Dr. Adam Worthalter, MD

Dr. Adam Sonabend Worthalter reminds me of the fictional Dr. House on television, except that Dr. Sonabend is a nice guy with manners. He thinks deeply about how to solve one's medical issues, without putting artificial and conventional constraints on the 'how'. He is willing to rebut traditional experts yet at the same time respecting their expertise, and he willingly works with experts, yet insisting on keeping the expertise and spark of imagination that he brings to bear. To give a concrete example, Dr. Sonabend Worthalter leads a team that has figured out and proven how to get chemotherapy drugs past the blood-brain barrier for patients with brain cancers and tumors, a Nobel Prize level breakthrough for humankind. And another example, Dr. Sonabend Worthalter performed brain surgery on me, and I now walk and think like I could years ago. Dr. Sonabend Worthalter is a great doctor and a leader in Neurosurgery. - William Wells, May 2023

Great team

Dr. Sonabend and his team have been very attentive and helpful throughout my surgery & recovery.

We liked everything about him. We were not able to drive all the way to Chicago to discuss him doing the surgery. He insisted on meeting with me and my husband a day before the surgery as I was also taking care of other pre-surgery appointments with others. He was wonderful explaining the surgery to my husband very soon after it was over. He has been such a wonderful, kind, detailed, and encouraging person in everything. Praying for him to continue to grow in everything.

After receiving the diagnosis of Meningioma from another healthcare group, I chose Northwestern and specifically Dr. Worthalter for my second opinion. Northwestern had the option of neurosurgery as well gamma knife surgery. After consultation with Dr. Worthalter and the awareness that I was symptomatic with seizures it was decided that the best course of action would be neurosurgery to remove the tumor from my brain lining. Needless to say I was anxious about the surgery but Dr. Worthalter and his team allayed my concerns and I knew I was in the best of hands. The surgery was performed on a Monday morning and I was discharged earlier than expected on Wednesday afternoon just two days later. I could not have asked for a better outcome. The entire staff was supportive and professional. I would recommend Dr. Worthalter with the greatest of endorsements.

Dr. Sonabend is exactly what one might hope to find in a neurosurgeon, but might not be bold enough to wish for. He is direct, smart, thorough, extremely knowledgeable and a pleasure to work with. Two brain surgeries, and I never even felt worried. Incredible team. I reccommend him fully and without any reservation.

Absolutely!

Dr. Worthalter is very knowledgeable and skilled. He takes the time to explain his process and responds to questions thoroughly. I have continued to feel that I am receiving excellent care from him and all members of his team. I highly recommend him when managing this type of medical situation.

He is awesome!!

Dr. Sonabend saved my dads life. He is very kind compassionate and understanding. He takes his time with patients and he is very quick to act on problems. My dad had a very complicated tumor in his brain and it was very close to a lot of nerves in 2019 and dr Sonabend removed 98 percent (I believe) of it with surgery and treated the rest with lazor. My dad is clear. He was confused for a while and did not understand what was going on. He’s getting better and better and he asked me to write this review for him (he is not very tech). He said he is a very good doctor and very good man. Me and my whole family agree from even before the surgery. We knew as soon as we met him that he was going to be successful in the surgery (our gut). He has eased a lot of stress from all of us before and after surgery. I am forever great full to dr. Sonabend and me and my family wish him the best because he also deserves only the best. God bless him and his family. - Tomislav K

Dr. Sonabend removed a cyst in my brain by performing a craniotomy. He was fantastic.

Dr. Sonabend is a dedicated neurosurgeon who is passionate about his work and genuinely cares about his patients. I found him to be thorough in his examination, assessment and explanation. I had a second opinion and returned to Dr. Sonabend to have my surgery and very glad I did. It was evident that the residents and nurses at NW have great respect for him. Everything he explained to me has gone exactly as he stated. Highly recommend.

Very thorough and answered all my questions. Excellent follow up post op. Also love Shelley NP for Dr Sonabend

This guy exudes confidence, not cockiness like most surgeons do. He explained the different options for cancer tumor removal, why he chose the hybrid option he chose and was able to remove 95% of the tumor. This guy has great bedside manner and made us feel confident he made the best choice. The recovery is coming along nicely according to our Rehab.

Dr. Sonabend did removed a tumor, which another hospital said was too risky to remove, with minimal side effects. He stated he’d be able to remove 80-90% however exceeded his own expectations. His communications and bed aide manner were exemplary.

In 2016 an MRI had shown that I had a brain tumor had grown from a slip and fall.After much research I found Dr.Sonabend to have the credentials and expertise to remove it.From my first meeting with him to the day of surgery Dr.Sonabend and his incredible team made me feel so comfortable and reassured that everything will be okay.The operation was a complete success.If anyone is searching for a top neurosurgeon he is the doctor you want.Columbia Neurosurgery should be so proud to have him there

Dr. Adam Sonabend is a phenomenal neurosurgeon. He always makes me feel at ease when I see him, despite the severity of my condition. I wouldn't trust anyone more than I trust Dr. Sonabend. He spent a lot of time explaining my condition to my family and I. I had a meningioma the size of a grapefruit that needed to be removed. The surgery was a big success. No complications. I would highly recommend him for any neurosurgery you need done.

Dr. Sonabend is so wonderful. Was caring, patient and helpful every step of the way!

Dr. Sonabend, had such a pleasant way when he started out " I know something about you but I don't know everything I' ll tell you what I know and you can fill in ". So pleasant made one feel at ease immediately. The time he took to explain everything covering all angles and giving the patient time to ask questions, he actually covered everything. I left the office relieved and felt I found the Doctor that I wanted the caring, thoughtful, understanding person I was lookin

Dr. Sonabend is gifted and caring surgeon. His surgical skills are amazing. I required a very difficult brain stem tumor surgery. I came out of the surgery with no complications. I had a quick recovery. Dr. Sonabend spent a lot of time with me and my family both before and AFTER the surgery. He answers all questions quickly no matter how small they might seem. He followed up with me on numerous occasions after the surgery. I would trust him with any and all medical decisions.