Bernard J. Plansky, MD

My Primary Care Physician, Dr. Bernard Plansky, is a Renaissance man in the truest sense of the word. Beyond the skill, compassion and thoroughness in his practice, he has a range of interests that would make him worthy of at least a brief biography. But his deepest passion is Shakespeare, and he will share that selectively with his patients, and I have had the good fortune to be the beneficiary of his theatrical approach. Even more impressive is how he's taken that into the community, and on a few occasions brought Shakespeare to the mean streets of our city, and worked with hardcore youth in the most unlikeliest of ways -- having them perform excerpts from Shakespeare in a public presentation. It was one of the most remarkable performances I have ever witnessed with more enthusiasm than raw skill, but what became clear was that a group of young people, for one shining moment, had someone believe in them enough that they could take on the most implausible of challenges, and experience a measure of self worth they never deemed possible. This is not part of Dr. Plansky's practice per se, but it is emblematic of who he is as a person, and that very much carries over into his work as a physician.

Bernie, as my wife Shirley and i colloquially call him , is not only the best , most competent MD that we have ever had, he is also the most interesting, caring and fun person to engage with, both professionally and personally. He is incredibly knowledgeable in not only conventional medicine practice (which he shares with me in extended conversations) , but also the healing arts with regard to posture and breathing. A Shakespearean Thesbian by advocation (or is it suppressed vocation?) he regales us with his poetic compositions and novel plays , and is polite enough to suffer through my lectures on nano technology chemistry while the two of us find common ground in discussing the chemistry of the human body.
Oh, yes and not co-incidently, i feel that i have the physical body and health of a person 1/2 my 75 years old.

Dr. Plansky's is a model physician which the rest of his profession should aspire to,.

A week or so ago I was taken by ambulance to ER because of very high BP. Was briefly treated, told the doc on duty that I felt better so I was released to go home. The next morning I was back in ER and not getting much attention. Dr. Plansky was informed that they were going to release me again and that is when Dr. Plansky immediately arranged with my heart doc to have me transferred to the Sands Heart section of the hospital and I suddenly found myself in a quiet room with many nurses and doctors who were the help I needed. I actually slept 6 hours in-that quiet room. Thank you Dr. Bernard Plansky.

Dr. Plansky has since become my hero, juggling the meds from the heart docs and finding the right combination which, as I write this, seems to be working perfectly to calm my anxiety and my BP. Again, Thank you Dr. Plansky

My husband and I have many stories about Dr. Bernard Plansky's outstanding care and service. Here is one that stands out in my mind.
After both of my husband's parents died (within 9 months of my mother dying), we were both having trouble dealing with our grief on our own and as a couple.
We shared with Dr. Plansky during our annual visit that we were struggling and he listened, reflected our feelings back to us to show that he understood.
He then suggested we read to each other one of Shakespeare's sonnets conveying the eternal nature of love. A healing practice that we continue to this day - not that particular sonnet but sharing poems, readings that strike one or the other of us to enhance our bond and our lives.
Dr. Plansky's ongoing support and kindness along with his depth of knowledge about human's physical, mental and emotional health is a gift that we value more than can be expressed in the remaining 4,061 characters. He is a living example of practicing compassion in action and we are forever grateful for his care and friendship.