Dr. Irina Elena Popa, MD

Just find a different doctor, period. Don’t waste your time and money with her

I have been a patient for about 9 years. At the beginning it was a great experience, but the last five years it has just gone down hill. The office staff is horrible. They are rude and not helpful is an understatement. I was shifted to a nurse practitioner and then the replacement nurse practitioner. They seem unconcerned and like you are just a number. They are even confrontational when you have a question or opinion about your own treatment. I am finally following through and changing doctors. I say it every time I visit the office, but then think they know my history and I have been with Dr. Popa for so long. I just had another horrible experience and decided it is time to write a review and hopefully others will not have to be in this situation.

Diagnosed her with colon cancer, ended up being esophageal cancer, stage 4, dead 3 weeks later. Must be family members giving her such high praise.

Great doctor, phenomenal human being. Took great care of me before, during and after my cancer. Treatment.

I'm very impressed with the extra mile that your doctors and nurses went to to help me out. Dr Popa was very concerned about my "numbers" on the Onco tests, etc. She went over and above what was called for to make sure I had long-term survivability. My family and I appreciate that extra effort that both she and her entire staff went to. The personal touch by your staff was an extra bonus. We were made to feel important and not just a number. Thank you ALL so much for such excellent care.

Dr. Popa has been my Dr. for five years and I can not see myself going to anyone else at this time. She is the BOMB.

Dr. Popa was recommended to me by another Doctor after I voiced to him that I was not connecting with my first oncologist. I could not be happier with my decision to change to Dr. Popa. She is informative, compassionate, and lets you be a partner in your treatment plan and care. She and her staff see the whole person, not just the illness. My family and I thank God everyday that I made the change to Dr. Popa. The entire staff are very kind caring people.

I just celebrated my 5-year anniversary since my diagnosis, and I believe Dr. Popa and her team are a big reason that I'm doing so well. I was diagnosed with Stage 4 metastatic breast cancer, and because I have receive such good treatment, I have been able to continue to work full time throughout the last five years. I believe Dr. Popa truly cares about me and my comfort and treatment. When I call her office, I can trust that her staff will always respond quickly, I highly recommend Dr. Popa and her team/staff!

I saw Dr.Popa for a consult as I did not have a comfort level with my current oncologist. I explained my situation with Dr. Popa. she then reviewed my case since I was already in Methodist system since my current oncologist is with Methodist along with my surgeon and primary care physicain. Dr. Popa then explained in great detail my type of cancer, the types of treatments available and even though I have been diagnosed with stage 4, that did not mean that with all the treatments available that I could live for a long time She did not give me false hope, as she explained that I would be in treatment for the rest of my life but, she gave me HOPE for the first time since this all began. I am changing my oncologist immediately to Dr. Popa.

Dr. Popa is one of the reasons I am alive today. She is extremely intelligent and she offers forth information as a matter-of-fact; I prefer it that way, rather than "around the bush." During my illness, she had incredible bedside manner and I also found her staff to be there for me with my many questions. I would recommend her highly.

She went by the oncology playbook until she realized that we know that playbook has a terrible record of actually healing patients. When it was clear that we were not your ordinary "roll over and do whatever the doctor says" patients, she started to hear what we had to say and help us with talk through alternatives to radiation and chemo. While she disagreed with our views, she was willing to listen and provide input based on disease processes. At one point, she sat and talked with us for about 90 minutes as we discussed options for dealing with cancer. While she always went back to the "Burn it out" chapter in the oncology playbook, she DID give us the time of day and followed up regularly to see how we were doing.

Horrible doctor

Dr Popa and her staff are the most caring people I know. She saved my life and still takes the time to listen to me. I wish I could find a primary physician that would be as caring about their patients.

Dr. Popa has a HUGE ego problem, which hinders her ability to help her patients. Her ego comes first, the patient comes second. One day my husband's cancer was supposed to be 95% curable, three days later, he was told would die within 3 years & given no hope. When asked for a 2nd opinion she was offended and questioned me why I wanted a 2nd opinion. Her ego comes first and her bedside manner needs improvement. It was only after three weeks of constant reminders, did they finally send out the test for a second opinion.We found another doctor who was doing a clinical trial who had about a 30% success/recovery with this type of cancer. When Dr.Popa was asked to confer the doctor conducting the trial she discouraged us from going. Not because it wasn't a good idea for my husband recovery, instead she lectured me on the fact the trials don't pay for traveling expenses. She also refused to confer with the other much more experienced doctor handling the clinical trial. Her ego would not allow her to maybe learn something, but it also cost my husband his one & only chance to survive, he died about a year after his diagnosis.She was not good at keeping us informed & always giving the impression she too busy & couldn't wait to run our the door.By the way, I saw Dr.Popa a year later, in fact it was exactly one year to the date he died. We made eye contact for just a second, then she quickly looked away & acted like she didn't know me. It would have been nice if she could have asked how I was doing or maybe offered her condolences.She not a warm friendly doctor and refuses to admit she doesn't know every thing.Maybe she'll read this, swallow her ego and admit she doesn't know everything so somebody doesn't have to die.