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​​​​“I’m passionate about seeing new patients and getting their treatment started on the right foot.”

Provider Bio down arrow

As a neuro-oncologist, Dr. Lawler has specialty training and experience in treating tumors of the brain, spinal cord and peripheral nervous system. 


It’s an area that many patients, and health care providers as well, do not fully understand.

“I insist that my patients are the decisionmakers, while I advise them on the options available,” he said. “I want to understand what is important in their lives, and for them to understand their treatment so there are no surprises.” 

He’s involved in several clinical trials of new chemotherapies and other treatments, which require that patients are well-informed.

Although he grew up in southern California, Dr. Lawler discovered during his training that he really enjoyed having four distinct seasons. Marshfield Clinic Health System was a good fit for him, not only because of its northern climate but because it offered a patient base to support his subspecialty.

He earned his medical degree from the University of Illinois College of Medicine in Peoria. He completed his residency in neurology at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center in Lebanon, New Hampshire and a fellowship in neuro-oncology at Massachusetts General Hospital with Harvard Medical School in Boston.

He enjoys running with his friends in marathons, and brewing beer with hops and barley grown at his home. He looks forward to opening the brewery, No Safe Amount, with those same crazy running friends someday soon.

Related Video down arrow

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Professional Summary down arrow

  • Medical School
    University of Illinois - College of Medicine Peoria, IL, United States, M.D. 1996

    Internship
    Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center Lebanon, NH, United States, Internal Medicine 1997

    Residency
    Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center Lebanon, NH, United States, Neurology 2000

    Fellowship
    Harvard Medical School - Massachusetts General Hospital Boston, MA, United States, Neuro-Oncology 2001

  • Professional Societies
    American Society of Clinical Oncology Society for Neuro-Oncology

    Board Certifications
    Neurology: 2005, recertified 2016

    State Licenses
    Wisconsin

Patient Ratings down arrow

4.7
out of 5 (88 ratings, 11 comments)
4.7
Provider explanations of my problem
4.7
Provider concern for my questions
4.7
Provider's efforts to include me in treatment decisions
4.8
Provider's discussion of proposed treatment
4.7
My likelihood of recommending this provider

Patient Comments down arrow

Comments are also gathered from the Press Ganey patient satisfaction survey and displayed in their entirety with the exception of any language that may be considered slander, libel or contain private health information, which will be removed prior to publishing.
Comments are from Press Ganey surveys. Slander, libel and private health information are removed.
Sort by:
April 5, 2023
...He was so patient, understanding & answered every question...
April 8, 2023
Very happy with Dr. Lawler.
May 1, 2023
Doctor Lawler is awesome, he is the best!!!
September 27, 2023
Real though in explaining problem & solutions.
September 28, 2023
He came highly recommended and I can see why!
October 5, 2023
Dr. Lawler EXCELLENT.
November 5, 2023
Dr. Lawler is very good at explaining things.
November 19, 2023
Excellent communication.
December 14, 2023
Dr. Lawler is excellent - don't lose him!
January 24, 2024
I've been seeing Dr. Lawler since 2005. He is an excellent clinician. His explanations of tumors to non-medical patients is very good. You would not know this is the 500th time that year he explained it to a patient.
October 4, 2023
I was constantly INTERRUPTED to hear about his marathon and his Achilles. No answer to my Achilles and how very painful now I have to pay for the appt. I don't do marathons. I needed info on my "Achilles" & my "fiber neuropathy."
October 4, 2023
I was constantly INTERRUPTED to hear about his marathon and his Achilles. No answer to my Achilles and how very painful now I have to pay for the appt. I don't do marathons. I needed info on my "Achilles" & my "fiber neuropathy."
April 5, 2023
...He was so patient, understanding & answered every question...
April 8, 2023
Very happy with Dr. Lawler.
May 1, 2023
Doctor Lawler is awesome, he is the best!!!
September 27, 2023
Real though in explaining problem & solutions.
September 28, 2023
He came highly recommended and I can see why!
October 5, 2023
Dr. Lawler EXCELLENT.
November 5, 2023
Dr. Lawler is very good at explaining things.
November 19, 2023
Excellent communication.
December 14, 2023
Dr. Lawler is excellent - don't lose him!
January 24, 2024
I've been seeing Dr. Lawler since 2005. He is an excellent clinician. His explanations of tumors to non-medical patients is very good. You would not know this is the 500th time that year he explained it to a patient.
April 5, 2023
...He was so patient, understanding & answered every question...
April 8, 2023
Very happy with Dr. Lawler.
May 1, 2023
Doctor Lawler is awesome, he is the best!!!
September 27, 2023
Real though in explaining problem & solutions.
September 28, 2023
He came highly recommended and I can see why!
October 4, 2023
I was constantly INTERRUPTED to hear about his marathon and his Achilles. No answer to my Achilles and how very painful now I have to pay for the appt. I don't do marathons. I needed info on my "Achilles" & my "fiber neuropathy."
October 5, 2023
Dr. Lawler EXCELLENT.
November 5, 2023
Dr. Lawler is very good at explaining things.
November 19, 2023
Excellent communication.
December 14, 2023
Dr. Lawler is excellent - don't lose him!
January 24, 2024
I've been seeing Dr. Lawler since 2005. He is an excellent clinician. His explanations of tumors to non-medical patients is very good. You would not know this is the 500th time that year he explained it to a patient.
January 24, 2024
I've been seeing Dr. Lawler since 2005. He is an excellent clinician. His explanations of tumors to non-medical patients is very good. You would not know this is the 500th time that year he explained it to a patient.
December 14, 2023
Dr. Lawler is excellent - don't lose him!
November 19, 2023
Excellent communication.
November 5, 2023
Dr. Lawler is very good at explaining things.
October 5, 2023
Dr. Lawler EXCELLENT.
October 4, 2023
I was constantly INTERRUPTED to hear about his marathon and his Achilles. No answer to my Achilles and how very painful now I have to pay for the appt. I don't do marathons. I needed info on my "Achilles" & my "fiber neuropathy."
September 28, 2023
He came highly recommended and I can see why!
September 27, 2023
Real though in explaining problem & solutions.
May 1, 2023
Doctor Lawler is awesome, he is the best!!!
April 8, 2023
Very happy with Dr. Lawler.
April 5, 2023
...He was so patient, understanding & answered every question...

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