VCU news

By Joe Kuttenkuler

Physicians from the Virginia Commonwealth University Medical Center received high marks from their peers in the latest "Top Docs" survey conducted by Richmond Magazine. Of the 242 physicians listed among 49 medical specialties, 98 were from VCU in 46 specialties, with 20 doctors voted best in their field.

The results were published in the magazine's April issue, which features Dr. George Vetrovec, chairman of cardiology at the VCU Medical Center on the cover. He was voted best in his specialty.

The regional survey asked 3,172 licensed medical doctors and osteopaths which specialists they would choose if they or their family needed medical treatment. The magazine received 515 completed surveys.

"This achievement underscores the level of patient-care excellence we have among our physicians here at the VCU Medical Center, " said VCU President, Dr. Eugene P. Trani. "Further, a significant number of the local community physicians included in the survey either received their undergraduate or graduate medical education from VCU."

In addition to the regional survey, the magazine also includes an excerpted list from the 2004 Best Doctors in America database that is made up of about 30,000 doctors in 40 medical specialties nationwide. Of the 100 physicians listed in 28 medical specialties, 48 are from VCU in 20 specialties

"We are fortunate to have such talented professionals here at VCU, and it's nice to know that our community physicians hold us in such high regard in so many different areas," said Dr. Sheldon Retchin, vice president for Health Sciences and CEO of the VCU Health System.

"These recognitions represent the truest essence of our vision to be among the preeminent academic medical centers in the nation," said Trani.

Richmond Magazine conducted similar surveys in 1988, 1998 and 2000.

The following VCU professionals and their specialties were included in these magazine-designated categories (this list includes full-time, part-time and adjunct faculty members):

Allergy and Immunology, Dr. Anne-Marie Irani
Anesthesiology, Dr. Jay Shapiro
Cardiology,
- Dr. George Vetrovec *
- Dr. Ken Ellenbogen
Colon and Rectal Surgery,
- Dr. Jon Palmintier *
- Dr. Crawford Smith
- Dr. Sean O'Donovan
- Dr. William Timmerman
Critical Care Surgery, Dr. Rao Ivatury *
Dermatology, Julia Nunley *
Emergency Medicine, Dr. Joseph Ornato *
Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism,
- Dr. David Gardner
- Dr. John Clore
- Dr. Robert Downs
Family Practice / General Practice,
- Dr. Stuart Sloan *
- Dr. Michelle Whitehurst-Cook
- Dr. George Coleman
Gastroenterology,
- Dr. Donald Kirby
- Dr. Alvin Zfass
General Surgery,
- Dr. Eric Demaria
- Dr. George Parker
Genetics, Dr. Joann Bodurtha *
Geriatric Medicine,
- Dr. Peter Boling *
- Dr. Stanley Furman
Gynecology / OB,
- Dr. Ellen Brock
- Dr. Stephen Cohen
Gynecology / Oncology,
- Dr. Cecelia Boardman

Hematology, Dr. Marcus Carr
Infectious Disease,
- Dr. William Koch
- Dr. Sara Monroe
- Dr. Suzanne Lavoie
- Dr. Richard Wenzel
- Dr. Welden Chafe
Internal Medicine,
- Dr. Brian Wasserman
- Dr. Wendy Simons Klein
- Dr. Richard Wenzel
Maternal and Fetal Medicine / High Risk,
- Dr. James Christmas *
- Dr. Thomas Peng
- Dr. Susan Lanni
Neonatal - Perinatal Medicine,
- Dr. Gary Gutcher
- Dr. Henry Rozycki
Nephrology, Dr. Todd Gehr
Neurology,
- Dr. Robert Cohen
- Dr. John Brush
- Dr. J. Kim Harris
Neurosurgery,
- Dr. Harold Young
- Dr. John Ward
Oncology, Dr. Thomas Smith *
Oncologic Surgery,
- Dr. Harry Bear *
- Dr. James Neifeld
- Dr. George Parker
- Dr. Brian Kaplan
Ophthalmology,
- Dr. William Benson
- Dr. Edwin Wortham
Orthopaedic Hand Surgery,
- Dr. Stephen Leibovic
Orthopaedic Surgery, Dr. William Jiranek
Otolaryngology,
- Dr. Laurence DiNardo *
- Dr. Aristides Sismanis
Pain Management,
- Dr. Stephen Long *
- Dr. John Barsanti
- Pat Coyne, (Clinical nurse specialist)
Pathology, Dr. Carolyn Thomas
Pediatrics, Dr. Linda Meloy
Pediatric Specialists,
- Dr. William Moskowitz *
- Dr. Harry Gewanter
Pediatric General Surgery,
- Dr. Jeffery Haynes *
- Dr. Charles Bagwell
- Dr. Claudio Oiticica
Pediatric Surgical Specialties,
- Dr. John Ward
- Dr. Chester Sharps
- Dr. Charles Bagwell
- Dr. Inder Mehta
Physical Rehabilitation, Dr. David Cifu *
Plastic / Reconstructive Surgery,
- Dr. Isaac Wornom III *
- Dr. Andrea Pozez
- Dr. Kenneth Olshansky
- Dr. Mason Williams
Psychiatry, Adult,
- Dr. James Levenson
- Dr. Robert Schneider
- Dr. Joel Silverman
Psychiatry, Child,
- Dr. Miriam Koller Pizzani
- Dr. Bela Sood
- Dr. Martin Buxton
- Dr. Neil Sonenklar
Pulmonary Disease,
- Dr. R. Paul Fairman *
- Dr. Alpha Fowler
Radiology Specialists,
- Ann Fulcher *
- Dr. Ellen Shae de Paredes
Radiation Oncology,
- Dr. Douglas Arthur
- Dr. Christopher Johnson
Reproductive Endocrinology / Infertility,
- Dr. Dale Stovall
Rheumatology,
- Dr. Christopher Wise *
- Dr. Lenore Buckley
Sports Medicine,
- Dr. Thomas Loughran
- Dr. Wilhelm Zuelzer
- Dr. William Nordt III
Thoracic Surgery,
- Dr. Jon Kiev
- Dr. James Brooks

* Indicates most votes in their field

The following VCU physicians were included in the Best Doctors in America listing:

Allergy and Immunology, Dr. Lawrence Schwartz
Anesthesiology, Dr. Bruce Spiess
Cardiovascular Disease,
- Dr. Michael Cowley
- Dr. Kenneth Ellenbogen
- Dr. Michael Hess
- Dr. George Vetrovec
Endocrinology and Metabolism,
- Dr. John Clore
- Dr. Robert Downs
- Dr. David Gardner
- Dr. John Nestler
Family Medicine,
- Dr. Anton Kuzel
- Dr. Michelle Whitehurst-Cook
Infectious Disease, Dr. Gordon Archer
Internal Medicine (General),
- Dr. Peter Boling
- Dr. John Witherspoon
Neurological Surgery,
- Dr. John Ward
- Dr. Harold Young
Neurology, Dr. Robert Leshner
Neurology, Child,
- Dr. Edwin Meyer
- Dr. John Pellock
Geriatric Medicine, Dr. Peter Boling
Gynecology and Obstetrics,
- Dr. Joseph Borzelleca, Jr.
- Dr. Ellen Brock
- Dr. Stephen Cohen
- Dr. Edward John Gill
- Dr. W. Glenn Hurt
- Dr. Thomas Peng
- Dr. Amanda Richards-Bullock
- Dr. John Seeds
Nuclear Medicine,
- Dr. Melvin Fratkin
- Dr. Paul Jolles
Pediatric Specialist,
- Dr. Richard Brookman
- Dr. Lenore Buckley
- Dr. Edward Clifton Russell
Pediatrics (General),
- Dr. David Draper
Psychiatry,
- Dr. Kenneth Kendler
- Dr. James Levenson
Surgery,
- Dr. Ronald Merrell