We tried, over the course of several years, to work with Dr. Balmakund because the clinic wouldn't allow us to switch to her husband and there weren't any other local options. She refused to try a new medication route when her suggested course caused side effects we could not live with. She made multiple objective mistakes in the child's medical records. She implied we were inconsistent about seizures, and questioned type of seizure we were seeing despite origin being recorded on EEG. She oddly had interpreters calling me even though English is our first language. I always left with more questions than answers.

I finally transferred to Children's Mercy in KC. Within the span of 3 months we had the exact type of seizure labeled objectively, found the mesial temporal sclerosis that was causing them, and decreased her seizure occurrence by 95% with a medication we are thrilled with. That was something Dr. Balmakund could not do in nearly 5 years, and worse yet- she didn't appear to want to. She was only interested in my daughter going back on the one medication that we couldn't live with, without trying other options.

To top it off, they aren't a ranked epilepsy center. Mercy Children's in KC is a level 4 epilepsy center. The drive is worth it.

Submitted Jan. 14, 2015

Condescending, prejudiced, rude attitude and bedside manner. Specialists usually limit their practice to their branch of medicine. Not this child neurologist. During a few appts she tried to administer child's eye care and nutrition in an imposing, intrusive, judgmental, manner toward our family. She scolded and upset my wife to tears.

Submitted May 18, 2013