
Charles L Willekes, MD
Cardiothoracic SurgeryCardiac SurgeryThoracic Surgery
Highlights
Age Groups Seen
- Adult 18-64
- Older Adult 65+
Languages
- English
Gender
MaleAffiliations
- Corewell Health Grand Rapids Hospitals
About
About the Provider
Locations
- Corewell Health Cardiothoracic Surgery - 221 Michigan St NE
- 221 Michigan Street Northeast, Suite 300, Grand Rapids, MI 49503
- Get Directions
- Phone: 616-459-7258
- Fax: 616-459-5215
- Corewell Health Structural Heart and Valve Center - 221 Michigan St NE
- 221 Michigan Street Northeast, Suite 300, Grand Rapids, MI 49503
- Get Directions
- Phone: 616-391-9415
- Fax: 616-391-3830
Experience
Education
- Fellowship: University of Wisconsin Hospitals and Clinics, Thoracic and Cardiac Surgery, 1998
- Residency: Morristown Medical Center, Surgery (General Surgery), 1996
- Medical School: University of Iowa Roy J. and Lucille A. Carver College of Medicine, Doctor of Medicine (MD), 1991
Board Certifications
- Thoracic and Cardiac Surgery: American Board of Thoracic Surgery, 1999
- Surgery: American Board of Surgery, 1997
Insurance
- Aetna/Cofinity
- Align Senior Care MI
- BCBS Medicare Advantage Plus Blue
- BCBS PPO
- BCBS Traditional
- Blue Care Network
- Blue Care Network Medicare Advantage
- Blue Cross Complete
- Cigna
- Coventry First Health
- Health Alliance Plan by Henry Ford
- Humana Military (Tricare East)
- McLaren Commercial
- McLaren Medicaid
- McLaren Medicare Advantage
- Medicaid
- Medicare
- Meridian AmBetter
- Meridian Complete (MI Health LINK) Dual Eligible
- Meridian Medicaid
- Molina Medicaid/MiChild/Marketplace (Health Plus)
- Molina Medicare
- Priority Health Choice Medicaid
- Priority Health HMO/PPO
- Priority Health Medicare Advantage
- Railroad Medicare
- Trinity Health Plan of MI
- UHC/Optum (VA Community Care Network)
- United Health Care Commercial
- United Health Care Dual Complete
Reviews
4.9 of 5 stars
112 Ratings, 50 ReviewsCorewell Health is committed to delivering high-quality and compassionate care. These ratings and reviews are transparent patient feedback collected via survey following a provider care experience that asks patients and families about the care they received.
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 9/30/2026
Very professional, personable and knowledgable.
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 9/25/2026
Dr Willekes is an amazing and highly experienced surgeon. I’m so glad I’m his patient
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 9/25/2026
As this is my second surgery with him he is always explaining in detail things that I do not understand and to the family members that are with me at the time to make us understand why and what he did until he was happy with his own results
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 9/19/2026
Friendly and easy to talk to.
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 9/11/2026
If I ever am healthy enough to survive heart surgery, I absolutely would trust Dr. Willekes to do it for me.
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 9/11/2026
He explained what was going to be done and answered my questions so well, I am now looking forward to getting my heart fixed! 😊
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 8/28/2026
One of the nicest drs I’ve had. Takes the Time to answer my questions
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 8/28/2026
Talks to you like a friend not a patient.
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 8/8/2026
He did what he said he would do at the time he said he would. Thats very rare these days. He was easy to understand.
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 7/31/2026
Answered all my questions extremely well, in an understandable manner.
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 7/27/2026
Felt very safe under his care
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 7/3/2026
Coulnt have been better.
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 6/21/2026
Dr. Willekes is a very talented surgeon & great communicator.
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 6/12/2026
Totally explained medical situation in clear words. Professional and wonderful "bedside manners" - talked to me like I'm a unique person not just a case number or diagnosis. He is quietly confident and has the skills and results to support it.
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 5/17/2026
This was a video call and the first time I met Dr. Willekes.
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 5/16/2026
Literally the best doctor I’ve been to, with kindness and informative manner. I truly feel he cared and I was not just another patient. So thankful I was matched up with him. Thank you!
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 5/16/2026
Explained things very well
- 4 out of 5 starsReviewed on 5/14/2026
Next time I would like a face to face meeting. Is Dr. Willekes going to be my surgeon if I would ever need one?
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 5/12/2026
Doctor is the consummate professional and I greatly appreciate his attention to my health.
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 5/8/2026
He is an extremely caring surgeon and explains things in a very understandable way. He takes great pride in what he does but I. My experience has always mentioned his team.
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 4/24/2026
He did a great job
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 4/24/2026
I feel fortunate to have him as my surgeon.
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 4/17/2026
Excellent in all facets.
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 4/10/2026
Very professional and personable.
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 4/2/2026
He was kind and dedicated. He also has a sense of humor, even when patients are scare to death.
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 3/6/2026
Thank you for explaining it so I understand everything
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 2/20/2026
Would trust him with my life!
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 2/3/2026
Thank you for reading the file before the meeting. Not always the case.
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 11/22/2025
Dr. Willekes is amazing . Brilliant doctor with a fantastic level of care and communication
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 11/9/2025
Attentive and caring
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 10/4/2025
Keep the man on board as he delivers very good care in my experience.
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 9/19/2025
Fantastic doctor and surgeon!! Literally any lesser doctor or surgeon and I would be dead.
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 9/5/2025
Very personable and professional.
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 8/29/2025
Best there is
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 8/16/2025
As a nurse (now retired BSN nurse), I had seen Dr. Willikes, dealing with his patients, he was pleasant, introduced himself to me, but now I was on the other end, sobering… my heart ♥️ was the issue and not the best. Sobering but honest and frank.
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 8/15/2025
Great experience
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 7/18/2025
He ıs a great surgeon very thorough kınd compassionate carıng explaıns everythıng he operated on me and ı would let him do ıt agaın
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 7/6/2025
very comfortable and reassuring
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 6/26/2025
He cares about you and your health. He explains everything in detail and answers your questions. Eased my mind about what was going on and that im healthy.
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 6/23/2025
He answered all our questions.
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 6/19/2025
Dr Willekes made me feel confident about my situation now and that if/ when I need surgery that he will take care of me. He answered my concerns with details but in a way that helped me understand and feel comfortable. He treated me like a Person with a medical situation not like a face- less medical situation. He had old- fashioned good bedside manner with an anxious patient. Excellent experience!!
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 6/12/2025
Dr. Willekes was very knowledgeable and explained the test results thoroughly
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 5/14/2025
Very caring…explains testing and x-rays very well
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 5/2/2025
He scheduled my procedure in the quickest Possible date and time.
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 5/2/2025
La utilización de las maquetas que tiene , o sea el corazon artificial, y su explicación convincente y clara sobre el procedimiento.
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 4/25/2025
Excellent, experienced physician with terrific interpersonal manner.
- 4 out of 5 starsReviewed on 3/28/2025
I don’t hear well so I don’t get all what they said. They have tried. Being handicap don’t help oh well. Enjoy your day bye
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 3/23/2025
Exceptional care provider who ensures the patient is treated appropriately and is very professional.
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 2/28/2025
Very nice
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 1/7/2025
Wonderful to know we have this quality of care in our area