Dr. Robert Mao

I'd been to a couple of doctors about this constant fatigue and weird joint pain. Everyone said it was stress or just getting older. Dr. Mao actually listened to the whole, rambling story. He ordered some specific blood tests nobody else had thought of, and it turned out to be something pretty rare. He sat with me and my wife for a good twenty minutes explaining what it meant in plain English. Felt like we finally had a map after being lost for months.

Had to get a minor skin cyst removed. Honestly, I was more nervous about the hospital process than the actual thing. Dr. Mao's team had it all sorted. The procedure itself was over in what felt like ten minutes. He checked in the next day himself with a quick call to see how the healing was going. It was so straightforward it almost felt boring, which is exactly what you want for something like that.

The parking at Apollo was a nightmare that day, completely full. I arrived flustered and late for my appointment. The lady at Dr. Mao's reception desk was so calm about it. She got me checked in, offered some water, and the whole vibe in the waiting area was quiet, not chaotic. It made a huge difference. By the time I saw the doctor, I'd actually relaxed a bit. The whole team there just seems to run a tight, kind ship.

What stuck with me about Dr. Mao was how he talked to my elderly father. Dad gets confused easily and hates hospitals. Dr. Mao didn't just talk to me. He pulled his chair right up to Dad, made eye contact, and explained everything slowly, without any patronizing 'sweetie' or 'dear' stuff. He asked Dad questions directly and waited for the answer. Saw my father's shoulders just drop—he felt like a person, not a problem. That's a rare skill.