It's interesting, reading the various evaluations of dr. flash gordon's work. Simply put, people either 5* LOVE him (like me) or quite the opposite, the one star. with very few opinions in between the two extremes.
I've been a patient of this wonderful man for about 15 years now -- neither of us can remember -- and I feel as though I have some insights for those of you who have had negative experiences.
First of all, I have a problematic body/ Difficult, tricksy. It's always up to strange things and dr gordon always figures me out. For example, I had been walking around with a severe mental disorder w/o taking it seriously most of my life. He's no psychiatrist, but his knowledge of the workings of the human brain/mind just amazes me. He has literally been a life-saver for me.
A good doctor must be surrounded by a staff that can support him/her. Until NOW that has not been the case. I am pleased to say that he finally has three women -- three excellent women -- to help organize his free-wheeling genius. I am thrilled with them, because they help keep him organized, and they are all very fine people. I like going there more than ever now. The entire experience is much more stream-lined.
The new office, at 1000 S. Eliseo on the second floor now, is much better , a one doc office which I find most attractive. That doesn't matter to me,although it's a plus. When I first started seeing dr. gordon he was located at an urgent care clinic in the canal district of San Rafael. Not exactly posh, you know? Did I care? Absolutely not.
As most people recognize, a really good doctor is like a well-guarded secret, and yes, maybe those waiting rooms are full and sometimes people are inconvenienced. There used to be more understanding from the patient base when doctors were late, due to the fragile nature of the human body and the potential for emergencies -- but people are in a rush.
Also, the population is not as intimidated by doctors as in the past, and in general that's a good thing -- but understanding is still essential, and comprehension and compassion for what is going on behind a skilled doctor's closed doors when one question leads to twenty more.
Nobody wants to feel "disrespected" -- and there is something about certain doctors ... smug, contemptuous disrespect for the opinion of someone who is well-tuned into their own body -- ooooh I hate that, and dr gordon does NOT do that. He listens to me.
There has always in my lifetime been a general tension among doctors and the rest of us. Something in their manner that, for many of them, presumes superiority. flash may be grumpy sometimes but the reasons any of us are kept waiting in the office are different than have been voiced -- there is NO disrespect intended. I've been on both sides of the doctor's waiting room!
The doc hates being late, but he hates been anything less than thorough, too. One day I brought my daughter to him as she was showing some very odd signs and I was concerned. She must've been in her early college years -- something like that.
He spent two hours with her that day, and yes, there WERE people in that office who probably felt personally disrespected, but a Master Diagnostician was at work, and nothing would stop him until he figured out what was the matter with my girl.
That day he discovered that she had PCOS (poly cystic ovarian syndrome) - a pretty big deal for a 20 year old to deal with. (Of course all the proper tests were done that bore out this diagnosis following the appointment.)
He was incredible, so kind and funny and reassuring. And I'm really truly sorry that folks were put out that day -- but real doctoring was going on in one of those rooms, practiced by a Master of his art.
And with me -- I've been rolling around with untreated bipolar disorder for my whole life, and no psychiatrist ever noticed. flash gordon did.
He has been an extraordinary help to me in this difficult body, and to my family. Yes, I do call him "Dr. Grumpy" sometimes -- there's NO denying that he can be that, but it's superficial crust hiding the wise, kind & utterly brilliantly unique flash gordon. They broke the mold, all right! read more