Columbia Fertility Bethesda location

[Anonymous]

Has anyone used them, in particular Dr. Abbasi? They are very convenient to me, but I couldn't find any information on this particular location and RE.

Thanks

[Anonymous]

She is a nightmare, there are lots of other options in that area.

[Anonymous]

Oh my - I have an appt with her early next year. What other options do I have in the area?

[Anonymous]

Dr. Rifka is also at CFA, though I don't know if he has appointments in the Bethesda office. I had some truly terrible experiences at another practice, but have nothing but good things to say about him. I saw him in the DC office. Everyone I know who used CFA went to either Rifka or Sacks, and all (6 couples) were pleased with the results. If you don't like Abbasi one of the other two might be worth a try.

[Anonymous]

For what it's worth, I met someone who could not say enough good stuff about Abbasi.

[Anonymous]

I would meet with a dr. before believing one bad comment about her on this board.

[Anonymous]

Sorry no information on Abbassi but since I live right beside the Bethesda office, I used to see Dr Sacks in the DC office for the IVF proceedures and important scans but all the routine stuff was done in the Bethesda office by the nurses. It worked for us. But I agree with the PP, go ahead and meet with her and don't let one opinion scare you off.

[Anonymous]

I would check whether you'd be able to switch to anotehr Columbia Fertility RE after meeting with Dr Abbassi (some clinics don't let you switch within the practice). If not, you many want to do some more research before picking Dr Abbassi.

I have heard great things about Dr Sacks, but I went to SG.

[Anonymous]

I too have not heard great things about Dr. Abbasi but have always heard fantastic things about Dr. Sacks.

(another SG patient here)

[Anonymous]

I'm former Columbia patient. Although I was a Rifka patient, I had contact with Sacks and Abbasi during the process when Rifka was not available. Sacks has an amazing bedside manner. Rifka was ok, not great, not bad, he was fine. Abbasi, seemed like a very competant doctor, she had to do one of my ultrasounds, had a very business like demeanor and just wanted to get you in/out with no small talk. However, one day I was in the waiting room and Abbasi came out to speak to one of her patients, she was very pleasant to the husband waiting for his wife and patiently answered all of his questions. Someone else mentioned it here, don't listen to comments on a board, go for yourself and meet the doctor. At the end of the day, you're not there to become best buddies with the doctors, as long as they get the job done, what do you care if 10 out of 15 people on a message board didn't like their RE. And, from what I read on this board, women trash docs that couldn't get them pregnant. Columbia wasn't able to get me pregnant, but the nurses and doctors there made a valiant effort.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm former Columbia patient. Although I was a Rifka patient, I had contact with Sacks and Abbasi during the process when Rifka was not available. Sacks has an amazing bedside manner. Rifka was ok, not great, not bad, he was fine. Abbasi, seemed like a very competant doctor, she had to do one of my ultrasounds, had a very business like demeanor and just wanted to get you in/out with no small talk. However, one day I was in the waiting room and Abbasi came out to speak to one of her patients, she was very pleasant to the husband waiting for his wife and patiently answered all of his questions. Someone else mentioned it here, don't listen to comments on a board, go for yourself and meet the doctor. At the end of the day, you're not there to become best buddies with the doctors, as long as they get the job done, what do you care if 10 out of 15 people on a message board didn't like their RE. And, from what I read on this board, women trash docs that couldn't get them pregnant. Columbia wasn't able to get me pregnant, but the nurses and doctors there made a valiant effort.

I think this poster is right on in terms of evaluating people for yourselves. Interestingly enough, I was also a Rifka patient with some Sacks interaction. I like Dr. Sacks, but Dr. Rifka was amazing with me during a process in which I was given a devastating diagnosis. So, one person may have a so-so experience, and someone else may find the same doc a perfect fit. Don't be scared away but what people have said about Abbasi.

[Anonymous]

I'm an Abbasi patient and really like her. She is very business-like and not particularly warm and fuzzy, but she is very patient at answering questions and she is very analytical---I was a poor responder on the first IVF cycle, and she retooled the protocol and we had better luck on the next round. She is a good listener with respect to a couple's comfort level re different ART choices---e.g., she won't push options like donor eggs if that's not the direction the couple wants. And the nurses and staff at the Bethesda office are great. I had tried SG previously, and while I liked my doctor---I saw her very rarely and wasn't very impressed with my nurse. Dr. Abbasi also identified a Fallopian tube issue that SG had failed to spot.


The PPs are right---choosing the right RE is a very subjective decision. Best of luck.