Osher Center for Integrative Medicine at Northwestern Medicine

I have seen Dr. Stracks a couple of times for help with a few things that have bothered me for years, mainly digestive issues (IBS). I’ve tried many things but nothing has seemed to help. Dr. Stracks spent a lot of time listening to me and figured out a plan that would fit me as an individual. It has been a month since I have implemented the changes he suggested and I feel so much better. Highly recommend Dr. Stracks. He is very knowledgable, but also has a gentle and caring bedside manner. He really took the time to listen, which is a rare quality in a physician. And everyone in the office was super friendly and helpful — from the medical assistant to the front desk staff.

March 2015 — I hadn’t been to the doctor in about a year and a half so I decided it was time for a checkup. I’d heard good things about Osher from friends, so I made an appointment. My nurse practitioner, Mary-​Anne Meyer, seemed kind, thoughtful, and efficient. She answered all of my questions (should I be worried about this? or that?) and essentially told me that I had nothing to worry about. She suggested lots of vitamins and herbal supplements. My main reason for going in was that I wanted my blood drawn, as it had been a couple years and I wanted to know my current levels. I told her that I wanted a basic set of labs, whatever is normal for someone who hasn’t had their blood drawn in a while. I recall her asking if I wanted a certain kind of test done to check my thyroid (she suspected I might have a problem there) and I said sure. I went home a little skeptical — she breezed through my questions a little too quickly, I thought, and her feedback was more vague than I would have liked — but overall, I was satisfied.
May 2015 — I get my bill through MyChart. $ 1,309.50 after insurance ($ 2,182.00 before insurance!) which is INSANE. My root canal earlier this year — with no dental insurance, by the way — cost much less than that. I’ve never had to pay more than a $ 30 copay for a checkup before. I was stunned. I felt tricked. I called the Northwestern billing center and was told that they’d talk to my insurance about getting more covered. But what I really wanted to talk about were the many, extremely expensive tests done on my blood (most of them were $ 150-​$ 200 EACH) that I didn’t knowingly sign for. If I had known the tests would be so expensive, I would have walked. If I had known how much that thyroid test on my blood would cost (over $ 200), I would have said no in a heartbeat. But I wasn’t told how much it would cost, of course. To me, that is blatant deception. And I told the billing people that. I wanted to know what I could do about it, if there was anything I could do. They had no answers for me.
September 2015 — I finally hear back from my insurance; they can’t cover anymore than they already have. I don’t blame them; they’ve already covered about 1K. I call Northwestern billing again. They say I can pay the bill in monthly installments. So I will be paying $ 94.50 each month for the next year. For a CHECKUP.
Long story short: This place is a scam.

In my opinion, Mary-​Anne Meyer is one of the best Nurse Practitioners in the city. She is empathetic, extremely knowledgeable, and considering she’s at one of the top practices in town, not just Northwestern, she’s easy to get in to see. The front desk staff are prompt, friendly, and are always willing to go that extra step to assist with billing, appointment, or other applicable issues. It’s hard to believe, but this sort of customer service is rare within the medical field today. Mary-​anne will upload your info (appointment notes, lab tests, prescription refills, etc.) to the Northwestern MyChart system so you’ll have access to your records via the web, or even your smart phone app. You can also email her, which she’ll usually respond to within 24 – 48 hours. If you’re looking for a civilized way of caring for yourself, look no further…

The staff are very helpful, the labs are fast, and Dr. Stracks is very smart and looks at issues from a lot of different perspectives

By «integrative» they mean they use a massage therapist and maybe a few supplements. The doctors are very much against bioidentical hormones and won’t even discuss it with you no matter what research you have. Dr. Straks also jumped to past trauma as the source of my issue when low and behold a test came back with a valid reason (parasite). When I first visited I was hopeful this was a doctor I could trust, but it just isn’t far enough away from traditional US medicine.

Great office that offers Integrative Care. This place is great, they offer a multifaceted approach to healthcare combining alternative and complimentary medicines together to create a more holistic approach to health care. Dr. John Stracks is a physician there that I see. He is helping me with some digestive issues and with treating my chronic pain. He is a wonderful doctor who is accessible to his patients and returns messages very promptly. His schedule is busy but he’s worth the wait. He has a real vested interest in his patients health and well being. This place is special not the 15 minute appointment that you get elsewhere. He really takes time to go into great detail and works with you on finding a solution to your needs. His Mindbody class is amazing and as a long time sufferer of chronic pain, I can say that the four weeks that I have been in this program are the best four weeks I’ve had in over ten years. If you have untreatable chronic pain and have been told that you have to live with it forever, this is the place and Dr. Stracks is the doctor for you.

Horrible. Impossible to get an appointment — you reach a call center rather than the office. Some are nice and helpful, some are rude. It’s a toss-​up. Whenever I walked into the office I felt like I was a number rather than a person. They are uncomfortably concerned with getting your credit card into their files. I spent years ignoring this because I didn’t know where else to go for integrative medical care.
I was seeing Dr. Ring on and off over a period of years. I finally feel compelled to write this review. Twice she canceled on me at the last minute. I should have learned my lesson the first time. Instead of offering me another appointment soon after, she shunted me off to her under-​qualified nurse practitioner, saying that she wouldn’t be available for months. I’ve never experienced that from anyone before, much less a health care practitioner. I think I was in denial and simply chalked it up to an unusual circumstance. Apparently not. It just happened again and she was shockingly rude and unprofessional. Certainly uncaring, and definitely uninterested in patient care.
If you want personal, caring, individualized health care, this is not the place for you — and she is certainly not the doctor to choose.

Easy to get an Appt — YES
Are most of the docs awesome– YES
Easy to get a human on the phone — YES
Easy to get a prescription filled –HELL NO
Easy to get someone to call you back reagrding a DENIED Rx — HELL NO
Is Dr. Vocino super nice YES
Does she listen to her patients — HELL NO
I originally saw Dr. Catherin Cheng… SUPER DOC… She was AWESOME!
…so she leaves and I get set up with Dr. Sharon Vocino.
I am in the health field at this associated hospital. I’ve heard all kinds of complaints and I know there are two sides to every story BUT… Please listen.
I am a very compliant patient ALWAYS but not when I feel the doctor isn’t listening to their patient. I have been on BP meds for a while now… even when I lost 40lbs, I still had to be on them. Both parents have heart issues so Dr. Cheng said I may be on it forever, who knows.
I see Vocino and yes, she was kind and smiled. Like a lot. She also, barely «examined me» where as Dr. Cheng was feeling your liver, your kidneys, poking around as a doctor should be.
Dr. Vocino asked since I was of «child bearing age» was I thinking of having a child. I said honestly no. And I don’t see one in my future. That being said… out loud to her face in the office, at my visit… she decides to explain how my current Rx was «not good for any baby at any stage of pregnancy» in case I should get pregnant.
She suggested to change my BP meds «just in case of pregnancy». Uhm, OK.
She stated she preferred NOT to do my pap because she wanted me to get an OBGYN «just in case of pregnancy”– I wouldn’t be «scrambling around to try to find one” — - Again, I stated I did not want a child at this time & I wasn’t even trying to get pregnant.
I DID see her for a meds follow up AND the side effects were excessive swelling of the ankles. I asked about a water pill to take with the BP as I have heard other patients having to take it with their BP meds. She stated «that also is a pill not good for a baby». Uhm, I thought I already stated I did not want a child nor was trying. What is the issue here?
She stated AFTER the FIRST follow up visit that if I was concerned about BP meds that she could refer me to a cardiologist. Well, I WASN’T concerned about my BP meds until you brought it up first, sooooo !!! And I’m pretty sure a cardiologist would be a bit upset that I made an appointment for JUST BP meds… isn’t that an Internal Medicine doc’s job to help advise. !!! She then suggested to take more of the same medication, that gave me side effects, to see if that worked. After a week, my ankle swelling was worse.
I asked about a water pill to take with the BP as I have heard other patients having to take it with their BP meds. She stated «that also is a pill not good for a baby».
Uhm, I stated I did not want a child nor was trying. What is the issue here?
I called & messaged through MyChart that I would NOT be able to come in FOR A SECOND follow-​up visit, due to my work schedule and would like her to put me back on my REGULAR, lisinopril medication that I have been taking for years.
New doctor or not… you changed it, it didn’t work, put me back on what did. Makes sense.
Lady, you’re an internal medicine doctor… no paps, no blood pressure medicine —-What Exactly do you do then? I am infuriated with this type of treatment. The office staff is always nice and helpful. This doctor is super weird and NOT helpful. It was like talking to a wall. My body is my body and I would like someone to hear what my body is saying not change my whole lifestyle of medicine that works for a child that DOES NOT exist.
WTH?!

His nurse called me the day before my appointment to ensure I knew Dr Stracks ONLY practices integrative medicine today. Because I had already invested six years in integrative medicine at the former NW dept of integrative medicine under direction of Teiry Rabi, MD, I was not interested in this portion of his practice, but rather needed help with managing meds for chronic fatigue syndrome.
There is no established protocol for treating cchronic fatigue syndrome. To date I have been successfully treated symtomatically with Neurontin, gabapentin, Klonopin, Ambien, and Lexapro. Most physicians are afraid of these drugs and I’m having difficulty finding someone.
Dr Stracks was kind and polite in returning my email. He explained that his practice today consists solely of alternative medicine for CFS and other chronic illnnesses.
I am giving him four stars for thoughtfulness and honesty, but withholding one star because he no longer prescribes medications and was not a useful physician for me.

Wouldn’t recommend.
Overwhelmingly poor front office service and organization.
Do not approach medicine in an «integrated» fashion.
Doctors are not well connected (they just send you through to the NW referral system which is arbitrary.)

I was seeing Dr. Cheng and she was the best physician I have ever seen but has recently left the practice and isn’t bringing any patients with her. Bummer. So, this review is based on my other experiences with the office staff only:
1.) I have a food allergy. It sucks. I have to carry an epi pen and recently needed a refill. I called to have the Rx sent to my pharmacy. They said they took care of it and even marked it urgent. Great! But nothing was ever sent. So my pharmacy offered to handle it. They called several times a day for 4 days before they finally called and said they had never seen anything like it and there was nothing else they could do to help me get my Rx. Apparently, the office staff told the pharmacy everything from, «she is not our patient» to «we don’t know how to contact her doctor» to «we’ve already sent it.» I thought this was odd, if for no other reason that the messages were conflicting — was it sent or was I not a patient and could you find my doctor? So, the pharmacy gave me several suggestions for how I could help the office get the Rx to them in other ways since something wasn’t working. So, I called back myself armed with a bunch of helpful insight to help figure things out. It was a surprise to me when I was actually asked NOT to call back again about the subject because it was «already in their system» and they were «doing everything we can.» I suggested that perhaps it was because they hadn’t updated my name in their system (see bullet point #2) and I was given attitude and was told, «calling us again will not help you to get your prescription.» …Yikes. Did she actually ask me not to call my doctors office back? I had called once at the beginning of the week and once at the end. It wasn’t like I has been calling relentlessly… and probably I should have been considering the alternative to not having a working epi pen. Needless to say, it’s been over a week and I still do not have the epi pen I’ve been trying to get from them.
2.) I have asked repeatedly for my name to be updated to my married name on my medical file. They usually disregard my request in full or they tell me it has been updated. However, every time I call to make an appointment they can’t find me because it’s under my maiden name. I forget to use my maiden name because I’ve been married for years and don’t use that name for anything else. And if one file in the world should be accurate, I would think it should be the name on your medical file. No? I had overlooked this previously because I’m generally pretty easy going and everything else seemed to be great, until this past week.
Needless to say I’ve scheduled an appointment with another practice to get my Rx filled and won’t be returning here. Asking your patients not to call you and having inaccurate records should really not be tolerated in the world of healthcare.

I see two doctors here, Dr. Vocino and Dr. Stracks. I was sent over to Dr. John Stracks for my Thyroid Disease and he is a wonderful person, I went from feeling like a puddle of mush to feeling like a person again!
I won’t say I am 100% healed or anything (who can!) but he’s been such a wonderful help that others have just not been able to do, he takes so much time with me and is open to trying new things and doesn’t just want to shove medications down my throat unless they are really needed.
He sends out my test results asap and I can make appointments online, in fact everything is done online (including test results!) which makes everything so easy for me. Medication can even be requested online and it’s called in so fast! Of course if you call them it’s done as well.
Dr. Strack has taken so much time answering all of my questions even questions that I found on the internet which doctors normally roll their eyes at, some he’s even said let me know how that works because I have never heard of trying that one!
Again, it’s a doctor’s office use the online system it’s wonderful!

I am a bit puzzled by all the rave reviews. I haven’t been there in person but my best friend went there (per my suggestion, unfortunately). Here is what went down:
My dear friend was having problems with sleep and concentration plus weird and extreme spikes of unexplained anxiety and panic and possible male-​menopause type hormone changes plus a bumper crop of psoriasis, and this had all started at the same time, when he had been deeply relaxed on a vacation!
I wanted him to have integrated healthcare and specifically someone to evaluate and check his adrenaline function
and blood pressure and nutrition or see if he was hyperthyroid or had other physical causes for this change, but also consider stress management and naturopathic lifestyle changes to help him feel better. He saw Dr Strackes at my recommendation who was very pleasant and thoughtful so we had high hopes… but imo then gave TERRIBLE medical advice. :(
The Details:
He did not explore the medical causes of the symptoms clustering together all of a sudden except to say he was sure it was food sensitivities, even before testing. I agree that food sensitivities are a valuable health insight but when someone develops a wide array of pronounced symptoms suddenly, I find it hard to swallow that the *only* cause of this is the food they have eaten ALL THEIR LIVES. So… Why now?
The food sensitivities ARE a likely factor for many of us… and yes my friend could improve his wellbeing by trying to eliminate especially reactive foods, especially given the psoriasis, but something must have happened recently to bring on all these symptoms together, so debilitatingly and out of the blue.
The extensive labwork revealed my friend was, like most of us, a bit reactive to the usual suspects like gluten and dairy, but these food tests do not test for the more likely culprits like food dyes, colors, flavors, and other chemical agents. Plus many people are reactive to common contaminants in the food (like mold) and not the food itself.
Strackes did not explain that but just told my stressed out friend to completely give up all those foods and said his main reactivity was to OYSTERS (not exactly a common food, and something my friend ate very rarely, like a couple times a year). Strackes wrote a prescription to my friend for a long course of CIPRO, the powerful antibiotic because of oyster sensitivity. (?!)
This is nuts for many reasons, including:
–Cipro is an antibiotic used to treat infections.
–My friend had no fever or infection or any other symptoms typical of any infection.
–There IS an illness that men, especially, can get from eating oysters but my friend had no signs of this illness and hadn’t been eating oysters when his symptoms began.
–No antibiotics should be prescribed loosely or «on spec». This is how antibiotic resistant superbugs are created including c diff & MRSA.
–CIPRO is a powerful drug that has its own potential side effects including dysbiosis and sometimes permanent damage to the Achilles tendons. My friend had a long hospitalization as a child to heal damaged Achilles tendons so this is an especially worrisome drug choice for him.
–Food sensitivities are not the same thing as viruses or infections. You cannot treat a food sensitivity or allergy with an antibiotic. It literally will do nothing to resolve that.
Anyway, this was all Strackes offered sp obviously he didn’t take the CIPRO and never went back.
He later saw some other mainstream doctors which also gave lame advice (one prescribed him antidepressants for the same symptoms, based on a phone call, not an exam. My very intelligent friend didn’t take the lexapro either.) So Strackes may not be great, but probably no worse than some. He was kind and pleasant also.
Nevertheless, the whole CIPRO thing was not helpful,
safe, or wise. It takes more than a pleasant demeanor and a doc who is open to herbs and acupuncture to make a really great integrative doctor.
Sorry, but I felt my fellow Unilocalers should know. I partially based my recommendation of Strackes for my friend on these Unilocal reviews, after all. I feel guilty/​responsible.
(If you are wondering, my friend turned out to have rhinitis in his nose at night which made it hard for him to get restful sleep, in addition to apnea. He had also experienced 3 years of crazy work stress and unhealthy living followed by several deaths of people close to him. So far what seems to have helped is managing his adrenaline with magnesium and reducing caffeine, getting treatment for apnea and rhinitis, reducing stress, working out, trying acupuncture and yoga and massage, and living in balance with better nutrition and less alcohol, giving him time for his adrenals to rebuild. He is not 100% yet (partly because 3 diff mainstream docs gave him steroids for his nose, skin, and an arthritic knee and steroids are dreadful for health) but he is getting better!
None of this came from Strackes.

I have been going to Northwestern Integrative Medicine for almost five years and I have always seen Dr. Stacks. He is the only doctor in my nine years of living in Chicago that I have seen throughout the years. I go back because his philosophy on «whole system» medicine aligns with my views. He addresses each symptom and gives thorough consideration to the steps necessary to heal for whole body health, rather than merely addressing the symptom. He is kind, intelligent, introspective and patient. He always answers all my questions in person or via email and he has opened my eyes to new trends in whole body health.
Dr. Stracks also recognizes that conventional approaches are sometimes necessary. I showed up with a high fever and terrible sore throat and he was able to do an on the spot throat culture and prescribe medicine.
I trust Dr. Stracks to offer an honest opinion and he is a rare gem in the traditional over-​prescribing/​symptom addressing western world of medicine.

New patient. They got me in same day for an urgent appointment. That speaks for itself. The rest was positive. I will be back for a full-​blown physical with my doctor of choice in 1 month.

I haven’t had a primary care physician in about 8 years. Woopsa. I know, not great. But I have my CNM for lady biz-​nass, and I don’t get sick too often.
However, I recently started graduate school and they require vaccinations. I wasn’t current, and Loyola recommended this place. They were really wonderful. They got me in next day, and I heard that they have an arrangement with the Loyola Water Tower campus to give priority to students. So mention it when you call!
I saw a nurse practitioner who was very nice. She asked about exercise but also diet, which I think gets skipped a lot. We talked about what my blood pressure numbers actually mean (am I the only one who always just replies, «Oh! Good!» when they say the number, having no idea what it means??). She offered their services for well woman care but when I asked if Northwestern had a midwifery practice instead, she gave me a list of names and numbers to call.
Lastly, when she was taking my vitals, she asked what I was studying. When I told her I was going for a Master of Social Work, she exclaimed, «Yeah! So exciting!» and was so supportive and positive. This was a refreshing shift from the all-​too-​common perfect strangers were say, «Well, you don’t go into that for the money!»
Thanks, NIM, for being fast, efficient, friendly, and supportive of social workers! I will be back to finally establish a primary physician relationship.

I am so happy I found Dr. Cheng. I’m newer to the Chicago area and have not had any physicals or bloodwork done in a VERY long time. I visited the facility to establish a primary doctor, check on my overall health and see why I felt so tired all the time.
Dr. Cheng was very thorough and asked me many questions about my diet and lifestyle (sleep patterns, exercise, etc.). She seemed to take a general interest in each question I answered and was refreshingly direct while also showing compassion… meaning, I could stand to lose about 25 pounds. While she pointed out that my BMI was too high, she also encouraged me to stay on a path of good, whole foods and consistent exercise. She told me she felt that I could do it… isn’t that nice?
Based on the questions I answered, she scheduled a follow up visit with me in 3 months so she could see how I was doing (wow!), ordered up bloodwork to check on cholesterol, thyroid, vitamin D, B-​12, liver, kidneys, glucose AND she personally called me a week later. Turns out my B-​12 level is low so we’re making a plan to make sure I get enough B-​12.
I would recommend Dr. Cheng if you want a friendly, thorough and attentive doctor who is trying to see the overall picture of your health, rather than just treating symptoms.
Good luck!

I’m so greatful to have been directed to NW Integrative Medicine, and more importantly, to Judy Fulop! Her focus is on naturopathic medicine … she looks at the root of problems and treats them in the most gentle, natural way without medications, etc. She recommended I try a gluten free /​dairy free diet to treat my gastro/​stomach issues, weight, and overall health. It’s done wonders for me! I’ve lost 55 pounds so far, I learned to love excersise, my energy has sky-​rocketed, my skin has improved. and my overall well being /​hapiness is great!
From the minute you walk into the Integrative Medicine office, you get a sense of healing and calmness and you leave with a sense of total well being.
Judy has changed the way I eat and take care of my body overall. She’s wonderful to talk with, doesn’t rush you, and really cares.
I’m a fan!

Dr. Vocino is my primary care physician and she is very kind and caring. I have also had a great experience with Mary-​Anne Meyer and Dr. Petrungaro when Dr. Vocino has been unavailable. It is fairly easy to make an appointment with the office and if you are sick and need to see a doctor ASAP, they will do everything they can to accommodate you.
Overall, the office is clean the staff is friendly and they offer alternative therapies in addition to traditional. I definitely recommend this office for primary care.