Dr. William Gerard Soden, MD

I never have this situation where the doctor is less rated than the staff around him. But in a very short time, less than 15 minutes, no vitals taken, he wanted to change my 2 major pain medications but only reason given with my kidneys. I personally don't have kidney complaints and I don't know if he used information back to 2002 when my primary doctor of the University of Chicago hospitals had ordered 2 tests which were all negative, no real problems but a couple small cyst. I am open to improvements and if he would have made any suggestion how to improve pain medications I would have been open to. I had a brochure with me "Living with Daily Pain", and I am seeing a rheumatologist who renewed one of the medications very recently and also gave me a pain injection for the shoulder pains I have for a few months, keeping me awake or just driving my car and I feel the pains. Actually I see him shortly again. I went to see Soden just for the reason of having a primary doctor incl.… getting medication renewals for any one needing it. I think a good doctor should be listening on the 1st visit with extended time until he has all the facts, history and working on improving the health, longevity of a 80 yrs. old disabled patient. Gosh, all started well with the first interviewing nurse by the last name of Grubb but now I see and understand why there is the large difference of the rating of doctor and staff. I feel blessed to have the access to the facilities of Northwestern Hospitals here in Lake Forest with a short ride from my home and soon in entirely new buildings opening in March 2018.

I am a high risk patient but needed a surgery with general anesthesia. Dr. Soden not only put me at ease before the surgery with his understanding of my complex lung issues, but also stayed with me in recovery and then checked on me that night as well as the next day. As my husband noted, we've never known an anesthesiologist who followed a patient after the surgery was done.

I have never met a doctor this arrogant and full of himself. He must have referred to himself and his greatness 10 times in the span of a 2-minute encounter. He refused to answer my questions and stormed away from me while I was in mid-sentence. I will never come back to Lutheran General Hospital because of this bad doctor.