Race doesn’t matter, but I do prefer to have a doctor who speaks English as his/her first language. I’ve had a couple of doctors who spoke English, but it was clearly was not their first language, and I felt like there was a definite communication gap. I felt like I was not being understood.
I’m very detail oriented and need to ask a lot of questions, so I also need a doctor that is happily willing to answer my questions to my satisfaction (some doctors don’t want you asking a lot of questions, and they won’t give you good reasons for why they are prescribing this or that). I need to know why I need a particular medication or treatment, not just that the doctor says so.
Age isn’t too important to me as long as they are competent and physically capable of doing their work. Male or female doesn’t make a difference.
I also need to have a doctor who has a good bedside manner. I don’t want to be made to feel as if I am incompetent, or as if I am taking up too much of a person’s time. I want to feel respected and even liked. I don’t want a doctor who is indifferent, and I certainly don’t want one that is arrogant. A doctor patient relationship needs to work like an excellent team.