The Gulfshore's Top Doctors

Nothing feels worse than falling ill in paradise—except, perhaps, thumbing through 65 pages in the local phone book looking for a doctor. Now you’re sick and confused. Who are all of these physicians, and which one is right for you?

Whether it’s to care for your child, mend your trick knee, or for something more serious, choosing a doctor is never easy. Before you resort to tossing a dart at the Yellow Pages or asking around the clubhouse, we’ve taken some of the mystery and anxiety out of the process with Gulfshore Life’s annual list of the Gulfshore’s Top Doctors. In this issue, we’ll look at the practices of a few of the region’s best physicians through the eyes of some of their patients, including these: a 58-year-old yoga and kickboxing enthusiast getting back in the ring with her resurfaced hip; a self-professed finicky mom who looked doubly hard for a pediatrician—and found one just in time to deliver her twins; a Naples man whose routine exam turned into an early diagnosis of cancer; and an Estero senior who calls the doctor who saved his life several times his "own personal angel."

Browse the Gulfshore's Top Doctors
Allergy & Immunology	Obstetrics & Gynecology
Cardiovascular Disease	Ophthalmology
Colon & Rectal Surgery	Orthopaedic Surgery
Dermatology	Otolaryngology
Endocrinology, Diabetes & Metabolism	Pediatrics
Family Medicine	Hand Surgery
Gastroenterology	Plastic Surgery
Gynecologic Oncology	Psychiatry
Infectious Disease	Pulmonary Disease
Internal Medicine	Rheumatology
Medical Oncology	Surgery
Nephrology	Thoracic Surgery
Neurological Surgery	Urology
Neurology	Vascular Radiology
To search the whole list click here.

The doctors on our list have passed a rigorous set of criteria for inclusion. Once again, Gulfshore Life has partnered with research firm Castle Connolly Medical in New York to publish the list of Collier, Lee and Charlotte counties’ top physicians. Castle Connolly conducts a national survey of physicians and the medical leadership of leading hospitals. After the votes are tallied, Castle Connolly ensures the physicians meet the company’s criteria—including a board certification requirement, a minimum number of years of unsupervised experience in their specialties and a clean disciplinary record.

"Gulfshore Life’s readers are fortunate to be in a region of the country with many excellent doctors and hospitals, but many people still have difficulty in selecting a physician," says William Liss-Levinson, vice president and chief strategy & operations officer for Castle Connolly. "And the widespread advertising and promotion that has consumed the healthcare world can be overwhelming at times for the average consumer. Having a trusted and independent source of information to help you find the right doctor for you is one important way to be an informed and empowered consumer for your health."

Our 2007 results include 94 physicians in 29 specialties, a slight increase from the 83 doctors in 25 fields we covered last year. Making use of such information and proactively choosing both doctors and healthcare facilities is part of a new paradigm in American medicine, according to Liss-Levinson.

"The new buzz phrases in healthcare—consumer-driven or consumer-directed—are only as effective as the consumer’s ability to truly direct his or her healthcare choices," Liss-Levinson says. "For most of us, that begins with the confidence that we have selected the right physician for our health needs. Castle Connolly can be a trusted resource in this process."

The Gulfshore Life Top Doctors list is a great resource for selecting a physician in Southwest Florida, but it’s by no means the only one. For additional data on doctors and their specialties, patients can consult county medical societies, local hospitals and state and federal Web sites such as the National Institutes of Health (www.nih.gov) or the Florida Department of Health (www.doh.state.fl.us).

Allergy & Immunology

Brett Stanaland, M.D.
Naples Community Hospital Healthcare System
1000 Goodlette Road N.,
Suite 200
Naples, FL 34102-6231
(239) 434-6200
Special expertise: asthma, insect allergies

Cardiovascular Disease

Victor Howard, M.D.
Fawcett Memorial Hospital
2484 Caring Way, Suite B
Port Charlotte, FL 33952
(941) 625-6223

Silvio Travalia, M.D.
Naples Community Hospital Healthcare System
694 Eighth St. N.
Naples, FL 34102-5523
(239) 434-9222

Steven R. West, M.D.
Southwest Florida Regional Medical Center
Cardiology Consultants of Southwest Florida
14171 Metropolis Ave.,
Suite 101
Fort Myers, FL 33912
(239) 415-4900
Special expertise: coronary artery disease, congestive heart failure

Colon & Rectal Surgery

Anthony Vernava III, M.D.
Physicians Regional
Healthcare System
Medical Surgical Specialists
6101 Pine Ridge Road
Naples, FL 34119
(239) 348-4000
Special expertise: colon and rectal cancer, incontinence-fecal, inflammatory bowel disease

Dermatology

Charles Camisa, M.D.
Physicians Regional
Healthcare System
6101 Pine Ridge Road
Naples, FL 34119
(239) 348-4335
Special expertise: psoriasis, oral dermatology, lichen planus

Craig Eichler, M.D.
Physicians Regional
Healthcare System
6101 Pine Ridge Road
Naples, FL 34119-3900
(239) 348-4335
Special expertise: skin cancer, dermatologic surgery

Brian Harris, M.D.
Lee Memorial Health Systems
9090 Park Royal Drive
Fort Myers, FL 33908
(239) 936-3344
Special expertise: skin cancer, Mohs Surgery

Cynthia Strohmeyer, M.D.
Naples Community Hospital Healthcare System
702 Goodlette Road N.,
Suite 200
Naples, FL 34102-5644
(239) 261-2255
Special expertise: cosmetic dermatology

Endocrinology

Todd Brodie, M.D.
Naples Community Hospital Healthcare System
730 Goodlette Road N.,
Suite 205
Naples, FL 34102
(239) 436-3666
Special expertise: thyroid disorders, osteoporosis

Stephen Spencer, M.D.
Peace River Regional
Medical Center
3161 Harbor Blvd., Suite A
Port Charlotte, FL 33952
(941) 613-2400
Special expertise: endocrinology, diabetes and metabolism

Family Medicine

John Diaz, M.D.
Naples Community Hospital Healthcare System
800 Goodlette Road N.,
Suite 310
Naples, FL 34102-5408
(239) 643-8770
Special expertise: preventive medicine, health and wellness, cholesterol/lipid disorders

Daniel Kaplan, D.O.
Naples Community Hospital Healthcare System
South Florida Medical Group
7935 Airport Road, Suite 2
Naples, FL 34109
(239) 596-3300
Special expertise: geriatric medicine

Gregory Krill, M.D.
Lee Memorial Health Systems
16271 Bass Road
Fort Myers, FL 33908
(239) 432-3322
Special expertise: geriatric medicine, hypertension, cholesterol/lipid disorders, diabetes

Robert Poling, M.D.
Physicians Regional
Healthcare System
Medical Surgical Specialists
1845 San Marco Road
Marco Island, FL 34145
(239) 348-4400
Special expertise: sports medicine, heart disease, diabetes, preventive medicine

Gastroenterology

H. Scott Harris, M.D.
Lee Memorial Health Systems
2721 Del Prado Blvd., Suite 200
Cape Coral, FL 33904
(239) 772-3800
Special expertise: colon cancer, colonoscopy

Hand Surgery

Ronaldo Carneiro, M.D.
Physicians Regional
Healthcare System
6101 Pine Ridge Road
Naples, FL 34119-3900
(239) 348-4040
Special expertise: carpal tunnel syndrome, wrist surgery, arthritis

Infectious Disease

Christine Forszpaniak, M.D.
Naples Community Hospital Healthcare System
848 First Ave. N., Suite 230
Naples, FL 34102
(239) 434-7779

Ronica Kluge, M.D.
Lee Memorial Health Systems
24600 S. Tamiami Trail, Suite 400
Bonita Springs, FL 34134
(239) 948-3761
Special expertise: HIV/AIDS,
viral infections

Nicholas Lekas, M.D.
Physicians Regional
Healthcare System
6101 Pine Ridge Road
Naples, FL 34119
(239) 348-4000
Special expertise: infections-bone and joint, infections-heart, travel medicine

Internal Medicine

Kathleen Broderick, M.D.
Naples Community Hospital Healthcare System
700 Second Ave. N., Suite 204
Naples, FL 34102-6036
(239) 263-2200

Manuel Del Sol, M.D.
Lee Memorial Health Systems
Internal Medicine Associates
1528 Del Prado Blvd.
Cape Coral, FL 33990
(239) 458-3338

George Ferguson, M.D.
Naples Community Hospital Healthcare System
787 Fourth Ave. S.
Naples, FL 34102
(239) 262-0501

Brian Lee, M.D.
Physicians Regional
Healthcare System
9240 Bonita Beach Road,
Suite 2206
Bonita Springs, FL 34135
(239) 948-5505
Special expertise: heart disease, men’s health, preventive medicine, cholesterol/lipid disorders

Patricia Poling, M.D.
Physicians Regional
Healthcare System
Medical Surgical Specialists
1845 San Marco Road
Marco Island, FL 34145
(239) 348-4000
Special expertise: women’s health, preventive medicine, nutrition

Leonard Schlossberg, M.D.
Physicians Regional
Healthcare System
Concierge Medical Practice
2230 Venetian Court, Suite 2
Naples, FL 34109
(239) 417-9897
Special expertise: concierge medicine, cholesterol/lipid disorders, preventive cardiology, geriatric medicine

Interventional Cardiology

Michael Flynn, M.D.
Naples Community Hospital Healthcare System
606 Ninth St. N., Suite 100
Naples, FL 34102-8131
(239) 403-9569
Special expertise: coronary artery disease, heart valve disease, cholesterol/lipid disorders

James Venable, M.D.
Naples Community Hospital Healthcare System
606 Ninth St. N., Suite 100
Naples, FL 34102
(239) 649-3337

Medical Oncology

Lowell Hart, M.D.
Southwest Florida Regional Medical Center
3840 Broadway
Fort Myers, FL 33901
(239) 275-6400
Special expertise: melanoma, colon cancer, breast cancer, lymphoma

William Harwin, M.D.
Lee Memorial Health Systems
15681 New Hampshire Court
Fort Myers, FL 33908
(239) 437-4444

Daniel Morris, M.D.
Naples Community Hospital Healthcare System
400 Eighth St. N.
Naples, FL 34102-5519
(239) 649-3335
Special expertise: prostate cancer, lung cancer, colon cancer

Mark Moskowitz, M.D.
Naples Community Hospital Healthcare System
6360 Pine Ridge Road, Suite 201
Naples, FL 34119
(239) 353-6636

Mark Rubin, M.D.
Lee Memorial Health Systems
9776 Bonita Beach Road
Bonita Springs, FL 34135
(239) 947-3092

Thomas Teufel, M.D.
Lee Memorial Health Systems
811 Del Prado Blvd.
Cape Coral, FL 33990
(239) 772-3544

Nephrology

James Sterrett, M.D.
Physicians Regional
Healthcare System
Medical Surgical Specialists
6101 Pine Ridge Road
Naples, FL 34119
(239) 348-4000
Special expertise: kidney disease-chronic, dialysis, hypertension

Joel Van Sickler, M.D.
Southwest Florida Regional Medical Center
7981 Gladiolus Drive
Fort Myers, FL 33908
(239) 939-0999
Special expertise: transplant medicine-kidney

Carolyn Venable, M.D.
Naples Community Hospital Healthcare System
Nephrology & Hypertension Specialists
800 Goodlette Road, Suite 370
Naples, FL 34102
(239) 430-0011

Neurological Surgery

Gary Colon, M.D.
Naples Community Hospital Healthcare System
730 Goodlette Road N.,
Suite 100-B
Naples, FL 34102
(239) 262-1721
Special expertise: spinal surgery, brain surgery

John Dusseau, M.D.
Lee Memorial Health Systems
2780 Cleveland Ave., Suite 819
Fort Myers, FL 33901-5817
(239) 336-6800

Mark Gerber, M.D.
Physicians Regional
Healthcare System
Neuroscience & Spine Associates
670 Goodlette Road N.
Naples, FL, 34102
(239) 649-8833
Special expertise: spinal surgery, brain tumors

Douglas Savage, M.D.
Southwest Florida Regional Medical Center
12700 Creekside Lane, Suite 101
Fort Myers, FL 33919-3343
(239) 432-0774
Special expertise: pain-low back, pain-neck

Neurology

Paul Driscoll, M.D.
Lee Memorial Health Systems
12670 Whitehall Drive
Fort Myers, FL 33907
(239) 936-3554

Michael Finkel, M.D.
Physicians Regional
Healthcare System
Medical Surgical Specialists
6101 Pine Ridge Road
Naples, FL 34119
(239) 348-4397
Special expertise: movement disorders-lower limb, ADD/ADHD, headaches in women, trauma neurology

Maurice Hanson, M.D.
Physicians Regional
Healthcare System
Medical Surgical Specialists
6101 Pine Ridge Road
Naples, FL 34119
(239) 348-4000
Special expertise: movement disorders, neuromuscular disorders, Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease

Michael Novak, M.D.
Naples Community Hospital Healthcare System
1660 Medical Blvd., Suite 200
Naples, FL 34110-1416
(239) 566-3434
Special expertise: headache, pain management, multiple sclerosis

Neuroradiology

Ziad Deeb, M.D.
Physicians Regional
Healthcare System
Collier County Florida Radiologists
6101 Pine Ridge Road
Naples, FL 34119
(239) 348-4250

Obstetrics & Gynecology

Heather Auld, M.D.
Gulf Coast Hospital
13031 McGregor Blvd.
Fort Myers, FL 33919
(239) 482-6881

Blane Crandall, M.D.
Naples Community Hospital Healthcare System
1660 Medical Blvd., Suite 101
Naples, FL 34110-1415
(239) 596-2300

Jeffrey Heitmann, M.D.
Naples Community Hospital Healthcare System
1660 Medical Blvd., Suite 300
Naples, FL 34110-1497
(239) 513-0053
Special expertise: laparoscopic surgery, high-risk pregnancy

Dennis Hidlebaugh, M.D.
Physicians Regional
Healthcare System
6101 Pine Ridge Road
Naples, FL 34119
(239) 348-4400
Special expertise: laparoscopic surgery-advanced, reconstructive vaginal surgery, infertility

Richard Murray, M.D.
Lee Memorial Health Systems
15641 New Hampshire Court
Fort Myers, FL 33908
(239) 275-4300
Special expertise: laparoscopy

Mary Yankaskas, M.D.
Cape Coral Hospital
1265 Viscaya Parkway
Cape Coral, FL 33990-6207
(239) 574-2229
Special expertise: gynecology, menopause

Ophthalmology

George Corrent, M.D., Ph.D.
Naples Community Hospital Healthcare System
661 Goodlette Road, Suite 105
Naples, FL 34102
(239) 262-6288
Special expertise: corneal disease

Mark Gorovoy, M.D.
Southwest Florida Regional Medical Center
12381 S. Cleveland Ave.,
Suite 300
Fort Myers, FL 33907
(239) 939-1444
Special expertise: LASIK, refractive surgery, corneal disease and transplant, glaucoma, cataract surgery

Mimi Groom, M.D.
Physicians Regional
Healthcare System
6101 Pine Ridge Road
Naples, FL 34119
(239) 348-4000
Special expertise: glaucoma, cataract surgery

David Poeltl, M.D.
Naples Community Hospital Healthcare System
661 Goodlette Road, Suite 105
Naples, FL 34102
(239) 262-6288
Special expertise: cataract surgery, glaucoma

Paul Raskauskas, M.D.
Southwest Florida Regional Medical Center
6901 International Center Blvd.
Fort Myers, FL 33912
(239) 939-4323
Special expertise: retinal disorders, macular degeneration

Joseph Walker, M.D.
Southwest Florida Regional Medical Center
6901 International Center Blvd.
Fort Myers, FL 33912
(239) 939-4323
Special expertise: retinal disorders, macular degeneration

Orthopedic Surgery

Mark Davis, M.D.
Charlotte Regional
Medical Center
1951-B S. Tamiami Trail
Port Charlotte, FL 33948
(941) 613-3800
Special expertise: joint replacement-hip and knee, hip and knee arthritis, minimally invasive surgery

Howard Kapp, M.D.
Naples Community Hospital Healthcare System
130 Tamiami Trail N., Suite 220
Naples, FL 34102
(239) 434-5700
Special expertise: hip and knee reconstruction, hip and knee replacement, sports medicine

Richard Pigeon, M.D.
Physicians Regional
Healthcare System
6101 Pine Ridge Road
Naples, FL 34119
(239) 348-4400
Special expertise: minimally invasive spinal surgery, spinal surgery-cervical, spinal disc replacement

Michael R. Wilson, M.D.
Physicians Regional
Healthcare System
Medical Surgical Specialists
6101 Pine Ridge Road
Naples, FL 34119
(239) 348-4400
Special expertise: joint replacement, reconstructive surgery, upper extremity surgery

Robert Zehr, M.D.
Physicians Regional
Healthcare System
6101 Pine Ridge Road
Naples, FL 34119
(239) 348-4000
Special expertise: hip and knee replacement, skeletal reconstruction, arthroscopic surgery

Otolaryngology

David Greene, M.D.
Physicians Regional
Healthcare System
Medical Surgical Specialists
6101 Pine Ridge Road
Naples, FL 34119
(239) 348-4000
Special expertise: facial plastic/reconstructive surgery, nasal and sinus surgery, snoring/sleep apnea

Hector Hernandez-Jamardo, M.D.
Fawcett Memorial Hospital
21297-A Olean Blvd.
Port Charlotte, FL 33952
(941) 764-0660
Special expertise: sinus disorders, balance disorders, swallowing disorders

Patrick Kane, M.D.
Naples Community Hospital Healthcare System
848 First Ave. N., Suite 330
Naples, FL 34102-6063
(239) 263-8855
Special expertise: facial plastic surgery, head and neck surgery

Jon Strohmeyer, M.D.
Naples Community Hospital Healthcare System
702 Goodlette Road N.,
Suite 100
Naples, FL 34102-5644
(239) 261-5525
Special expertise: facial plastic surgery, reconstructive surgery

Pediatrics

Dulce Dudley, M.D.
Naples Community Hospital Healthcare System
1845 Veterans Park Drive,
Suite 260
Naples, FL 34109
(239) 254-7602

D. Benjamin Helgemo, M.D.
Peace River Regional
Medical Center
2040 Tamiami Trail, Unit C
Port Charlotte, FL 33948
(941) 629-4464

Irwin Kash, M.D.
Lee Memorial Health Systems
4751 S. Cleveland Ave.
Fort Myers, FL 33907
(239) 343-9888
Special expertise: parenting issues

Martin Sherman, M.D.
Lee Memorial Health Systems
4751 S. Cleveland Ave.
Fort Myers, FL 33907
(239) 343-9888

Plastic Surgery

Robert Brueck, M.D.
Southwest Florida Regional Medical Center
3700 Central Ave., Suite 1
Fort Myers, FL 33901-8221
(239) 939-5233
Special expertise: cosmetic surgery-face and eyelid, cosmetic surgery-breast, abdominoplasty

Andrew Turk, M.D.
Physicians Regional
Healthcare System
6101 Pine Ridge Road
Naples, FL 34119
(239) 348-4000
Special expertise: cosmetic surgery, breast reconstruction, craniofacial surgery

Psychiatry

James Boorstin, M.D.
Naples Community Hospital Healthcare System
680 Second Ave. N., Suite 302
Naples, FL 34102-5757
(239) 263-4065
Special expertise: addiction psychiatry

Frederick Schaerf,
M.D., Ph.D.
Lee Memorial Health Systems
NeuroPsychiatric Associates
14271 Metropolis Ave., Suite A
Fort Myers, FL 33912
(239) 939-7777
Special expertise: geriatric psychiatry, Alzheimer’s disease, depression

Pulmonary Disease

Stephen Hannan, M.D.
Lee Memorial Health Systems
9981 S. Healthpark Drive,
Suite 279
Fort Myers, FL 33908
(239) 489-1488

Carlos Maas, M.D.
Fawcett Memorial Hospital
3161 Harbor Blvd., Suite B
Port Charlotte, FL 33952
(941) 613-1777
Special expertise: sleep disorders

Mitchell Petusevsky, M.D.
Physicians Regional
Healthcare System
Medical Surgical Specialists
6101 Pine Ridge Road
Naples, FL 34119
(239) 348-4000
Special expertise: asthma, chronic obstructive lung disease (COPD), sleep disorders

Reproductive Endocrinology

Craig Sweet, M.D.
Lee Memorial Health Systems
12611 World Plaza Lane
Fort Myers, FL 33907-3990
(239) 275-8118
Special expertise: infertility

Rheumatology

Allan Goodwin, M.D.
Physicians Regional
Healthcare System
Medical Surgical Specialists
6101 Pine Ridge Road
Naples, FL 34119
(239) 348-4059
Special expertise: rheumatoid arthritis, osteoporosis

Catherine Kowal, M.D.
Naples Community Hospital Healthcare System
1855 Veterans Park Drive,
Suite 103
Naples, FL 34109
(239) 596-5220

Surgery

Jacob Goldberger, M.D.
Southwest Florida Regional Medical Center
13685 Doctors Way, Suite 210
Fort Myers, FL 33912
(239) 274-7600
Special expertise: thyroid and parathyroid surgery, breast cancer, laparoscopic surgery, gall bladder surgery

Jeffrey Lewis, M.D.
Lee Memorial Health Systems
16400 HealthPark
Commons Drive
Fort Myers, FL 33908
(239) 278-5200

Mark Liberman, M.D.
Physicians Regional
Healthcare System
6101 Pine Ridge Road
Naples, FL 34119
(239) 348-4123
Special expertise: laparoscopic surgery, obesity/bariatric surgery, breast cancer

Michael McPhee, M.D.
Physicians Regional
Healthcare System
6101 Pine Ridge Road
Naples, FL 34119
(239) 348-4331
Special expertise: cancer surgery, melanoma

Thoracic Surgery

Michael Metke, M.D.
Health Park Memorial Hospital
8010 Summerlin Lakes Drive, Suite 100
Fort Myers, FL 33907
(239) 939-1767
Special expertise: cardiac surgery, heart valve surgery, coronary artery surgery, reconstructive surgery

Dennis Stapleton, M.D.
Naples Community Hospital Healthcare System
311 Tamiami Trail N., Suite 301
Naples, FL 34102
(239) 649-0440
Special expertise: cardiac surgery

Urology

James Borden, M.D.
Lee Memorial Health Systems
507 Del Prado Blvd. S.
Cape Coral, FL 33990
(239) 772-0500

William Figlesthaler, M.D.
Naples Community Hospital Healthcare System
Specialists in Urology
990 Ninth St. N.
Naples, FL 34102
(239) 434-6300
Special expertise: robotic surgery, prostate cancer, laparoscopic surgery, vasectomy reversal

Nicholas Franco, M.D.
Specialists in Urology
990 Tamiami Trail N.
Naples, FL 34102
(239) 434-6300
Special expertise: urology-female, pelvic reconstruction, genitourinary reconstruction

Jonathan Jay, M.D.
Specialists in Urology
28930 Trails Edge Blvd.
Bonita Springs, FL 34134
(239) 495-3000
Special expertise: voiding dysfunction, incontinence, pelvic floor reconstruction

Kendall Wise, M.D.
Naples Community Hospital Healthcare System
1044 Goodlette Road N.
Naples, FL 34102
(239) 261-5400
Special expertise: prostate cancer, overactive bladder, prostate disease, urinary tract infection

Vascular & Interventional Radiology

Marc Kaye, M.D.
Physicians Regional
Healthcare System
Collier County Florida Radiologists
6101 Pine Ridge Road
Naples, FL 34119
(239) 348-4000
Special expertise: fibroid embolization, aneurysm-abdominal aortic, osteoporosis spine vertebroplasty