Reviews of Dr. Maryam Shayesteh Alam (Doctor)

The Wickwares

I'm 55+ and decide as you always hear, go get that looked at. So, as I'm new to the area I find SimcoDerm online. the Website says Full Body scan available. After a phone call to them seems I need a referral. So off to the Walmart walk-in clinic to seek a referral. With that in hand I make an appointment for a full body scan, 4 months later! That day finally comes, Dr Alam comes into the room and says "so show me the rash"? Confused I say I'm not here for a rash I'm looking for a full body scan which I booked with the receptionist. She goes off in a full rant about being the only Dermatologist from North Toronto to Sudbury and is very busy and doesn't have time for this kind of thing and says that I must book for a full body scan. I ask if she can at least have a look to see if anything needs immediate attention. Reluctantly and curtly has a look, she identified to suspect freckles on my face and a mole on my abdomen. and says they all must come off. Quickly says she will refer me to a surgeon and I'm dismissed. I return to reception, make an appointment for a full body scan, 8 months later. In the meantime I have the small surgeries. After the 8 months I go back. While I'm waiting I watch her get in 3 heated discussions 2 with patients and one with staff. a little later I get shown to an examining room. So she comes in and says" So how's the rash" ! Unbelieveable! Once again I say I'm here for a full body scan, she storms out of the room and gives one of the staff a hard time. The assistant comes in and asks me to undress. Dr Alam comes back in and curtly examines me. Not once does she comment, refer to or say anything about the 3 removals that she ordered previously. She identifies 5 more suspect growths that she says should be removed but is unsure and says the surgeon will decide! and I am dismissed. Back to the Surgeon, I said Dr Alam said the removal was up to you, he looks confused and says that's not my decision it's yours!! Didn't I spend almost a year getting consultations from a supposed specialist just to be told it's my decision. You hear the word's you should have that looked at. It should be a pleasant experience you should not be made to feel like you are doing something wrong and a burden for being there.

Nicole Booth

AWFUL - if you want a Dr. who actually cares about her patients don't waste your time!!!! waited 6 months for the appointment, then waited 2 hours past my appointment time to spend less then 5 minutes with the Dr. - who would only discuss one issue per appointment - when they are all related skin issues. She just wants to push through as many Ohip appts as possible.

Brittney Vaisanen

Worst experience I've ever had with a doctor. Literally would not let me finish my sentences. Didn't care what I had to say and was not listening at all. I have quite the regimen for my son and it is a constant thing, she wouldn't believe me and kept arguing with me. Didn't know she secretly took care of my son and knew exactly what, how much and how long I did things for. Nothing has helped him and in the end she just wrote a prescription for something that he's had that hasn't worked for him at all in the past. Then continued to throw paper work down about his condition like I didn't know what it was. I'm not an idiot but she is for not listening to her patients. Only cares about writing a prescription. If you get her, word to the wise, ask for somebody else !

Andrew Wenzel

Based on my experience, I cannot recommend this Dr.

Joey Cardoza

I appreciated the knowledge of Dr. Alam. I had to have 3 biopsies of which they all came back as negative. She noticed right away. Thank you.

Amanda H

On January 3rd 2017 Dr. Alam looked over at my son who was 10 months at the time, she left the room to grab a medical textbook. When she returned she pointed and said “this is what your son has”. The diagnosis's she would give my son would lead me to seek a second opinion who rediagnosed him with something under the same umbrella. The diagnosis’s changed our life. My son has a rare disease with only 300 cases worldwide. His disease has some very serious screening and even though her diagnosis’s wasn’t 100% accurate she was on the right track. Every other doctor told us it was a “birthmark” but she automatically recognized the portwine staining/capillary issues. So thank you a million!!!

John Weber

She told me I needed surgery for skin cancer, I was quite surprised and on the advice of friend I searched out another doctor to get a second opinion. The second doctor was more than surprised and said I see no evidence of skin cancer. I would not trust her opinion at all.

Anon Ymous

I have visited Dr. Alam twice before with no issues (other than the monstrous waiting times but I expect that now), however, I was disappointed on this third visit. I went to get a mole checked out. She quickly examined it through the Molescope and took a picture of it. She said it didn't look like a bad mole. She asked if I thought it had changed and I said it has probably grown a bit since I last visited her a few years ago. She said well if I think it has grown then the only thing they can do about it is remove it and to refer me to a surgeon in the Toronto area to do this. I said I don't want it removed, I just wanted her to check it out and give me her opinion, if she says it doesn't look like a bad mole then that's all I need to know. She kept insisting on writing a referral, despite the fact that I told her twice that I wasn't going to get it done. She said well if you think it has changed then I listen to my patients here, this is patient centered care, and wouldn't take no for an answer. My point is, I am not the expert, she is. That is why I went to visit her, otherwise if everything is left up to the patient then what's the point of even wasting my time to go see her? I wanted her professional opinion and I got it and was satisfied. If she doesn't think it's bad then there's no need to get it removed. Finally I just gave up and said fine give me the referral, just to humor her. I have no intentions whatsoever on following up with this though. I wonder if she gets some sort of kickback or commission for referring patients to a colleague, I just don't understand why she was so insistent on this referral when I told her several times I was not going to use it. Probably not going back unless I see a significant change in my mole.

rachel

Aweful experience...

Young Turk

omg very bad doctor . she know nothing and i cant understand her . she fight wit me

Doris Herbert

I'm very happy with Dr. Shayesteh Alam. She is knowledgeable and careing Down to the point and still friendly and open for question. I feeled a great connection to her. Thank you Doctor ????

Sherrie Dault

I have gone there 3 times not pleasant with her at all. Not a very good bedside manner. Every time I wanted to talk or ask questions she always didn’t let me finish. Reception has always been good getting back to me through email and polite when i go. Would not recommend her to anyone

Ben “Tazclap” Hoegler

Rude, not helpful, hard to understand, couldn’t answer any of my questions, and on top of that randomly walked out of my appointment and i had to ask the receptionist to bring her back. Would not recommend.

Tim Coates

I seen Dr, Alan twice in the pass . My family Dr. has made a appointment for see her again and I can say that I found Dr Alam ( Nice and understanding ) . We are very lucky to have her .

Sharon Gilmour

Not too interested in my appointment. I was told my skin condition within 2 min as she walked in. But I was a little confused as to why I needed a biopsy if she knew what it was along with a photo that I showed her on my phone. She said “ that’s it” and walked out door. I called her back in to write condition so I could do the research myself, she said “ use sun protection “ and out she walked. ( I was shocked). This is the kinda help that is very discouraging, even if your in a rush have a lil compassion for patients. You can take a quick 10min appt but use your time with a lil compassion for your specialty. Show us that you care to help.