Northwestern Medicine Department of Dermatology

DO NOT GO HERE. FIND SOMEPLACE ELSE. NW approach to care is non-existent. It was rehauled by McKinsey about 10 years ago. If you're familiar, McKinsey is the the consulting firm with a terrible reputation but huge brand and billing ability - it has been publicly embroiled in scandals. Not surprisingly, after the work, the quality of care completely changed for the much much WORSE, across the entire system. Particularly, because of changes in billing models and compensation models, now set up like those owned by a Private Equity company, you can't get an appointment for months, in any department - even as a longstanding, multi-year patient. Departments cancel with no notice, then they tell you there's not another appointment for 6 to 8 months later. From an actual ability to follow a patient and provide competent care, which does require actually SEEING the patient, this is rendered impossible with their approach to the business. They should stop accepting new patients, but their new model doesn't allow that. So, sadly for us long time patients, you have to bit the bullet, leave your doctors, and take your business elsewhere. I'm looking. Suggestions for everybody please on where else to go?

Northwestern Derm doesn't seem to care at all about the patient, making it a really terrible experience end to end. I made an appointment a year out because they're so hard to book, Northwestern then changed my provider without notifying me. In my appointment I asked about transferring a prescription over from my prior dermatologist and the doctor said he didn't want to "waste the nurses time having to deal with prescriptions" and instead told me to try an over the counter solution from Amazon. After that appointment I made my next annual before I left, for a year out, and within weeks of that next appointment Northwestern cancelled due to a schedule change on their end, did not offer an alternative slot, and when I called they told me the best they could do is 8 months later in the following year. I switched to Northwestern because of the brand name, but after the worst experience I've had with a practice I'll be leaving. Unless you love painful, frustrating experiences with a medical office, I'd suggest saving yourself the headache.

Outrageous. There are so many problems this practice it is hard to review without seeming hyperbolic. The most serious problem of all was catastrophic mistake made by a nurse. She accidentally increased the power of excimer laser by 5x (500%) of the prescribed dose. It was clear malpractice. I could not do anything about it because all of my healthcare flows through Northwestern. There was no apology or admission of guilt. The nurse kept her job and the Dermatologist didn't even acknowledge it happened. The problem with dismissing the error is that when it first happened, I didn't know if I would have permanent burns for life. The pain and swollen skin was bad enough but since the dermatologist didn't want to discuss the error, I was walking around for several days with a puffy face not knowing the outcome. Lastly, there is significant dermatologist turnover. About 35% of the ones that stick around have really bad attitudes. I was also told that the doctor can only discuss one topic per visit. Discuss, not treat!

Update: They have taken off the second bill because it was over a year later. Still very uncomfortable with how it all happened. I would say make sure you check your bills with extra care. I had a skin bisopy done August 10, 2024 at NM dermatology. My insurance approved the claim on August 25, 2024. On July 19 2025 I received a bill for $134 for the procedure. Nobody at the biling departemnt could tell me why I recieved this bill almost a year later. I paid it though. Now on August 28th 2025 I received ANOTHER bill for the same day for 191 dollars. Nobody in billing or dermatology is willing to help. No one will look into it further either. I had one appointment a year ago and I am being billed twice for it.

Visit 04/09/25 If you're planning a dermatology visit at Northwestern Medicine (676 N St Clair), be prepared for poor communication if your doctor is running late. I waited 40 minutes past my appointment time with no explanation or updates, and the visit itself lasted less than 10 minutes. Due to the delay, I missed my transportation home — something that could have been avoided with even a basic level of communication. It’s unacceptable for a healthcare provider to disregard patients' time like this. Northwestern Medicine needs to prioritize respect and transparency, not just the bottom line.

My dermatologist, Dr Kundu, is amazing but trying to get an appointment is nearly impossible. My follow ups take 15 minutes every 3 months and it's nearly impossible to get scheduled. My most recent appointment was canceled without notification because I didnt have updated insurance information in the app, even though in the past I have provided my insurance information day of. Even when I informed the office that I was experiencing urgent symptoms, I was told I couldn't be seen for 10 months. I saw Dr Kundu for 4 years but was dismissed when I tried to advocate for myself as a regular patient. I have never missed a copay or service bill, so to have my appointment canceled without notification due to insurance is beyond disappointing.

This is by far the worst clinic I have ever dealt with. I went in for a cyst removal - I first had a 5 min consultation appt which was fine. The 2nd appt was made, but I had to reschedule. I rescheduled on their website, but specifically asked a receptionist several times that the rescheduled appt was to be a PROCEDURE appt in which she replied yes, of course it is. Come the day of the procedure, Dr. Mahmood's receptionist calls me 10 min before the appt to tell me they have to cancel as this was not the right appt. I had already taken the day off from work, drove into the city, paid for parking and was at the lobby of the clinic building already. Then, the receptionist Latishia told me that it was MY fault for rescheduling the appt. I told her that I had spoken to a receptionist to confirm this several times. She said sorry and later repeated that this was my fault for rescheduling on MyNM - even though I confirmed the appt type with the receptionist. They said there's nothing else they can do and their next appt is in 2 weeks for me. I'm finding a different hospital system and recommending to all my colleagues and friends to avoid NW dermatology at all costs. Also, don't trust MyNM and confirm your appt with the receptionist every time. What a waste of time and money.