I was so frightened by Dr. Villanueva’s angry demeanor that I considered running out of the examining room before she got there.

Submitted April 18, 2024

An OB-GYN should be the most important doctor in a woman's life and she's the worst I've ever encounter.
If you need a quick annual follow-up she might be ok beside her terrible bedside manners, but if you want answers, if you have concerns or simply if you seek a human being as a doctor, just don't go to her.
My husband and I are trying to conceive for more than 15 months and she never took interest in our case. I had a miscarriage last February and not even she never offered at least a sense of compassion, she has completely forgotten about it when I called for a follow up this month! When I asked her for a hormonal check-up just to check that everything was ok with me, she told me she was a specialist of pregnant women and that I needed to go see a fertility specialist...nice!
Do yourself a favor and go see someone who actually cares about you.

Submitted Sept. 15, 2017

Ive had a HORRIBLE experience at Dr. Rachel Villanueva, MD office. I went in for my annual. I waited 45 minutes. Opted to get a full STD screening. THREE people tried to take my blood sample, NONE could get a vein (min you I ate and drank a ton of water before my appointment). One of the woman who tried to take my blood stuck into my arm and literally started to swivel it in my arm as a haphazard way to find my vein. Once all the assistants failed to access a vein (please note that I am an physically active 27 year old biracial woman and I have no medical issues) ,the office then choose to fill out a script for the STD screening to Quest lab (the specific form I had received was for was quest lab and I was advised to make to make an appointment online) . I go to Quest lab and this lab DOES NOT take my insurance. I called the office and asked them how did this happen. The office then tells me that Quest lab should have notified me of the insurance issue. REALLY!!!! This office sent me the INCORRECT script, then proceeds to put the blame elsewhere. The office then informed me that I would have to call on Monday to recieve the correct paperwork. Incompetency level (on a scale of 1-10) is a 10, Customer service ( on a level of 1-10) is a 0. DO NOT BOOK AN APPOINTMENT HERE.

Submitted Feb. 26, 2016

If I can give her 0 stars I would! I was under Dr. Villanueva's care in 2014 and unfortunately she delivered my baby. I was hoping for Dr. Jaffe. From start to finish she was very rude. When checking my cervix she was way too rough, and told me "delivering the baby wont be gentle". Hello it was my first and thanks to her maybe my last pregnancy! I had frequent and PAINFUL uti's and not ONCE did she ever call me to check up on me. Not to mention it took 2 days before she prescribed antibiotics for me. I had to call the office ever hour or two and never got the phone call. I was told she went on her lunch break KNOWING how much pain I was in (mind you I was 8.5 months pregnant already). Really, your lunch break couldn't wait 2 minutes? They already had my pharmacy information, and I had to call back to let them know I was leaving work early to please send to the pharmacy at my home (gave the info) and it gets sent to the pharmacy by my job! WTF good is that!? Thankfully, I too work for a physician and got the antibiotics I needed.

I felt so judged everytime I went to that office. She constantly brought up my weight, and how unhappy she was with it. Losing weight just isn't that simple when you're pregnant, especially when you were never huge to begin with and suddenly blow up. My knee's and joints always hurt, I worked 45 hour work weeks, give me a break! I also had hyperthyroid, I was looking at her to explain further, and she gets upset and tells me "If I have a question, ask" all snobby. TF is your problem!? I'm the pregnant one here!

I was two weeks late and had to be induced. I was happy because I was under Dr. Jaffe's care then Ursula came and took over the shift. This Dr. is seriously not friendly or gentle. And I have a high pain tolerance but she was just too much for anyone's first delivery. I had to be dilated with a balloon and she yanked it out of me (that wasn't too bad), when it was time to break my water with that hook instrument( which I was never informed that she was going to break it, everyone must of known BUT ME) it was like she was trying to forcefully take out my whole damn uterus. The nurses and my spouse had to hold me down because the pain was so unbearable. Her being rough was worse then the actual pushing and contractions!

LET ME NOT FORGET TO MENTION: This woman had on rings on like 3 of her fingers when checking my cervix. Whats that about>?

Finally after almost 4 hours of pushing (almost got forced into a C-section) my daughters head came out! and ofcourse I stopped pushing at that moment because I was excited to feel her head. What does she do? finishes pulling out my baby without me pushing and I tore from the top to my bottom, and needed stitches!!!!! I was so distracted that I didn't feel too much of the tear but it burned like hell.

How that night ended? well she gave me the "see you in 6 weeks" and tells another nurse she's going to go watch Scandal. -___- She never followed up to see how I was doing, never gave an explanation on why I never heard from her when I called her office several times crying because I was in so much pain from the UTI (pain radiated to my back, I couldn't even walk)....and you know what I didn't bother going to her office ever again.

She may know what she is doing but she's lacking. You shouldn't treat your patients this way. It wasn't a good experience at all.

Submitted Feb. 5, 2016

I delivered my baby at NYU in July after approximately 42 hours of labor. The delivering doctor was Dr. Jaffee of Rosh Maternal Medicine, who was absolutely incredible, supportive, nurturing, and easy going. Prior to working with Dr. Jaffee, however, I was under the care of Dr. Rachel Villanueva, also from the same practice as Dr. Jaffee (Rosh Maternal Medicine).

My contractions began at approximately 2:00 a.m., I checked into NYU that eve at 10:00 pm, and had an epidural. The next morning, despite starting Pitocin, I wasn't really dilated. 2 hours into the course, Dr. Rachel Villanueva came into my room and was very emphatic that it was "time for me to have the baby", and that she was going to break my water immediately as it had not broken yet. I was unsure about taking this step, but Dr. Rachel Villanueva was insistent that it was the "best and safest course of action for the baby" to take at that time.

This was my first pregnancy and given that I had tested GBS positive I knew a little bit about the concerns for infection if my water was broken "too early." Further, I was overly fatigued from not having slept in over 24 hours, and, perhaps more importantly, I was just plain scared of what was coming. When I shared these concerns with Dr. Rachel Villanueva and explained that I was a little hesitant to break my water so soon, she became terse with me and told me that I had chosen her practice to monitor my pregnancy and delivery of our baby, and therefore I ought to have trust in her decisions and not question them. She also told me that if she were ever to seek my counsel on a matter in which I was a specialist, she, too, would trust whatever I would say and not question my knowledge or expertise. I explained, while in tears, that I was scared, and that I was beginning to feel pressured by her tone and approach, and that I wanted time to think it over with my husband and doula (both of whom were present during Dr. Rachel Villanueva's lecture) just to make sure I understood what the procedure would entail and how it would affect my labor. Looking back, I really think I was just scared about moving into the next phase of labor, since, despite the epidural, I was actually in a lot of pain and discomfort. But I asked Dr. Rachel Villanueva to come back in ten minutes so I could just think it over. She said "ok" and stalked out of the room.

The nurse who was treating me saw me crying and explained to me that Dr. Rachel Villanueva was simply an efficient practitioner who treated everyone "that way" and that I shouldn't read into her tone or be affected by her approach. And while that may be true, I was in my most vulnerable state and was feeling confused and uncertain as to how to proceed, and felt unable to get comfort or even sufficient information from Dr. Rachel Villanueva due to her approach.

After an hour passed and Dr. Rachel Villanueva failed to return, my husband went to look for her. He found her in the hallway and asked to speak with her, explaining that I was ready to have my water broken given that she felt it was the best thing to do from a medical perspective. He asked her whether she could come back into the room to affirm that was in fact her medical opinion, but Dr. Rachel Villanueva declined to do this. She said that she did not like being told that she was pressuring a patient, and would be back later because she had other things to do. My husband told her that we simply wanted to make sure that steps were being taken for the best and safest outcome for both myself and my baby, and that she had recommended this course of action over an hour ago so we didn't want to incur any unnecessary risk because of delay.

Another hour or so passed, and Dr. Rachel Villanueva appeared with an entourage of nurses. She quickly broke my water and said she'd be back within 2 hours to check my dilation. She made no mention of the conversation with my husband, nor did she ask me how I was feeling or make any effort whatsoever to check in with me and ensure my comfort. After she left another doctor took over. I complained to the board at NYU and they assured me that she had been informed of my concerns and that my point was taken seriously.

Do yourself a favor, don't go anywhere near that doctor - the other members of the practice are great, but she is absolutely, undeniably a terrible person who does not deserve to keep her license.

Submitted Dec. 8, 2015

Absolutely horrible. I can't believe I've been seeing her for so many years...I guess I just put up with her bad attitude becuase I only dealt with her for 30 minutes once a year. Yesterday, however, she gave me a paragard (copper iud) and it was the most horrendous medical experience I've ever endured. She entered my room with a chip on her shoulder - essentially she was pissed off that I scheduled the appointment without first having a consultation about it. When I reminded her that we discussed it last year, she was like "...that was a year ago!" What difference does it make?? The risks haven't changed in a year! She is clearly against women receiving paragards without having a baby first, but I am fully aware of the risks and benefits and I am ultimately in control of what form of birth control I need/want. As stated, she's been my gyn for years and SHOULD be aware of the clotting issues in my family, yet she proceeded to enter my room with disgust and asked "...so why can't you have hormones?" I was so annoyed. I really think she's bipolar, because after the insertion and confirmatory ultrasound she seemed happy and bubbly. I then had to finish with a quick chat in her office where she still seemed to be on the "happy" side, but that faded quickly when I asked for a prescription - she returned to her usual uninterested, annoyed, and condescending bedside manner. I'm thrilled that she was able to insert my iud, but will NEVER step foot in her office again. Actually, she changed practices a few years ago and refuses to disclose any details - I'm sure they fired her due to bad reviews. She's the worst and I'm *finally* in search of an approachable gynecologist. Her bad attitude may in fact be the reason she's single with no babies........

Submitted Aug. 13, 2015

It was the most horrible experience. I actually cried after. I never been this disrespected by a doctor. First she made me wait long. second she was trying to convince me to do a procedure i did not want and have time for because she took so long. I mentioned that I was on my lunch break, she chastised me for asking a question and for telling her that I was on my lunch break. When asked about different forms on birth control, she mentioned they "don't do that here, and that i should try planned parent hood". I felt belittled and hurt. and extremely discriminated. she made me feel unwelcome, and I assume this is not the first time, she has done this to patients! Please STAY AWAY from Dr. Rachel Villanueva!

Submitted June 23, 2015

Dr. Villanueva's perfect patient is one who is quiet, compliant, and does not advocate for herself. I saw her only because my normal physician was not available, and I was having a problem. Never again! She was dismissive (and when I told her so, she proceeded to DEFINE to me what "dismissive" means!), and condescending. I realize that in today's medicine, everyone is a "parts" specialist, but when I pointed out that my symptoms seem to be connected, she refused to acknowledge them as important. I left the office disgusted, disgraced, and in tears.

Submitted Aug. 7, 2013

Dr Villanueva was rude, inattentive and seemed too rushed to care. Her bedside manner is not up to par and she seemed too busy or preoccupied with the fact that she was running late for the next appointment. I do not recommend her to first time moms, she seemed annoyed when asked questions and wanted to brush off all of them away. She was rude, nasty and almost inpatient of the fact that I was a working mother and had to work around my work schedule. I felt berated and reprimanded by her at every visit. I switched doctors after without a proper conversation to my husband and I she "fired" me at 28 weeks and we found out by her disgruntle office assistant. She had a massive attitude on every visit leaving me very stressed out.

Submitted April 26, 2012

My two miscarriages can be attributed to her total incompetence coupled with total disregard of my history and symptoms. On top of that she is arrogant and her staff is quite average too. My third pregnancy was successful as thankfully I changed my doctor. The new doctor diagnosed the problem on my first visit, and proceeded to treat me accordingly. But as the switch happened at 12 weeks, we were not sure till 22nd week if the fetus had any birth defects and if we could keep the baby - a very stressful period for the family. In the meantime, her office made it very difficult for me to switch doctors - would not release my history, etc.

Submitted Jan. 9, 2012