my experience at a highly rated hospital in an urban, low income community

Perhaps this surgeon is better at cutting people and was sick the day they learned Effective Presentation Skills.

 That sounds like racism and classism...the systemic kind that persists and perpetuates nasty inequities and has perilous outcomes in people's lives.  Sad thing is that the surgeon is probably not even aware that he is doing this and would deny any such intentions.  Racism and classism are insidious...they are "invisible" to people with priviledge and thru subtle (and not so subtle) processes are socialized into those with priviledge.  
Glad you posted this and named the issues.  Knowledge is power and you have likely empowered more than one person on this site to cast a critical eye at the information they receive.