Top Doctors
Our list of the city's most trusted physicians.
Atlanta Magazine’s Top Doctors list was compiled by the New York–based research firm Castle Connolly Medical Ltd. The firm’s physician-led team of researchers follows a rigorous screening process to select doctors named to the list.
The evaluation process begins with identification of a pool of board-certified physicians randomly chosen from all the doctors practicing in metro Atlanta. These doctors receive letters inviting them to go online and nominate other physicians they feel are clinically outstanding, both on the regional and national levels. Also, Castle Connolly solicits nominations from hospital presidents, vice presidents of medical affairs or the equivalent positions, and the chiefs of various medical services. All nominations are anonymous and confidential.
Castle Connolly seeks nominations not only of those who excel in academic medicine and research but, most importantly, those physicians who exhibit excellence in patient care—physicians to whom nominating physicians would send members of their own families. As the survey is designed to help patients select physicians, it does not include specialties in which patients rarely have a choice, such as emergency medicine, anesthesiology (excepting those with additional board certification in pain management), or pathology.
The last phase of the process refines the list of provisionally selected doctors by verifying education, board certification, and licensing and by checking disciplinary history. Advertising in Atlanta Magazine in no way influences the selection of doctors for this issue or for any listings that Castle Connolly will publish or license in the future.
Due to the open nature of the nomination process, this list varies from year to year. If a former honoree is not on this year’s list, it does not mean his or her competence has come under question. Also, this compilation represents only approximately 4 percent of the board-certified physicians practicing in metro Atlanta. There are obviously many outstanding doctors who are not on the list. Finally, while the process inevitably favors more established and well-known physicians, Atlanta Magazine believes the importance of choosing a doctor justifies a conservative approach.
Physicians selected for inclusion may also appear in one of Castle Connolly’s national top doctors guides, such as America’s Top Doctors® ($29.95) or America’s Top Doctors® for Cancer, and online at www.castleconnolly.com (800-399-DOCS/3627).
Listings include name, address, primary hospital affiliations, and areas of special expertise (optional). Please follow the link to view the list of Atlanta's Top Docs:
http://www.atlantamagazine.com/article.aspx?id=6226