Magee Womens Hospital of UPMC Hospital

I thought she was very confident.

My impression stayed the same. I think she will have good bedside manners.

Her staff has been very pleasant.

The only negative of my first office visit was they changed suites in the building and I wasn't notified.

She is very confident and could be portrayed as full of herself, but I didn't take her that way. You should know she is very good at what she does and probably the best in the area. Expect a long wait (5 months or more) for initial appt and another 5-7 for a surgery date. I think more serious cases should be taken first.

She emphasizes that the sugery is just a tool not a cure. Aftercare is extremely important.

She explained the risks very well and in detail.

On a scale from 1-10, ten being the highest, after this experience I would give her a 9.

Any good doctor, whether a PCP or a surgeon must have excellent surgical competence and bedise manner.

Got a consult date April 2. Today was the day. I could not be any happier with this Dr. She is with out a doubt so sweet, and so full of personality. Her concern of course is "you" and you can tell she makes you her priority, if you are gonna be her patient, she wants and needs your help to make your journey successful.. She made me feel like I have known her for a long time.. Gina her assistant was so efficient. I just loved her and talking to her was so easy. You can tell this office is truly run on concern for the patient, and teaching you how to take care of yourself. They all seem to work together. Today was just a pleasant day and I feel so reassured that my choice,for Dr. Hamad was the best thing I have done....

I have met with Dr. Courcoulas and I must say I have no fears. My consult was so great, she was upfront, stated risks and benefits, and was very positive about the outcome. Thank you for inspiring such confidence in your patients Dr. Courcoulas.

My first impression of Dr. Hamad was that she was business like and very intelligent. She doesn't sugar coat anything. But she doesn't frighten you either. She explains the surgery, goes over all of your questions and spends some time getting to know you. She has a warm smile and a soft touch. The thing that impressed me the most is the fact that she gives credit for her success to her staff. She calls them a team. She believes that it takes a full team to be complete and encourages you to be part of the team if you decide to proceed with the surgery. Dr. Hamad reminds you that this is a lifetime commitment and not something to be entered into lightly. She has a lifetime aftercare program and seems very knowledgeable. My husband was surprised that she appears so young but I reminded him that she has a lot of experience, which is more important to me. Neither my husband nor myself can think of anything that we found unpleasant or unsatisfying. It was a great beginning of a new life for me. I would recommend anyone to begin this journey with Dr. Giselle Hamad.

I was in the weight loss clinic at upmc shadyside. They referred me to my doctor.Her



and her staff are great. I just wish the wait for the surgery could have been a little sooner. But thats alright its coming fast. Two months until the big day. 5/6/03.

My first impression of Dr. Hamad, was wow....she is very young looking. But after talking with her for some time, I realized she has over 10 years experience with this surgery.
Her office staff were very pleasant. The lady that weighed me in wasn't all that kind, but the rest were very nice.
Her aftercare is very good. She wants check-ups with her "until she retires or leaves UPMC!" So that is good. She addressed every and all risks of surgery.
If I had to rate Dr. Hamad, I would give her an 11. Her attention to her patients and knowledge is superior.

I have liked Dr. Hamad from the first day I met her. She is so personable. She always has a glow about her. And she looks you straight in the eye when she is talking to you. She is very confident in her job and it shows.Her office staff is great. If you have a question they don't make you feel like you are bothering them, They are wonderful. Dr. Hamad & her staff make you very aware of what this process is all about.

Dr. Hamad is a very kind and caring surgeon. She is an excellent surgeon and has a wonderful bedside manor. She is very concerned with the well-being of her patients and also makes sure they understand the risks that they are undergoing when having surgery. Her office is run very effeciently and the support staff is wonderful. Her PA, Gina Kozak is also a wonderfully kind and caring woman as well. They never make you feel rushed and always have time to talk to you about your concerns and questions. I would highly recommend Dr. Hamad to anyone seeking this surgery.

I had my first consult appointment at Dr. Hamad's office on February 4, 2003. I was impressed by the staff and the office surroundings. I filled out some paperwork, mostly regarding my personal health history, was weighed and measured, then viewed a 15-minute video about the surgery, pre and post-op concerns, etc. It was informative, but I was already familiar with most of it due to my own research. Then, I was seen by a resident she is working with. He went over my health history, prescribed the various pre-op tests I need to have done, and examined my stomach. I then met with a nutritionist on staff, who asked me about my current eating habits, and made an assessment of how she felt I would handle the changes after surgery. She also thoroughly covered the prescribed post-op diet for RNY patients, including all the supplements that will be needed. Finally, I met with Dr. Hamad, and she answered all of my questions, and went over her methods for performing the surgery. She was very personable, but professional, and I felt comfortable talking with her. She and her staff stressed that if I have any questions at any time, do not hesitate to contact them, either pre or post-op. There is a lot of testing to be scheduled, which I need to do on my own. I don't know if this is standard procedure or not, but it would have been nice to get a little help from them on this. It was a long afternoon, as I had to wait for each different segment of the appointment. But otherwise, a very positive experience.

My first impression of Dr. Courcoulas' office was great. All of the people were very friendly. Although there was a long wait to see her, it was very much worth it. She was so wonderful. explained everything to me in depth. took a lot of time answering all my questions thoroughly. They had everything ready for me of my next steps on a check list, and was extremely easy to follow.
My impression got even better when I went to a support group meeting, Dr. Courcoulas took time out of her busy schedule to attend. I believe she truely has a want to help and cares about her patients very much.
Her office staff is also exceptional. Cheryl knows all the insides and outs about the surgerys. If I ever need anything or have any questions I just call and ask her.
Aftercare is definitly emphasized. Patients are told how this is definitly a lifelong process and change.That medical check ups are definitly necessary for the rest of your life. And how we are aquiring the tools we need for the weight loss bu getting this surgery , but it is up to us, to keep it going.
I would rate her a 9.5 on a 10 point scale. With 10 being the best !
The worst thing about my experience would be the long waiting time to see her, and to get the surgery date with her.