everyone has bad days, even doctors, but given his ratings on numerous platforms paired with my encounter, I honestly don't think he's happy in his profession. I'm ready to switch cardiologists immediately. He even wrote me a script for an entire year based on this one encounter. That, to me, is quite dangerous especially given my sensitivity to most medications.