19 Female-Recommended Healthcare Providers You Can Trust

Accessing quality healthcare for women can be challenging. Appointment availability is often scarce, insurance plans limit access, and healthcare in our country is, well…expensive. For many, going to a doctor’s office can feel like buying a one-way ticket to bad news. 

At our recent women’s event, “Let’s Talk About Health,” our panelists discussed their journey to better health and the nuances of understanding and accessing preventative care in and near our city. Cancer previvors, Emily Fitzgerald and Joanna Bartold, shared their experiences with genetic testing and how it impacted their decisions to schedule life-changing surgeries that decreased their cancer risk and ensured their longevity. 

“Making the decision to undergo genetic testing was scary,” said Bartold. “But I’m so glad I went through with it. The more data we have about our health, the easier it will be to make the right decisions for ourselves.”

Our biggest takeaways from our conversation? 

1. Women want to prioritize their health. But it’s hard to know where to start.

There’s nothing more daunting than browsing the internet in an attempt to find a doctor with great reviews that accepts your insurance. And even if you find that person, there’s a good chance they’re booked until January. Doctor googling is a gamble. And no one wants to waste time commuting to a health center or doctor’s office only to have a bad experience.

So, we’ve put together a list of doctors our women trust.

Dr. Alex Mitchell, Swedish Hospital (Family Medicine)

Dr. Anna Kulik-Carlos, Swedish Hospital (Family Medicine)

Dr. Ruheena Khan, Swedish Hospital (Family Medicine)

Dr. Michelle Bailey, Rush and Women’s Clinic Lakeview (Internal Medicine)

Dr. Bhandari, Northwestern (Internal Medicine)

Dr. Annalise James Hussain, Northwestern (OBGYN)

Dr. Allison Law, U Chicago (Family Medicine)

Dr. Liesl Xue Chi, Lakeshore Ob-gyn (OBGYN)

Dr. Rebekah Osgood, Northwestern (OBGYN)

Dr. Elsa Isak, Northwestern (OBGYN)

Dr. Stacy Brown, Swedish Hospital (OBGYN)

Dr. Michelle Beck, Swedish Hospital (OBGYN)

Dr. Adrianne Flynn-Dade, Rush University Medical Group (OBGYN)

Dr. Randa Hassan, UI Health (OBGYN)

Dr. Mary Wood Molo, Institute for Human Reproduction (Endocrinology)

Dr. Jessica Ackerman, Dermatology and Aesthetics (Dermatology)

Dr. Erika Hutz, Swedish Hospital (Geriatrics)

Dr. Megan Clinton, Clinton Dental Pros (Dental)

Once you’ve booked your appointment, write down a list of questions you’d like to ask your doctor. If health visits make you nervous, ask a friend or family member to go with you.  

At our panel, we discussed the importance of routine visits, recommended health screenings for all life’s stages, and the importance of fitness. The vote was unanimous: Being proactive in your health is the key to long-term wellness and living a full life.

2. Know your normal. And know what’s not.

When it comes to your health, trust your gut. Because a woman’s intuition is strong. If something feels “off” or abnormal, it’s definitely worth discussing  and presenting to a healthcare professional. There’s no harm in scheduling an appointment, even if that means putting your mind at ease.

Talking about health can feel scary. Discussing your concerns with a trusted friend or family member can help you feel comfortable articulating your symptoms and lead you to the support  you need. 

“After I found out about my genetic mutation, I felt an incredible sense of loneliness,” said Bartold. “The more I shared, though, the more I discovered that I was surrounded by support and resources. Sharing health information can be intimidating, but doing so made me stronger and enabled me to make better choices and ask the right questions of my medical team.”

The more we talk about health, the less taboo it feels — and that means accessing resources faster and more easily. We always say we’re stronger together. And we mean it. 

3. Healthcare is available for people without insurance.

Federally Qualified Health Centers are an option for people who don’t have access to health insurance or can’t afford medical bills. But the problem is, most people don’t know they exist. 

Thanks to Dr. Shazia Shivji Mehdi, we learned about Erie Family Health Centers and feel empowered to share this information with others.  

We also learned that The American Cancer Society (ACS) offers a 24/7 helpline for anyone managing or supporting someone with cancer. It’s completely free and a trusted resource.

“The mission of the ACS is to support patients and their families throughout their cancer journey—whether that’s through rides to treatment, lodging at our Hope Lodges, or 24/7 support via our Cancer Helpline and online,” said Carly Schmiedeskamp, Senior Development Manager at ACS. “These programs help us move our mission forward to ensure everyone has an opportunity to prevent, detect, treat, and survive cancer.”