Durham Pediatrics Highgate

I am worried that what I’m about to write will be in vain, but if it might make the slightest difference for anyone else, I will have succeeded.
My wife just had the most awful visit with Dr. Gagliano. After an exhausting weekend for us and our 3 yr old with potty training struggles, an ER visit, and a cold, we scheduled an appointment to get some insight and help with our current situation. Ms. Gagliano happened to walk into the room during a less than stellar disciplinary moment between my wife and son. It wasn’t a complete meltdown, but being exhausted himself, he expressed it in a way that all 3 yr olds would. When my wife stood to talk to Ms. Gagliano, she interrupted her and said «I’m just going to go ahead and stop you right there. We need to do this again. You just gave him complete control.» Okay fine, lady, but my wife was not there for disciplinary advice. Gagliano based her perception of my wife as a parent, and my son as a child, off of this one episode, and be assured that this was the tone of the rest of the appointment.
The entire time, she was passive aggressive, condescending, and patronizing to my wife. When our second child was born, we had the misfortune of seeing Gagliano in the hospital for one of the check-​ups. Our daughter was three weeks early and small. She tossed her around like a rag doll, and her «consolation» to my daughter’s cries were «oh I know, love. I’m sorry, love» and they were as aloof and patronizing as you could imagine. I know she sees babies day in and day out, but in respect to parents, she could at least pretend to care about them. She even was condescending to my wife about how well our daughter was breastfeeding, and was quite rude and dismissive about it. I hoped at that point never to see her again, but my son needed to be seen today, so we did what we had to do.
I don’t have enough time to go into detail about how horrible she was to my wife throughout the entire appointment, but I’m completely confident that this wouldn’t have been the first time dissatisfaction has been expressed concerning Gagliano. Please understand that the words I have used thus far to describe Ms. Gagliano and today’s appointment are in no way exaggerations.
In recent months, we have had several disappointing experiences on the phone when scheduling appointments, which have caused us to consider switching practices. We will in fact be switching practices, but any scheduling issues are now non-​issues compared to the problem of Ms. Gagliano. We will not be back to Durham Pediatrics, and it is 100% because of Dr. Gagliano.

We’ve been going to Durham Pediatrics for over 7 years and we’re very happy with them. Our favorite doctor is Dr. Greene but we’d see any one of their providers.
We’ve never had a problem scheduling a visit, often they can get us in the same day. When we had a more serious issue they were very helpful with coordinating with Duke Hospital.
The only problem with the Highgate office is finding it. If you’re coming from 54 it’s the first building on the left when you pull in. The office is at the far end on the same side as the parking lot.

We were late for 16 minutes, and the lady at the front desk of the Durham Pediatrics Highgate absolutely refused to fit us in even though she knew that I got lost, since I was on the phone with her, asking for directions. It was a 2PM appointment. I think that I was in the wrong for being late, but I practically begged the lady at the front to please ask Dr Gagliano again to see if she would see my daughter. The lady in front refused, and, I get a distinct feeling that the lady was happy to tell us that we would have to leave without being seen. So we had to leave without seeing Dr. Gagliano.

When you have a sick child, nothing matter more than getting them care quickly and as stress free as possible. Once again, Durham Peds provided that for us. After a stay at Duke Childrens, we had a followup appt the next day at DP. They are always so genuinely kind, very supportive and patient with all our questions, and make two very nervous Dad’s feel welcome and appreciated. I highly recommend them to friends and now Unilocal. They are awesome!