Dr. Anatoly P. Shalnov, MD

"I reported this doctor immediately upon leaving. And I suggest you all do the same too. I sen him because I have sciatica, from a previous back injury, and I know what sciatica is I also prior had back surgery, so I'm very well aware. From the time I came in there with my son who was 5 at the time, he yelled at him and told him to put away the phone because you cant yse phones in the room, (my son or myself didnt see the sign that was plastered up high). He said unless you want me to give you a needle. My son sat there and cried in the chair. So he tells me he hasnt seen anything on my mri and then tells me I need to go to Beth Israel to see a surgeon. Says my diagnosis is in my head. And upon me leaving comes in with a fkn needle and asked my son if he wanted it. I did report him and they told me he was handled, but if he hasnt lost his license, that isnt good enough for me."

"Absolutely the meanest "doctor" I have ever had an experience with. I saw him for lower back pain I had been experiencing for 10+ years after a work injury. The pain was debilitating and at times I was unable to walk. I had imaging done beforehand, and he told me he saw NOTHING on my scans that would cause pain. He said I needed to lose weight and exercise, that would fix everything. I was already in an exercise program and had lost 40+ pounds at that point, so I found his comment extremely rude and hurtful. I swapped doctors AND SO THANKFUL I DID! I would be in a much worse situation now if I had listened to Dr. Shalnov's judgmental and damaging "medical advice". The new doctor reviewed the exact same imaging and said I had MULTIPLE issues with my spine: arthritis, degenerative disc disease, pinched nerve roots, disc tears, and 4 herniated discs in my lumbar spine!!!!! How is that NOTHING?! Dr. Shalnov should have his medical license revoked. He clearly doesn't know how to practice and has ZERO bedside manner. Please CHA, if you care for the safety and wellbeing of your patients - remove this person from your practice."

"How this man still has a job is beyond me. I came in following failed PT and an ER visit for low back pain and left leg pain. During my initial visit he had a very flat affect and seemed irritated I was in the office. He questioned my pain and if it was truly as severe as I stated. He brushed off my pain and told me it was most likely muscular and I was fine. I pushed and told him I had an electric feeling pain which wasn’t what I was used to with the dull aching and throbbing I was used to with muscular pain. He begrudgingly ordered an MRI. I got an MRI and lo and behold I have a herniated disc. I felt vindicated and when I returned for follow up he told me herniated discs are normal and it doesn’t explain my right side pain. I told him I don’t have right side pain that it’s always been left side pain and he shook his head and said sure. He told me that this is something people live with and that I’m fine. Needless to say I’m never going to see him again. Hopefully getting a second opinion doesn’t take another month of my life."

"Seeing Dr.Anatoly did not just ruin my day, but broke my spirit. His bedside manner was rude, to say the least. I went in complaining of persistent pain in my thoracic spine (middle back) and feet. He looked at lumbar and cervical MRIs (taken from previous injuries, some dating back to two years ago) and with that had a enough reason to exclaim that there was "nothing wrong". When I challenged him, he offered referrals to other doctors, but I wouldn't trust any information coming from someone so dismissive of a patient. Apparently (now I'm being sarcastic), if a patient doesn't present with a visibly broken knee or elbow, they aren't offered any medical assistance or diagnostics. That sums up the kind of care I received today. I should have known from the online reviews to stay away. His office at Cambridge Health Alliance, Cambridge Hospital was able to give me the first available appointment and that seemed too attractive to pass up on given the daily pain I was/am experiencing. I know better now. Stay away."

"I went to him because my PCP wouldn't give me a referral for physical therapy until I saw a specialist. Maybe it's his personality but he seemed completely annoyed by my presence. He was rude and standoffish and made me uncomfortable. Frankly made me feel stupid for going there in the first place. I know I didn't need surgery I just need to see a physical therapist but the way he spoke to me was not professional. If I ever need to go back to see an orthopedic surgeon you can bet it will be someone else."