James R. Wade, MD

4.9

515 ratings Read Reviews

Northwestern Medical Group

Primary Specialty

Thoracic Surgery

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Practice Focus Areas

This medical professional has a particular interest or expertise in:

Reasons to Schedule a Visit

This medical professional may be a good choice for you if you are looking for care for any of the following:

Bronchogenic cyst
Chest/sternal mass (mediastinal, supraclavicular, thymoma)
Elevated diaphragm (diaphramagmatic plication)
Empyema
Esophageal duplication cyst
Esophageal leiomyoma
Esophageal mass or cancer or esophagus removal (esophagectomy)
Esophageal or zenkers diverticulum
Esophageal perforation
Hyperhidrosis (craniofacial, palmar)
Lung cyst or bullae
Mediastinal/chest mass removal (thymectomy)

Narrowing or blockage of airway, or tracheal stenosis
Phrenic nerve injury or elevated diaphragm
Pneumothorax (collapsed lung)
Pulmonary sequestration
Rib fracture(s)
Robotic surgery
Surgery for mesothelioma (pleurectomy)
Sympathectomy
Thymic hyperplasia
Tracheal mass or tracheal removal (trachea resection)
Tracheomalacia
Trouble swallowing (achalasia, esophageal dysmotility, esophageal stricture)

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Education

Medical Education:: MD, Washington University School of Medicine - 2009
Internship:: UMass Chan Medical School - 2010
Residency:: University of Illinois College of Medicine at Peoria - 2014
Fellowships:: Virginia Commonwealth University Health System - 2017

Board Certifications

American Board of Surgery - Surgery (Certified)
American Board of Thoracic Surgery/Thoracic and Cardiac Surgery - Thoracic and Cardiac Surgery (Certified)

Faculty Profile

Clinical Assistant Professor, Feinberg School of Medicine

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Practice Groups and Affiliations

Medical Group:: Northwestern Medical Group
Alignment Category:: Northwestern Medicine Physician Network
On Medical Staff At:: Catherine Gratz Griffin Lake Forest Hospital

Central DuPage Hospital

Delnor Hospital

Grayslake Ambulatory Surgery Center

Northwestern McHenry Huntley & Woodstock Hospitals

Northwestern Memorial Hospital

Palos Hospital

Ratings and Reviews

At Northwestern Medicine, our patient’s feedback is important to us. While different care providers have their own unique strengths, we strive to be as transparent as possible with our quality of care.

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Overall Rating

4.9

4.9

515 Ratings

Reviews from Patients

57 Reviews

Reviews from Patients

57 Reviews

February 27, 2026

5.0

His skills saved me I so appreciate him.

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February 27, 2026

5.0

Dr Wade is excellent. He's caring, compassionate, very friendly and very easy to talk to .... One of the best doctors I have ever had....

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February 25, 2026

5.0

Dr Wade was thorough, patient and answered all our questions in simple terms

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February 19, 2026

5.0

He is straight forward and addresses issues and answers all questions.

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February 16, 2026

5.0

Dr Wade has a great "bedside" manner and explains what is happening well.

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February 02, 2026

5.0

Very good doctor. Very knowledgeable and caring.

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January 25, 2026

5.0

Surgeon Dr Wade thorough, great bedside manner, wonderful surgeon, His PA I believe Bob was also kind and efficient.

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January 25, 2026

5.0

The doctor was very good at explaining my situation and providing next steps.

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January 20, 2026

5.0

Dr. Wade is very caring and informative. Makes you feel very comfortable.

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January 20, 2026

5.0

Dr Wade was great at explaining my situation and the possible resolution.

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January 16, 2026

5.0

Takes the time to explain everything

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December 19, 2025

5.0

See previous and completely competent of his skill and advise

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December 19, 2025

5.0

Dr wade was very informative about the surgery, explained everything to me. Made me feel very comfortable.

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December 18, 2025

5.0

Dr Wade performed my lung cancer surgery. Dr Wade is caring and skilled. Dr Wade's personality and demenor make you feel comfortable and confident that he and his staff will be able to help you to heal.

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December 16, 2025

5.0

Great surgeon with great work.

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December 12, 2025

5.0

Seemed knowledgeable and caring

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December 09, 2025

5.0

Dr Wade is a likable individual who is detailed, knowledgeable, and is able to articulate results and procedures in a manner easily understood

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December 04, 2025

5.0

I was very impressed from our first meeting. He focused solely on me and had read up on my case before entering the room. I felt very confident in his care.

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November 25, 2025

5.0

Very thorough and excellent surgeon.

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November 19, 2025

5.0

Dr. Wade was cautious, but great in judgement on the care that I needed.

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November 13, 2025

5.0

He is top notch !!!

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November 11, 2025

5.0

He's a very good Dr.

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October 28, 2025

5.0

Dr. Wade and his staff spent a lot of time with me regarding my complicated case. He helped break down what will be a long process before surgery and helped put great context around when to expect what type of conversations.

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October 24, 2025

5.0

Dr. Wade keeps me fully informed and has provided excellent follow-up care

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October 16, 2025

5.0

Excellent listener, honest, kind. Recognized my need to see someone who does surgery I need, then he called Dr [last name] immediately to tell him of my need.

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October 02, 2025

5.0

Dr. Wade talks WITH his patients , not at them. He is informative, empathetic, has a sense of humor and a sense of purpose.

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September 18, 2025

5.0

Dr Wade is kind and professional doctor who cares about the patient's emotionally as they are fighting with lung cancer

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September 11, 2025

5.0

I love him! Easy to talk to ' thorough - everything you need in a doctor.

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September 11, 2025

5.0

He very thorough, and a very understandable method.

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September 08, 2025

5.0

He explained everything to me carefully so that I understood what is going on with me

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September 08, 2025

5.0

Very knowledgeable and a kind person. Goes above and beyond

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August 12, 2025

5.0

Easy to talk to, professional, spends sufficient time answering questions or addressing concerns.

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August 07, 2025

5.0

I am 75 years old and have seen a number of doctors in my years. Dr. Wade stands out among the very best! He talked to me for over a half hour and you could tell he genuinely cared about my condition. Genuinely cared. He explained everything to me and I fully understood everything he said. He helped me to understand why we should or shouldn't do certain procedures and come to a decision together. I didn't come in with a very serious issue, but he still made me feel like my issue was important enough to give me his time and concern. Thank you Dr. Wade.

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August 05, 2025

5.0

Compassion, very thorough and explaining things Extremely competent easy to talk to highly skilled and makes good decisions for treatment

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July 31, 2025

5.0

Very thorough, informative, and knowledgeable.

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July 31, 2025

5.0

He was very professional yet very easy to converse with. We had many questions to ask him and he answered all of our concerns.

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July 27, 2025

5.0

He is the best at what he does

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July 23, 2025

5.0

From the beginning to my last appointment has been involved in my wellbeing.

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July 22, 2025

5.0

I really like this guy. He's personable, understandable, unhurried, assuring, and very thorough.

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July 17, 2025

5.0

Dr. Wade is an excellent surgeon. He is very knowledgeable. I feel vary confident in Dr. Wade's advice and recommendations.

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July 03, 2025

5.0

Cannot say enough about his skills or bedside manner. Someone that is truly passionate about what he does. I know I am in the best of care.

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June 30, 2025

5.0

He was very knowledgeable and took time to explain everything to me and my husband. He was wonderful

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June 12, 2025

5.0

He and his staff are skilled; communicate well with each other; and are very frank and friendly with my wife and me.

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June 06, 2025

5.0

Very helpful and spent as much time needed to answer all my questions.

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June 05, 2025

5.0

Simply the best. Incredibly thorough and so kind.

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June 04, 2025

5.0

Caring,answered all my questions, good communication

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June 02, 2025

5.0

I haven't had surgery yet, however my two appointments went well. Dr. Wade and his staff are professional, courteous, knowledgeable and kind.

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May 29, 2025

5.0

A fantastic teacher...

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May 27, 2025

5.0

Loved my doctor and all of his staff. I have already recommended Dr Wade to some friends

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May 20, 2025

5.0

He made me feel confident in his abilities. He has a great bedside manner and a sense of humor.

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May 20, 2025

5.0

Great Doctor

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May 19, 2025

5.0

Great dr!

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May 15, 2025

5.0

Dr. Wade is amazing, explains every detail of my condition, before and after surgery and make sure every time that he has always answer my questions.

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May 15, 2025

5.0

Extremely impressed with Dr Wade at my appointment.

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May 10, 2025

5.0

Dr. Wade is awesome! I am confident that my condition is under the best care possible. My appointments include a wellness check, review of any test taken before our meeting which contain explanations that are clear and concise and provides next steps leading up to the next appointment. Also important is the time he takes to listen to my questions and responds in a manner that I understand. It should be mentioned that Jennifer is also amazing to work with. She is prompt in responding to any questions or concerns either through MyChart of phone calls. This is also true when she provides prompt comments to any tests or scans that I have taken. Again, I am extremely lucky to have Dr. Wade and Jennifer for my care team.

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May 09, 2025

5.0

He explained everything carefully. Even drew pictures!

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May 08, 2025

5.0

Treated me with respect, explained my test in a manner I understood.

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Disclosures

Industry Relationships

Consulting

Faculty member and/or their immediate family have engaged in activities such as speaking, advising, consulting, or providing educational programs for the following companies or other entities

Da Vinci Intuitive
Intuitive Surgical, Inc.

External Professional Relationships

Pharmaceutical, device, and biotechnology companies frequently collaborate with basic scientists and physicians within an academic medical center to help advance science and improve patient care. These relationships are important in achieving scientific breakthroughs and in establishing the effectiveness and safety of promising new therapies. In order to assure objectivity in clinical research and patient care, the Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine (Feinberg), Northwestern Memorial HealthCare, Children's Hospital of Chicago Medical Center, and the Shirley Ryan AbilityLab have adopted integrity policies that require research and clinical faculty (in full-time, part-time, and unpaid/voluntary categories) to report compensated and uncompensated external industry relationships. Patients are encouraged to discuss these disclosures with their physician as well as to inquire as to how these relationships are overseen by Feinberg. To learn more about our Disclosure and Professional Integrity Policy, and the conflict of interest policies of our joint affiliate survey partners, please go to our Office for Regulatory Affairs Policies page.

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