Dr. Ronald A. Cooke, MD

"Worse doctor I ever came into contact with. I saw him at 17-18 years old. He put me on medication at my wishes without my mother’s consent. In that one year I was on 11 different medications. One which dangerously lowered my blood pressure to the point of passing out because he never asked if I had low blood pressure to begin with. One was a sedative and when I told him it wasn’t working he ramped up to the maximum dose which I refused to take. He put me on a medication despite me specifically asking not to be on because of family history. For the entire year he had ONE piece of yellow lined scrap paper, and at our final appointment it had circles, scribbles, arrows, and things crossed out. He asked me the same questions every single month, like what I’m going to college for. Whenever I expressed concern over the FIVE diagnoses he gave me, he said I think I know everything because I’m a psych student. I ended up with serotonin toxicity because of said misdiagnoses. I’m not sure why he is in the line of work he is with clear mental issues himself, not knowing that lack of focus can be caused by depression and not ADHD, and when he treats patients like an assembly line and not like real people who should be in control of their healthcare. He should lose his license for malpractice."

"My experience with Behavioral Health Associates of WNY has been such a positive one! I have yet to find another psychiatrist in the area who is knowledgeable, patient centered, accepts insurance, offers evening availability, and has years of experience treating acute MH patients. Not only have they provided excellent clinical care, but they also prioritize a therapeutic office environment enriched with Art, music, and free community resource pamphlets available! Medical Service providers who still have their humanity in tact like Dr. Cooke & Michelle, are hard to find. I’m so grateful to have found this little clinic!"

"He is a wonder Dr. Takes time to explain things to you. Goes over meds when you are having an issue and helps find if it’s one your taking. I have never had a problem with him."

"I was a patient of dr. Cooke’s. He told me to stop taking 3 medications cold turkey that it was safe to do so. (Wellbutrin, lexapro and one other). I was ok for a couple weeks a suddenly I wasn’t. I went through severe rebound and things got extremely dark. I called the office and let them know I was having suicidal ideations (new to me). It was so bad I actually tried taking my life. I was trying to communicate with them (the are married the secretary and the dr). They made an appointment for me which I had to call off work to make and he TEXTED me canceling 30 minutes prior the appt time. They gave me some other days and times which were all during days that I work so I asked for a different day/time. He texted me again and said “I’m sorry you are having scheduling issues, maybe you need to go somewhere else”. It’s is unethical and just inhumane to tell someone who is suicidal to go somewhere else. There are so many other issues with this place- they won’t refill meds but say they did. Things you can’t just stop taking. He be so nice in office and say just call and I will refill it until your next appointment… but you call and it says not to call. So you call the pharmacy but they say he won’t authorize because you need an appointment. I was rescheduled my first appointment and more than half of my other appts last minute because his back hurt. I can’t believe he still has a license and they can treat people who have clear needs so poorly. I’m lucky to be alive, I nearly died under his care."

"Constantly cancels appointments after I have to leave work early and take ny kid out of school. They say office hrs are only Tues and thursday but schedules you on Mondays and Saturdays sometimes After they tell you there not open on thoes days. After sitting for over an hour to see him he only spends 5mins with you. He has no idea what dosages he puts on meds. Always askes me if I brought my sons medicine with me so he can see the dose. Then my sons scripts are always written wrong or sent to wrong pharmacy. Good thing I am a nurse and can catch the med errors! Pretty bad when child is taking liquid meds and gets pills or tablets as refills. Always have to play phone tag with office and pharmacy to get right scripts or to get scripts filled on time. I'm looking for another doctor. I cant deal with this anymore!!! No one to cover for him. Went on vacation one time and didn't leave it on voicemail."