Fouad A Sattar, MD, PC

Fantastic practice, midwives are all really attentive and spend a lot of time with you listening and answering questions.

I was referred to Dr. Sattar after my long term ob/​gyn closed his practice. I never thought I would say that I had found a better gyn than my previous one, but I have to admit, I did! Dr. Sattar is calming, professional, and caring. After a surgical procedure, he called me late in the evening while HE was on vacation just so he could check up on me to make sure I was doing ok. To me, that is above and beyond. I have seen every provider in the office and have the same to say about them all. My daughter has not been fortunate enough to see Dr. Sattar, but has seen Dr. Rooney — she comes up from New York City for her annual physicals because she is so confident and comfortable with her. I’m sure at some point Dr. Sattar will retire, but I am hoping that it will be at a time that I no longer need his care.

This review is only regarding the experience I just had with a staff member /​secretary. The doctors, nurses and midwives are wonderful. Sadly, they lost a long time patient out of me today. Sophie, a receptionist/​staff member, called me about a complaint I had and started the call with attitude. I was upset about a charge & at first she explained it to me but then she was very unprofessional. She told
me doctors didn’t need to tell me why they needed tests done and it was «my responsibility» to ask them in which I did not agree. I have NEVER heard this before, I work in mental health & explain everything to people as it is their right & not their responsibility to ask. She was so unprofessional. She went on to lecture me, belittle and condescend me. I told her I didn’t like the way she spoke to me and that I was about to cry and she continued to be unprofessional. No matter what she thought, the appropriate response shod have been «I’m sorry, I understand, this is what needs to happen». Instead she was disrespectful doubted the truth of what I said. I sadly will never go back there, she upset me so much that I refuse to speak to someone who will argue with a patient.

What a wonderful man Dr. Sattar is! This review is long overdue, but better late than never…
My husband and I were planning a home birth with our fabulous midwife Michelle Doyle and nearing the finish line. Her only concern was with the fact that I had a number of fibroids that *might have* predisposed me to unusual bleeding after the birth, so she wanted me to have an additional ultrasound and consult with an ob/​gyn.
Dr. Sattar was her pick because she felt he was the best person to offer me the type of birth I wanted in the event a home birth was inadvisable. In other words, he stands in sharp contrast to the intervention-​happy, fear-​mongering American standard. I hate to say it, but if you look at his bio, you can see why:
…
he’s not American-​trained.
She was right. As soon as he walked into the room, my husband and I felt at ease. He is humble, thorough, and obviously impeccably-​trained. He spoke to us like the bright and capable people we are and never seemed rushed or annoyed by our questions. He looked over our file carefully while we sat there and asked us pertinent questions. (Imagine!) And, next to my midwife, he gave me the gentlest pelvic exam I’ve ever had.
At the end of our conversation and my exam, he basically said, «you’ll be fine, go home and have a wonderful birth.»
On the way out his receptionist (whom I believe is his daughter) asked us to send them a picture after the birth. His waiting room is filled with pictures of his patients, and I really believe that this is why he practices-​because he loves women and babies. If only I could say that about some of the other doctors I’ve seen!
Anyway, if I ever need additional obstetrical/​gynecological care in the Capital Region, Dr. Sattar is my pick.
*I should add that he has multiple midwives in his practice, so if home birth is not for you, but you prefer the midwifery model of care, his office is definitely worth checking out.
He is truly a credit to his profession.

We chose Dr. Sattar’s practice when we found out my wife was pregnant.
We chose this practice despite the fact it was in Schenectady and a 20 minute drive from our house.
We chose this practice despite the fact we were going be delivering in the middle of winter.
We chose this practice despite the fact that gas was $ 5 a gallon (at the time).
It was important for us to have a midwife delivery, and the way Dr. Sattar’s practice is structured, with 3 nurse-​midwives on staff (and one always on call) we felt very comfortable there.
All the nurse-​midwives were great. We met with them extensively, and would have been comfortable if any of them had come to the hospital for the delivery. They deliver at Belleview, which we really liked as well. Jaime came early in the delivery to check in on us and Rebecca came for the final phases of labor.
My wife thought Rebecca was awesome (Jaime was awesome too).
Sure, we had some scheduling difficulty through the process. And the appointments sometimes got backed up. The offices, especially the waiting area, could use some sprucing up, but I was never concerned that the office was unsanitary.
The nurse-​midwives also offer a couple of classes. We went to the first one, which was a great update on the process, that included all the new best-​practices that have been discovered since the birth of our first child. Who knew that so much could change in 4 years?
If despite our best efforts to remain un-​pregnant for the next few years, we discover a fetus growing inside my wife, more than likely we’ll be making the regular trek back to Schenectady to visit our favorite nurse-​midwives in the area.