John T Whalen's Online Review Report Card

Dr. Whalen performed both lumbar and cervical surgeries for me and both operations were completely successful. He doesn’t interact very well with patients, and I understand why this puts people off, but I would be severely crippled if it weren’t for these surgeries. I also found that his assistant (at the time) was far better at explaining all the details and answering my questions. He my be brusque at times but honestly, who cares?

No bedside manner. Nurses rude. Hospital the worse. No assistance with pain management. Hospital stay was 11 days gi blockages and severe uti. Overall the worse experience of my life.

Dr. Whalen operated on my neck hoping it would help my back pain. Told me if it didn't help then he would have to operate on my back. Not telling me that if that was the case I would have to loose 100 lbs. Well since surgery, the pain in my back has become so severe I can't be on my feet longer than 10 minute's because I can't stand the pain. I have moved to RI for the top back surgeon to help with pain because calm I got from Whalen was a back brace !!!

WORST bedside manner I have EVER experienced!! Very dismissive, makes you feel like the pain your feeling is all in your head even when your MRI says otherwise. And don't bother asking questions because he doesn't have time to answer them! He walked out of the room as I was still talking.

14 years ago tomorrow, Dr. Whalen saved my life. I was profoundly depressed after a surgeon in another state had performed 3 fusions that failed. I was ready to give up on ever having any quality of life. We moved to Albany (unrelated reason), and I found Dr. Whalen. He took the time to figure out what was going on with my fusions. He did one surgery to correct what the prior surgeon had done, did a second to complete the fusion. When that one failed, he took the time to investigate and figure out why. Turns out I’m allergic to titanium which is why no previous fusion took. He performed an “old school” revision which held. Dr. Whalen is an amazing surgeon who gave me my life back. 14 years later and I am in no pain still, was able to birth a child without intervention, and my only reminder is my scar. Thank you, Dr. Whalen.

I love my dr. But his staff is very rude and disrespectful.

I waited 2 hours just for him to tell me to go back to physical therapy which hasn’t helped much. I was told by my doctor who performed an MRI that I have bulging discs in my neck. Dr Whalen completely dismissed that and didn’t even go over the imaging with me in the room after making me take further X Rays which id already received. He also made insensitive comments about my personal appearance that make me questions his judgement as a health care professional. Waste of my time.

I had doctor Whalen for a surgeon on my L3 and L4 vertebrae fusion and I'm telling you he saved my life. I worked construction including roofing for years and my back got worse and worse and no surgeon would help me saying I was too young. Doctor Whalen took my case,did the surgery and I cannot thank this man enough. Thank you doctor whalen

Following a car accident that caused me to have herniated disc in my L1, i went to OrthoNY & my Dr who i saw there at first (Dr. Parikh) gave me a MRI & said he thinks i needed to be referred to back surgeon. (Being only 30 yrs old at the time i asked him if he can do anything to help me before i have to get surgery) he said we can try to cortisone shots, those worked for about 8 months until the last one didnt help at all, He then refeered me to Dr. Whalen. 1 month later i had an surgery appt for an Laminectomy. Surgery went well, He called later that night to check on me. I was very pleased with him. Hes not the type of personality to sit there and joke around, hes very serious & to the point which i respect!

Dr. Whalen is an amazing Dr. He knows what he is doing. He is caring, responsible and attentive about his patients. He just performed a l4-l5 laminectomy and discectomy a month ago. I am healing fine and they kept in touch to see how am I doing. Most importantly I am happy to get my life back.

I felt like he didn't believe that I had pain, he didn't ask me questions, and he wasn't forthcoming answering any of my questions. I won't see him again.

Dr Whalen is the best

This dr not interested in sharing his findings nor recommendations. Very little conversation with patient. Was not easily forthcoming with answers to my questions and would not take the time to compare records of illness progression from my previous visits to present

Dr. Whalen is an excellent, professional, knowledgeable, personable surgeon with A-one bedside manner.

Excellent surgeon, professional, personable. Can't say enough good things about this Doctor. He has been my surgeon for many years.

AWFUL - Dr Whalen has totally awful bedside manner. Overheard him 'yelling' at a pt in the next room about being tardy. I'm in pain and because I wasn't screaming at his tests he assumed I was faking. I get that some patients are drug seekers and that's exactly how I felt I was being treated. I had to request an MRI (isn't that his job). Had results sent to my PCP and he called me with the results (new compression fracture L-3). Seeking a different Orthopedic because I won't go back.

Like interacting with a robot. His pre-op and post-op visits lasted 60 seconds each, max. No interest in answering questions. I had to look up most of my concerns on the Internet. OrthoNY---never again!

I think he is the best!!! I have nothing but good to say abut Dr Whalen. I had Dr Whalen for both my surgeries and was able to get up the next day and walk had no in patient therapy I did great after both my surgeries. Well mannered remembers you.i will keep him as my Dr. My sister has him,my brother has him.

Don't be late for your appointment - they will NOT see you. I was 20 min late. Despite struggling to get out of the house, driving from an hour and got a little lost. I was in extreme pain and crying from my sciatica, he would NOT see me. Didn't even come out of office. Put that in consideration for what his compassion might be.

If you want a warm, and fuzzy dr. dont see dr Whalen. However, if you want an excellent surgeon who has made my life live able again, then go immediately!!