Sara Ward

I first seen Dr Ward about 5 years ago. Working on front desk in a retail shop, as she was checking out suggested to me to go see a doctor regarding a pimple/​mole I had. Few days later I made am appointment in her office, and thanks to Dr Ward my basal cell cancer was removed and I’m free of cancer since than.
My wife and our daughter also seen Dr Ward and all of my family are lucky to have such a knowledgeable doctor and a great person. All of these are not the only reasons I decided to write this review about Dr Ward.
On April 18 I woke up with two blisters on my left wrist and some more on the palm of my hand and under my finger nail associated with pain and swelled lymph nodes under my arm. Thinking of it as an infection I made an appointment with an infection disease Doctor.
After many blood drowning, cultures taken there and more to the ER next day after developing a rush going up my arm (see pictures) I was diagnosed with sporotrichosis (a type of fungal infection) and placed an antibiotics expected at least 3 months!!!
Last week I happen to see Dr Ward and after a second looking at my hand she said «shingles». After a biopsy it was determined it was «shingles» I wish I would have gone to see her since this happen, but with the pain under my armpit and my hand I never seen this as a skin related diseases. I thought it was an infection deep in my hand. Well lesson learned. I stopped the wrong meds I been taking for two weeks, and got on the right one.
I would recommend Dr Ward to anyone I know for any skin problems, and wish all the doctors were as competent as her on finding the diagnoses.

You know, I told myself that I wouldn’t waste time writing «bad» reviews on Unilocal anymore since I have more productive things to do with my time, but here we are.
So, I saw Dr. Ward a while back for a skin check, etc. She was nice enough, but I remember wondering what the big deal about her was, especially when the things she gave me for my skin didn’t even work. When I came back for another appointment, I needed a quick appointment so I saw someone else in her practice who was… well, «super creepy» and «incompetent» are putting it nicely.
Despite my iffy experiences, I decided to try again with her and hopefully have the amazing experience all of these other reviewers have had. I just called to make an appointment, and after sitting on hold forever twice (I gave up the first time and called back an hour later), I’m told her first available appointment for established patients is in August.
No. No no no no no. I waited several months to see her the first time which is completely fair, but now you’re making established patients wait 3 months? NO. I’m a reasonable person and didn’t expect to get in tomorrow or even within a couple weeks, but 3 months is ridiculous.
Maybe I caught her on an off day before, but… folks, don’t get caught up in the «there’s a long wait so she must be worth it» hype. She’s a dermatologist, not Alinea.
Sayonora.

So, I might still be suffering from post-​op euphoria (maybe I should wait until the lidocaine wears off?), and with the caveats that Dr. Ward is the only dermatologist that I’ve ever seen, and that I’ve only seen her twice, and that I haven’t yet actually seen the quality of her sutures with my own eyes, I can say that I LOVE Dr. Ward’s bedside manner, and she indicated to me that the operation was a success. I promised her and myself I would deduct one star for ambiance, as there was really bad «adult contemporary R&B» playing through the sound system, and another star for lack of customer service, as I also requested a massage while I was on the table, but none was forthcoming. In the end, though, I have to forgive those admittedly egregious transgressions. Overall, Dr. Ward listened to my concerns, communicated well, and seems to have paid attention during med school and residency.

Every skin problem I ever came to Dr. Ward with has been taken care of above my expectations. I have been to other dermatologists and felt the medications/​regimens they gave me did nothing. Not only was this not the case with Dr. Ward, but my skin’s overall condition has gone above and beyond. Almost immediately after I began using the medication she prescribed me I received compliments from almost everyone I came across. She’s also a very kind person which doesn’t hurt. My last appointment, I asked the nurse a question about whether spray tans were safe. This has nothing really to do with my skin conditions, it was more just offbeat curiosity. The nurse told me I should ask Dr. Ward as she didn’t know. However, I completely forgot about it during appointment, probably because it wasn’t terribly important. When the appointment ended and I was heading out, Dr. Ward came back to ask me about this forgotten question. I had to assume she spoke to the nurse in this time, and Dr. Ward wanted to make sure she addressed it. I was pretty impressed by this act; I think most doctors would have less thorough consideration and simply moved on to their next appointment.
The only drawback of seeing Dr. Ward is finding difficulty in scheduling appointments. This is clearly because she’s such a good dermatologist. If I’m going to be realistic and logical, I just can’t see this being a serious fault and found it easy enough to work around. If a doctors very good, many people go to them, thus causing them to be booked up fast; its pretty simple for me to understand at least. With that, I’d highly recommend seeing Dr. Ward for your skin care.

I did not like Dr. Ward, and I’m in the medical profession. She became extremely irritable and impatient with me when after she explained her regimen for my acne, when I asked whether the regimen was appropriate if I were to start trying to get pregnant. (I would’ve told her earlier but did not think of it.) Because the regimen is dangerous during pregnancy, she should have asked about it, initially, like every other physician I’ve been to does, («are you pregnant or nursing») (if she had asked about pregnancy or nursing, it would’ve prompted my proper reply.)
The wait to get in is too damn long to get in and, once I finally got in, she seemed too rushed during the appointment. Will make an appointment with someone else next time.

I agree with JJ. She doesn’t really care about her patients. Dr. Ward has been my doctor for several years. I was having an issue with a rash, but could never get in to see her. At my regular check up she told me that if the rash came back she would fit me in so that she could see it and culture it. When this happened, I called the office and the nurse told me that Dr. Ward said that she would see me toward the end of her lunch. I came in on very short ntoice, and she took SIX patients in front of me (I could hear which doctor they were going to when they checked in.) I couldn’t talk to her or her nurse and the front desk kept telling me my chart was next, but they kept taking other people in front of me. Needless to say after waiting an hour and a half I left and won’t be going back to see her ever again.

Awesome!

I don’t have insurance. I called to find out how much it will cost to have a wart removed. They said they won’t know until they make a diagnosis. I asked them how much for a diagnosis. They said they wouldn’t know until after they have diagnosed me. So, to recap. They won’t tell me how much It costs until after I owe the money. And that is just to find out how much it will cost to have it removed. Theyy said it’s like that for insurance purposes. What about me???

She nailed it with diagnosis, correct meds, great personality. I have seen 3 other derms in the city and she was the best, easily.

I was excited to go see a derm doc that my internist raved about — but when I called today, 8−3−10, they said that Dr. Ward wasn’t available until DEC. I’m not even working right now but my flexible schedule didn’t make a difference. I wish I could provide this info without providing a rating. I was able to get in to see one of her colleagues this very same afternoon. My internist did recommend if I couldn’t see Dr. Ward then any of the other women docs (not sure why she specified «women») would be fine.

I have been going to Dermatologist for years with little results. I believe I started going to Dr. Ward in 2005. She is a very good dermatologist my skin condition is very stubborn. Dr. Ward listened and took her time to diagnose my issue with great results. I’m thankful to have come across such a dedicated Doctor :)

I can’t seem to escape Dr. Ward’s office without getting cut up. The latest… stitched up thanks to the removal of 3 moles. Fun times.
I thought I was the only lucky one to find myself under Dr Ward’s scalpel a few times a year, but I had dinner with a group of my girlfriends the other night and ironically they all turned out to be Dr. Ward’s patients as well. And they too mentioned they’ve been cut several times themselves. The next day I found myself at boot camp class (I know I’m not supposed to work out with stitches, but I can’t help myself!) having a conversation with a fellow boot-​camper who is going to see Dr Ward next week to get a mole removed.
So if you find yourself in Dr Ward’s office there’s a pretty good chance you’ll be numbed and knifed in the near future. And while this may scare some of you I personally think it’s good Dr Ward seems to be super precautious… especially since she’s removed a few bad ones from my skin (including one just last week!)
Being the baby that I am I wouldn’t let anyone just cut into my skin, but Dr Ward seems to know what she’s doing and always has a huge smile on her face… which helps in any situation. Based on the # of people that go to her I was starting to think she’s the only dermatologist in the city, but it’s probably more likely that she’s just the best.

For all the glowing reviews here, I’ll have to disagree. I have been seeing Dr. Ward for 6 months, (and this particular derm’s office for a year) and she books me every two months for check-​backs. (I’m not a fan of paying my $ 40 co-​pay every two months for a 5 minute appointment with the Dr.). If you want a dermatologist who will pump you full of drugs and medicines that cause birth defects and can only speak on Rx skin regimens, then this is the derm for you. I don’t understand how she can be useful to the general population. when she can’t guide me to one useful drugstore/​over the counter/​dept. store brand line of skin care. She is intentionally ignorant. She can only speak on Rx skin care, and the over-​priced Jane Iredale line carried at their office. This is my first time trying to treat my skin problems through a dermatologist, and I’m nearly broke, annoyed and still suffering from the same skin problems. I’ve seen more improvement in my skin using my own methods so far… disappointing.

I have been to countless derms throughout Chicago as well as Miami (when I lived there). Dr. Ward’s bedside manner is best I have ever experienced with any doctor. She is simply fantastic and super nice.
All that aside, she knows what she is doing. None of the derms I went to here in Chicago were able to get my skin under control like Dr. Sara Ward. SImply the best.
That said, be sure to call and cancel your appt if you can’t make it, because there’s a $ 40 fee otherwise!

Called today (mid-​April) & Dr. Ward is booked until July! Yiiiiikes. She sounds fantastic! but unfortunately, is a little too popular. especially for procrastinators like myself.
I made an appt & saw another doc there (Dr. Lucas) who was great. Actually most of the NMPG derms have solid reviews:

Unfortunately I didn’t have a great experience with Dr. Ward. I visited her office twice for general concerns (mild acne, broken capillaries). Getting an appointment was difficult, I sat in the waiting room 15 minutes after checking in, and then had to wait another 15 minutes for Dr. Ward. Dr. Ward was pleasant but in a rush (due to running late?). Her recommended treatment did not work for me so I went back… to…sitting in the waiting room and then patient room for over 20 minutes each. At one point I walked out to find someone.

I’m glad to see I am not the only one who is praising Sara Ward. One of my sisters recommended that I go see her after my skin just was going in a an unpleasant direction. I was lucky to get in and see her in two weeks. After arriving early to fill out paper work, I was quickly seen, (I love promptness in the doctor’s office), and was greeted in a friendly manor. We talked about what I had previously done about my skin, treatments, topical and oral medication as well as some new techniques and therapies that were currently out in case I wanted to go that way. I didn’t. She took a sample of my skin just to double check her diagnosis, filled out some prescriptions for me and said it might take 6 weeks for the medications to start working. Well, its just over 2 weeks later and my skin is looking remarkably better. Even a client and I briefly talked about my skin looking better today. She may be busy, but Sara does provide quality care, professional and friendly demeanor and wants to help get the results I was looking for, glad to have found her.