Top Doctors 2011: The 398 Best Physicians in the Puget Sound Region

Our annual survey of doctors garnered thousands of responses to this simple question: If your loved one were sick, to whom would you turn?

By: Elaine Porterfield, Sheila Mickool, Sheila Cain and Teresa Kenney | July 2011 | FROM THE PRINT EDITION

If someone in your family were sick, who would you call? That’s the question we put to thousands of physicians in the greater Puget Sound area, and they answered in droves. Our annual “Top Doctors” survey garnered more than 6,500 nominations for the best physicians in 65 specialties, from pediatrics (see page 108) to cancer care (see page 94) and beyond; the doctors on this list were selected by their peers as the very best in their fields.

We hope you never need these modern healers, but if you do, rest assured that our meticulous, months-long process has, for the 11th year, produced a list of physicians you and your family can turn to when you need care, comfort and answers.

HOW TO READ THE LIST
Each entry begins with the practitioner’s name and credentials in bold type, followed by the clinic or practice name, address, phone number, other hospital affiliations, medical school, date of graduation, and, in italics, area(s) of specialty. Brief definitions accompany some specialties whose focus may not be readily apparent. One asterisk (*) after a physician’s name means the physician is not seeing new patients. Two asterisks (**) mean that physician is not seeing new patients now, but expects to be within the next 12 months.

STORIES FROM OUR TOP DOCS 2011 ISSUE

Medical Outreach

Patients at some of the poorest hospitals in the world are getting relief from their pain—from Seattle doctors.

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Top Doctors 2011: The 398 Best Physicians in the Puget Sound Region

By: Elaine Porterfield, Sheila Mickool, Sheila Cain and Teresa Kenney

Our annual survey of doctors garnered thousands of responses to this simple question: If your loved one were sick, to whom would you turn?

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Breast Cancer Is Striking more Women Under 40 than Ever Before

Why more young women are being diagnosed, and what you need to know to keep yourself safe.

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Who's Behind the Mask? Turns Out, You Can Choose Your Own Anesthesiologist

By: Karen West

A new trend in surgery: More patients are powering up and insisting on pain management by a pre-selected anesthesiologist.

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What's Good About the New Stand-alone Emergency Rooms

By: Karen West

Hospitals say these new freestanding ER's meet a critical care need. Critics say it's more about making money than what's best for patients.

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Local Medical Breakthroughs that Save Lives and Speed Recovery

By: Elaine Porterfield, Teresa Kenney

From incredible eye-socket brain surgery...to life-changing treatment for a very common malady...local docs are changing lives

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Personal Stories: Meet Your Top Doctors

By: Elaine Porterfield, Sheila Mickool

Fifteen of the most respected doctors in our area talk about their passions--and meet the nine doctors in our Hall of Fame

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LISTINGS RESEARCH BY: Castle Connolly Medical Ltd. and Teresa Kenney, with Elaine Hayes

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Comments

Next Year, I'd like to see psychologists!

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Mon, 12/12/2011 - 12:18am.

I would love to see psychologists and child psychologists listed in your list next year. Great psychologists are difficult to find, and in Seattle, we are blessed with a number of child and adult psychologists.

Next Year, I'd like to see psychologists!

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Mon, 12/12/2011 - 12:18am.

mental health

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Thu, 10/06/2011 - 3:03am.

Can anyone recommend a doc or clinic in the Olympia area that specializes bipolar issues. Not from this area. Would appreciate a point in the right direction. Desperate..... Thank you!

I can't seem to find any docs

Submitted by early childhood education salary (not verified) on Thu, 09/08/2011 - 10:05pm.

I can't seem to find any docs from Group Health Cooperative on your list? Am I just not looking closely enough, were they not included in your survey or are there just no good docs at GHC? Thanks!

Is there a Group of doctors missing?

Submitted by Group Health Patient (not verified) on Tue, 09/06/2011 - 11:06pm.

I can't seem to find any docs from Group Health Cooperative on your list? Am I just not looking closely enough, were they not included in your survey or are there just no good docs at GHC? Thanks!

Re: Group Health Doctors

Submitted by Bond Huberman on Fri, 09/09/2011 - 5:37pm.

Please pardon the slow reply. There are some Group Health docs on the list, but most are also affiliated with hospitals and often cite that affiliation first. (We list affiliations exactly as doctors request.) There are many, many excellent docs at Group Health and we always stress that this list is a snapshot based on a peer survey, subject to the limitations of printed media space. A longer list is at castleconnolly.com, our research partner’s website.

Where is Anesthesiology?

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Wed, 08/10/2011 - 11:09am.

Why is Anesthesiology not represented?

I'd like to know the same

Submitted by Pilar Casas (not verified) on Tue, 01/03/2012 - 12:10am.

I'd like to know the same

No Emergency Medicine?

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Fri, 07/22/2011 - 4:20pm.

Why is Emergency Medicine no longer represented?

NSEM

Submitted by ece units (not verified) on Sun, 02/26/2012 - 2:05pm.

I was wondering this myself. Surely there is at least ONE physician there that can make the top 398? Food for thought.

Seattle's Top Docs per Seattle Magazine

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Mon, 07/11/2011 - 5:58pm.

The on-line version doesn't reflect the magazine or the TopDoc honors, which are noticed by peers and have an impact on practice. Not all of the doctors are mentioned in this list, i.e. some people in the magazine were not included here.

Thanks for pointing this out,

Submitted by lucia.mondella on Tue, 07/12/2011 - 6:20pm.

Thanks for pointing this out, your feedback is appreciated. We have reviewed the category list and found some errors that have now been corrected. The online edition does differ from the printed edition in terms of layout. The complete list of the Top Doctors Hall of Fame and Top Doc Spotlight can be found under the article: "Personal Stories: Meet Your Top Doctors", which includes all the doctors mentioned in the printed issue.

Clarification of a statement..

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Wed, 07/06/2011 - 12:01am.

Hi,
While reading through your "Top Doctors" segment, I found the following statement that I can't figure the meaning...
"One asterisk (*) after a physician’s name means the physician is not seeing new patients. Two asterisks (**) mean that physician is not seeing new patients now,"
...many years as an Exec Admin has created a bit of editorial shrewdness, I suppose, but I'd actually really like to know the meaning, for my personal research endeavor!
Thank you,
A.Chandler

Thanks for pointing this out.

Submitted by lucia.mondella on Tue, 07/12/2011 - 6:12pm.

Thanks for pointing this out. It has now been corrected.

top docs

Submitted by thomas (not verified) on Mon, 07/04/2011 - 2:10am.

your group photograph of :top docs" looks ;oke a portrait of a bunch of robber barons from the gilded age. One of these "top docs" tried to loot $2 million dollars from our poor hard working Northgate/Northwest community. Our community threw out on his ear this robber baron(all documented in the public record). looting is not considered unprofessional conduct !

Top Doctors

Submitted by Pat Hoyland-smith (not verified) on Tue, 06/28/2011 - 6:22pm.

My belief and experience has been with Dr. Ron Gibson, and Dr. Bonnie Ramsey.
MY son was a patient with them from the early 1980 's until he passed on from Cystic Fibrosis in 2002

They not only were excelant Dr.s in their field and they were a friend to my son " Snoopy' James Hoyland. They empowered him, and me both in education of this horrible disease. I truly believe my son would not have lived to the age of 32 if it wasn't for these 2 Drs. I am proud to have known them. May they continue to be top Drs. in pulmonary and Cystic Fibrosis. I love them dearly

Pat HS

Top Doctors 2011: The 398 Best Physicians in the Puget Sound Region

Comments

Next Year, I'd like to see psychologists!

Next Year, I'd like to see psychologists!

mental health

I can't seem to find any docs

Is there a Group of doctors missing?

Re: Group Health Doctors

Where is Anesthesiology?

I'd like to know the same

No Emergency Medicine?

NSEM

Seattle's Top Docs per Seattle Magazine

Thanks for pointing this out,

Clarification of a statement..

Thanks for pointing this out.

top docs

Top Doctors

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