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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

4.8
out of 5 (61 ratings, 13 comments)
4.9
Provider explanations of my problem
4.9
Provider concern for my questions
4.8
Provider's efforts to include me in treatment decisions
4.8
Provider's discussion of proposed treatment
4.8
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:
January 10, 2022
Dr. Lawler is always thorough and kind.
January 25, 2022
Very personable. Easy to talk freely with about concerns re: health.
February 9, 2022
Dr. Lawler gave excellent explanation of the problem as well as treatment options, we felt much better after the visit.
February 25, 2022
Dr. was very knowledgeable about my case.
April 1, 2022
Always telling others good things.
April 1, 2022
Dr. Lawler is excellent - he is encouraging & supportive!
May 31, 2022
_____ informative and detailed.
June 8, 2022
Dr. Lawler is a great dr. I would recommend him to my family/friends.
August 16, 2022
Very kind & personable.
August 19, 2022
Went very well, great provider for all my concerns.
August 24, 2022
Dr. Lawler is always very good at explaining everything!
October 4, 2022
Dr. Lawler is so thorough!
November 2, 2022
Yes!! X100.
January 10, 2022
Dr. Lawler is always thorough and kind.
January 25, 2022
Very personable. Easy to talk freely with about concerns re: health.
February 9, 2022
Dr. Lawler gave excellent explanation of the problem as well as treatment options, we felt much better after the visit.
February 25, 2022
Dr. was very knowledgeable about my case.
April 1, 2022
Always telling others good things.
April 1, 2022
Dr. Lawler is excellent - he is encouraging & supportive!
May 31, 2022
_____ informative and detailed.
June 8, 2022
Dr. Lawler is a great dr. I would recommend him to my family/friends.
August 16, 2022
Very kind & personable.
August 19, 2022
Went very well, great provider for all my concerns.
August 24, 2022
Dr. Lawler is always very good at explaining everything!
October 4, 2022
Dr. Lawler is so thorough!
November 2, 2022
Yes!! X100.
January 10, 2022
Dr. Lawler is always thorough and kind.
January 25, 2022
Very personable. Easy to talk freely with about concerns re: health.
February 9, 2022
Dr. Lawler gave excellent explanation of the problem as well as treatment options, we felt much better after the visit.
February 25, 2022
Dr. was very knowledgeable about my case.
April 1, 2022
Always telling others good things.
April 1, 2022
Dr. Lawler is excellent - he is encouraging & supportive!
May 31, 2022
_____ informative and detailed.
June 8, 2022
Dr. Lawler is a great dr. I would recommend him to my family/friends.
August 16, 2022
Very kind & personable.
August 19, 2022
Went very well, great provider for all my concerns.
August 24, 2022
Dr. Lawler is always very good at explaining everything!
October 4, 2022
Dr. Lawler is so thorough!
November 2, 2022
Yes!! X100.
November 2, 2022
Yes!! X100.
October 4, 2022
Dr. Lawler is so thorough!
August 24, 2022
Dr. Lawler is always very good at explaining everything!
August 19, 2022
Went very well, great provider for all my concerns.
August 16, 2022
Very kind & personable.
June 8, 2022
Dr. Lawler is a great dr. I would recommend him to my family/friends.
May 31, 2022
_____ informative and detailed.
April 1, 2022
Always telling others good things.
April 1, 2022
Dr. Lawler is excellent - he is encouraging & supportive!
February 25, 2022
Dr. was very knowledgeable about my case.
February 9, 2022
Dr. Lawler gave excellent explanation of the problem as well as treatment options, we felt much better after the visit.
January 25, 2022
Very personable. Easy to talk freely with about concerns re: health.
January 10, 2022
Dr. Lawler is always thorough and kind.

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