Locations
St Francis Hospital & Medical Center
Hartford, CT
About
Bio
Brown University undergraduate degree in Psychology
Excellence in Emergency Medicine, awarded in medical school, from Society of Academic Emergency Medicine SAEM 1996
Emergency Care and Trauma residency in Bronx, New York
Board Certification in Emergency Medicine.
and re-certification in 2011
SpecialtiesDoctors may have more than one area of specialty interest. Board certification in a specialty area means the doctor has completed formal training and has practice experience in that specialty, and has passed the certification examination from the corresponding accredited medical specialty board.
Doctors may have more than one area of specialty interest. Board certification in a specialty area means the doctor has completed formal training and has practice experience in that specialty, and has passed the certification examination from the corresponding accredited medical specialty board.
Emergency Medicine
Doctor Q&A
135 Answers
2.5K Agrees
The number of answers this doctor has agreed with.
A 27-year-old female asked:

Dr. Joan Gelinanswered
Emergency Medicine 27 years experience
Speech issues: not normal. Please seek medical attention ASAP.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
1.4k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A female asked:

Dr. Joan Gelinanswered
Emergency Medicine 27 years experience
Wheezing: Your lungs may be having a localized allergic reaction. Also known as bronchospasm. Please stop smoking until undergoing a doctor evaluation and exam.... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
1.4k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 20-year-old female asked:

Dr. Joan Gelinanswered
Emergency Medicine 27 years experience
Stretch marks: If the skin has just changed, then you have within one year to have an effect. Over-the-counter MADERMA has been helpful for many people. Avoiding s... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
1.4k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 21-year-old female asked:

Dr. Joan Gelinanswered
Emergency Medicine 27 years experience
Unclear: There are many parameters I do not know that would be helpful : how long you have had this cough, are you bending your head below your waist, have you... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
1.4k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 20-year-old female asked:

Dr. Joan Gelinanswered
Emergency Medicine 27 years experience
Blood discharge: More information is needed. However if you do see blood from your vagina and it is not time for your regular monthly period, then arrange a visit wit... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
1.3k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 19-year-old female asked:

Dr. Joan Gelinanswered
Emergency Medicine 27 years experience
Hip pain: It is not good that you have been suffering with pain for a year. Please arrange a medical evaluation as soon as you can. By having a physician do a... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
1.3k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 16-year-old female asked:

Dr. Joan Gelinanswered
Emergency Medicine 27 years experience
Exam needed: It is concerning that you have belly pain that is now moving to the right side. Scary thing is that you may be affected with appendicitis. More hist... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
1.4k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A female asked:

Dr. Joan Gelinanswered
Emergency Medicine 27 years experience
Evaluation needed: Drainage from a tooth needs antibiotics. It is best to have your mouth examined ASAP. You can goto the local Emergency Department to get list of loca... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
1.4k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 24-year-old male asked:

Dr. Joan Gelinanswered
Emergency Medicine 27 years experience
Progressive pain: Many things can cause lower abdominal pain in a man. Since the pain is progressive you will need to have an evaluation ASAP. The physician will perf... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
1.4k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 30-year-old female asked:

Dr. Joan Gelinanswered
Emergency Medicine 27 years experience
Knee pain: More information is needed. Any extra exercise, crushing impact, lifting, or twisting action recently? These all impact pain development. If you have... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
1.4k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 18-year-old female asked:

Dr. Joan Gelinanswered
Emergency Medicine 27 years experience
Evaluation needed: It is difficult to say from your description what may be happening. Menstrual periods can be painful and signal other processes affecting your body. ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
1.4k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A member asked:

Dr. Joan Gelinanswered
Emergency Medicine 27 years experience
Fungal infection: Jock itch, also called tinea cruris, is a fungal infection in the groin. Form of "ringworm" many catch it in warm, moist public spaces like restrooms ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
1.4k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A male asked:

Dr. Joan Gelinanswered
Emergency Medicine 27 years experience
Skin infection: What you are describing are satellite lesions from a bacterial skin infection. You will need antibiotics (over-the-counter medicines will not be enou... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
1.4k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 23-year-old female asked:

Dr. Joan Gelinanswered
Emergency Medicine 27 years experience
Possible : Possible. Do a pregnancy test. A better plan is to be evaluated by a doctor, & undergo lab tests checking hormone levels. Good luck.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
1.4k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 29-year-old female asked:

Dr. Joan Gelinanswered
Emergency Medicine 27 years experience
Most likely: Not knowing your symptoms nor location of your rash, difficult to say what is happening with your body. Please check back with your physician ASAP. Ta... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
1.4k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 45-year-old male asked:

Dr. Joan Gelinanswered
Emergency Medicine 27 years experience
Dry mucosa: Glad to read that your eyes and mouth are alright, and there is no nasal passages blocked. However dry mucosa within the nose is quite common.
Try ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
1.4k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 49-year-old female asked:

Dr. Joan Gelinanswered
Emergency Medicine 27 years experience
Exam of skin: With any skin problems it is important for a physician to examine your skin. Possible problems include allergic reaction, bacterial infection, or inse... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
1.4k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 38-year-old female asked:

Dr. Joan Gelinanswered
Emergency Medicine 27 years experience
Exam immediately: It is not normal for you to have any of those mentioned symptoms. With your history of WPW/ irregular heartbeat and past cardiac ablation therapy, it... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
1.4k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 36-year-old female asked:

Dr. Joan Gelinanswered
Emergency Medicine 27 years experience
Exam now: Please seek medical attention immediately. Abdominal pain with radiation to another part of your body is concerning. Please go right now....
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
1.4k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 26-year-old female asked:

Dr. Joan Gelinanswered
Emergency Medicine 27 years experience
Pregnancy risk: Semen / sperm can be released from the man's penis early during foreplay. That is why physicians usually don't encourage the "pull-out" method during... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
1.3k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 26-year-old female asked:

Dr. Joan Gelinanswered
Emergency Medicine 27 years experience
Continue good work: Congratulations on working towards sobriety and away from meth. Work closely with your OB physician about your pregnancy, ask questions about nutriti... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
1.4k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 36-year-old male asked:

Dr. Joan Gelinanswered
Emergency Medicine 27 years experience
Need an exam: I am concerned about the color change of your bowel movement, in association with several weeks of abdominal pain. It is necessary for you to have an... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
1.3k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 28-year-old female asked:

Dr. Joan Gelinanswered
Emergency Medicine 27 years experience
Not normal: The time spent straining sounds quite frustrating. It is difficult to say what this could be, without getting more information. Please schedule a phy... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
1.4k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 40-year-old male asked:

Dr. Joan Gelinanswered
Emergency Medicine 27 years experience
Pregnancy test: The definite answer would be undergoing a pregnancy test. Good luck.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
1.4k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 42-year-old member asked:

Dr. Joan Gelinanswered
Emergency Medicine 27 years experience
Talk to doctor: Have these symptoms started suddenly and recently? That would make me concerned. Please consult with your primary care physician. You may be referred... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.1k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 36-year-old member asked:

Dr. Joan Gelinanswered
Emergency Medicine 27 years experience
6-8 weeks: Sit down with your primary care doctor and / or the orthopedic specialist who had worked with you. He or she will be able to make a plan for your reco... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.1k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 34-year-old member asked:

Dr. Joan Gelinanswered
Emergency Medicine 27 years experience
More info needed: It may be a skin problem like generalized pruritis / itching. There could be tears that develop from constipation + straining with each bowel movement... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.1k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 26-year-old female asked:

Dr. Joan Gelinanswered
Emergency Medicine 27 years experience
Problem: In general the birth control pill should be taken regularly, and as directed. The pack of medicine is the guide you use to take the pills daily. By mi... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.1k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 34-year-old female asked:

Dr. Joan Gelinanswered
Emergency Medicine 27 years experience
Not really: Varicose veins are the bulging out of surface veins in your legs. Sciatica is pain felt at the back of your leg - due to the largest nerve of your bod... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.1k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 27-year-old female asked:

Dr. Joan Gelinanswered
Emergency Medicine 27 years experience
Musculoskeletal pain: If there was no recent trauma to your hand... The pain could be tendon irritation, joint soreness of your knuckles. In general over-the-counter anti-... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 17-year-old female asked:

Dr. Joan Gelinanswered
Emergency Medicine 27 years experience
More info needed: If i understand you correctly, your doctor is estimating size of the baby. Was this done by ultrasound ? If so, this means the actual size of your b... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.7k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 37-year-old male asked:

Dr. Joan Gelinanswered
Emergency Medicine 27 years experience
Ignore: Alternative names
Swallowing - pain or burning;
Odynophagia;
Burning feeling when swallowing.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
1.4k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 20-year-old female asked:

Dr. Joan Gelinanswered
Emergency Medicine 27 years experience
No effect on test: The pap smear takes cell samples from your cervix, which is the bottom part of the uterus. Any debris in the vagina is separate from the inner canal ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.7k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 37-year-old member asked:

Dr. Joan Gelinanswered
Emergency Medicine 27 years experience
Non-bite exposure: causing rabies this way is quite rare. Two conditions are needed to become sick = you must have an open wound, and the infected animal's saliva or neu... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
1.4k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 37-year-old male asked:

Dr. Joan Gelinanswered
Emergency Medicine 27 years experience
Ease: Ease swallowing pain
Eat slowly & chew food well
Eat pureed food /liquid if solids hurt.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
1.4k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 24-year-old female asked:

Dr. Joan Gelinanswered
Emergency Medicine 27 years experience
Goose bumps: This is a reflex, an action your body has automatically without you even thinking about it. When you get cold or experience a strong emotion, your br... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
1.4k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 32-year-old female asked:

Dr. Joan Gelinanswered
Emergency Medicine 27 years experience
ATV accidents: Are very scary from a trauma perspective. Because details of your accident are not known (speed, did you fall to one side, get crushed, have other bo... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
1.4k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A female asked:

Dr. Joan Gelinanswered
Emergency Medicine 27 years experience
Infection: Unfortunately by picking at these bumps you have caused bacteria (already on your skin surfaces) to enter the open wound. Bacteria starts to grow. It... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
1.4k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 16-year-old female asked:

Dr. Joan Gelinanswered
Emergency Medicine 27 years experience
Difficult to answer: More information is needed. For example : age of when you first started your periods, are they regular monthly, any medical problems, are you taking ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
1.4k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 51-year-old female asked:

Dr. Joan Gelinanswered
Emergency Medicine 27 years experience
Flea bites - intense: Pain & itching results from an allergic reaction to the materials that the fleas inject into the skin at the time of the bite. You can use over-th... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
1.4k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 32-year-old female asked:

Dr. Joan Gelinanswered
Emergency Medicine 27 years experience
Dangerous : Smoking crack or other drugs is harmful to both you & the baby. Please stop. Reach out to you OB physician and /or friends for help. ASAP
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
1.4k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A female asked:

Dr. Joan Gelinanswered
Emergency Medicine 27 years experience
Freckle : Difficult to say since I don't know how long that black dot in middle has existed. Have your physician take a look. Usually - as long as there are no ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
1.4k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 26-year-old female asked:

Dr. Joan Gelinanswered
Emergency Medicine 27 years experience
Vaginal discharge: Difficult to answer without seeing the type of discharge and performing an exam. See a physician right away. Good luck.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
1.4k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 18-year-old female asked:

Dr. Joan Gelinanswered
Emergency Medicine 27 years experience
Skin irritation: From your description it appears that your skin is irritated. Remove everything that is covering your knees, and wait for skin to cool off. If your s... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
1.4k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 28-year-old female asked:

Dr. Joan Gelinanswered
Emergency Medicine 27 years experience
Irregular bleeding: Many things can alter the timing of your menstrual period. It would be best to seek a physician evaluation as soon as possible. Good luck.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
1.4k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 33-year-old male asked:

Dr. Joan Gelinanswered
Emergency Medicine 27 years experience
Muscle strain: Although I have not performed an exam, from your description it appears to be muscle spasms and strain. A non-steroidal medicine that is over-the-cou... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
1.4k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 34-year-old female asked:

Dr. Joan Gelinanswered
Emergency Medicine 27 years experience
Exam now: Because you are feeling pain the finger should be examined by a physician. Difficult to diagnose when not viewing your skin directly. Please arrange a... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
1.4k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 32-year-old female asked:

Dr. Joan Gelinanswered
Emergency Medicine 27 years experience
Irregular menses: Not clear what may be happening. Many things can cause fatigue. Please seek medical evaluation right away. An exam is needed. possible lab tests ma... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
1.4k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 23-year-old female asked:

Dr. Joan Gelinanswered
Emergency Medicine 27 years experience
Bladder pain: You will need a medical evaluation. Pain is not normal. Please seek help right away
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
1.3k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A female asked:

Dr. Joan Gelinanswered
Emergency Medicine 27 years experience
Need another exam: Unclear what is happening. The skin needs to be closely examined to get the full scope of why the rash is appearing "worse." Please make an appointme... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
1.4k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
TestimonialsRecommendations and Thank you notes are endorsements given from patients or other doctors.
Recommendations and Thank you notes are endorsements given from patients or other doctors.
6
Recommendations
166
Thank you notes
Jun 7, 2013
Dr Gelin is providing a valuable service to the public on healthtap. Her peer reviews are also very helpful. I recommend Dr. Gelin.
Apr 9, 2016
Excellent education and clinical experience.
HealthTap member
May 24, 2013
Dr Gelin goes beyond the call of duty to make sure her patients get the best possible evaluation and treatment. She is constantly updating her knowledge and skills by pursuing trainings on the most cu...Read More
HealthTap member
Thank you, your answer was very helpful! Thank you very much for the reply it really has helped! Thanks again
HealthTap member
Thank you, your answer was very helpful! Thank you so much. Guess it might be stress then. Thanks again.
HealthTap member
it was intentional, I have lost weight since jan. thanks for the help
Education & Training
Medical/Graduate school
Brown University
Graduated 1990MD
Medical/Graduate school
Albert Einstein College of Medicine of Yeshiva University, NY
Graduated 1996MD
Residency
JACOBI MEDICAL CENTER
Awards
Excellence in Emergency Medicine - AAEM 1996
Top Doctor, Second Place, Hartford Region, CT - Summer
2013
Most Influential, Third Place, Hartford Region, CT - Summer
2013
Affiliations
St Francis Emergency Medical Group
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