HealingWell
Search Close Search
☰

dr referral: AZ

Support Forums
>
Crohn's Disease
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply
❬ ❬ Previous Thread |Next Thread ❭ ❭
Posted 1/21/2010 3:04 AM (GMT 0)
Hi,
Not sure anyone can help, but does anyone have a really good crohns dr in the phoenix/scottsdale area? i am not sure mine is doing everything she can and really want to go the best I can find.
Thanks for any suggestions!
Posted 1/21/2010 4:48 AM (GMT 0)
I've had good luck with the "Digestive Health Center of Arizona". They have quite a few good docs there, including mine...They are always one of the TOP DOCs picked by Phoenix Magazine, which is chosen by peers. I included a link in case you wanted to check them out...
www.dhcaz.com/homepage
Hope you find someone you like...
Posted 1/21/2010 5:16 AM (GMT 0)
I just got a new GI doctor, Elizabeth Cruz (http://www.digestivehca.com/about.html). Much much better then my last GI! When she has questions about my case, she consults with Johnathan Leighton at the Mayo Clinic (http://www.mayoclinic.org/bio/11485957.html). I've always heard he's really good, but they don't take my insurance there.
Posted 1/21/2010 2:49 PM (GMT 0)
I have heard Arizona has a Mayo Clinic. If your insurance works with them, they would be who I chose. JMHO

Good luck!
Posted 1/24/2010 3:31 AM (GMT 0)
Nanners brought up a good point...Dr. Leighton is at Mayo and he's pretty decent (I hear the best in AZ)...my doc wanted a second opinion for himself and scheduled for me to see him. Cool huh? But not only does insurance not cover it, for me, Dr. Leighton is so far east, like on 190th street...if you live in N Scottsdale, probably not so difficult, but I live in Central/South Phoenix...I might as well drive to LA (kidding)...but My doc is closer, and is awesome, I might think differently if I couldn't find anyone else (My first doc and I just DID NOT jive)
Posted 1/24/2010 5:07 AM (GMT 0)
I really like my doctor - Michael Shapiro. He's really good and was the doctor that finally diagnosed me (I had seen two in LA and had been trying to figure out what was going on for 2 years). His staff is amazing and he takes an insanely long amount of time to discuss things with you. He did have me go see Leighton at Mayo for a second opinion, just because he thought it would be a good idea. I've heard that Leighton was good, but frankly I was not a fan. He refused to accept my diagnosis of Crohn's without doing a colonoscopy of his own. I thought that was ridiculous because Shapiro used to work at Mayo and apparently does refer a bunch of people over for referrals. I just didn't get a good vibe from him and I already really liked my doctor. And everything has gone pretty smoothly for me, minus some general hiccups finding the right medicine. I'm now in remission and happier than ever. Hope you find a good doctor that you trust and you feel is doing the right thing.
Posted 1/28/2010 4:10 AM (GMT 0)
If you are looking for east valley I would agree that Dr. Shapiro would be highly recommended as well as Dr. Leighton (if you can get an appt with him).  I've been treated at Mayo clinic for surgery, but only when no one in my insurance network would do it.

I have also been a patient of Dr. Bruce Sand, who is near Desert Ridge Mall.  He was my Dr for many years until my case became too complicated for his expertise.  He referred me to Dr. Nizar Ramzan in Scottsdale and he was excellent.  If we lived in that area he would still be my Dr., very thorough and spent time explaining everything clearly.  He is a former Mayo clinic Dr.

I now see a GI dr. in Surprise, AZ - Dr. Lawrence Bettinger...

 

Hope you find someone to help.  There are some very good Dr's out there, sometimes just hard to find the right one for you.

Posted 1/28/2010 6:07 AM (GMT 0)
I wish I could get a GI in Surprise! Nobody there takes my insurance though :-(.
Posted 1/30/2010 4:00 AM (GMT 0)
When I was referred to Mayo Clinic in AZ I was treated by Dr. Leighton.  He performed the double balloon endoscopy which at that time was only done at a few locations on the west coast.

I was very pleased with Leighton, excellent bedside manner!!! BTW I am from Oregon and go to OHSU in Portland for most of my GI visits.

Good luck with your Dr. quest!!!

Posted 1/31/2010 2:44 AM (GMT 0)
Shapiro's good, but note that all the facilities in Scottsdale have a high cost associated with them. If you have a high deductible, you may want to look elsewhere.
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply