Maria Samsonov, MD

This person in the guise of a doctor is to be avoided. She comes into the room in a dismissive manner and then ridicules your reason for coming to her office in pain (otherwise why should you come?). While there, she humiliates, in her report of the visit, she is insulting. Why is she allowed to call herself a doctor? Why is she allowed to practice? She doesn’t know the meaning of the word «healer».

ZERO STARS! NEGATIVE ZERO STARS!
Horrible office. Receptionists are too busy to call back and unable to answer simple questions. She is always extremely late for home visits. Poor bedside manner. Could not call back the coroner for 3 days after my mom passed away. I had to repeatedly call the office to ask that she call back so her body could be released and the death certificate signed. She told me she didn’t know that my mom was her patient! Really? no one could look up her name to verify she was her patient? ridiculous! Too many patients, not enough time. She just wants lots of patients yet has zero time to really care for them and find out what they need. Recommended hospice to my 98 year old grandmother although she is pretty healthy and sharp as a tack. Stay away from the Dr and the office.

i take care of my 83 yr old mother (w dementia) who was very lucky to have Dr. Maria Samsonov as her successor doctor, especially in regards to geriatric medicine. I am glad to say she is a native San Franciscan who grew up in the same neighborhood our family did. Aside from my accolades of her wonderfully «attentive and empathetic» qualities, I can see she is also genuinely interested in the other «non medical» aspects of patient care, such as the patients activities, family dynamics and overall mental health. Her holistic approach is warmly received by us all… My mom suffers from progressing dementia, and on the ride home yesterday after her physical exam, all she kept saying was «what a lovely lady»…I agree. To keep this review objective however, there are ten traits or qualities that in my opinion, she FULLFILLS, as an EFFECTIVE doctor… they are: 10. HUMANE –the ability to be caring and compassionate. In other words, a doctor who is interested in their patients as human beings; not just information on a chart. 9. HONEST AND FORTHRIGHT– self explanatory;8. RESPECTFUL — «The doctor takes my input seriously and works with me,» is the way one of the hundreds of respondents to the Mayo survey best summed this up. Other oft-​mentioned attributes that we feel fall into this category are a willingness to value patients’ wishes in the decision-​making process and going-​to-​bat for patients with other medical professionals they may refer them to;7. LIVES AND PROMOTES A HEALTHY LIFESTYLE –We were amazed this didn’t get mentioned even more. Nevertheless, many commented that their doctors should set an example as healthy citizens (don’t smoke, eat right, exercise and maintain a healthy physique) and take the time to emphasize the proactive benefits of staying healthy (especially at routine checkups) rather than dispensing medical advice only after one or more things have started to go wrong; 6. UNBIASED — Time and again, patients want to know that their doctor is not owned by big pharma. They also want to know simply that they are able to give unbiased advice, free from natural prejudice, non-​factual opinions, and corporate influence;5. KNOWLEDGABLE –a doctor that has the broadest-​possible general knowledge of medicine; a doctor who is committed to continuing education, keeping abreast of the latest techniques and advances to the benefit of their patients.4. FOCUSED –Even more important than knowledge for patients — it seems — is whether their doctor is «in the room» with them and not distracted with the flurry of other demands on their time. A recent 2010 study suggested that doctors no longer have the luxury of building a relationship with their patients (in other words, an attitude of «get in, diagnose, on to the next person» now prevails.) A dream situation for any patient would be to snag a doctor who has somehow found how to move beyond this mindset. She has THIS! 3. SKILLED –More than just being book-​smart, patients want a doctor who is talented at what they do: A doctor who uses evidence, method, and intuition, as well as other subjective and objective items in their toolkit to provide the fastest, most effective treatment possible. 2. EMPATHETIC -«The ‘ideal’ doctor is someone who validates my pain, listens to my problem and treats me with professional courtesy,» Above and beyond almost all other attributes, patients who were asked and those who rendered their opinion on their own, value a doctor who «tries to understand what I am feeling and experiencing, physically and emotionally, and communicates that understanding to me.» AND 1. FONFIDENT –Perhaps more than any other quality, patients seemed to want to have a sense that their doctor knows what they’re doing… and knows it. Whether dispensing treatment or dispensing advice, patients want a doctor who has and inspires confidence. Over and over again, patients — above all else — highlighted their desire to have a doctor whose manner and actions reassure them that someone qualified is in the driver’s seat: List from:

Dr. Samsonov is thorough, a great listener, and smart. She is board certified in internal medicine, nephrology, geriatrics and palliative careso clearly has an addiction to learning which is always a great quality in a doctor! I work in medicine and meet lots of doctors but I refer my loved ones to Dr. Samsonov.