When Lake Forest’s Dr. Susanne Woloson was 21 years old and applying to medical school, geography played a big role in where she decided to go.

“I was a California girl and always assumed that I would return to California,” Dr. Woloson explains. “When I was accepted into medical schools in Los Angeles, New York, and Chicago—I decided to do something completely different and try Chicago.”

She has never looked back.

Today, Dr. Woloson lives in Lake Forest with her husband, daughter, and four Cavalier King Charles Spaniels.

“I just love the people here and the morals of the Midwest,” she says. “It’s amazing how much people genuinely care for one another. It’s part of their core values.”

Lucky for Dr. Woloson, her California sensibilities are never too far away as she and her husband purchased an historic Lake Forest home that is reminiscent of houses commonly found on the West Coast. The Wolosons’ home was built in 1903 for Frank Hibbard of Hibbard, Spencer, Bartlett & Company, which later became True Value Hardware. Architect George Lyon Harvey designed the house in the Mediterranean Revival style, complete with a terra cotta roof, decorative iron window coverings, and several porches.

“Restoring this house to its original grandeur has been a labor of love for us,” Dr. Woloson says. “It’s made us passionate about the Lake Forest Preservation Foundation, which is very supportive of our efforts and, we are of theirs.”

The Wolosons have hosted the foundation’s annual holiday party in their home several times. Dr. Woloson’s enthusiasm for the community is surpassed only by her commitment to her patients. A board-certified vascular surgeon with a Ph.D. in molecular biology, Dr. Woloson chose her specialty because of her penchant to fix things.

“Growing up, I loved working on cars,” she says. “Just like with an engine, if you make a few tweaks to it, the car will run better. It’s the same thing in vascular surgery.”

Vein disease can be “fixed” with the knowledge of the physiology involved and the use of new innovative procedures that we practice daily. While she performed all aspects of Vascular Surgery since 2000, three years ago Dr. Woloson decided to dedicate her practice to venous disease and formed Northwest Vascular and Vein Specialists, where her practice specializes in using the newest technologies available on the market. She was one of the first vascular surgeons to perform minimally invasive vein ablations and has one of the largest vein practices in the Midwest—having completed more than 10,000 laser ablations.

“All of our treatments are minimally invasive,” Dr. Woloson says. “Every procedure is performed in an office setting. I’m one of the most experienced and efficient physicians using these technologies in the country. We treat the patient’s symptoms and also provide a good visual result. There is no down time and the patients come back for their two-week appointment already feeling so much better.”

Having first opened an office in Arlington Heights, Dr. Woloson has recently unveiled a second location closer to home in Libertyville.

“Our new space is very warm and comforting from the moment you walk through our doors. If you have pain or swelling in your legs, this is the time to make an appointment.”

Dr. Susanne Woloson of Northwest Vascular and Vein Specialists is located at 900 Technology Way, Suite 230 in Libertyville and 1614 W. Central Road, Suite100 in Arlington Heights, 847-577-5814, northwestveinspecialists.com.