Robert Pae, MD

I’ve been to see Dr. Pae a few times about some wrist problems. I’ve made an appointment every time. He’s usually on time, but I would highly recommend going on the earlier side because I went once when it was late afternoon and had to wait over an hour past my scheduled time. I guess they got severely backed up.
Dr. Pae is very professional and personable. He won’t BS you. I will say that he was quick to recommend surgery. I got a second opinion and eventually came back to Dr. Pae to get a shot instead of invasive surgery. Always get a second opinion, kiddies.

I actually didn’t see the doctor. I had the first appointment after lunch because I had read that the wait was often absurdly long. After filling out all the sheets of questions, I saw his assistant who asked me the usual stuff. Then he left the office and came back and said they wanted to do X-​rays. I wanted to know if that was really necessary and he said the doctors would come talk to me. I sat in the assistant’s room for another 20 minutes and then decided this is BS and left.

The good news: Dr. Pae is excellent. I’ve seen him twice: once in 2012, and once in 2014. At both visits, he was thorough and easy to understand.
Dr. Pae was able to quickly and confidently diagnose my problems through a combination of imaging (x-​rays) and physical examination.
He presented several treatment options, discusses the pros and cons of each, and lets you decide what to pursue. In my case, I asked for (and took) his recommendation.
The bad news: New York Presbyterian is disorganized and inefficient, and staff at the front desk aren’t particularly friendly.
* My appointment was scheduled for 10:45, and I didn’t see his assistant until 11:20 or Dr. Pae until 11:52.
* Staff make you fill out unnecessary paperwork (and don’t supply you with the forms in advance of the appointment)
* Staff wanted a copy of my driver’s license. Looking at it is one thing, but fair information principles say they only collect information they really need.
Still: worth it because he’s so damned good.

Dr Pae is an amazing surgeon. I had the unfortunate incident of rupturing my distal bicep last summer. At every step of the way, Dr Pae was there to give me guidance on treatment and answer all of my questions. He used an advanced technique to repair my bicep that didn’t require as much post-​op downtime which was awesome. His staff was extremely pleasant and accommodating. Can’t recommend him more!

Dr. Pae is the best ! I have had more than my share of hand problems and find him to be great. As a repeat patient I have learned to make the first appointment in the morning or the first appointment after lunch and that minimizes the wait. Although the wait can be irritating, he never rushes and will answer all the questions that you have and give you options for treatment. I appreciate this and dont mind the wait, knowing that he takes his time with the patient. His staff is very pleasant and accomodating and office is clean. I do miss his being at St. Vincent, as the patient care and attitude there is far superior to the same day surgery staff at New York Downtown hospital

Best orthopedic doctor. Quiet, and clean office, and nice friendly staff.
Just like any other doctors office there’s always a wait. I don’t know what’s wrong with these New Yorkers. Always in a hurry or complaining. Lol.

Went to see him twice. Both times was an absurdly long wait. I understand if he was a great doctor, top of his field, but he is not.
He had a really hard time diagnosing me, struggled much more than other orthopedists I saw.

I didn’t go to Dr. Pae for any major issues. I was feeling discomfort on my right wrist and along my arm forearm and was worried that I was getting carpal tunnel. I made an appointment and was running 10 mins late so I called the office to let them know I was running a few minutes behind. I arrived, checked-​in, filled out the paperwork and then proceeded to wait another 1+ hour. It was just ridiculous, given that I actually had an appointment and was stepping away from work to do this. Finally, when I was finally called in, there was an assistant who brought me to a room to do an initiall assessment asking me questions of sorts. She left the room. I waited another 15 mins. Then I was brought to another room to wait for Dr. Pae — probably another 10 mins or so. FINALLY, Dr. Pae comes in and I let him know what my issue is and then in the middle, he had to step out for something important. I sat in the room and waited another 15mins. By now, I was just livid. Don’t get me wrong, I appreciate that personal issues/​emergencies come up, but this was just outright ridiculoussssss. I didn’t even go back to work after my appointment because it just took basiaclly a half day. At the end, I was prescribed/​referred occupational therapy… which I didn’t even bother to pick up at the front desk.
I can’t attest to his skills for more serious issues, but for me, he is not worth the visit for an minor (?) issue you are worried about. Go somewhere where they value your time and patronage.

This is my second review. Do not go to dr pae. I repeat. Do not go to him. Unless you have hours to waste in his waiting room, he’s not worth it. He’s not THAT good!
This is the SECOND appointment that I had to wait over an hour. Unreal. I am realistic. Doctors in this city always do this. But this is ridiculous.
DO NOT GO TO DR PAE.

Wow: I am so impressed with both Dr. Pae and his staff’s kindness, professionalism, and outstanding work. I would recommend anyone with a serious fracture of their hand or wrist especially make a visit to this office. Dr. Pae is actually a rather heralded orthopedic surgeon, which I did not know until my lawyer remarked about him! What a small world. (That was perhaps the most stereotypical New York sentence I have ever written…)
I was referred to Dr. Pae’s office after Brooklyn Hospital ER staff managed to shattered my carpels, and brake my ulna in five different places. The pain was immense, as I’d spent over a week without it set due to the geniuses at Gracie Square Hospital who refused to believe me, even after I was «examined» by a doctor, and they «accidentally took an x-​ray of my chest.» What?! You accidentally took an x-​ray of my CHEST? Not the danging lobster claw sticking out of my right sleeve and even though I wrote down SERIOUSLY BROKEN WRIST on the medical slip? Yeah that’s right. So after getting «the biggest cast in the world!» (according to Dr. Pae; it really was massive!) off and feeling the sweet glory of the open air on my itchy, now pretty nasty and withered right arm, they give me a soft cast. They even let me nerd out over the equipment and take notes. Now that’s a good office! A sense of humor really mattered to me at the time, as did expertise. Fortunately, I found both here across the board.
Also, Dr. Pae is NOT of the «let’s rush to surgery!» variety. Instead, we are seeing how the very serious injuries heal over the next eight months in order to decide whether it is necessary or not. He’s exceedingly honest. You don’t have to worry about getting snowed over here.
An all around exceptional doctor and office. The staff are amazingly kind, and very flexible if you need to reschedule (which I am fairly notorious for).I can’t recommend them highly enough. Truly a breath of fresh air after all the terrible doctors I’ve had the immense privilege of meeting throughout my life.

Broke a bone in my hand in a rollerblading accident (i think Dr Pae thought i was in a bar fight or something). In any event he was great, friendly, informative and the staff was professional and friendly.

As I continue to pay for the excesses of youth – I’m looking at you, sports – Dr Pae has arthroscopicly repaired my elbow and shoulder. Both joints are now pain free and fully functional and I was never subject to any indignities (at least while conscious).