He was my doctor in the 80’s to early 1990. He was excellent while he was my doctor!

Submitted Sept. 8, 2021

Dr. Alan Drabkin is the best doctor I've ever had bar none. He's a short, bearded, well-mannered South African Jew trained there, in Israel and here in MA. He has been devoted to his Riverside neighborhood health clinic for two decades. It is a part of Cambridge Hospital and caters to the surrounding Afro-Caribbean community. Dr. Drabkin extremely empathic, careful in gathering information, and practical and collaborative with his resulting treatment plan. FWIW, former comments on this board should be ignored by the naive. He's a top Harvard doc at a busy clinic, so a little wait is normal. His British accent & considered and direct manner of speaking would only be considered condescending by the ignorant and rude. Unfortunately, Dr. Drabkin is now moving on in his career and leaving the clinic. He is going to make a more world-wide impact with his vast store of clinical insights and techniques advising at the Dynamed internet medical reference that's headquartered in Ipswich, MA.

Submitted Nov. 10, 2009

Saw him once. He was very knowledgeable and professional, but a bit condescending. Seemed to see my research I had done before my appointment as unwelcome, said I seemed to have an "agenda" because I wanted to have some thyroid tests done (and it turns out, I was hypothyroid). But nonetheless, seems like a professional doctor.

Submitted March 11, 2009

Lousy doc. Very condescending and patronizing-- he needs some lessons on bedside manner. The staff was no good either -- at least two of the nurses there were outright insulting and rude, bordering on unprofessional. Made me feel that I was an imposition on them. Doors in the clinic were often left open, allowing patients to hear the conversations between each other and the docs. I left this clinic, very happy never to return.

Submitted Dec. 26, 2007

I came down with a very bad cough and could not see my PCP, so I was scheduled with Dr. Drabkin, a very attentive and reassuring man with a salt & pepper beard and (I think) a slight accent. The appointment (made that day) was on time, and he took the time to talk to me about things going on in my life that probably contributed to the illness and also asked about the history in detail. Dr. Drabkin was very helpful and diagnosed me with a virus that'll go away with time-- so he doesn't just toss pills at problems, which I for one appreciate. I'd recommend him to a friend.

Submitted Dec. 19, 2007

I left this doctor after waiting for over an hour for a previously scheduled appointment. I had finally had it when I saw on the computer screen that his day was overbooked, and that no one had told me in advance that I'd have a long wait. Dr Drabkin was nice, and generally knowledgeable.

Submitted Aug. 15, 2007