When you meet a doctor who is completely thorough and full of integrity-- It's an awesome experience. I have nothing but admiration for this practitioner who is clearly devoted to his work -- he is a scientist and a humanitarian -- he is old fashioned in the best ways. read more

Dr. Schwartzfarb is one of the best doctors I have encountered in my 81 years. I came to him two years ago with a sudden onset of severe joint and muscle pain all over my body, a condition he accurately diagnosed (as polymyalgia rheumatica) and effectively treated with the right medication, frequent blood and urine testing, thorough physical examinations, and, perhaps above all, attentive and sympathetic listening to (and careful recording of) what I had to say during each appointment. That I am today entirely free of this condition I attribute not only to Dr. Schwartzfarb's considerable skill as a physician, but also to his qualities as a human being. He is a doctor who understands and treats his patients not as cases but as people who need help. I won't miss polymyalgia rheumatica, but I will miss the skill and kindness of Dr. Schwartzfarb. read more

I think I was on my 11th second opinion when I finally found Dr. Schwartzfarb. I was becoming frightened that nobody would figure out what was going on with me. Dr. Schwartzfarb had the patience to listen to everything I had to say and then he had questions of his own. The time, care and consideration he afforded me was unbelievable. He took a slew of tests and left no stone unturned until he figured this out and set up a course of treatment which has literally changed my life! I cannot thank him enough. He is truly a remarkable doctor! read more

If you are seeking a physician who spends meaningful time with a patient, attentively listens to a patient, and offers a well thought out treatment plan, then this is the physician for you. I unequivocally recommend Dr. Schwartzfarb, one need look no further...this is the physician for you. read more

In the fall of 2011, entirely without warning (up until that point I had been a healthy 33-year-old woman in good shape as I was biking to work semi-regularly and taking Taekwondo twice a week), I couldn't get up from a seated position. Shortly thereafter, both knees and hands were incredibly painful and virtually unusable. I couldn't walk well at all, and I could barely stand to unfurl my hands. I wound up going to nine different kinds of specialists, had an MRI, CT scans, and countless amounts of blood drawn. I was my own little episode of House. I quickly realized that despite all having taken the Hippocratic Oath, not all doctors are created equal, and many make you know exactly how much of their time they feel you're wasting. The only specialist who never gave up on me was Dr. Schwartzfarb. From my first visit with Dr. Schwartzfarb, he took an incredible amount of time with me. Yes, you may find the wait to be long, but be patient. He will afford you the same time and attention he gives all of his patients. He's soft spoken and a great listener, which I mention only because I've met some physicians who are overly loud and obnoxious, which can almost be distracting as you're trying to remember all the symptoms you need to discuss. Everything about this doctor lends itself to the fact that he is there to find out what is wrong with you. In fact, he writes down everything you tell him (he may ask you to pause so he can catch up to you). His exams are so thorough you won't believe you're at a specialist's office in the non-stop hustle that is Manhattan. He'll ask you a million questions, examine every single joint, and if necessary, he will send you to get every diagnostic test possible until he figures out what the problem is. He's relentless in that regard. And, he saves you time and money by offering in-house x-rays and a nurse who does expert blood draws. I've been going to Dr. Schwartzfarb for over a year. He was able to determine that I have Crohn's Disease. As you can imagine, getting from arthritis to an irritable bowel disease was like finding the proverbial needle in a haystack, but Dr. Schwartzfarb did it. And now he's been helping me get into remission with a treatment of Remicade infusions and other drugs. His staff also makes my recovery possible. Every month I need to get my blood drawn and his nurse can do it blindfolded. I'm not exaggerating when I tell you that I have possibly the worst veins in the history of circulatory systems, but Dr. Schwartzfarb's nurse can do it on the first try, with barely any pain and make me laugh at the same time. She saves me an untold amount of anxiety/stress, and I'm forever indebted to her. Remicade is an incredibly expensive drug, and Dr. Schwartzfarb's office manager is like the insurance whisperer. This is the first person in my entire 34-year life to date who makes it a point to do everything in her power to handle and conquer the insurance bureaucracy. The amount of times this woman has gone above and beyond so that I don't have to stress on the phone with my insurance company is staggering. And, she possesses an encyclopedic knowledge of insurance costs and procedures so she'll help you navigate the often confusing waters. There's no way I would've been able to handle the insurance side of my treatment without her, and the weight she's taken off my shoulders is immeasurable. In this day and age, it is so profoundly rare to find a practice like Dr. Schwartzfarb's. Usually, you're lucky if you get five minutes with a doctor, let alone if you're remembered or treated like a patient, instead of a file. And that's another thing: So many doctors want to treat the diagnosis, instead of the patient. They don't really take the time to learn who you are and why--even though you may have the same disease as another patient waiting in the waiting room--you may not require the same treatment. Dr. Schwartzfarb really only looks at you and your case and your symptoms and the best course of action for you. He is committed to you as patient and figuring out a plan that works optimally for you as a person. Speaking of, I'm happy to report that while not entirely out of the woods, I am able to walk and even ride my bike again. I was so happy the first time I was able to ride my bike again that I teared up, and when I completed a 30-mile ride last October, my heart swelled and I cried huge tears of joy as I neared the finish line because I honestly wouldn't have imagined that that would have ever been a physical possibility for me. And I owe it all to Dr. Schwartzfarb, who never gave up on finding a diagnosis and who remains completely committed to my recovery. He's given me my life back and so much more. read more

Two years ago, I suddenly began to experience crippling muscle pain in my hips and shoulders. Since the onset of the pain followed a hike where I had taken a bad fall, I assumed that the pain stemmed from that incident. Initial consultations with my regular doctor - as well as a sports doctor at HSS - led to a recommendation of physical therapy. Physical therapy only led to increased pain; my regular doctor then referred me to Dr. Schwartzfarb. He fit me into his schedule at a very busy time of year for an initial interview and tests that lasted about 2 hours. He patiently and thoughtfully reviewed my entire relevant medical history and also listened carefully to what I had to say about the pain that I was experiencing. He then enumerated a number of possible diagnoses, described a series of additional tests that he wanted me to take and explained the reasoning behind each test. The result of these tests led to a diagnosis of Polymyalgia Rheumatica (PMR) and a treatment regimen that alleviated the severe pain and, over time, resulted in my immune system returning to normal. Throughout two years of periodic visits, Dr. Schwartzfarb kept me well-informed about the stage of treatment that I was at and what I should expect in the time leading to my next appointment. He did an exceptional job both in identifying my illness and helping me to understand what was happening throughout my treatment. read more