Dr. Pedro Ruiz, MD

I don't think I've ever spent more than 5 minutes with Dr. Ruiz. I realized it was time to move on when he asked me if I ever tried ibuprofen for my chronic pain (it's on my medication list) or if I ever did Yoga (have told him for literally years that I do). I know it's not reasonable to expect doctors to remember every detail about every patient, but it's frankly insulting that he thinks in 20+ years of dealing with chronic pain that it just never occurred to me to take an OTC medication.

Non caring staff and doctor. I had seen him for a few years but finally decided it is a waste of my time. No appointment reminders, no follow up and frankly, he cut off and denied a critical medication because he hadn't seen me at my last appointment amongst covid (no reminders). Office manager put blame back on me for not following up. However, I did have required bloodwork done as required etc. I am certainly not new to being my own health care advocate, but I expect to at least be met half way. The end result is I got a great new Dr. who took a sincere interest in my health.

I have been seeing Dr. Ruiz for polymyalgia rheumatica and related symptoms since 2016. I have found him to be an attentive listener and a thoughtful, deliberate advisor. When I mentioned a disturbing observation in a cardio CT last spring - an area outside of his specialty - he quickly called up my record from that other hospital’s files, listened to my heart, and provided a full and patient explanation of the matter. Dr. Ruiz has my full confidence in this next round of diagnosis that’s ahead, and I would recommend him to anyone.

Dr Ruiz diagnosed me ankylosing spondylitis in 2016 and followed me for about 1 year before I decided I could not care for his attitude anymore. When he announced the diagnostic to me, he recommended that I start biologics right away which was a big psychological shock to me. In my mind I went from thinking "everybody has back pain" to "now I have to give myself injections every 2 weeks?!". When I expressed my concerns about how it weakens the immune system, he listened to me... and just replied "as I said, unless you start biologics, your back pain is only going to get worse". I believe a good doctor would have listened and worked out a long term plan with me that I would feel comfortable with.

The only thing “weird” about Dr Ruiz’s bedside manner (see other reviews) is that he listens to you respectfully, and nowadays many doctors do not. He took time to listen to my experience, did not judge the treatment decisions I made before seeing him, and offered a care plan that was reasonable and not alarmist. I found him very gentle and patient, soft spoken and caring.

I saw Dr. Ruiz for a few years as a Lupus patient - infrequently because he made me feel so uncomfortable. His bedside manner is, as another patient described, weird. I got the impression that my concerns bored him and that he felt he was forced to listen because he had to get the 15 minutes over with. When I was in crisis w/ serious central nervous system symptoms, it took 2 weeks to get an appointment. Felt as though he couldn't have cared less about me. I've decided to go elsewhere.

I have gone to him for about two years. He has a weird patient bedside manor persay. He really doesn't talk much. and doesn't explain things fully. I always wonder if he is helping me. Nice person though, but I always leave thinking if he is helping me.

The level of patient care from Dr. Ruiz is superior. Autoimmune diseases often require a high level of expertise to discern and are difficult to treat; symptom flairs can be frightening and extremely painful. Dr. Ruiz is an intelligent, determined rheumatologist. Along with his careful analysis, he makes himself available—even on weekends—and for this I am extremely grateful.