The Gulfshore's Top Doctors

Jennifer Leslie knew choosing a pediatrician would be a weighty decision, but she had no way of knowing just how vital it would be. Pregnant with twins, Leslie went into labor three months before her expected delivery date. And while only one of her twins, Patrick, would survive, she credits Dr. Dulce Dudley of the Anchor Health Centers in Naples with playing a crucial role in helping the premature infant survive and develop.

Thirteen years later, the relationship between Dudley and the Leslie family is stronger than ever. "She has followed him from infancy until now and knows him," says Leslie. "She also trusts our judgment as parents and gets us in right away."

Such best-case scenarios are not always the norm in today's managed-care environment. The problems are compounded in booming Southwest Florida, where medical caregivers struggle to meet the demands of a swelling population, and newcomers may be at a loss when it comes to choosing a doctor.

To help readers with what can be a daunting selection process, we've teamed with Castle Connolly Medical in New York to publish a list of top physicians in Collier, Lee and Charlotte counties. In the business of finding top medical professionals from across the country for 12 years, Castle Connolly conducts extensive research and publishes its findings annually in America's Top Doctors and other books devoted to specific geographic regions and areas of medicine.

How does a physician make the list? The process begins with a national survey of physicians and the medical leadership of leading hospitals. Tens of thousands of professionals are asked to identify highly skilled, exceptional doctors.

Once the votes are in, Castle Connolly's research team ensures the nominees meet strict criteria. Doctors must be board-certified and have a minimum number of years of unsupervised experience in their area of expertise (the minimum varies from specialty to specialty). The number of votes a doctor receives, as well as faculty appointments and additional training, play a role in the decision-making process. And Castle Connolly checks with state disciplinary boards "to make sure they have no problems whatsoever," says William Liss-Levinson, vice president of business development at the company.

The latest results yielded more than 200 outstanding doctors in the Gulfshore area. Some on the list made the new edition of America's Top Doctors; others were selected as top doctors in the region. Our list includes the top 40 percent of the original 200.

"[The] 200 represent the top 10 percent of doctors in the region," says Liss-Levinson. "We've provided the magazine with 40 percent of an elite subgroup that represents the already-elite top doctors." Meant as a guide for those looking for a second opinion, the list focuses only on specialists and subspecialists, excluding primary-care physicians. Nor does it feature doctors in all of the 70 specialties recognized by the American Board of Medical Specialties, as those who make the nominations simply choose who they believe is a top doctor overall, not necessarily the best in a certain specialty.

The list is not meant to be your only resource, but rather a tool to help in the selection process. It's not a substitute for your own legwork. "The company was created with the goal of helping consumers make informed decisions," says Liss-Levinson. "The best consumer is an informed consumer."

And doctor-patient compatibility is key. "First find out if they are competent and qualified in their field, and then determine if your personality goes with theirs," says Ann Wilke, executive director of the Lee County Medical Society.

It's also worth checking out the qualifications of the hospital a doctor is affiliated with. "Even on a simple level, you should ask yourself if the hospital enjoys a good reputation for its nursing care, medical staff and physical environment," advises Liss-Levinson.

County medical societies, local hospitals, and state and federal Web sites are good points of reference when researching doctors. Try the National Institutes of Health (www.nih.gov) and the Florida Department of Health (www.doh.state.fl.us).

To check board certification, visit the American Board of Medical Specialties (www.abms.org). And the Federation of State Medical Boards (www.fsmb.org) will tell you if your doctor is in good standing with the license board.

-Lisa Sheaffer

ALLERGY & IMMUNOLOGY

Mark Greenberg, M.D.

12630 Whitehall Drive

Fort Myers, FL 33907

(239) 939-7555

Primary Hospital: Lee Memorial Health Systems

Brett Stanaland, M.D.

1000 Goodlette Road, Suite 200

Naples, FL 34102

(239) 434-6200

Primary Hospital: NCH Healthcare System

Special Experience: Asthma;

insect allergy

CARDIAC ELECTROPHYSIOLOGY

William M. Miles, M.D.

Southwest Florida Heart Group

8540 College Parkway

Fort Myers, FL 33919

(239) 433-8888

Primary Hospital: Lee Memorial Health Systems

Special Experience: Arrhythmias; pacemakers/defibrillators

CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASE

Silvio Travalia, M.D.

694 Eighth St. N.

Naples, FL 34102

(239) 434-9222

Primary Hospital: NCH Healthcare System

James Venable, M.D.

400 Eighth St. N.

Naples, FL 34102

(239) 649-3337

Primary Hospital: NCH Healthcare System

Steven R. West, M.D.

Cardiology Consultants Southwest Florida

4171 Metropolis Ave., Suite 101

Fort Myers, FL 33912

(239) 415-4900

Primary Hospital: Southwest Florida Regional Medical Center

Special Experience: Coronary artery disease; congestive heart failure

COLON & RECTAL SURGERY

Anthony M. Vernava III, M.D.

Cleveland Clinic, Department of Surgery

6101 Pine Ridge Road

Naples, FL 34119

(239) 348-4000

Primary Hospital: Cleveland Clinic Florida, Naples

Special Experience: Colon and rectal cancer; incontinence-fecal; inflammatory bowel disease.

Faculty Appointments: Professor, University of Florida College of Medicine

DERMATOLOGY

Charles Camisa, M.D.

Cleveland Clinic Florida, Naples

6101 Pine Ridge Road

Naples, FL 34119

(239) 348-4335

Primary Hospital: Cleveland Clinic Florida, Naples

Special Experience: Psoriasis; oral dermatology; lichen planus.

Faculty Appointments: Associate Professor Dermatology, University of South Florida College of Medicine

Craig Eichler, M.D.

Cleveland Clinic Florida, Naples

6101 Pine Ridge Road

Naples, FL 34119

(239) 348-4000

Primary Hospital: Cleveland Clinic Florida, Naples

Special Experience: Skin cancer, dermatologic surgery

Stephen A. Spencer, M.D.

3161 Harbor Blvd., Suite A

Port Charlotte, FL 33952

(941) 613-2400

Primary Hospital: Bon Secours St. Joseph Hospital

Cynthia R. Strohmeyer, M.D.

702 Goodlette Road N., Suite 200

Naples, FL 34102

(239) 261-2255

Primary Hospital: NCH Healthcare System

Special Experience: Cosmetic dermatology

DIAGNOSTIC RADIOLOGY

Randolph Knific, M.D.

3680 Broadway

Fort Myers, FL 33901

(239) 936-2316

Primary Hospital: Southwest Florida Regional Medical Center

Raymond M. Montecalvo, M.D.

3060 Tamiami Trail N., Suite 202

Naples, FL 34103

(239) 435-7770

Primary Hospital: NCH Healthcare System

ENDOCRINOLOGY,

DIABETES & METABOLISM

Todd D. Brodie, M.D.

730 Goodlette Road, Suite 205

Naples, FL 34102

(239) 436-3666

Primary Hospital: NCH Healthcare System

Special Experience: Thyroid disorders; osteoporosis

FAMILY PRACTICE

John Diaz, M.D.

800 Goodlette Road N., Suite 310

Naples, FL 34102

(239) 261-8555

Primary Hospital: NCH Healthcare System

Mark Droffner, D.O.

260 Milus St.

Punta Gorda, FL 33950

(941) 637-0911

Primary Hospital: Charlotte Regional Medical Center

Gregory Krill, M.D.

16271 Bass Road

Fort Myers, FL 33908

(239) 432-3322

Primary Hospital: Lee Memorial Health Systems

Special Experience: Geriatric medicine

GASTROENTEROLOGY

H. Scott Harris, M.D.

665 Del Prado Blvd., Suite 1

Cape Coral, FL 33990

(239) 772-3800

Primary Hospital: Lee Memorial Health Systems

Corey Howard, M.D.

1000 Goodlette Road, Suite 100

Naples, FL 34102

(239) 643-2112

Primary Hospital: NCH Healthcare System

Dan Michael Jones, M.D.

Cleveland Clinic, Naples

6101 Pine Ridge Road

Naples, FL 34119

(239) 348-4000

Primary Hospital: Cleveland Clinic Florida, Naples

Special Experience: Gastrointestinal cancer; gastrointestinal functional disorders; inflammatory bowel disease

GERIATRIC MEDICINE

Brian Kiedrowski, M.D.

800 Goodlette Road N., Suite 200

Naples, FL 34102

(239) 643-4849

Primary Hospital: NCH Healthcare System

HAND SURGERY

Ronaldo Dos Santos Carneiro, M.D.

Cleveland Clinic Florida, Naples

6101 Pine Ridge Road

Naples, FL 34119

(239) 348-4000

Primary Hospital: Cleveland Clinic Florida, Naples

Special Experience: Carpal tunnel syndrome; wrist surgery; arthritis hand surgery.

Faculty Appointments: Associate Clinical Professor, University of South Florida College of Medicine

INFECTIOUS DISEASE

Christine Forszpaniak, M.D.

848 First Ave. N., Suite 230

Naples, FL 34102

(239) 434-7779

Primary Hospital: NCH Healthcare System

Ronica M. Kluge, M.D.

24600 S. Tamiami Trail, Suite 400

Bonita Springs, FL 34134

(239) 948-3761

Primary Hospital: Lee Memorial Health Systems

Special Experience: AIDS/HIV; viral infections

INTERNAL MEDICINE

Kathleen Broderick, M.D.

700 Second Ave. N., Suite 204

Naples, FL 34102

(239) 263-2200

Primary Hospital: NCH Healthcare System

Manuel Del Sol, M.D.

1528 Del Prado Blvd.

Cape Coral, FL 33990

(239) 458-3338

Primary Hospital: Lee Memorial Health Systems

George Ferguson, M.D.

787 Fourth Ave. S.

Naples, FL 34102

(239) 262-0501

Primary Hospital: NCH Healthcare System

Leonard A. Schlossberg, M.D.

Cleveland Clinic, Naples

6101 Pine Ridge Road

Naples, FL 34119

(239) 348-4000

Primary Hospital: Cleveland Clinic Florida, Naples

Special Experience: Cholesterol/lipid disorders; preventive cardiology; geriatric medicine

INTERVENTIONAL CARDIOLOGY

Michael S. Flynn, M.D.

606 Ninth St. N., Suite 100

Naples, FL 34102

(239) 403-9569

Primary Hospital: NCH Healthcare System

MEDICAL ONCOLOGY

William Harwin, M.D.

15681 New Hampshire Court

Fort Myers, FL 33908

(239) 437-4444

Primary Hospital: Lee Memorial Health Systems

Daniel Morris, M.D

400 Eighth St. N.

Naples, FL 34102

(239) 649-3335

Primary Hospital: NCH Healthcare System

Mark Moskowitz, M.D.

6360 Pine Ridge Road, Suite 201

Naples, FL 34119

(239) 353-6636

Primary Hospital: NCH Healthcare System

Mark Rubin, M.D.

9776 Bonita Beach Road

Bonita Springs, FL 34135

(239) 947-3092

Primary Hospital: Lee Memorial Health Systems

Thomas Teufel, M.D.

811 Del Prado Blvd.

Cape Coral, FL 33990

(239) 772-3544

Primary Hospital: Lee Memorial Health Systems

NEPHROLOGY

Carolyn Venable, M.D.

3699 Airport Road N.

Naples, FL 34105

(239) 430-1212

Primary Hospital: NCH Healthcare System

Marilyn Wahe, M.D.

700 Second Ave. N., Suite 203

Naples, FL 34102

(239) 643-8055

Primary Hospital: NCH Healthcare System

NEUROLOGICAL SURGERY

John J. Dusseau, M.D.

2780 Cleveland Ave., Suite 819

Fort Myers, FL 33901

(239) 336-6800

Primary Hospital: Lee Memorial Health Systems

Douglas Savage, M.D.

12700 Creekside Lane, Suite 101

Fort Myers, FL 33919

(239) 432-0774

Primary Hospital: Southwest Florida Regional Medical Center

Special Experience: Lower back pain; neck pain

NEURORADIOLOGY

Ziad L. Deeb, M.D.

Cleveland Clinic, Department of Radiology

6101 Pine Ridge Road

Naples, FL 34119

(239) 348-4250

Primary Hospital: Cleveland Clinic Florida, Naples

NEUROLOGY

Michael Finkel, M.D.

Cleveland Clinic Florida, Naples

6101 Pine Ridge Road

Naples, FL 34119

(239) 348-4397

Primary Hospital: Cleveland Clinic Florida, Naples

Special Experience: Lower limb movement disorders; ADD/ADHD; headache in women

Maurice R. Hanson, M.D.

Cleveland Clinic, Naples

6101 Pine Ridge Road

Naples, FL 34119

(239) 348-4000

Primary Hospital: Cleveland Clinic Florida, Naples

Faculty Appointments: Professor of Neurology, University of Miami School of Medicine

OBSTETRICS & GYNECOLOGY

Jeffrey A. Heitmann, M.D.

1660 Medical Blvd., Suite 300

Naples, FL 34110

(239) 513-0053

Primary Hospital: NCH Healthcare System

Special Experience: Laparoscopic surgery; high-risk pregnancy

Richard Murray, M.D.

15641 New Hampshire Court

Fort Myers, FL 33908

(239) 275-4300

Primary Hospital: Lee Memorial Health Systems

OPHTHALMOLOGY

George F. Corrent, M.D./Ph.D.

616 Ninth St. N.

Naples, FL 34102

(239) 262-6288

Primary Hospital: NCH Healthcare System

Special Experience: Corneal disease

Mark Gorovoy, M.D.