I'm not a fan. Dr Cooper spent very little time with me, had a dismissive and cold bedside manner, and was overall unhelpful. It was clear that she was trying to rush the visit as she was running behind and didn't give me her full attention. Find someone else. read more

Dr Cooper was instrumental in diagnosing something that others had missed. She's thorough and no-nonsense, which is what I want in a doctor. She's usually running behind, but I never mind that because I know I am also going to get the right amount of time for any check-in RE: my chronic illness. She won't sugar coat things, but she genuinely cares and that's more than a lot of doctors who push meds on you instead of truly diagnose the root cause. read more

I've seen two other neurologists prior to being seen by Dr. Cooper, and my goodness, it's a night and day difference. For once in my life, I've found a doctor that listens and actually cares...and I couldn't be more thankful. Dr. Cooper is truly exceptional, creme de la creme, top tier and anyone who is under her care should feel extremely special, as I do. She has gone above and beyond to give me personalized care for all my current symptoms. She has made me feel like a partner/a person versus another number in the door. She is a great listener, respectful, and explains things very clearly without any pressure. I'm so extremely grateful and for once in my life, I feel like my health is great hands because of her, and her amazing team. Thank you so much, I'm eternally thankful! read more

A sensitive bedside manner is something to consider when people are hurting. After waiting for months for this appointment, I was devastated to be treated with little hope and zero compassion. I can't bring myself to give a really negative review, because I have some measure of compassion for a doctor whose issues I don't know and who is likely well meaning, overworked, and not naturally compassionate. read more

Dr Cooper is brilliant & creative. Additionally, she has referred me to a number of specialists when necessary- she knows everyone. She has also provided me with many useful treatments & testing. Not necessarily touch feely but a great listener and a nice ironic sense of humor. I've had MS for 37 years and have probably been with Dr. Cooper for at least 15 years (I'm now a 72 year old woman & use Ocrevus) Wouldn't want to be treated by anyone else! She is great!! read more

The provider of my CPAP machine has been unable to get Dr. Coopers office to respond to a routine request so they can upgrade the equipment on my CPAP machine that is required. they have contacted then four times without any response. They've asked me to intervene, and I have little hope I will be successful. Last time I went for a visit, they were not properly prepared for me. The doctor came in to scold the assistant to get the correct records. On my first follow up visit, they told me that they would have to report to Medicare that my CPAP use didn't qualify for Medicare coverage, based on my use history. When I protested their data was incorrect,they went and took another look and said, yes I did in fact qualify. On my last visit, they began a new patient intake process for me-failing to realize I was an existing patient. While likely highly competent as a doctor, their practice is the most indifferent medical provider I have ever experienced. The strong impression I am left with as a patient is that they absolutely have no concern for me as an individual. I'm just another number to them. Highly suggest you look elsewhere for care. read more

PCP referral to Dr Cooper for addressing continuing need for my for long term use of CPAP by which she provided for a detailed evaluation, answered my questions and addressed my concerns; timely and expertly. Her staff was most accomodating and friendly. read more

She seems to be in high demand. It takes months to schedule an appoinment. She always wears a mask, sits huddled in a corner, and speaks very softly. I repeatedly ask her to speak up, and she does for half a sentence and then lapses back into unintelligibility. I have seen her three times, each time for less than 15 minutes. For the first visit she billed my insurance for a set of activities which, if performed, would have taken an hour. Today, immediately after I had described how difficult it is to communicate with my psychiatrist, who does not bill Medicare, she suggested that I call him to see whether there was any reason not to double my dose of an antidepressant medication. She shows no interest, concern, or empathy. When I said I was tired of sleeping 11 hours a day, she asked how many hours I had slept each day 10 years ago. I responded that I did not know, since I was not using a CPAP (which tracks hours of use among other things) at that time. She said, "So you might not be sleeping any more now than you did then." While that may be true, it does not respond to the issue I presented. I will be looking for another sleep specialist. read more

I could not get care from their office no matter how hard I tried. They could not be bothered. They blamed covid, they blamed the schedule. They failed to get my medical records from the other doctors. They scheduled appointments with me and did nothing to prepare so the copay was wasted and my time driving around the Bay. What a waste of time. Why even bother if you don't care to be helpful. read more

Dr. Cooper is fat phobic and lacks compassion! I told her several times i wanted to focus on body function and not body weight but insisted on always talking about my weight. When i stated my boundary with her she got defensive and put her hand up in my face to stop me from expressing my boundary. She needs to go to DEI training and understand that not everything is related to weight‼ read more

Dr. Cooper is cold, books out three months, and most frustrating, impossible to contact. It typically takes me a dozen calls over weeks to get in touch with her even for simple questions, like whether an appointment is in person or remote. Most recently, she was totally unreachable by my insurance company, or me, after I had a procedure she prescribed. My insurance needed some notes, tried to contact her three times, and without being able to reach her, sent me a thousand dollar bill. She doesn't pick up the phone, for me or for hospital administration. She is the single worst doctor I have ever worked with, I have no idea how she still has a position. She is known by sleep techs around the bay as "the dragon" and she lives up to the title. read more

Dr Cooper is an excellent doctor. Very knowledgeable based on many years of experience, she listens well, and is thorough. She is also direct and does not shy away from telling you what you need to hear. She has helped me tremendously in figuring out what my needs were. This is what I go to a doctor for. read more

Horrible, incompetent person. Arrogant, condescending--even just mean. There is not a compassionate bone in her body. I can only guess she has deep psychologic issues. A need to control and to demean. Her lack of skillset may be the least of my objections. She's just horrible in every category you could select. read more

Dr. Cooper was abrupt, and needs sensitivity training. The purpose of my visit was due to not feeling rested after sleeping. Two times during our visit she allowed interruptions of someone else entering the room. She asked me about my weight was and my response was fine. She lifted an eyebrow and said do you mean stable? My blood pressure is excellent and I work out several days a week. At the end of the visit she recommended that I lose weight. The lack of sensitivity around health at any size and the impact a comment like that may have on someone with an eating disorder is horrific. Sleep apnea affects people of all sizes and this was not an acceptable recommendation. read more

She doesn't even deserve one star. She is cold, aloof, non-caring, critical, unhelpful, inconsistent with her care and medical practice, and seems to have some personality issue to boot. I left her practice a long time ago, and so did a friend as we didn't believe we could get good care from her. We commiserated that if we stayed our health would likely suffer. We couldn't understand why so many local doctors refer patients to her. She may have been good once, but that was not our experience. (Both my friend and I have doctors in our own families who shared our concerns.) In the course of the years we stayed with her, she lost my friend's medical records and mine too. We only realized after some years that we had the same neurologist, (when our records went missing), and both of us now have no files from years in her care and thus no history to show new doctors. Can you believe a neurologist losing your case history, brain MRI's and other neurological evaluations and entire file of many years? I had suffered a Traumatic Brain Injury, Concussion, Post Concussive Syndrome and migraines. I had imaging and various tests under her care but have none of those records since she "lost" them. I have suffered with migraines for years, and she didn't seem to care much or offer any solutions. One year she would not see me, when I had an appointment, because they were over-booked. I had been hospitalized with a once-in a-lifetime severe episode of Vertigo, and upon arriving at her practice weak and weary from Vertigo, I learned that they couldn't take me and I was turned away. (I was not able to walk a straight line due to the Vertigo and dizziness) The staff maintained they had a long list of people with critical issues. While I had checked in at the front desk, and Cooper had been consulted about the appt., she still prioritized others over my appt. and I was told she could not see me. In staying with Cooper for as many years as I did, I feel that the issues I had and still have, were never properly treated, and I have to start over with another neurologist--albeit without my medical records. In the years I was "under her care," I actually rarely saw her because I found her so unpleasant and dismissive and incomplete in her care. Her NP (whom she passes many of her patients to), is also removed, uncaring, and businesslike. She comes across as a transcriptionist at a keyboard rather than a health professional. Cooper's aloofness, unhappy demeanor and coldness seem to have rubbed off on her underling who said to me upon my last visit: (one of two visits in six years), "So you're back again." Needless to say, I felt as though my concerns were an insufferable nuisance to her, and I haven't crossed their doorstep since. I'm just sorry I didn't leave a long time ago. There are plenty of good neurologists in the bay area. Best find one who cares, and can help. read more

Dr. Cooper gave me the information I needed, and in a clear, professional and straightforward way. I appreciated her assessment, and was glad I found her. read more

While her manner is on the brusque side, Dr. Cooper really knows what she is doing. I have been consulting with her about my sleep apnea, and she has been helpful, and always on the ball with her knowledge and experience. I have not been using my cpap enough, and she has offered a correction without shaming me or otherwise making me feel bad about it. read more

I am so appalled by how I was treated by "Dr. Cooper" that I'm sitting in the car after the appointment to write this. I have been suffering from debilitating migraines for 25 years. I've seen many different doctors, taken every preventative and other prescription migraine medications. I've also had 2 MRIs because the severity made them think it was something else.. At my last appointment, my primary recommended I see a neurologist since she felt that botox on my head and forhead would help me significantly. This was her suggestion, , not mine. I waited months for the appointment, then waited an hour and half to see her. She walks in the room, no hello and says, "What can I do for you?" I was pretty shocked by her words but proceeded to explain to her. No point in that because she was too busy looking me up and down the entire time. Then started her horrid tone, criticizing me as a person and mother. Wanting me to ignoring my responsibilities as a mother of 3, take a medication that puts me to sleep. She literally said that since my children are not infants, it doesn't matter if I get knocked out. I was shaking and dizzy from the treatment....yes, I lost my shizz. I put my hand up and told her I was done with her bashing. She'd go from giving advice then switch to her bashing. Worst roller coaster ride of my life with her mood swings. I had to go off on her for her to stop. I don't need free botox if that's what she thought. I can go see my friend that owns a salon and have it done. I came to her for help because I'm tired of suffering. Not all of us have the luxury of laying in bed from a migraine when we're parents and work 15 hours a day. I've never been treated so horribly by ANYONE let alone a doctor in my life. She should retire. read more

Ok, so back in May last year I had my new patient consult with Dr. Cooper. My PCP highly recommend her so I figured she would be great. Well the appointment was uneventful, but I did want to take a sleep test to rule out sleep apnea. Fast forward to my follow up in December. I left work early since I don't like being late for appointment but in all honesty I could of walked in at any time since she was running TWO HOURS LATE. The staff made no attempts to keep any of us waiting patients informed on why there was such a long delay. But I toughed it out since I needed the results. The visit took less than 15 minutes just for her to tell me I had no sleep apnea. She could of EASILY had her staff call me or send me a message on myhealthonline. Instead I wasted 2 hours waiting for nothing. The icing on this is how she decided to spend the majority of this already useless appointment to nag me about my weight! I know I need to lose some, its something I've struggled with my whole life. But the way she came at me so sharply, with such a lack of emotion, without any remorse or concern. Thats what shocked me the most, and that's why I'll tell everyone to stay clear of her as a provider. I work in the medical field and if I ever treated a patient like how she treated me? I would be fired on the spot. Her 4ish stars on the SutterHealth site should be stripped from her because she doesn't deserve them. Maybe they were from long ago when she actually cared? Its very clear that she doesn't and she should just retire at this point. read more

Referred by my Oncologist. Called for an appointment and answered the screening questions truthfully. Yes, as a working nurse in a hospital I have been exposed to the Covid cooties. Arrived for Appointment made for this morning at 0830. Answered the same questions with the same answers and was REFUSED by Dr Cooper to be seen. She REFUSED to see me because of the work I do. read more

The worst doctor I have ever been to. She is so disorganized and unprofessional. Please save your money and see someone else. She was responsible for setting up a referral. I had to call her every week for a month and a half. Finally, I had to get my primary care doctor to intervene and she finally scheduled it. I do not know how someone can have such little care for their patients, truly astounding. Additionally, she is about 20-30 minutes late for every appointment and only gives you about 15 minutes worth of her time. Waste of money and stress. I cannot believe she is still practicing, someone fire her!!! read more

Twice I show up for my appointment and every time Dr. Cooper is an hour late. How fu*king cavalier! I go to write this review and low and behold, several other Yelpers have experienced the same thing and even worse. No apology and no one letting me know the doctor is running late. I just sit in the exam room waiting. I ain't waiting no more. read more

I never thought I'd be giving a doctor a one star review, but Dr. Cooper has earned mine (and obviously many other people's) negative opinion. I saw her on two occasions for evaluation to rule out MS and other neurological disorders causing tremors, weakness and some other symptoms. At our first visit she had me do some hand movements, follow her hand movements and asked me a question about my vision and said I didn't have MS without doing further testing. She also harped on me about my weight (I have a serious endocrine disease which causes this) and gave me advice that was a. not in her area of specialty and about which I had not consulted her and b. contradicted what my endocrinologist had told me. My second most recent visit was extremely distressing. She clearly did not even look at my chart, told me results of a test that told me what I'd already known and not asked about and told me I needed to have surgery for it. When I asked if surgery would help with the tremor in my hands she said, "what tremor?" She also went on an angry rant at me about my having MediCal as my insurance coverage (um, I'm severely disabled, I don't get a choice) and that, because of that, there was nothing she would do for me. She was hostile and rude. My caregiver, who was with me, was stunned. The final icing on the cake? Her visit notes show that the reason I came to see her was... my weight. Which we never discussed. However she appears to be somewhat obsessed with it. I'm not sure why Yes, she's clearly very smart (and knows it and thinks highly of herself for it.) I had heard she was excellent with MS and thus went to her for diagnosis when the possibility came up. I did not expect to leave her office in tears. I will not be going back to see her again! read more

Go literally anywhere else, I'm begging you. I'm now 17 months out from making an appointment to get a referral for a new CPaP machine, and I still don't even have a useful referral. It took 5 months after sending her my previous sleep study and many (often unanswered) reminders from me to even get a referral, which then (after 6 months of waiting) turned out to be for a company that is out of network for my insurance. When I asked for a new one, they referred me to the same company again (after several weeks of radio silence, of course). I've never experienced an organization so bad at communication as her office. On top of all that, Dr. Cooper spent at least half of my appointment (which was just to get a prescription to replace my old CPaP machine) giving me the hard sell on elective surgery during a pandemic. Far, far and away the worst experience I've ever had with a doctor. Seriously, go anywhere else. read more

She created my disability.  Her text book practice and improperly prescribed medications was the worst possible care, everyone is not the same. I went from having a job to needing home care  because her  prescribed medicines produced various health destroying side effects . The medications confused me for years,  I didn't know better.  I understand, respect and appreciate health care. Her statue at Alta Bates is large, but her care for patients is extremely insufficient  misguided and misused. I took medicines for many months, my health and pain was getting worst each month. She would not listen to my problems, questions or any suggestions. Another patient said she was going through the same problems with this doctor as well. Also, Dr. Cooper said "God isn't gonna help you its the medicine I give you that will help you." Her license needs suspension for the safety of patients life. Part 2. Her associates challenged my truth.  Dr. Cooper gave subliminally messages to manipulate the mind into danger. They told me i have to be on medications and "I get to choose"? But all her medicines done under research is proven to not work for me. .  These medicines are being pushed on patients for  "end of life care,"  to benefit the doctors,  medicine and insurance companies. I was a lab rat being experimented on with poison to the doctors... THEY HAVE STATISTICS ON PERCENTAGES THAT WORK. BUT THE WEAK JUST DIES. LOVE YOU GRANDMA read more

I cannot recommend Dr Cooper in any way. It may be that if she deigns to treat you, she's good at it. But I will never know. If you are fat, she will tell you to go away and lose weight before she will treat you. She does not listen to anything you say once she sees that you are fat. Research has shown that weight stigma and discrimination, especially in the medical situations is much more dangerous than being "overweight" and this is why. Many studies have shown that most of us won't be able to lose weight (and not for lack of trying) and those who do will likely regain it all within 2 years. And that weight cycling, losing and regaining weight, is also much more dangerous than being at a stable weight. And that sleep problems cause and exacerbate obesity, so treating them would actually help with weight loss. But this arrogant "doctor" is also very ignorant and apparently uneducated about new information regarding weight and medical conditions. So, if you're fat, unless you're interested in being blamed for your sleep problems instead of being treated for them, stay away from Dr Cooper. Fortunately, all sleep doctors are not as arrogant or ignorant as this one, so keep looking. read more

I have been diagnosed with and treated for MS over the last 15 years. It is a painful process to explain past and present relapses to every new doctor, but it is necessary. Dr. Cooper made it a nightmare. Do not cross her perceptions or judgments, she knows so many other legitimate doctors in the MS symptom treatment community, that her opinion carries some kind of unqualified weight. I'm not a neurologist, but I've met many and cannot recommend this one. read more

Dr. Cooper, who seemed tired and out of sorts at end of day, gave me a cursory exam, where I was to flip my hands and such, and pronounced that I do not have MS. Sorry, but that won't do. She had in front of her my MRIs, which show abnormalities, but watching me walk across her small office gave her the diagnosis. That won't do either. Third--she left no notes or followup on my chart, which another doctor noticed and was scandalized. I guess that isn't done. Time to retire?? read more

I was referred to Dr. Cooper for sleep apnea evaluation by my primary care doctor. My wife works in health care and told me that Dr. Cooper is very highly regarded by her colleagues. I disagree completely with the previous negative reviews. Dr. Cooper is brilliant, communicative, and thorough. It may bother some patients that she isn't a "hand-holding" type of physician, but I don't need my hand held. When she saw an abnormality on my first sleep study she immediately referred me for another study. Simply put, she doesn't mess around, and I think she is extremely competent. She reminded me of me, which is possibly why I like her. As to Sutter Health, I agree with the other observations about the low-level employees. Maybe you can't expect much of an over-crowded urban waiting room where the employees have a "who cares" attitude. After all, you get what you pay for, and Sutter is most likely hiring from the bottom of the employment pool. I'd give Dr. Cooper 5 stars, but have to deduct one just because of the staff. read more

One of the best clinician consults I've had the honor to receive. I am a nurse practitioner myself and as such, have a very tough criteria for evaluation. I became an NP to be the type of clinician who LISTENS and responds to the real person, the actual lived experience. Usually NPs provide that to me, less frequently, docs. But Dr. Cooper is the real deal. Not only did she perform a detailed level of exam on me that I haven't seen done since my own training since it's so specialized; she also carefully heard how my symptoms have manifested and affected me, and she had several useful observations that I hadn't been able to put together from the perspective of being the patient in this scenario. I felt very CARED FOR. I hear the other folks on the wait. I unfortunately feel that wait-times are a symptom of our broken heath care system. If we were lining up for hamburgers at In-n-Out, where you can expect the same product, from the same machine, at the same frequency, then it would be appropriate to fuss about tardiness. But for humans as unique as all we are (and particularly in the field of neurology where the majority of the diagnostic information is in the story not the exam, and some of us are more shall we say "efficient" than others at spitting out the relevant details) ... well, you show me five people whose headaches are the exact same, and then we can start talking about making the correct time slot for those folks to be seen in. Till then, I'd say focus on what you came for: a caring, patient, compassionate and very learned clinician whose heart AND mind are in the game. Many thanks to Dr. Cooper. read more

Total waste of time and money. It took more than four months to get an appointment with Dr. Cooper and when I took the appointment, she was an hour late. Once there, she gave me no indication who she was, as she did not introduce herself at any time during our visit. In the room, she sat more than six feet away from me during the interview, and before physically examining me, she launched into "folk cures" one might find in Vogue Magazine. In addition to the money I lost by taking time off from work in order to be on time, and the $40 copay, I anticipate her office will bilk my insurance company out of more than $200 for the experience. read more

Joanna is the fourth doctor I have had since been diagnosed with MS. She is the first who is truly an expert on the subject and I chose her because the other Sutter doc had very little knowledge of the ailment. Also his office staff screwed up my prescription multiple times. I don't blame them too much as I know form my profession haw shabbily treated Sutter workers are. As for Joanna when I was having vision issues that my Ophthalmologist thought were glaucoma-related she stood firm in insisting I get infusion. yes she was belligerent with me when I wanted to delay it for a few days but she was administering tough-love. She certainly provided me with more info on MS than I'd had in the 16 years since diagnosis. Sutter's no Kaiser but Joanna Cooper is a cut above the normal profit-driven Sutter bean counters. read more

Dr cooper has a busy practice. I appreciate her so much. When I've needed to see an MS specialist in Berkeley and I can't wait for Dr Cooper, I've also see DR west on Wednesdays at UCSF outpatient clinic. Then he can consult with Dr Cooper as needed. Both are great physicians that know multiple sclerosis read more

She's never on time. I usually handicap a minimum of 45 mins. Last time I will visit.

I've been a patient of Dr Cooper for approx 2 years. For me she's a good fit - direct and no nonsense in her communication but engaged and patient enough to not make you feel rushed during a consultation. The comments re long waiting times are accurate- but that's the flip side of having a doctor who's willing to give each patient as much time as they need. I've also always been accommodated at short notice if required. The doctor's office generally is a bit chaotic- but I've experienced much worse elsewhere. read more

Hands down, Cooper is the worst doctor I have ever seen in my 70 years of life. I was referred to her for an ongoing neurological condition that has defied diagnosis. She was to evaluate whether I could have a rare form of narcolepsy. She said almost immediately that I don't have that, based on what information I do not know. Then she spent 15 minutes asking the standard questions for diagnosing sleep apnea, for which I've already received treatment for the last 15 years or so. Then, out of the blue, she asked whether I thought I "lacked judgment." Huh? I said no. A friend who was with me mentioned that I had recently had a minor (single car) accident, no injuries or damage except to my car--which was, in fact, due to my GOOD judgment in avoiding a collision. Cooper suddenly said I wasn't fit to drive and checked a couple of boxes on a DMV form recommending suspension of my license until I retested on written and road tests!! Long-story-short, COVID had just shut everything down, and DMV wouldn't test in the foreseeable future. I tried reasoning with Cooper both in the office and by written messages, but as soon as I eliminated one of her points about my "judgment," she came up with a new one on which to base pulling my license. (In the end, she said that getting myself to safety by leaving my car at the side of the road showed "poor judgment," which was ridiculous.) So, based on no facts and a clear agenda that came from nowhere. I lost my license for months. Oh, and then she wanted me to do a 2-day sleep study--in Fremont, with no driver's license to get there--to check again for apnea. Needless to say, I didn't do that. Cooper may be smart in some way that I didn't see, but she is cold, mean, impulsive, abrupt, and doesn't listen. Do I recommend her? Not for a second read more

The only reason I'm writing now, is that my husband was given her name as he had either a TIA or a seizure. I told him I'd seen her for my migraines, some time ago & my experience was not good. Dr Cooper was rude, inappropriate, insufferable & I was not able to tolerable her unprofessional behavior. She insulted me many times. I left, never to return. I requested that he ask his PCP for a different referral or see my own neurologist, the one I see for my migraines. read more

Like many other patients she kept me waiting an hour and a half after my appointment and didn't apologize. When I brought it up, she said: "I see patients one at a time". I replied that I did too, but I have too much respect for them not to be on time. This is a pattern with her and really unprofessional. I had to wait over a month for my cpap machine because they forgot to send in the order. I just received a letter from Apria saying they didn't get my paper work for billing. I get the sense that she doesn't like being a doctor or working with people. Perhaps she should retire. For my follow up appointment I asked to see her physicians assistant, Lynn. I liked her much better. read more

I must say that Dr Cooper was quick and efficient at diagnosing my ailment (narcolepsy) and I began treatment quickly. However, in four years of visits, never once did I feel cared for. Her bedside manner is abrupt on a good day, and yes, wait times are atrocious. Every three months, like clockwork, my medication was screwed up. I don't doubt that she is a smart, capable doctor, but if you are interested in being treated like a person, please find another doctor. read more

Very disappointing. I went here on a referral from my PCP's office for my frequent headaches/head pressure and dizziness. I've had headaches all my adulthood, but these were different, and I even ended up in the ER once. I am not a person who enjoys going to the doctor's (but then again, who is?), but when I do go, I usually leave with helpful information, a diagnosis, a treatment plan, or at least reassurance. I got none of these with her. Her conclusion after her exam: She didn't have a definite diagnosis for me, which I understand because I do realize now how frustrating headache patients are for MD's, but her "discussion" with me did not leave me reassured, comforted, or with a plan of treatment (other than her flippant suggestion to take Excedrin with Migraine, which I had already told her did not work for me). She left me with no helpful suggestions, and I was very disappointed. She kind of treated me like I was wasting her time. I had waited 2 months to see this doctor and had thought I could finally get some kind of answer but what I got was condescension and an obvious lack of caring. So I ended up going back to my PCP, who is wonderful, my headaches continue, and I'm still trying to find the answer to these headaches and a way to get better. The one person I thought who could really help me with this turned out to be such an incredible disappointment. read more