Dr. Joan Calkins, MD

This is going back a few years since my daughter is now 22. Dr. Calkins was a lifesaver to my daughter who suffered from a “mystery illness” twice in her life, at 6 and 11y.o. The first time she became so severely ill with an inflammatory response that she was hospitalized and on IV steroids with every specialty evaluating her at a University hospital and still had no diagnosis. When it recurred several years later and our family doc unable to know what to do or how to refer, I took it upon myself to research docs. I don’t know what drew me to dr Calkins, but she took us right in, evaluated my daughter, who was in agony and pained to be touched or moved, and within a few days of treatment, I saw my little girl coming back around. Forever grateful and amazed at her brilliant diagnostic skills and wonderful way that she talks aloud as she is running through her thought processes.

Dr. Calkins has been our lifeline. She takes the time to listen to our concerns and is thoroughly invested in finding an answer. After years of doctors telling us they couldn't figure out what was wrong, Dr. Calkins figured it out. And then when another mystery illness popped up, she sent us on the path to figuring that one out as well. She's truly a lifesaver.

We have been going to Dr. Calkins for rheumatology for yrs. She was the first one that actually knew what to test my little boy for the figure out what was going on finally and diagnose him. She is very good at what she does & even though there are now more specialists at Children’s, we still drive down from Amherst to work with her.

Stay away from this physician. She is the worst Dr that I have come across. Poor bedside manner and did not provide my daughter with the proper treatment.

After 6 months of my daughter being severely ill and no other drs being able to figure out what was wrong,Dr Calkins took the time and her brilliance to figure out my daughter had lupus.Under Dr Calkins care,my daughter became better and her lupus is currently under control!Dr Calkins always took the time to answer all our questions and always called us right back when we called the on call.We also appreciated her compassion and her commitment to her patients.We will forever be grateful to her!!

She turned us away because my 16 year old daughter is too old. I called them back and explained that the adult doc is saying she's too young . They did not care. They said sorry, can't take anyone who's over 16. I said she's not over 16, she IS 16...they said sorry..They didn't care....This is sad and pathetic. What kind of doctor turns away a child? I guess not one I want to deal with.