Dr. Rakesh Gopal

My husband was so scared when we got the news. The waiting area was packed, and I felt lost. Dr. Gopal sat us down in his office and drew a simple diagram on a notepad to explain what was happening. He spoke to my husband, not just to me. He gave us his direct number for after-hours questions, and he actually answered when I called, panicked, on a Sunday. That meant more than any fancy treatment plan. We’re not out of the woods, but we feel like we have a guide.

Dad's surgery was scheduled for 8 AM. Dr. Gopal came out at 7:45, found us in the cafeteria, and went over everything one more time. No rush. He said, 'Any last questions? I have time.' After, he didn't just say 'it went well.' He showed us the scans, pointed to what he removed, and used plain words. The parking here is a nightmare, but I'd drive across the city for that kind of clear talk.

I was expecting a busy doctor who’d just glance at the file. Dr. Gopal was different. He has a quiet way about him. He listened to my mother describe every little ache, never cutting her off. When he suggested a course of action, he explained the why, and what would happen if we did nothing. It wasn't pushy. It felt like a conversation between people trying to solve a problem. We left feeling heard, which is a rare thing in a big hospital.

Complete 180 from our last doctor! Dr. Gopal is the real deal. My brother’s prognosis wasn’t great, but this guy had a plan and energy. He high-fived my brother after his first clear scan. He remembers personal stuff—asks about his kids by name. Yeah, sometimes you wait a bit in the clinic, but who cares? When you see him, he’s 100% there. We went from dread to actually feeling hopeful. What a relief to find someone who fights with you.