GW Student Health Service

"A couple of comments. Dr. Cara Schultz was very dismissive of me today. It shocked me so much that it caused me to forget to further inquire about issues I came in to discuss. She came in with a preformed opinion as to what the issue is and a quick solution. She did not entertain discussion about other medical advice I had been given and seemed to scoff at the idea that she might need to look into more than one idea about what was wrong. Furthermore, she provided no discussion about why the solution (an Amazon linked product) would be effective and no discussion about long term preventative measures. Finally, when I asked about certain measures I had been undertaking myself, she opined that they were a waste of time, again without explaining why. Perhaps it is because the people Dr. Schultz serves are students and so she thinks that her relationship with them is temporary at best (a few years, max) that she treats them with apparent disdain. Or perhaps she is oblivious to the fact that she appears this way. Or perhaps she is going through some difficulties in life. In any event, her being very dismissive, terse, and short (conversationally, not in stature) caused me to not even be able to get the information I came to the center for in the first place. I did not want to believe Dr. Schultz's bad google reviews, but they are completely true. This comment has been shared both here and publicly on google reviews. Second: the front desk man asked me to put on a mask - which I was happy to do. However he neglected to ask the woman who entered a mere 6 feet before me, who had been sniffling! Moreover, neither he nor any of the front desk staff wore masks, in clear violation of the posted signs - please do not ask others to do something you are not yourself willing to do, especially in something as simple as masking."

"I had a horrible experience with Dr. Cara Schultz at the GW Student Health Center. My pcp told me to see a local doctor in order to try and get referrals for some symptoms that I was experiencing so I made an appointment at my on-campus clinic. I began to discuss my symptoms which include what appears to be mild dissociation. Dr. Schultz interrupted me, chastised me for using "fancy terms", incorrectly defined dissociation (I am a mental health counselor so I know the definition of dissociation), and then condescendingly told me to tell her what is "actually" going on. Dr. Schultz did not know that I am a mental health counselor but she assumed that I lacked knowledge about the symptoms I was discussing and that felt invalidating and belittling. She also proceeded to tell me that my pcp was wrong and she would not be providing me the referrals I sought out. Rather she told me that my problem was probably a side effect of the medications I have been taking for years (with no prior problems) and she referred me to a GW psychiatrist. This was a horrible experience and I am appalled at the way that I was treated by Dr. Schultz. I will definitely not be going back and will not recommend the GW Student Health Center to anyone seeking empathetic medical care."

"The experience in the colonial health center is so bad. The doctor is so unprofessional, I had mouth sore and she did not even look at my mouth and certainly she misdiagnosed my mouth sore as "cold sore". And she give me the medicine which have side effect. Needless to say after taking all the medicine I did not get any better. Then I went to see another doctor and she told me it is not cold sore, it is fungus infection and the disease is mouth eczema. After using the anti-fungus cream just twice my mouth almost recovered. I am so disappointed with colonial health center. the doctor has limited experience and is so unprofessional."

"This is not a full doctor's office, but for your basic illnesses it's fantastic. I've been here 3 times since I started at GW, and every time they've been helpful. My most major issue is that I came in with the worst sinus infection ever (fever, a nose that made me bear a striking resemblance to Rudolph because it was red and swollen, and the associated misery). I was able to get an appointment within 2 hours of my call for an exam with a medical professional. They were able to prescribe an antibiotic (and also told me to take Flonase, which is now OTC.) The visit fee was $30, which is a lot cheaper than an urgent care or a real doctor, and as a grad student, that's pretty important to me. For really big stuff you'll probably need a real doctor, but for average illnesses and generalized care (I believe they can also do annual physicals) you won't go wrong coming here. And even if you do come here and they can't help you on-site, they'll refer you out to a doctor who knows what they're doing."

"Should have looked at reviews before going there. They scheduled an appointment for me for an injury, I show up for the appointment to find out they rescheduled it without notifying me or trying to find an earlier appointment. Tried to talk to a supervisor and no one was available. Sad that students are forced to pay for something that is so inefficient."

"Incompetent and condescending towards the students seeking help. I would rather pay for off-campus care, even if it's four times the price. Incorrectly diagnossed me and discharged me three times before I sook a second opinion and was given medication for strep."

"Terrible service. When you schedule an appointment to see a doctor, instead of a MD, a nurse will see you and give you some over the counter medicine. Is this the right way of taking care of students' health!?"

"I have been to the Colonial Health Center a numbr of times, and I can say that they go above and beyond. Honestly, the staff is really quite friendly, from the crew at the desk to the doctors (Specially Dr. Christie!). No complaints."