The following is my opinion only…read more Saw Dr. Lepsch and among my chief complaints were: ~ elevated white blood cell count ~ recent onset of severe shortness of breath family history of: ~ maternal grandmother having her first heart attack around my age, atrial fibrillation, a pacemaker, sixteen stents. ~ maternal grandfather dying of a heart attack at age 60. Dr. Lepsch ran no lab test, no imaging, and no test whatsoever. Did not refer me to any specialist. He instead labeled me as having psychiatric issues, after having spoken to me for only a few minutes, ever. He contributed all my symptoms to a mental health issue and refused to consider any alternative even when I requested we rule out a physical cause because the shortness of breath had increased with a hospitalization approximately 8 weeks earlier. He proceeded to tell me how irritating I was because I reminded him of one of his other patients he'd told for five years to leave her husband (I have a very happy marriage and had not mentioned any marital issues) and how frustrating it was that she wouldn't listen. He also told me I needed to move, go home and put up a for sale sign because "fascism wasn't getting any better". When I said it wasn't possible for me to just up and move, he became even more irritated with me. This caused me to feel as if I was living in an episode of The Twilight Zone. It seemed insane that a doctor at a respected facility such as UVA would speak to a patient in such a manner. When I left, I immediately called a close friend who is a nurse at UVA and told her about my experience (through tears) and she too felt as if it was surreal. He briefly looked at the test results I had brought with me for him to review. I had been in the hospital twice in the past year, first to have my gallbladder removed in an emergency and then to have a blockage in common bile duct cleared. My GI doctor had asked me to see him because I was short of breath and my white blood cell count was elevated. All of these test were related to the gastrointestinal system. Dr. Lepsch ran no test and therefor had no information related to any other system of my body. I believe he violated my rights by refusing to prescribe any anti-depressant other than Lexapro. He took me off all my GI medications without consulting with my GI doctor. He humiliated me so much that I became scared of seeing another provider and terrified of having to see him again. I began seeing a therapist and from our first appointment, one of the main things we've discussed is me trying to muster the courage to see/trust another doctor. This left me with no primary care provider other than Mark, during a pandemic, and with ongoing health issues. I had initially waited nine months for my first appointment with him. Eight months after seeing Mark, I went into atrial fibrillation and almost died. He'd dismissed my symptoms as mental without doing a single test or exam to rule out a physical cause, even though I asked that he rule out a physical cause. It's my opinion that he almost cost me my life, caused me to incur a huge and unnecessary hospital bill for the emergency room and inpatient care after almost dying, and made me go through the most traumatic event I've ever experienced. He made me question my sanity and caused huge issues in my personal relationships because my symptoms were incorrectly labeled as mental rather than physical. I'm now concerned that I may lose my home due to unnecessary medical cost. Just the stress one needs when coping with a cardiac issue. In my opinion he's a misogynistic, egotistical, dangerous, cruel, incompetent human being unworthy of holding a medical license. I've now learned that (it seems) cardiac issues in women are, sadly, often misdiagnosed as psychiatric. Google Scholar it for yourself, there are peer reviewed studies regarding the general topic. The symptoms of cardiac disease and disorders are often different for women than men. In this case, I don't believe I was just innocently misdiagnosed, it feels much more like malice. Of course this is my opinion only and you should, as always, seek expert advice and make an informed decision for yourself. This was my unfortunate experience, from my point of view, and I hope it helps some of my sisters out there avoid a similar extremely traumatic experience or even death. Your life matters and you are worthy of care. Your doctor doesn't have to like you but they do have to treat you with respect and provide you with adequate care. No one, including a doctor, has a right to emotionally abuse you. If you feel you have been mistreated by a medical provider, you can report them to your state board of medicine.

He is very combative; seems disillusioned by UVA's expectations. Not happy to have YET another new…read morepatient added to his pile. Said he thought he could read my husband's file at 10:30 at night when he FFFFFINALLY got home ... and rolled his eyes. Yep, my husband is a complicated case file. But this doctor was rude & demeaning. We left & will never go back. He's totally fried to a CRISP. Too bad cuz I had heard many good things about him and from several people and waited MONTHS to see him. But the demands of the job take a toll on MANY good docs. Time for this one to open the next chapter.