BIG STORY whitewhitewhitewhitewhitwhitewe > Back To Stories

10 Amazing Residents in Medicine
Stories by Judy Buchenot
Photos were Submitted



Dr. Thomas Cornwell
Housecalls Become High Tech
Dr. Thomas Cornwell maintains that technology made house calls obsolete but adds that new technology is making them possible once again. Using gadgets that can transmit data over his cell phone and equipment that is portable, Dr. Cornwell is performing everything from blood tests to EKG's in the homes of handicapped patients. He can start an IV, perform a skin biopsy and complete other procedures. His diligent care is dramatically reducing both emergency room visits and hospital stays for his patients. The mobile practice based in Wheaton may not bring in much money but it pays off in friendships created. "This is what God created me for," says Dr. Cornwell who recently made his 25,000th housecall.


Dr. Charles Sandor
Latest Advances in Cataract Surgery
After twenty years of practice, Dr. Charles Sandor can recall the days when cataract removal was done with sandbags immobilizing the patient's head followed by a stay of several days in the hospital. Today, he does the same procedure in less than ten minutes through a tiny 2.85 millimeter incision that needs no sutures. The patient goes home the same day and returns to normal activity the next day. As an added plus, the implants often improve the patient's vision making glasses unnecessary. With a 98% success rate, Dr. Sandor says patients are ready to have the surgery. The doctor is a Glen Ellyn resident and practices at The Wheaton Eye Clinic.



Dr. Sonal Patel
Advances in Skin Care
Dr. Sonal Patel is pleased to offer several new skin care treatments at Radiance Skin Care and Laser Med Spa in Wheaton. One of the newest treatments is a skin tightening procedure that can be used for the loose skin around the knees or belly as well as for tightening facial skin. She also notes that cellulite reduction treatment which used to require 12 to 14 sessions can now be done with a single treatment that produces gradual results over a twelve month period. Dr. Patel also offers Dysport as an alternative to Botox for wrinkle reduction.





Dr. Henry Echiverri
New Hope for Strokes
As the third leading cause of death in the United States, strokes are a concern for the medical community. Dr. Henry Echiverri has successfully been offering several new treatments for strokes. A catheter that can be fed through arteries to pull out the clot is a relatively new treatment. There is also another similar procedure which can suction out the clot. These two options can be used within eight hours of the stroke onset. Dr. Echiverri's practice, NeuroMed Clinic in Warrenville, is one of six centers in the United States offering Brainsgate, a new technology which involves implanting electrodes in the brain to treat strokes up to 24 hours after they occur.



Dr. Juan Bonilla
New Ways to Repair the Heart
The traditional way to replace a heart valve involves making an incision down the entire breastbone. However, new technology has made it possible for Dr. Juan Bonilla to do the same surgery though a much smaller incision. Patient recovery time is reduced dramatically with the small incision. A recent patient played golf 2 ½ weeks after an aortic valve replacement. Dr. Bonilla is also offering Ex-maze, a new procedure to correct atrial fibrillation. A camera and special instruments are fed through a small incision in the belly to behind the heart where a barrier is created to block the abnormal signals so the heart beats become regular again. Provena Mercy Hospital is the only hospital in the Chicagoland area offering this procedure. Dr. Bonilla is a Winfield resident and a partner in Cardiac Surgery Associates with offices in Aurora and Downers Grove.


Dr. Matthew D'Alessio
New Procedure for Treating Liver Tumors
Dr. Matthew D'Alessio is offering hope to patients with liver tumors once thought to be inoperable. Using a technique known as microwave ablation, the surgeon is able to remove or destroy a tumor in a minimally invasive manner with little blood loss. A special probe is used that emits microwaves that heat up the tumor to destroy it. Larger tumors can be addressed by heating up the tissue around the tumor to seal it and make removal safer. D'Alessio, a Naperville resident, is the only surgeon in the Western suburbs offering this revolutionary treatment. He is part of the DuPage Medical Group and has practices in Naperville and Glen Ellyn.



Dr. Susie Warden
Focus On Preventive Medicine
"We believe in the proactive approach rather than the reactive approach," says Dr. Susie Warden of Advanced Health Associates. The Glen Ellyn resident has opened centers for health and wellness in Wheaton, North Wheaton, Naperville and Glendale Heights. Instead of waiting for illness to strike, Dr. Warden advocates a healthy diet, exercise and a lifestyle that helps people stay healthy. She is opening a health and wellness club in spring 2010 in Wheaton that takes a total care approach for families. The new center will offer everything from chiropractic care to aromatherapy to nutrition and health education for a single family fee.



Dr. Steven Sigalove
Doctor Offers Mommy Makeovers
Dr. Steven Sigalove specializes in plastic and reconstructive surgery as well as cosmetic surgery. He offers his patients a unique package known as a "Mommy Makeover" that addresses the loose skin and stretched muscles from childbirth. Depending upon the patient needs, Sigalove completes a tummy tuck, breast augmentation or lift and liposuction in a first phase. Additionally he can address facial issues as needed with injections or facelifts in a second phase. The makeover is completed as outpatient surgery in one or two visits. There is minimal recovery time and the goal is a natural appearance. Dr. Sigalove lives in Glen Ellyn and has offices with DuPage Medical Group in Glen Ellyn, Naperville and Warrenville.


Dr. David Mochel
Improved Hip and Knee Replacement
Dr. David Mochel of OAD Orthopedics is able to offer patients an improved hip and knee replacement surgery thanks to several innovations. He is able to make a smaller incision that cuts less muscle during the operation due to new technology and techniques. The components he uses are gender specific and longer lasting than previous materials. Better pain management with nerve blocks is also helping improve results. Finally, he says that better physical therapy contributes to the positive outcome. The factors have changed the recovery time from two to three months to four to six weeks. Dr. Mochel lives in Winfield and has offices in Wheaton and Naperville.



Dr. Robert Holdridge
Dentistry in the New Millennium
Dr. Robert Holdridge is embracing the new technology in dentistry. The dentist who lives in Glen Ellyn is pleased to offer digital x-rays that require 80% less radiation. He makes use of an oral camera so that his patients can see inside their mouths. Retrieving records does not require flipping through pages with his digital information systems. He no longer has to pick at a patient's teeth since the laser light on Diagnodent can detect decay for him quickly. Even the administration of anesthetics has improved with a painless computerized device that can numb a single tooth instead of a large portion of the mouth. However, Dr. Holdbridge maintains that the best treatment he offers comes from his caring and qualified staff at his Wheaton office.