LA BioMed Physician-Researchers Honored as Top Doctors in U.S. and Southern California Their Clinical Expertise Enhances Research and Ensures Patients Benefit from Discoveries

LOS ANGELES – (March. 13, 2013) – Los Angeles Biomedical Research Institute at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center (LA BioMed) announced today that 33 of its physician-researchers rank among America’s Top Doctors and/or among Southern California Super Doctors. The two honors are presented annually, and they are based on recommendations from other physicians and health care professions.

“We are proud of all of our researchers, and we are especially pleased to see our physician-researchers receive this well-deserved recognition,” said David I. Meyer, PhD, LA BioMed president and CEO. “At LA BioMed, our physician-researchers inform and enrich our work with their clinical expertise and their ability to take discoveries from the lab to the patient. Every year, our physician-researchers achieve these standards of excellence, and they are honored as some of the best doctors in America and in Southern California.”

Each year, the publisher, Castle Connolly, surveys thousands of physicians and other health care professionals to identify excellent doctors in every specialty in their region and throughout the nation to determine which physicians will rank among America’s Top Doctors. In addition to mail and online surveys, Castle Connolly reported that its physician-led research team makes thousands of phone calls each year, talking with leading specialists, chairs of clinical departments and vice presidents of medical affairs, seeking to identify top specialists for most diseases and procedures.

The Southern California Super Doctors report recognizes approximately the top 5 percent of active doctors in Los Angeles and Orange counties. The selection process relies on peer review, surveying more than 30,000 physicians in Southern California to ensure that the physicians named are the most respected and talented in their fields.

To choose the Southern California Super Doctors, Key Professional Media, Inc., an independent firm, sends thousands of ballots to California physicians. Those ballots ask: “If you needed medical care, which doctor would you choose?” Several safeguards prevent against doctors nominating themselves and ballot manipulation. An expert Blue Ribbon Panel groups the nominees into medical practice areas and assigns point totals based on individual reviews. Each doctor’s professional information is verified to ensure it is accurate and up-to-date.

Among the LA BioMed physician-researchers named to the two lists are specialists in endocrinology, cardiology, gastroenterology, neurology, internal medicine, nephrology, oncology, obstetrics/gynecology, ophthalmology, surgery, pediatrics, psychiatry, pulmonary medicine, immunology and many other specialties.

Following is a list of the physician-researchers who were honored. (A * means the physician ranks among Southern California Super Doctors list published in 2013. A + means the physician ranks among America’s Top Doctors 12th edition.)
Sharon G. Adler, MD *
Thomas L. Anderson, Jr., MD *
Arnold S. Bayer, M.D +
Marie H. Beall, MD*
Carol D. Berkowitz, MD+
Matthew J. Budoff, MD *+
Richard Casaburi, PhD, MD *
Rowan T. Chlebowski, MD +

Noah Craft, MD, PhD*

Eric S. Daar, MD *+

Christian M. de Virgilio, MD *
John E. Edwards, Jr., MD *+
William J. French, MD *+
Charles S. Grob, MD*

Eli Ipp, MD *+
Sherwin J. Isenberg, MD *+
Adam J. Jonas, MD* +
Margaret A. Keller, MD *

Iraj E. Khalkhali, MD*

Stanley R. Klein, MD*
Wai-Nang Paul Lee, MD *
Ira M. Lesser, MD *
Gregory R. Mason, MD *
Richard Mink, MD *
Anita L. Nelson, MD *
Ronald J. Oudiz, MD, FACC *

Brant A. Putnam, MD*

Michael G. Ross, MD, MPH *
Ronald S. Swerdloff, MD *
Christina Wang, MD *
Rodney A. White, MD* +
Sylvia Yeh, MD *
Kenneth M. Zangwill, MD*