Jeffrey J. Cowan, MD

This review has been a long time coming. I didn’t want to write it while I was still hurting and emotional, so I waited until now to give a clear-​headed opinion. I saw Dr. Cowan at the end of April 2015 with my first pregnancy. First off, I will say that I had no conflict with any of his front staff. They were kind to me and scheduled my appointments with no problems – whether in person or on the phone. For my first visit, I only met with his nurse practitioner, Donna. She was very warm, and treated me gently (emotionally) when she said she couldn’t find a heartbeat. I returned a few days later for a second ultrasound by the ultrasound technician. Since she was probably not authorized to share her findings aloud with me, the tech was silent as she took pictures and measurements, and afterwards, I was sent to the waiting room until I could be called back to speak with Dr. Cowan. When I was eventually called back to see him, he simply stated that I had a missed miscarriage, that it was not my fault, and that he suggested a D&C procedure to remove the fetus. He wasn’t particularly mean, but he wasn’t warm in his delivery of the information either. Leaned back in his chair, legs out and crossed at the ankles, he basically just handed me the bottom line facts. I received no information on how or why he knew my fetus was no longer alive, but rather, I was immediately directed into how I could get rid of it (D&C or wait it out for a natural miscarriage). Hesitant to undergo a surgical procedure, and impatient to wait for a natural course of action, I inquired about medication that induces a miscarriage. I said, «My friend has had missed miscarriages in the past, and she was given pills to induce the miscarriage. Is that an option?» Dr. Cowan immediately took offense to this inquiry and sharply answered, «If you would like to seek out a doctor who will prescribe you that medication, you are free to do so.» I was taken aback by his reaction. Those who know me, know that I am a very gentle person, and I do not interact with people brazenly or rudely. My inquiry was purely innocent in nature, and I did not appreciate his defensive and harsh response. I felt that he could have handled that situation a lot more amicably; especially considering that this was my first pregnancy, and that I had just discovered it was coming to an end. Being startled, and passive by nature, I simply complied and muttered, «No, no, let’s set up the D&C.» He was efficient in getting the surgery scheduled, and I had no complications with the procedure. I do not doubt his competence, I just feel that he has no compassion and lacks the people skills I was expecting out of an OBGYN. If you don’t mind seeing a doctor that just goes through the motions and does not add a personal touch, then I’m sure he will be okay for you. He was just not a good fit for me, as I need at least a small portion of kindness out of a doctor.

My experience with Dr. Cowan and his staff was great. I had my baby via c-​section ²⁄₂₀₁₃ due my baby going into fetal distress. Although I was very nervous about the emergency C-​section I can say that he did a great job and my recovery went very well. My scar is very low and small. I am now pregnant with my second Child and plan on switching my insurance back since I currently have Kaiser and I absolutely HATE everything about Kaiser. I was always seen in a timely manner and only remember waiting a little over my usual waiting time once due to him assisting a birth at the time of my appointment which was totally understandable.

For my first pregnancy I was referred to Dr. Cowan. Being my first I didn’t know what to expect and wish I would have done more research. My pregnancy went well no issues just that I had to wait an hour each appointment. When my water broke (7am) I went in and as soon as I got there the nurse called Dr. Cowan who instructed them to give me pitocin. I should have said no cause I just got there and wanted my body to go at its own pace but I felt like I had no choice. By 4pm my baby wasn’t reacting to the pitocin and it was making the baby’s heart rate go crazy so Dr Cowan told the nurses to prep me for a c-​section. I asked if I could go a little longer before we go that route. They only gave me an hour and told me I had to have a c-​section. The whole time dr Cowan and Dr. miller preformed the c-​section they didn’t say one word to me and made my incision an inch ½ below my belly button. So not only was I forced into pitocin and a c-​section so they weren’t inconvenienced but they made my incision super high. DO NOT USE HIM!!!

I cant express how much i hate this office from the top to bottom. Dr. Cowan is just a doctor nothing more. He has no care about the patient he obviously only in it for the money. I came to this office thinking i would have a female doctor «Dr Miller» i couldnt even tell you what she looks like cause i never met her. And every time i brought it up to those ruse bitches in the front. They’d say your gonna have to see them both. I mean i came here with the intention on getting her and i never seen her. Everytime i came they gave me problems about having a co pay which i didnt have and i had to explain that each visit. It got so bad i made a complaint which did nothing cause all they said was they will talk to the staff. They lost my blood work. How could you be so un professional. They made my first time having a baby so horrible. I was so happy when i went into labor to find out Dr Cowan was on vacay. He was sooo rough and when you made a noise he would say calm down. The best part of this experience was my six week check up. Knowing i never have to set foot in that wack ass office again. DO NOT GO THERE!!! Having a baby is supposed to be a beautiful experience. They will for sure make it stressful & ugly.

This is my first review ever on Unilocal,and I have to agree with the others, please do yourself a favor and find another doctor. I can’t say Dr. Cowan himself is a bad doctor, he didn’t make any terrible decisions (yet), but he is clearly going through the motions and doesn’t really care about his patients in a way that a OB should. I had an amazing OB with my first so I know the difference. He has not ONCE asked me how I’m feeling… I mean literally never asked. He’s not a mean man or unkind… just doesn’t care. And the staff is even worse. The front office girls are rude and make no effort to provide any service beyond the basics. And they take forever to call you back… huge pet peeve. There are just so many other better offices and docs out there so do yourself a favor and look elsewhere.

please please do not use this doctor. He did a hack job. At 13 weeks I found out that my baby had no heartbeat. I was scheduled two days later for a D&C, where he performed a fetal extraction two days later later because he left part of the baby/​placenta behind.
Dr. Cowen did a «hack» job which made this even more unbearable. Please please find someone else. a medical student would have done a better job. At least they would have cared.

Dr. Miller is great as well as this office the reviews are mixed and I havent had a bad experience with anyone in the office although ive never met Dr. cowan I cant see him being a jerk in such a nice office but I coulf be wrong. Since the day I found out I was pregnant and made an appointment ive gotten nothing but exceptional service ive come in between visits also being a first time mom and not knowing what to expect all my questions are always answered I never leave feeling unsure

He delivered my daughter in May 2011 when both my OB and her partner were out of town. Dr. Cowan was the doctor on-​call that weekend and although he wasn’t my OB that I grew to love; he was professional, warm, and one with a lot of experience.

I have been a patient of Dr. Cowan’s for about 15 – 20 years. He handled my challenging pregnancy and other surgeries and complications. He has been nothing but kind, patient and knowledgeable with me. I was in his office this am, got there a few minutes early, was in and out in about 40 mins or so.
Sometimes doctors and their staff might have a bad day or sometimes, just as in friends and other associates, it is not a good fit. If he is not what you need, move on and find a doctor who works for you
I feel bad for these bad reviews, because he is a great doctor!

I hate this guy. He has no patient care! I would definately go on the doctors website and also rate him one star. He is very rough with my Pap smear. It’s my first pregnancy (10 weeks) and his incompetent ultrasound tech did my ultrasound and couldn’t find what she was looking for. He saw the ultrasound pics and was like «we’ll we could find the fetal pole, no heart beat so you might need a d/​c. This is bad news» We went to our hospital where we work and our friend, an u/​s technologist who is very competent redid the u/​s. she basically saw what we were looking for a 10 weeks u/​s pic. If I went on with the d/​c and listen to the dumb Cowan doc I would’ve had regrets! Switch obgyn !!!

I don’t normally write bad reviews about anyone, but I had a horrifying experience with doctor. I moved to the south bay after just becoming pregnant with twins and this was the doctor my pcp referred me to. Beside the fact that I waited at least an hour for each visit, I never felt that Dr. Cowan remembered me or even reviewed my charts, not something a first time mom pregnant with twins wants to experience. On top of that, at 20 weeks, we realized one of the babies was smaller and had low fluid. From that point on, at every visit, until at least 32 weeks, Dr. Cowan actually told me that I should have had a selective reduction to abort the small twin… even when she was doing better. He said that it wasn’t smart of me because I could potentially put the second twin at risk. (Our neonatologist never suggested this, so why should he?) I never thought that I would be so relieved that my doctor wasn’t on call when I went into labor. I look at my two healthy twin daughters now and thank God I didn’t listen to that crazy man. And it gets better: at my 6 week checkup, he said I wouldn’t need birth control because I had IVF for the twins. Needless to say, I had a different doctor when I delivered my 3^rd daughter 14 months later!

OBGYN: Every time I have been to see Dr. Cowan (I have been a patient for over 10 years) I have had to wait at LEAST one hour to see him. He is nice, although his exams are exceptionally rough. The front desk staff is overworked & not on top of things. His personal nurse that he has had for years is great & knows her patients & does her job exceptionally well. However, I have finally realized that Dr. Cowan is not worth the wait.