Despite the pristine location, spotless office, and seemingly professional exterior, my encounter…read morewith Dr. Reza Pirsaheli was nothing short of appalling. The veneer of refinement quickly fell away the moment I entered the exam room, where I was met with a brusque, dismissive demeanor wholly unbecoming of a physician entrusted with patient care.
Dr. Pirsaheli seemed incapable of navigating basic medical record access, expressing visible frustration at his inability to retrieve documents from UC Davis Medical Center and my primary care provider. Instead of exercising patience or professionalism, he summoned his receptionist and proceeded to berate her in my presence. When she resolved the technical issue, he declared that the information was still insufficient, directing me--without prior instruction or notice--to return home, scan my ICU discharge records from UC Davis, and email them to him. To expect a patient, who has been suffering from dizziness and migraines for months, to manage clerical duties on his behalf is absurd and insulting.
When I suggested logging into my UC Davis Health mobile app to provide the information immediately, he refused outright, insisting that I "go home and take my time." This cavalier dismissal of my urgent condition was not only unhelpful, it was demeaning. When I pressed the matter, eager for relief, he handed me his business card, pointed toward the door, and effectively dismissed me from his care.
What followed descended into farce. After sitting in my car for a while , I returned to the office--having managed to reset my password and access the records --the receptionist scolded me for not simply emailing the files. When I explained that the app only allowed printing, not emailing, Dr. Pirsaheli emerged and began shouting accusations: that I had arrived late, and--absurdly--that I had "punched" his hand when he offered his business card. His tone was hostile, his claims demonstrably false, and his behavior erratic. Feeling attacked, I began recording the exchange for my own protection. Only then did both he and his receptionist abruptly moderate their tone, revealing how performative their aggression had been.
The most egregious moment came when Dr. Pirsaheli escalated the situation by calling the police. On the phone, he described me as a "violent African-American with blonde hair"--a statement not only factually incorrect, but deeply revealing of the bias that may have colored his treatment of me from the start. The racialized framing of his false accusation was as offensive as it was reckless.
The police arrived promptly, conducted themselves professionally, and confirmed that Dr. Pirsaheli wished to issue me a no-trespass notice. For the record, I had no desire to return. I left his office in tears, disheartened that months of waiting for specialist care had culminated in humiliation and abuse rather than medical help.
Dr. Pirsaheli's conduct was not merely unprofessional--it was profoundly unethical. He abdicated his duty of care, substituted hostility for compassion, and weaponized false accusations when confronted with his own inadequacy. Patients deserve better than to be treated as inconveniences or adversaries. If you are seeking genuine medical expertise and humane treatment, I strongly urge you to look elsewhere.
