Best Docs 2007: The Specialists

Boston may be a medical mecca, but with some of the country’s longest waits for appointments, it sure doesn’t always feel that way. After talking to local healthcare experts to single out the specialties seeing the
greatest demand, we rounded up a list of M.D.s who stand out to their peers as the best in their fields. We can’t guarantee you’ll get in to see our picks tomorrow. But when you do, you’ll know you’re in great hands.

About the List

Our list of top-ranked doctors was created by the Boston-based company Best Doctors (bestdoctors.com), founded in 1989 by Harvard Medical School–affiliated physicians. Every two years, Best Doctors polls the medical profession, asking, “If you or a loved one needed a doctor in your specialty, who would you choose?” Only physicians identified by their peers in previous years as “best doctors” receive the Best Doctors in America survey.

Note: Some of the specialists on this list are accepting patients only by referral, or only patients with certain conditions. Be sure to call ahead and check the doctor’s availability with his or her staff before making any changes in your healthcare.

For an index of all 76 specialties and subspecialties, click here!

Cardiology

Dr. Paula A. Johnson

Vital Stats: Chief of women’s health, Brigham and Women’s Hospital; 22 years in practice.
Clinical Notes: Intense demand for cardiology services is nothing new; what’s different these days, Johnson says, is “we are for sure seeing a larger number of women,” as they realize that heart disease isn’t something that just affects their fathers or husbands. Add to that an influx of much older patients (thanks to the life-extending ability of modern medicine), and local cardiologists are finding themselves caring for a wider swath of the population than ever. When she considers how her specialty is trending, Johnson cannot help but feel a little concerned about our overall health. “We’re seeing increasing rates of type 2 diabetes, we’re seeing sedentary lifestyles [both risk factors for cardiovascular disease], and when you put that together, it does not predict well in terms of where we’re going.”
What’s Hot, What’s Not: Older patients are more prone to arrhythmia, or abnormal heart rhythm, which is spiking demand for technology like implantable defibrillators. At the same time, as minimally invasive techniques for performing heart bypass and valve replacement take hold, the need for full-on open-heart surgery is declining.
What’s Next: More research and emphasis on early intervention. “We now know that as children we begin to lay down plaque in our arteries. So imagine a day when we’re able to know what a patient’s risk is, and understand how to decrease it, maybe even before they’re born.”
Doctor’s Orders: Aside from covering the basics of exercise and a good diet, know what your cardiovascular risk factors are, and partner with your physician to address them. And if you have cardiovascular disease, take every step possible to avoid having it lead to a heart attack.
See all top cardiologists...

Dermatology

Dr. Robin Travers

Vital Stats: SkinCare Physicians, Chestnut Hill; 10 years in practice.
Clinical Notes: As a resident, Travers was told that as primary care docs took over more and more skin-care procedures, “we had to prepare ourselves for the likelihood it would be difficult to find a job.” Fast-forward to today, when the average wait time to see a Boston dermatologist is almost two months. “Demand has blossomed,” she says. Swelling her patient ranks are the 40-to-60-year-olds representing the first generation “who sought out tans and felt comfortable baring their skin,” and are now dealing with the effects of sun damage.
What’s Hot, What’s Not: While dermatologists are seeing a run on wrinkle-minimizing injectibles like Botox and the laser treatment of blood vessels, Travers says, full-face laser resurfacing (which can require several weeks of recuperation) is on the decline.
What’s Next: Drugs that will put what’s been called the “heartbreak of psoriasis”—a chronic inflammatory skin condition that affects an estimated 7.5 million Americans—into remission.
Doctor’s Orders: Use gentle cleansers and a nightly retinoid like Retin-A or Renova. And sunscreen, sunscreen, sunscreen. “Every single day, sunny or cloudy, summer or winter, whether you’re a girl or a guy!”

See all top dermatologists...

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