Alexander Schick,MD

I expected Dr. Schick to be terrible based off of his Unilocal reviews. He was in fact amazing — going above and beyond my expectations for a Neurologist.
Long story short, Dr. Schick refused to accept what other doctors had said about my case, made extra phone calls on my behalf, called in favors, and genuinely cared about the head pain I was experiencing.
With that being said, Dr. Schick is not for everyone. Dr. Schick’s office embodies a NYC doctor’s office. It is crowded, there are other patients there, you will wait a minimum of 15 minutes, and your visit will not be filled with questions about how your mom/​spouse/​etc is doing.
If you are looking for a Neurologist who is very knowledgeable, clearly cares about the wellbeing of his patients, and will fight for you, then Dr. Schick is for you. If you want to be a bit more pampered by the doctor/​office (nothing wrong with this), then I would recommend looking elsewhere.

Let me start off by saying that I have been a patient of Dr. Schick for about 7 years now. I do very much value and appreciate his work, advice, and methods. I am ONLY giving his practice two stars because EVERY SINGLE TIME I have had to go in for an appointment, his staff has been rude, curt in attitude, slow in job performance and execution, inaccurate in information given, and overall just. plain. horrible.
I just got off the phone with Marylynne (sp) to request my medical records to be transferred to another office. She put me on hold the first time for about ten minutes before I hung up and called again. She hung up before I was finished speaking and asking questions the second time. The third time, she said to me, verbatim, «I don’t know, ask the doctor» when asked how quickly I could have MY medical records sent over.
I very highly doubt that Dr. Schick does the faxing himself. Also, I can’t ask the doctor, he doesn’t answer the phones.
Too bad Dr. Schick has an unprofessional staff representing him. They have no idea how to properly maintain and operate a functioning office. Finally, yes, the wait time is atrocious.

I wish I had read the reviews before going to this horrible man. I am deciding if I should call the Department of Health tomorrow to report misconduct. He asked inappropriate questions that were absolutely not relevant to my neurological issue, he said insane things like «you can drive while having a vertigo episode, and he physically and verbally intimidated me. In the end — after disrespecting me and not listening to a word I said (asking me the same questions over ten times) — I tried to leave his office because he seemed agitated and things were just getting weird (and just like a previous person who commented — he also said very sexist things). Dr. Schick decided to physically not let me leave the room. He blocked me and began to raise his voice asking me why I was being so defensive. He began to fight. This was mainly because I did not want to immediately take his medication without consulting my cardiologist first. He began yelling about how he doesn’t understand patients that have symptoms but refuse the medication. For a moment I was afraid he was going to become violent. Honestly.
This is the first time in my 32 years that I honest to God felt like screaming for help in a doctor’s office.

Dr Shick is the most brilliant and compassionate medical professional I have ever encountered! He is intuitive, clear and to the point. He talks to you not only about your physical conditions but about the environmental conditions that are affecting you. As one could imagine… the few times that I had to visit his office were emotional experiences for me because of the pain I was experiencing. Both times I walked out of his office with a clear head and confidence in my treatment which worked miracles! He really is a gem of a human being! A real mensch! Thank you so much

Been waiting for TWO hours. Have watched three people that had appts after me go in before me. When I asked the receptionist she said, «I don’t know, ask the doctor.»
Great start to a new doctor.

Well, I can just tell you that judging by both my experience and this website’s ratings, I’d strongly recommend you see another neurologist. There are plenty of them in the city, and from the long wait to his passive approach to medicine-​not taking some serious symptoms, like lack of feeling in my hands and neck — seriously, I’m glad I found a different doctor.

Dr. Schick is a brilliant, fast thinking and fast talking man. Take notes and listen to him.
Definitely a character and has an adorably thick accent. He gave me an accurate diagnosis and seems genuinely concerned.

Last year I came down with a full blown case of Lyme Disease and was suffering from a debilitating headache when I first came to Dr. Schick. He gave me medication to help relieve the pain which ultimately allowed me to return to work and a normal life. I was very pleased with his referral to Prudence at mt Sinai rehab for her amazing TMJ therapy. I have just returned from a trip to the Holy Land and could not done this miraculous trip without Dr. Schick’s help.
Thank you!

I walked into the waiting room to find it so filled that I had to sit on the floor. After waiting over an hour to see the doctor, he did not listen to anything I said when I gave him my history. He asked me what I do for a living 3 times, making me think that perhaps he should be the one visiting a Neurologist. When I told him that I am a social worker, he actually asked me if it is a stressful job (DUH!). He told me that my migraines (which I have suffered with my entire life, and both my parents have as well), were a result of stress. I take care of myself completely, physically and emotionally and have since found out that my migraines were a result of hormones. However, because they manifest around my sinus cavities I asked if he could include my sinus cavities in my CT scan. He did not. When I went to get the CT scan I was shocked when they told me that my sinus cavities were not included. When I went for the second visit, I waited even longer to see him. The only reason I went back was to hear the results of my scan. He told me I have a «very pretty brain» and that I am just anxious (which I am not). I found this to be demeaning and sexist. He told me there is nothing wrong and that I am not suffering from migraines! My new neurologist, Dr. Cristina Drafta, who is amazing, told me that daily headaches are migraines and a result of hormones. She explained things more thoroughly and my migraines have decreased.
A friend of mine also went to Dr. Schick because of her benign brain tumor, and he told her that her panties were on too tight! This man is a sexist inappropriate pig who should retire.

I have had 2 separate experiences with Dr Schick. Last year, after going through a round of shingles, I came to him for continuing pain I was experiencing (later diagnosed by another doctor as post-​herpatic neuralgia). Dr Schick gave me maybe 8 minutes of his time, in which he insisted I had TMJ and to simply put a heating pad where it hurt and get a mouth guard. This year, I had several days straight of severe headaches and went to him after he was once again referred to me. Thinking I might have caught him at a bad time last year, I saw him again and he AGAIN insisted I only had TMJ when the pain was completely different and on the opposite side of my head. Besides him rushing me through the appointment, the wait was 1 hour and when I asked the receptionist about it, she said, «that’s always the wait.» Why not let patients know that? And why did he call me a month after seeing him, wondering how I was doing? Dr Schick is consistently referred to me by doctors as I continue to deal with my severe headaches, so many people like him, but my personal experience is to go to someone who wants to actually look into your blood work, MRI and test results and not just say, «You have TMJ»

Dr. Schick came highly recommended from my mother’s coworker. I recently had a few episodes which included some seizures and needed some neurological advice.
Dr. Schick did seem to know what he was talking about since he was the first doctor to actually understand and explain what my aurora’s were about (Since all the other doctors just thought my olfactory hallucinations were from a ear/​nose/​throat infection) but after much testing with no conclusions I realized that not everyone who studies the brain can know everything and I started to take his advice with a grain of salt. He was pretty quick to try to jump me into three (3) medications at once which I was so very very opposed towards. He is friendly. His office is sometimes very very slow at getting you in and out at your scheduled appointment time but I understand he is very very popular in his field so this is a given. His staff is very helpful for the most part and do try their best to get you in and out. I gave him three stars because he did treat me with professional respect. He laid out all the facts and terms of my condition and what he thought I could do to fix the problem. Whether his methods worked for me is strictly client based and I can not say he did or did not help me in the end especially since the brain is such a tricky thing to work with in the first place.

After a harrowing experience with Dr. Elena Frid (stay far, far away!!!), I took her medical opinion and request for many, many diagnostic tests over to Dr. Schick for a second opinion. I should have just went to him in the first place, but didn’t because of the polarized Unilocal reviews.
Dr. Schick’s methodology, bedside manner, attitude, and wise/​experienced diagnostic abilities literally changed my life, which was burdened with diagnostic tests and unncessary worriment.
Long story short, Dr. Schick is funny, swift, and straightforward. He will cut to the chase after asking you the right pointed questions, and you will have to manage through his thick accent. If this style doesn’t jive with you, don’t go. But if you want to be cared for by someone you know is testing you when necessary, is straight with you when he knows whats up, and genuinely cares about your well-​being, just go to him. I fully believe his style shows that of a seasoned doctor, who has seen it all, many many times. He also called my primary referring physician the very next day to report to him his findings. He genuinely cares.
Finally, on an unrelated (related?) note, his office is hilarious, and gives insight to his method. Current books, old wooden tests, and tribal figurines literally cover every corner. LOVE. LOVE. LOVE. Dr. Schick.

This is by far the worst, most incompetent doctor I have ever been to. He performed painful and unnecessary tests, refused to listen to anything I had to say, and mis-​diagnosed me. If you are referred to him DO NOT GO request another doctor from your PCP.
In addition his office facilities are out-​dated — he can’t even look at a DVD of MRIs only films.

I can’t imagine how anyone managed to have a positive experience with this doctor. He did not listen to my mother’s history, was completely dismissive of her very serious symptoms (collapsing suddenly with excruciating head pain, unable to stand up), would ask her a question and then answer it himself without letting her speak, and treated her like an idiot. After the most cursory examination his diagnosis was that she should «just calm down». He was extremely patronizing and unprofessional. I took her to another doctor, who immediately ordered a brain MRI, to rule out an aneurysm/​tumor, etc. Luckily everything is fine. Do not put your health in this man’s hands.

I’ve been to him a few times over the years, and I can say that this gentleman really stands out. Great bedside manners, and treats you with respect (well, maybe I just like his complements). Seriously, if you tell the staff there’s an emergency, they’ll patch you right in to talk with no questions asked. He’s really good at explaining things as well. I do recommend him and his courteous staff, and had quite the different experience than some other Unilocalers here, each and every time.

I am also surprised to see the bad reviews for Dr. Schick. The only problems I had with him were with the office itself. They billed me for an office visit when I was not there and the wait was insanely long. Plan to spend the day there!
Dr. Schick was refereed to me by my primary care doctor. I never had a head ache in my entire life until 2008. Our building was under going a renovation. It was a genius renovation really. They water proofed the outside of the building and the chemicals made me so sick I ended up in the hospital. What is worse is the reason for the renovation is that the pipes are old in our building so being the geniuses that they are instead of changing the pipes they water proofed the outside so nobody can tell the building is falling apart on the inside! Genius! Sorry I had to vent! So due to that I got sick with the fumes and ended up at Beth Israel having tests and so on. Since I never had a head ache I did not even know what it was. It was worse than a migraine called a cluster head ache and I was doubled over in a fetal position. I first went to my primary care doctor and she refereed me to Dr. Schick. She gave me a prescription for head ache pain killers which are specific to head aches. They did work but the had aches did not go away I had to always take the medication. So I went to see Dr. Schick.
I never had a head ache before but since that time I do get them on occasion. But he told me that when they start to take a pain killer and not to let it get worse. I would not hesitate to go back to him!

I had one of the worst doctor experiences of my life when i went to see Dr. Schick. He barely listened to me when i was giving him my history. Then he barely examined me concluding that I had arthritis — even though i had only had joint pain for a week as a side effect of medication I recently started taking for neuropathy. Dr. Schick asked me if my neuropathy was just anxiety — which is tragically typical of old white male doctors to assume about women when MS has been ruled out. If you have peripheral neuropathy, due yourself a favor and go to the Weill center on the Upper east side
where they can help identify your problems and treat you with some respect.
Being treated like an imbecile is that last thing you need when you’re having a health crisis. I see that there are a few positive reviews for this doctor and one similar to mine. Maybe he’s good days and bad, but I would never send anyone to see him.

I think he is one of the WORST neurologists in New York. He recently diagnosed my father with senile psychosis after spending maybe 14 mintues with him.
He actually told me that I should give him reports on my father’s well-​being, and that my father was a «difficult patient». I think most people with senile psychosis are «difficult».
When my father was having a bad episode, I called this jerk of a doctor who told me to bring my father to the Beth Israel emergency room to be treated by a «resident psychiatrist». Most good doctors I know would pick up the phone and make arrangements for a patient to be seen immediately by a specialist (in this case, a psychiatrist), not a resident in the ER or at the very least notify the ER that a patient was arriving for treatment.
I phoned our internist who strongly advised against going to the ER as the internist felt a visit to the emergency room to be seen by a resident or intern was the worst possible scenario. Our internist recommended seeing a neurologist who is also a psychiatrist which is exactly what I have made arrangements to do.
Dr. Schick — while probably a good clinical doctor — speaks too quickly and moves too quickly. That might be good for a long-​distance runner or if you are the talking horse, Mr. Ed, but not for a neurologist who needs to spend time with patients who have mental/​emotional/​neurological problems.
Claude Macaluso of St. Vincent’s is not only a wonderful neurologist but also a caring, dedicated doctor who spends time with patients and is accessible to patients’ families. FYI — Dr. Macaluso is not the doctor my father will be visiting but I know many patients who regard Macaluso very highly.

So I’ve had my slew of negative experiences with healthcare in the US, but for once, I found a man actually has compassion and good bedside manner (insert angelic voices here :)).
He is very human (not like the Stepford doctors you get sometimes, you look fine. beat it! lol :)) and also he is good at what he does. Therefore, his waiting room is packed! And your wait may be longer than you would hope for but it’s worth it. Yes, like other doctors he has li’l time to spend with you but it’s actually useful.
You can also usually get an appointment pretty quickly and follow-​ups are medically helpful and compassionate too. Ever met a doctor who answers your calls right away? I dunno about you but this one is definitely a winner to me!

I was referred to Dr. Schick by a GP who couldn’t do anything more for me when I had a murderous headache as the result of a leaking lumbar puncture. His clinic managed to get me an appointment on the day itself (something I will be eternally grateful for — as most other neurologists are booked three months in advance). The waiting room is tiny and stuffy, but you could guess that he was good because there were very few empty seats. I could not sit up without wincing in excruciating pain — so I lay down on the table with all the magazines in the lift lobby. Desperate times called for desperate measures. He also saw patients late into the evening.
His style is swift, almost comical, but he certainly knows his stuff. He diagnosed me accurately, prescribed the right medicine, ordered me to bedrest, tossed a notepad at B and got him to write down all the necessary instructions — and I’ve only gotten better since our visit. He’s really nice and told me to make a follow up appointment, but to call in before I came because he didn’t want me to have to wait to see him (and suffer) like I had the first time. It’s my first time visiting a neurologist for migraines, headaches and brain wave tests etc., but I think he’s a keeper. Note that he is VERY thorough, and wants to see you several times to make sure you are a-​ok, so keep that co-​pay cash ready, cos’ you’re gonna need it.