For those that are very conventional, I believe Dr. Carkin could be a good fit. My experience was great until the last couple of months when I noticed that during my appts. there was something... More

For those that are very conventional, I believe Dr. Carkin could be a good fit. My experience was great until the last couple of months when I noticed that during my appts. there was something bothering Dr. Carkin. She often snapped out words at me as if I had done something wrong. Her eyes normally have dark circles under them but the last few times of seeing her, these circles had grown very dark. I was so trusting of her and had developed what I felt was a healthy relationship with her as I strived towards my goal of getting better. When she appeared to be having serious personal problems, instinctively I worried about her. It wasn't the right thing to do to reach across traditional boundaries, but I did in the kindest ways I could think of. Now I feel stupid. But then my maternal instincts kicked in and in typical fashion for me, I just barged ahead. Bad decision. She and her nurse, Bonnie, did their best to make me feel so uncomfortable--even criminal, that I volunteered to leave the practice. I am so sad and sorry that I didn't just leave when the doctor first began snapping at me. Now I have no doctor and an immune system that just won't quit. Worse, I know that Dr. Carkin, who I cared about, does not and did not care about me. She saw me as my disease--not as a person. So, again, if you are traditional and won't get hooked by the doctor's feelings, then you are likely to thrive under her care. People like me should stay clear of this office. (I'm sure Dr. Carkin would wholeheartedly agree.)
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I have a particularly challenging case of rheumatoid arthritis and have been seeing Dr. Carkin for about 5 years. She is excellent technically -- she really knows her stuff. But just as important,... More

I have a particularly challenging case of rheumatoid arthritis and have been seeing Dr. Carkin for about 5 years. She is excellent technically -- she really knows her stuff. But just as important, she is a great communicator: she LISTENS and she works with you to understand how you're doing as a whole. She understands that any illness (or treatment) affects many parts of your life and works with you to make a plan that fits with what's going on with your whole life. She always takes the time to listen to you. She makes sure that you understand what has been discussed and what the plan is for going forward. She writes down the important points and plans at the end of each appointment; you get a copy and she gets one. I've dealt with quite a number of doctors over the years and she is exceptional. She's been rated on of the area's best doctors by Seattle magazine. She recently changed practices (from Minor and James to The Seattle Arthritis Clinic) and I gladly followed her. I don't think I could say enough good things about her.
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