Walter K Nahm, MD, PhD

I am a former patient, and I’m done with Dr. Nahm and his team of apparently challenged individuals. I waited for an hour and 20 minutes, which is brutal enough. But I told them when I arrived that I had meetings to get back to. The reason I asked in the first place was it was complete chaos in there and the receptionist was obnoxious. I could tell I’d better check first before committing.
They said 30 to 45 minutes max but that was baloney. So, I got to wait anyway like a sucker.
Spread the word, they can’t be trusted, so they shouldn’t be trusted with your health. Go find a caring physician.

Dr. Nahm’s office is the hands-​down WORST doctor’s office I have ever been to in my life. AVOID AT ALL COSTS! I am kicking myself for not reading the Unilocal reviews before I made an appointment. I have been there twice and my experience both times was extremely negative. I initially made an appointment for chapped lips… when I went in, I waited about 20 minutes in the waiting room and another 20 – 30 minutes in the patient room, where nurses were barging in and out of my room with no knocking and no pleasantries. They all wore headsets like robots and would call random codes to each other and rush in and out. They made me feel invisible, but that was nothing compared to my interactions with Dr. Nahm. He came in with a blank stare and asked me maybe one question before he tipped me back in my chair and started barking out orders to THREE nurses in the room. They did several swabs and also cut out a piece of my cheek without explaining what anything was for… I asked him and he said I also needed to get blood tests done for a panel of reasons. Then he told me I could take mood altering drugs to try and see if that would help. Um what? He explained nothing to me and acted like I was an idiot when I asked any questions at all. (I have a degree in Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering…). The whole time he made me feel very rushed and unimportant, like a piece of meat there for no reason other than to rack up as many charges as possible. They charged me a mystery price of $ 95 for the 10 minutes I spent with the doctor and never gave me an itemized explanation for the charges. About a month later I got 4 – 5 separate bills in the mail for various tests. None of the tests were explained to me at the time of my appointment and my consent was never given for these charges.
I tried to call to understand the test results that came in from the tests they performed (although I wasn’t quite sure why they did the tests to begin with). When I asked for the results over the phone, the office refused and told me I was required to make another appointment to get the results ($$$). I regrettably went in, and yet again had another horrible experience. This time they brought me into a room right away, however they literally put on a full-​length movie for me when I went into the room. I joked that I hoped I didn’t need to wait the whole length of a movie to see the Doctor… well… not quite two hours but I waited 45 minutes before a single soul came in. When Dr. Nahm finally came in he didn’t apologize or anything, just asked why I was there. I told him I had been waiting 45 minutes and he told me «I’m busy seeing other patients, I don’t even eat lunch» in a pissed off tone, and then asked me what I wanted to do. Are you joking? Do you realize you work in a business that involves human interaction??? All he needed to do was say, I’m sorry we are slammed today, or anything… except instead he acts like I am an idiot once again. Strike two. Then he starts going over my results where he is literally reading off of a piece of paper in scientific jargon. Again when I ask what that means he acts very offended and tells me everything is normal. Well no kidding — I have chapped lips — it turns out he did a biopsy, some other swabs (??), and an entire blood panel. He never even recommended a moisturizer! Like news flash he could have at least asked me how much water I drink, etc. Instead he goes straight for the tests to cha-​ching the cash register just like he has done with EVERYONE else on this list of reviews. He is TERRIBLE. I asked for printed copies of my results so I could go over them with my actual doctor. I will NOT go back ever and I sincerely hope everyone else who hears of him goes to Unilocal first! Do not be fooled by his nice-​looking website! He is the WORST! The only reason I am OK with giving even one star is that there is a billing lady (I think her name is Sherri maybe, short hair, glasses), who was SUPER nice when I was leaving. I honestly feel so bad for everyone who works there as he is a terrible doctor who is teaching people the wrong way to act in health care!!!

I just returned from a harrowing visit to Nr. Nahm’s office. After waiting an hour, I was shuffled into a freezing room where I waited another 25 minutes. When he entered he didn’t make eye contact, asked me what my problem was in a hurried and exasperated manner, then went on to berate me because I didn’t know the details of my blood work. (The blood work was sent to them a few weeks ago but they said they never received it; my family clinic just confirmed that it was indeed received on their side).
But back to Dr. Nahm – he started arguing with me that I couldn’t possibly know if my blood work came back «clean» or not, and I told him that my clinic doesn’t give dermatological referrals unless/​until blood work comes back normal, so that they can eliminate potential diseases. Well everything I said was evidently wrong, he just kept shaking his head and telling me how wrong I was. After that he said I’d need a biopsy on my scalp – I asked if it would hurt, and he said «yes!» I hoped he was kidding, but he turned on his heel and strolled out, like I had insulted his mother. His physician’s assistant and nurse were kind – I was still reeling from his rudeness and felt tears in my eyes. I told them I had never been spoken to so rudely, and one of them said she’d heard that before. I also mentioned that he must be off his meds, and both women giggled uncomfortably. It seemed that both assistants were used to cleaning up his mess – a truly horrible, rude person who has no business in the healing arts. I let my clinic know that I will be filing a complaint so that they no longer send patients his way. After a brutal dressing-​down and a painful biopsy, I will avoid his practice and make sure everyone I know does the same. Yikes – wish I could give him negative stars.: 0

Like other reviewers, I had a terrible experience. Clearly Dr. Nahm and his office have no consideration for their patient’s time/​life, etc. I waited 2.5 hours in their office (I now understand why they kept offering to put on a movie for me). I got frustrated since I was late for another appointment and said I’d stop by the next day to pick up my medication. I called before going down the next day to make sure the medication was ready to pick up before going down and was again told to wait when I got there. 30 minutes later, I left again with no medication. This place sucks.

Not impressed at all. All I ever get when I ring their office is voicemail. Seriously folks? I’ve emailed over a week ago requesting an appointment and no response. Their web portal is useless. Why offer it if it doesn’t do anything. I’m going elsewhere as clearly they don’t want my business. I’ll have my doctor refer me to another dermatologist considering my experience and the Unilocal reviews.

One star is too many! Absolutely the worst experience I’ve ever had with any doctor EVER! I took my dad for a follow up. He is elderly and has dementia. My mom was with us. After waiting for the «doctor» to see us for 30 minutes in a hot and stuffy room, I went out to ask someone if the doctor knew we were there. The nurse said he did and he’d be right in. Instead, 5 minutes later she came in to turn on the tv. She turned it on to a video library that had been paused earlier. On the screen came a couple having sex on a table surrounded by others cheering them on. The nurse said, «Well, that’s awkward. Would you like me to change it?» Was she kidding??? OF COURSE I said! Five minutes later (about 45 after our appointment time) the doctor finally came in, asked my dad what he could do for him obviously not remembering my dad from the week before. He finally understood we were there to get blood tests results and to have him see the progress of my dad’s condition. He then questioned my mom (who speaks little English) what medicine she’d been giving him. She couldn’t remember the name and he kept insisting that she tell him, all the while acting rude and condescending. I finally told him that she had been giving him whatever he had prescribed. His response, «well, not everyone takes what I prescribe,» and he walked out without examining my dad, going over the results, or asking any questions. This exchange took no more than 1 – 2 minutes, after we had waited 45! The physician’s assistant came and finished the appointment with no explanation as to who she was or why the doctor wasn’t there. We had no knowledge of who she was or why the doctor just walked out. When I asked her, she said she didn’t know why he had walked out but that she would take care of us. On the way out, Dr. Nahm was in a room near the exit and I said, «Excuse me, Dr.?» He looked at me as if saying, «What, bi$&h». I then asked why he had walked out. His response, «I gave the case to [the P.A.]. When I asked why he said «because she’s better than I am.» Then he came and stood inches away from me and asked me to leave and if I didn’t like it there, not to come back. When I asked him who his supervisor was, he said HE was the boss there.
Like I said, I’ve NEVER encountered such an awful experience ANYWHERE! DO NOT VISIT THIS LOCATION. The only reason we were there was because my parents’ insurance sent us but we will not return, we will ask for a second opinion, and we WILL find a real doctor who not only feels competent but treats his patients with respect.

If I could give negative stars, I would. I have been a medical professional for 25 years. This guy is a terrible and uncaring doctor and should be driven out of business. Without informing me either to the extent of or the demonstrative nature of the incision he intended, he proceeded to operate on a very small pimple– sized basal cell and left a SIX INCH SCAR !!! on my shoulder. I was horrified, having been thru several of these minor cancer removals with other docs who operated for the purpose of healing. This guy operates strictly for money and his ego. I would NEVER EVER recommend him and wish I could un-​do his «work.»

The only positive thing were the wait time I was called in very quickly, however the medical care was a horrible experience Dr. Nahm does not listen to his patient at all which is terrible and to top it off he rushes out of the room without communicating. I don’t care about all the high tech gear this place has when you are sick and in need of care the patient cares less about those things they just want good medical care and to be heard, you cant give good medical care with proper diagnose if the Doctor don’t listen to the patient, I think some skin problems are very difficult to diagnose and therefore listening to the patient is crucial.

Sadly, this doctor came recommended from my primary care physician. He told me he had taken good care of his wife when she had an issue. Unfortunately, I had the opposite experience.
Zero stars for Dr. Nahm. I had clearly expressed my time line with the scheduler before making the appointment, and was told I would be in and out within 25 to 45 minutes. I waited 45 minutes to see the doctor, after arriving 15 minutes early. Most of my time waiting was spent in a freezing cold exam room alone with a tv and no remote on some scary channel.
Once he did arrive he was very quick to just do a procedure before we barely spoke about it. He was condescending & rude. He really offered no supportive advice. Before 9 minutes had passed with him in my presence he took a phone call and walked out of the room, saying «this is a doctor calling». I was so annoyed and asked to leave, so one of the 2 assistants in the room with him paged the doctor on his headset to see if it was ok for me to leave as I was walking out. She said it was fine and as I walked down the hall he was already with another patient.
The biopsy he did (I later realized) was not even close to where my problem area is. My test results came back negative, but since he did not even sample the correct tissue I now have to go see another dermatologist. Total bill for 9 minutes=$ 900.

I just want to say Thank you to Dr. Nahm, His PA Darin and Julia (soon to be RN, works as a MA). Prior to my visit here i was down and depressed. My acne prone skin hurt so much, I hid my face with makeup & when I spoke to people I just knew they were looking at my acne and not me. It was very embarrassing. Dr Nahm placed me on a regimen that started to work pretty instantaneously, he believes treating acne starts from the inside out. One years progress and I am so happy with my skin. If you suffer like acne like I did, this is your dermatologist. Thank you Dr. Nahm & Family for helping me.

Dr Nahm came recommended by a friend. Her experience was quite positive so I may have caught him on an off day. But I found him to lack communication skills, bed-​side manner, etc. He never explained what he was going to do or even asked if I wanted the procedure — he literally just started burning stuff off my face mid-​sentence «so here’s what I think we sh…- BLAM!» bizarre. Plus, he never addressed the one spot on my face that I did think needed to be burned/​looked at. I wont be back.

This doctor personifies all the negative traits that a person wants to avoid when finding a doctor. He is callous and can hardly be bothered to make eye contact, he seems annoyed at having to spend more than 5 minutes of his time with you, he (AND his staff) are condescending and flippant, and without the slightest line of questioning about your lifestyle, habits, diet, etc, his response to anything will be a pharmaceutical or a «procedure». When I told him I came for a check up and had some other questions as well, I didn’t even finish my sentence before he was getting a gown for me to put on, like I was in a drive through service and I was holding up the line. Then the actual «exam» of my entire body took all of 30 seconds, which was uncomfortable anyways as he allowed 2 other nurses (whom he didn’t bother to introduce to me) to help him look me over. I have very mild breakouts and simply wanted to ask about skin care. He asked nothing about my cleansing regimen, products I use, diet, stress level, he didn’t even examine my skin. He simply shoved a few samples of prescription strength retinoid and told me (enter the condescending voice) «use a PEA size amount, get it, a PEA SIZE. People don’t follow these instructions and come to see me all surprised when they have a bad reaction.» (My Masters degree didn’t train me in the delicate art of following directions, so thank god he was so candid and spoke to me like I was 7!) When I asked about the fact that my skin bruises easily his response was simply «bad genetics.» When I asked about a small hard bump on my shoulder he said it was harmless but I needed it surgically removed yet he hardly even looked at it. When I asked about why my nose gets red sporadically, he immediately said rosacea, which he could graciously prescribe a pill for later if the topical treatments he gave me didn’t help. When I said I was surprised because no one had ever told me I had rosacea he literally said «well you probably never asked.» Finally, the little blond medical assistant (I think her name was Marley?) was printing my info for my newly discovered rosacea, and she said «well only a dermatologist would be able to really tell you.» I mentioned I’d been to aestheticians and that surely they had some training, right? She literally ignored me the rest of the time she was printing her handy info, and walked out. I even had to find my own way to the exit door.
Was this a life or death situation? No. And thank god because I would imagine he’ll end up with various malpractice suits during his career. Yep, I said it.
Try someone else, anyone else.

Money making VS true care for patients.
I was very impressed (negatively) by Dr Nham’s practice. He came to the room with a headset and a live assistant. As he was (pretending) to listen to me he was giving instructions on his headset to someone else regarding a different patient. The whole time he seemed rushed and wanting to get me out of there quickly. The assistant was writing the prescription at the same time the Dr was talking to me, with out them talking about it first. Zero care for the patient, the objective seemed to ring the cash register with my visit regardless of what I needed. When I called the office a couple of weeks later to ask them to send my prescription to their suggested pharmacy (b/​c I couldn’t fill it in my pharmacy of choice) they told me to that I should send it my self (they expected me to drive 30 miles if I don’t have a scanner) and when I asked for the pharmacy’s phone number they told me I should Google it!!! What customer service is that? Now I’m even questioning if the byopsy of the mole he did was even necessary. Ugh! Will never to go him again.

Terrible, terrible experience. I do NOT recommend him

My mother went to Dr. Nahm to have skin cancer removed from her face. We are originally from Philadelphia and have an excellent Dermatologist at Bryn Mawr hospital. My mother wanted to wait until she was back East, but Dr. Nahm said that she did not have time to wait and needed this basil cell cut out now. She set an appointment for the surgery, but Dr. Nahm forgot to tell my mom that she could not imbibe certain fluids for two weeks prior to the surgery. Needless to say, she arrived for the procedure, but had to go home and wait two weeks because of the good Dr.‘s failure to communicate the proper restrictions before surgery.
Two weeks later, my mother arrives for surgery and they proceed to administer a local anesthetic to her face. My mother immediately has a reaction and tells the staff that she thinks she is having a stroke. They tell her she is just nervous and overreacting. Luckily, she demands to have her blood pressure taken and it is off the charts. They realize something is wrong, but Dr. Nahm does not call an ambulance, he has my father called to come pick her up and take her to the hospital.
My father then proceeds to tells him that he thinks he is rather far away, but this does not deter Dr. Nahm. My thought is that he did not want an ambulance showing up to his new practice. Keeping in mind that we have lived in San Diego for a very short time, my father informs the good Dr. that he does not know the area well. No worry, Dr. Nahm tells my dad he will print him directions from Mapquest.
My mother finally gets to the hospital and they admit her to the ICU, specifically the heart attack area. After multiple tests they conclude that she had an adverse reaction to the anesthetic. She is finally released and we do not hear from Dr. Nahm for six days. At this point he tells her that she definitely had a heart attack because that removes fault from himself, but nearly shits a brick when he hears that the discharge paperwork blames the anesthetic.
My mom flies back East, speaks to our family dermatologist, and is promptly told that this surgery did not need to happen. Our family Dr. then requests the records from Dr. Nahm and there is no record of him even testing portion of her face that was removed for cancer. The final straw, which is laughable, is that he double billed my mom for the procedure. Some might think that after everything that transpired that he might not charge her, but instead charged her double.
Please, please do not go to Dr. Nahm. Based on my mothers experience, his focus is on maintaining the well being of his practice and his bank account and not his patients.