The Rehab

Wade is a great patient communicator and is clinically sound and up-to-date in his rehabilitation decisions and progressions. He was a great coworker that always had resources for me to dive into and discuss as his fellow strength coach.

Wade challenged me to think differently, ultimately changing the way I approach and view physical therapy. His ability to combine a deep knowledge of evaluation and treatment with exceptional patient education and interprofessional communication made him an outstanding clinical instructor. Beyond teaching techniques, he emphasized how rehab should truly be approached to create the best outcomes for patients. The relationship we built during my clinical experience was invaluable, and I would highly recommend Wade to anyone looking to elevate their clinical knowledge, critical thinking, and treatment skills.

I have had the opportunity to work alongside Dr. Soenksen in the collegiate athletics setting and have been consistently impressed by both his clinical knowledge and the way he works with athletes. He does a great job combining evidence-based practice with the real-world demands of high-level sport, allowing him to make strong clinical decisions while still understanding performance and return-to-play needs. From a strength and conditioning perspective, Dr. Soenksen does an excellent job bridging the gap between rehabilitation and performance. He is dependable, hardworking, easy to work with, and genuinely invested in helping both athletes and colleagues succeed. I would strongly recommend Dr. Soenksen as both a clinician and colleague.

I had the pleasure of meeting Dr. Soenksen as he served as my clinical instructor during my final rotation while completing my Doctorate of Physical Therapy. Over the course of 12 weeks, he played a pivotal role in shaping my clinical reasoning, particularly in differential diagnosis, and significantly expanded the skills I continue to use in practice today. His mentorship was instrumental in fostering both my personal and professional growth early in my career. I am truly grateful for the opportunity to have worked with Dr. Soenksen and am proud to consider him one of my mentors.

Wade has been a trusted resource, colleague, and friend across many years. As a young, green athletic trainer in the Division 1 setting, Wade made himself and his knowledge available with patience, kindness, and passion for bettering patient outcomes. Wade was known for his clinical evidence-based approach — but with that foundational knowledge, he always found balance with creative application to the sport setting. The student athletes gravitated towards him because he took the time to educate and make them feel like an active part of the care team. Each day, his guidance still impacts my clinical decision making.

I had the honor of working alongside Dr. Soenksen while at the University of Illinois as a colleague. His methodical approach to Sports Medicine, particularly at the DI Collegiate level is second to none. He always made time for clinical discussion, made each encounter a learning opportunity, and led with consistency and humility. Dr. Soenksen's super power is connecting with the athlete and pushing them to the ends of their comfort zone to achieve their goals. Whether you're a healthcare professional looking to improve your clinical skill set or an athlete looking for a strong clinician, Dr. Soenksen is your guy. He has my highest recommendation and endorsement.

Wade has been an amazing mentor for me, ever since the beginning of my career. He would allow me to shadow and learn from him and the Illini Sports Medicine team, and we held biweekly zoom meetings to discuss patient cases and improve my diagnostic skills and exercise prescription. Under his mentorship, I was challenged and questioned on my clinical rationale — this tremendously improved my clinical decision making, especially as a new grad. After 2 years of formal mentorship, I pursued a sports residency. Through the years, Wade has consistently been a resource for me due to his vast knowledge and experience in sports medicine.