I haven't dealt with Dr. Malik, but I have been seen by PAs in both locations. First off, my last visit there was a little confusion between the ZocDoc site and the doctors office. They called me to tell me the appointment I had made actually shouldn't have been allowed because they don't do general check ups that late. It wasn't a big deal to me, but the lady who called me was able to schedule me another appointment earlier in the day that wasn't available online. Not only that, when I asked which exit to take from work she moved the location from Germantown to Gaithersburg because she said I wouldn't need to drive as far and traffic would be easier! It was so thoughtful she did that for me. My wait was only about 10 minutes when I got there. Maybe a few minutes less, I didn't time it. The front desk lady chatted and time flew anyways. When they came to get me, everything was explained to me very well, and I wasn't touched without being told exactly what they were going to do (example: we're going to take your temp from your ear). It's little but sometimes you go to a doctor and everyone just manhandles you. The provider I saw, Renee, was amazing. She sat and listened to me and took notes on even little things I said. She explained the lab testing she wanted to do, and never made me feel awkward. I could feel she cares a lot for her job and patients. How they were going to use my insurance was also explained very well, and before my visit they called me to make sure everything was in order before I came in. And if you don't believe me, Washingtonian magazine also loves Dr. Malik, ranking him as one of the top doctors in the area. read more

To be fair, I would not give this office zero stars, as that would be an insult to zero stars. Now, I would not recommend this office. Who would? They have recently started requiring patients to come in every three months to renew routine medications such as blood pressure and cholesterol medications. These are common, non-controlled medications. If the purpose is medical follow-up, then actually follow the patient. Instead, you are required to make an appointment, typically wait 20-25 minutes, have a nurse check basic vitals for couple minutes, and then see the doctor for less than five minutes. It feels like an illusion of follow-up care rather than an actual evaluation. No blood work was even ordered. I specifically had to ask about it. So what exactly is the purpose of requiring the follow-up if you are not checking how the patient is actually doing? Just look at the patient, say, "You look fine," and bill the insurance? Even worse, the doctor did not review my test results. After looking at my BP reading, he said, "Ah, I guess that is why you are on blood pressure medication, right?" That told me he did not even seem to know why I was there. Yet the office required this visit before renewing the prescription, and roughly $500 was billed to insurance. OK, my insurance covers fully, but still, I do not understand how this kind of practice is considered ethical. Then, we wonder why healthcare and insurance costs are so high. Well, now we know predatory practices like this. My impression is simple: this practice feels far more focused on generating billable visits than providing meaningful medical care. The doctors seem disconnected, the front office seems disengaged, and I have very little confidence that a developing serious condition would be recognized early with this kind of superficial follow-up and subpar care. My advice: run elsewhere like there is no tomorrow. If you decide, or are forced, to stay with this office, may God have mercy on your soul. read more

1 star. If I could give zero stars I would. I have been trying since January 2026 to get a single referral from Dr. Ramakrishnan's office at First Medical Associates to Kennedy Krieger Institute -- a world-class specialty clinic less than an hour away. It is now April. The referral has still not been done correctly. Let me tell you exactly what that looked like. The process is not complicated: the PCP submits a prior authorization form to my insurance (Maryland Physicians Care), receives an authorization number, and includes that number on the referral to Kennedy Krieger. Both my insurance and Kennedy Krieger confirmed this is routine -- they do it with this exact insurance constantly. Kennedy Krieger told me directly that they have never encountered a PCP office that could not figure this out. Here is what First Medical Associates did instead: -- Sent the first referral with the wrong codes and no authorization number. -- When I called to correct it, office staff told me they did not know how to do a prior authorization for a referral. I then spent my own time calling Kennedy Kreiger and my insurance multiple times to research the process for them. -- At the office's request, I personally wrote and emailed them a detailed, step-by-step guide. I included every CPT code, every diagnosis code, the prior auth fax number, the Kennedy Kreiger fax number, the insurance portal link, and a numbered list of every step they needed to take. I did their job for them. -- They sent the referral again. Still no authorization number. Still wrong. -- A staff member left me a voicemail stating that their office "does not do prior authorizations for referrals." This is factually incorrect and directly contradicted by both my insurer and Kennedy Kreiger. -- I forwarded my instructions again. I followed up again. I called again. I was assured it would be handled correctly this time. -- Kennedy Kreiger called me on April 3, 2026 to tell me another referral arrived -- still without an authorization number. -- When I called the office that same day, a staff member told me the referral had been "successfully sent" to Kennedy Krieger and the gastroenterologist. There is no gastroenterologist involved. I had my appendix out weeks ago -- that case is closed. They confused my active EDS referral with a completely unrelated, concluded referral from a different specialty. They also told me that in the future I should have my surgeon handle this. There is no surgeon. There has never been a surgeon involved in this referral. I have spent over five to six hours of my own time doing administrative work that is the legal and professional responsibility of this office. I have been denied access to medically necessary specialty care for three months because of their repeated, compounding errors. I am filing formal complaints with the Maryland Board of Physicians and Maryland Physicians Care, and I am filing a grievance with the Maryland Insurance Administration. If you have a straightforward medical need, maybe you will be fine here. If you are a complex patient who needs care coordination, referrals, or anyone in that office to retain basic information about your case from one phone call to the next -- find another doctor. This practice is not equipped to help you. 0/10 read more

I went to the office for the first time for my lower abdominal pain, waited for over 40 mins and only got to see a PA, who spent less than 10 mins to ask a few questions, there was no any treatment nor seeing a doctor, but I received a bill from them for over $260 for 10 mins survey questions pretty much. This is insane. I questioned the charges and have been disputing but they didn't provide any proper explanations. Definitely will not go back or recommend this office. read more

The actual medical care I have received is great. The office is so frustrating to deal with. I always feel like calling, emailing, or walking in for an appointment is an inconvenience to the staff. They will start sending multiple reminders about two weeks before your appointment but stop the day before. They will continue no matter how many times you confirm the appointment. After your appointment it takes a week or so before they start spamming you for payment. You will receive a reminder to pay the bill every other day until they receive payment. Between that and having to make appointments for refills or just getting bloodwork orders I'm thinking of trying to find a new pcp read more

Germantown location is wonderful! The Rockville location is incredibly unprofessional. The office staff are rude and condescending. The mess up prescriptions and give you so much attitude for wanting updates about your care. read more

They never return your calls, they take forever to call in your prescriptions even when you're completely out of them. Terrible patient treatment. read more

Front office staff is rude. They didn't seem helpful to other patients either. Having full on conversations about medical care in the main lobby room. Bathroom is dirty with cracked toilet seat. I ended up walking out before my first appt, definitely would NOT recommend. read more

I've been impressed with Doctor's First in Gaithersburg, MD, and with Dr. Djahanmir in particular as even though the office is on the slow side, I've been able to fill out all paperwork for my visit ahead of time via secure on-line account so my doctor can spend more time looking over my lab work and any complaints and lifestyle changes for better health outcomes. This place isn't rushed, so don't expect to get in the exam room in 5 minutes, but vitals will be taken and you'll see the doctor in 15 minutes or less...and when you do, he'll be able to concentrate on what's happened since your last visit. I feel like I am cared for and my needs have been met. Good job. read more

Shortly after we had moved to Gaithersburg, I had severe backspin. I called Doctors First and after some time, they "allowed me to come in. No doctor around. The PAC gave me a hurried examination and prescribed some strong pain pills. She never touched my back to possibly find a hardened muscle. The visit lasted approximately ten minutes. I should have been suspicious when they asked me for my payment information, but being new, I thought that that was generally done here. They ASSURED me that they would notify me BEFORE debiting for the service. Much to my surprise, they did no such thing an simply took the money out of my account ! They had billed me for an "extensive office visit up to 45 minutes. " They also gave me a wrong diagnosis! After I had finished the pain medicine, I called them that I would change doctors. In spite of that, they called me twice and Dr. Malik even thanked me in a letter for my "sick appointment." Yes, that is what it was : sick ! I went to see Dr. de Lara at the Spine and Pain Center and got expert, caring and effective treatment there. Lesson : don't ever give your banking Information to anyone, including a doctor's office ! And : the staff at the reception we're absolutely unprofessional and should have scared me away in the first place. Now I have to try to get my money back ! Grrr ! read more

My husband and I go to see Rene Lapointe and we both love her. She always listens, has time for us and explains everything. She is very professional. Highly recommend her! read more

I visited Doctors First in lieu of going to an ER, since I didn't think my injury was that serious and I definitely didn't want to wait forever. I was not disappointed at all. I made an appointment online. Shortly after arriving and completing the paperwork, I was seen by the PA, Renee LaPointe. I was completely satisfied with her attentiveness and professionalism. She addressed my concerns and made appropriate referrals for tests, etc. I was impressed with the level of service I received and would definitely go there again! read more

Dr. Lapointe is excellent. My entire family goes to see her. If you are super picky about your doctors and if you don't want to feel rushed, then you are in great hands. She takes her time and responds to every message in a timely manner. She is highly competent and knowledgeable. I highly recommend her to anyone looking for a great office. The staff are also wonderful and very helpful. Loubna. S read more

I can't say enough about Doctors First. I have been going to them since 2014 and they have treated every illness that I could possibly have. Specially my back issues. They have a few challenges with front desk staff but doctores and np are wonderful. read more

Good and convenient office. Carring Drs and PAs. Would recommend for anybody looking for a primary physician.

I came here for a check up with my husband. It was quick didn't wait so long, the front desk lady was so nice. The assistant was wonderful as well, the lady in the lab who draw my blood and it didn't leave no bruise at all. I saw Dr Malik he was so great informative and very respectful. They also have a website were you can make appointments and ask question to the doctor one thing I love they send the prescription to the pharmacy!!! I love that!!! read more

Terrible patient access to staff for basic questions because of the provider's over-reliance on technology. I am new to Doctors First and spent over 40 minutes trying to reach a human being to see if I could reschedule my second an appointment with them ever. Someone came on the phone briefly to tell me to continue to hold but they never did return. I called back several times and got caught up in the same technical phone routine. No human contact. My last call was an automated response saying the staff was on their lunch break. This is a very impersonal practice and does not give a patient a sense of being cared for. It is painful to think that the doctor I met who caused me to choose this practice is a very fine physician that I amy have to give up. Excellent physicians may just be losing patients because of inappropriate use of technology in the front office. I may be looking for another practice very soon although I have just signed up at this practice. read more

Both my husband and myself have been going to this practice for three years. The staff are friendly, efficient and helpful. The doctors are always running on schedule and there is never a long wait. Renee who sees us both is extremely understanding and caring and she is an outstanding medical professional. We always comment on how well taken care of we feel when leaving after an appointment with her. I would highly recommend. read more

I arrived at my scheduled appointment and was extremely disappointed with the care received by female nurse practitioner, she is racist. A male doctor did eventually come into the room but the service did not get any better. I will not be returning. read more

This place is terrible. My first problem started when I went to go pick up paperwork that I gave the doctor a week in advance to fill out for a class I was taking. I waited about two hours for them to give me my paperwork which the doctor completely forgot about even after the receptionist reminding him about it twice. I was there until they closed and then the doctor realized he forgot and started to finish it. Obviously I was mad so I told the receptionist that this is unbelievable and she then caught an attitude with me. I decided to never go there again but then the doctor had called me in and said something was wrong with my results. I went all the way from Rockville to Gaithersburg waited for an hour just for the doctor to tell me I had a vitamin D deficiency... when my sister had the same thing they called her and told her over the phone. ALSO they charged me $35 saying it was a co pay which did not make sense to me because all the doctor did was tell me about a small issue and then I went home..Then I got a call about 2 months later saying I had a balance for a copay so I called the office and the $35 I was charged was actually for a no call no show. Keep in mind I've never missed an appointment. They told me the billing department would give me a call it's been 2 weeks and still no call...So I called them because I also need my results for a tb test and my physical for a job that I just got and the lady had no idea about anything. She told me that she didn't have the results yet.. I TOOK THE TEST and got my physical 3 months ago. This is unbelievable. read more

All of the staff members were friendly and professional, from the receptionists to the nurses/doctors. The wait was short and I was able to have all my concerns addressed in a timely manner. I highly recommend Doctors First! read more

Went there because they accept my Insurance. They were paid by my insurance and now are 'balance billing me'. They have an agreement with Tricare to accept the cost of contracted services for military personnel. They have been hounding me for a $250.00 co-pay, which is ridiculous. They are money driven and will harass patients until they get overpaid, which is in violation with their insurance companies agreement. I gave the lowest recommendation for this practice. read more