Mark Allan Berk, MD

Did not like for various reasons. I would not go to this doctor again. Had issues with long waits and also with billing and insurance. I would not return to this doctor.

I have been going to Dr. Berk and Nurse Practitioner Cecilia for over a decade for acne and other treatments. While I have always been very happy with all treatments, the most recent procedure was the most incredible. Cecilia used the Vivi laser to remove my broken blood vessels on the side of my nose. It totally worked… instantly. I had put this procedure off for years thinking that it wouldn’t work, and had decided to try to get them removed before my wedding. I am so happy I trusted Cecilia. My nose is free of the cranberry colored veins that used to reside.

Avoid this place. Scheduled two appointments, the first of which was cancelled because the staff said my insurance wasn’t working. At the second appointment, I waited over an hour only to be told that they didn’t have the «proper equipment» to do the procedure and that my insurance won’t cover it anyway. I won’t be going back.

This review is based upon 2 experiences at Dr. Berk’s Lake Forest, IL office. The staff is always friendly and I’ve always been seen on time. Cecelia does a great job on my services and I would recommend her and Dr. Berk’s office to anyone. I’ll be back again next month for more!

I’ve been seeing Dr. Berk for years. I really just love this office, him and his staff. The above reviews are so weird to me! But not to discount their experiences. Everyone has off days.
But I had a 5:45pm appointment– and was out by 6:30pm…evaluated thoroughly by the PA, the doctor and moles removed and all! And he is so friendly and confident and sweet– as were all the women working there.
When I was being examined there was a questionable mole. And he was very straightforward. I could remove it or wait and see. Wasn’t an immediate threat. I kind of went back and forth and finally he was like– let’s just get it off. Then nothing to worry about. So I appreciated that. I never felt like he was pushing me. In fact– the opposite.
Overall I recommend Dr Berk and his entire team 100%.

I see where many have knocked Dr Berk for being late. I went to my first app’t yesterday and have some insight. The office was very busy, a lot of people. Maybe not all patients, maybe family. However, still a lot of folks. That’s cause we have a Doctor shortage in this country, folks. He’s not piling appointments on top of each other simply to make more money, as someone suggested. He has a lot of people who need his services. So, take a breath, bring a magazine, or your kindle. As for his manner, which some seemed to take exception with: he i not a gregarious kind of person, and we all, especially when faced with some anxiety, like to have a laughing, smiling face to ease that angst. He is, however, quietly confident, and communicated that to me. He made me feel he could handle my problems with no problem. His technique was wonderful, he took a biopsy of two growths without causing me any discomfort at all. He explained carefully what I could expect in terms of recovery and after examining a cycst on my neck, suggested having it removed, but did say, ‘it’s not dangerous and doesn’t have to be removed if you prefer.’ Not trying to pad his services, as others suggested below. I was out of the office in under an hour, felt great, and had the comfort of knowing I had taken a positive step towards curing my problem/​s. I will go back with no reservations, and suggest you see him if you need his services.

Went to my first visit with Dr. Berk and had a very pleasant experience! I wasn’t too sure that he would be able to help me with our tot’s skin condition (he’s 2−½ yrs old) but it all worked out great! I can understand how some patients may think he may seem as if he’s not interested but I think it’s just part of his personality.
We were there for answers and that’s what we got. Answers and solutions. It’s been 3 days and my son’s skin started to clear up (severe eczema caused by some bacteria). He nailed the problem unlike my son’s pediatrician with whom we’ve been going to with this SAME problem since November.
Wait wasn’t any different than any other doctors’ office. It was a comfortable environment to wait in, that’s what really helped. Sitting side by side, all facing the same direction unlike other doctors’ offices where you’re stuck either staring or being stared at by the person sitting directly across from you. Front desk receptionist was a gem, her name was Mimi and very friendly! As well as Elizabeth the nurse who assisted Dr. Berk during our visit. Pretty hi-​tech office, everyone works off tablets and before you know it, you’re meds are sent off to your nearest pharmacy!

I just returned from Dr Berk’s office and I don’t agree with many of the reviewers. The girls at the front desk and in the offices went out of their way to be friendly. Dr Berk was also very friendly and took time to explain what he was doing – I had several growths removed. I don’t feel he is indifferent – he may be slightly shy. I did have to wait, but I have to wait in many doctors’ offices.

I came to dr. Berk because my friend in med school did a rotation with him. Like everyone else, I had to wait 30 min… Which i guess wasn’t bad after I heard the other waiting times. I though he was pretty blah– he didn’t especially make me feel comfortable or have a engaging personalty. I just thought it was rude and disrespectful to make people wait. He didn’t seem phased by the fact I had to wait. I understand that appointments run late, however he fact that he didn’t acknowledge it was very irritating. I won’t go back.

They make you wait forever, AND…
I called 2 days ahead of time to confirm a follow-​up appointment (since they don’t call to confirm anything) to get stitches out, an appointment that I’d taken time off work for, and they said they would have to reschedule because the doctor who was supposed to see me wouldn’t be there that late. Good thing I called or I would have wasted a trip. I agreed to reschedule, asking them was it safe to leave my stitches in that long. They said «sure». Out of options, I agreed. What else could I do? Not like I can take my own stitches out.
When they were finally able to see me, they found that they insufficiently stitched the incision, so it opened, and is now infected (the incision was in the middle of my back — yes, I’m sorry, gross), and then asked me what I did to ruin the stitches. What can I do exactly to ruin stitches in the middle of my back?
They put me on antibiotics and scheduled me for a follow-​up in another 2 weeks. I’m hoping that they can actually honor this appointment and that I don’t die of sepsis in the mean time. Meanwhile, I’m taking antibiotics that might contra-​indicate another medication I’m taking. The physician’s assistant who prescribed it to me didn’t think of asking what other medications I’m taking.
I’m giving them 2 stars instead of 1 because they didn’t charge me extra for this, never mind the extra time I have to take off work for more appointments.
I don’t know whether this is because I’m on an HMO plan, but you can’t even trust doctors these days. And Dr Berk, 1 of the 50 top doctors in Chicago? Give me an effin’ break. Maybe if you need botox. Based on the way he runs his office, I’d say he’s a joke.

My experience with Dr. Berk was the worst I have ever had at any doctor’s office. My wait was 1 ½ hours, a nurse took me to his examination office, just to «ease it up», and in there I waited again for another ½ hour. When he finally arrived, he literally stayed in the room for 3 minutes. I went there for an extremely painful insect bite, but I had other questions I wanted to address, he completely ignored me and left without saying goodbye, which confused me, I thought he was going to come back, but the nurse gave me a shot and then she walked me out.. His prices are outrageous, and the service is terrible. I called 4 times to get the results of the biopsy. There was no care or respect for me, the patient, at Dr. Berk’s office, so I will never be back!

If you have skin problems, it does not get any better than Dr. Berk.
T R U S T

Going to the dermatologist is scary. Dr. Berk gets it over with quickly.
He removes moles as quickly as possible so you don’t have to worry about them. Instead of a mole I know have a small dot of slightly lighter skin. Much more aesthetic and, of course, safer, too.

Dr. Julia McGee may be the ‘physicians assistant’, but she’s really been the one taking care of me. She is patient, takes good care of you and is super friendly. I don’t really remember even seeing Dr. Berk, but i’m sure he’s good too. I’ve had good couple of visits, waiting time wasn’t so bad, but i took time off work and went during the day.

I have been a longtime fan of the professional building where this Dermatology office is located. I figured I couldn’t go wrong scheduling an appointment with Dr. Berk. I was seeing another Dermatologist but this location was closer to my house. I wish I would have just stuck to where I was going…
I can confirm that the wait time is outrageous. I was a bit early to fill out new patient paperwork but waited in the waiting room for almost an hour if not an hour. I was then taken to an examination room and waited there for about half an hour. Dr. Berk was very friendly and spoke like he was reading from a text book. I did show him a mole I was concerned about. He told me it most likely did not have to be removed. Then exactly what another Unilocaler said, he said he would just go ahead and do it anyway. I should have stuck to my gut and said «no,» but he’s a Doctor and I am not so I went through with the procedure.
I waited over one month to hear results of the biopsy. I called twice (once about 2 weeks ago) and finally got a response today. Worst follow up ever.
Looking at my EOB, they charged a fortune as well.
I don’t recommend going here. I highly recommend the Department of Dermatology at Rush.

Ok, so I went to Dr. Berk a few years ago to see him about a mole I had on my stomach. He preceeded to tell me that it didn’t look like anything I should worry about. He asked if I would like to have it removed anyway and I said no. Once he realized he wasn’t going to get more money from me, he completely changed his tune and started saying I should get it removed (after he had told me a few minutes ago that it was fine). I continued to say that I didn’t want it removed (he was going to cut it out right then and there), so he showed me a picture of a mole and said that if it changed to something like the picture, I should come back (I have had this mole since birth and it has never changed). I repeated, «Ok, so if it looks like this, come back?» His response was, «If it looked like this, you’d already be dead.»
ummm…WTF???

I liked Dr. Berk and Julia!
Just finished Accutane with this office and they were pretty great. There were some bumps along the way, but they are just so nice.
Feeling great about my skin and my care.
They do run late, but I still thought they were worth the wait.

I just had my first visit with Dr. Berk this week after being referred to him by my primary physician.
Like everyone else who’s written a review I had a bit of a wait to see the doctor first for like 15 minutes in the waiting room and then for another 15 in the examining room.
When he did show the first thing he did was apologize for being late and overall was extremely nice and knowledgeable. I don’t see a dermatologist very often but when the need does arise again I’ll give him another try.

I went to see Dr. Berk about 3 times. I would agree that there was an excessive wait each time. Maybe not quite as long as Andy’s, but long enough.. What really bothered me about Dr. Berk was that once he was in the room he seemed really disinterested in talking with me. He was always rushing and never spent more than 5 min with me.
This doctor really needs to work on his bedside manner.

This review is based upon my only appointment with Dr. Berk. Somehow he made it onto the Chicago magazine top doctors list. I only went here after the first 5 dermatologists I tried to see were booked solid for a month. I guess I should’ve waited.
I arrived at 4:45 because I had an appointment at 5 p.m.
I waited. And waited. And waited. I was finally called back at 6:30.
Then the doctor came in at 7, but then left.
And came back at 7:30, and finished up at 7:45, 3 hours after my arrival.
I guess I should have waited for the month for the other doctors — it would’ve been about the same amount of time.