April7, 2009 — Forty-seven physicians from the University of Virginia Health System were included in the eighth edition of "America's Top Doctors." Published annually by Castle Connolly Medical Ltd., the guide recognizes physicians who are considered among the top 1 percent in the nation in their medical specialties and sub-specialties.

To be selected for inclusion in the book, doctors must be nominated by their peer physicians. The nomination process involves tens of thousands of board-certified physicians across the nation, as well as presidents, vice presidents of medical affairs (or an equivalent position) and chiefs of service in eight medical specialties from more than 1,000 hospitals across the United States. These doctors receive letters inviting them to go online to nominate physicians whom they feel are clinically outstanding, on the national and regional level.

The Castle Connolly research staff also conducts extensive interviews by telephone with leading physicians, specialists, chiefs of service and health care executives to strengthen the information-gathering processes.

The guide is designed to help people find the most outstanding specialists to meet their medical needs, be they available on a local, regional or national level.

The U.Va. doctors designated as America's Top Doctors by specialty in 2008 are:

Cardiology - Dr. George A. Beller

Cardiac Electrophysiology - Dr. John P. DiMarco

Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism - Dr. Eugene J. Barrett, Dr. Alan C. Dalkin, Dr. John C. Marshall, Dr. Mary Lee Vance

Geriatric Psychiatry - Dr. Suzanne Holroyd

Gynecologic Oncology - Dr. Peyton T. Taylor Jr.

Medical Oncology – Dr. Paula M. Fracasso, Dr. William W. Grosh, Dr. Geoffrey R. Weiss, Dr. Michael E. Williams

Infectious Diseases - Dr. Richard L. Guerrant, Dr. Richard D. Pearson, Dr. W. Michael Scheld

Neonatal Perinatal Medicine - Dr. Robert J. Boyle, Dr. John Kattwinkel

Nephrology - Dr. W. Kline Bolton, Dr. Mark D. Okusa

Neurological Surgery - Dr. Christopher I. Shaffrey, Dr. Mark E. Shaffrey

Neurology – Dr. Steven T. DeKosky, Dr. Daryl R. Gress, Dr. Elliott C. Haley Jr., Dr. David Schiff, Dr. G. Frederick Wooten

Neuroradiology – Dr. Mary E. Jensen

Otolaryngology – Dr. Bradley W. Kesser, Dr. Paul A. Levine

Pathology - Dr. Stacey E. Mills

Pediatric Surgery - Dr. Bradley M. Rodgers

Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation – Dr. Paul T. Diamond, Dr. D. Casey Kerrigan

Plastic Surgery - Dr. Raymond F. Morgan

Psychiatry – Dr. Randolph J. Canterbury II

Radiation Oncology – Dr. James M. Larner, Dr. Tyvin A. Rich

Surgery – Dr. Reid B. Adams, Dr. John B. Hanks, Dr. Bruce D. Schirmer, Dr. Craig L. Slingluff Jr.

Thoracic Surgery - Dr. David R. Jones, Dr. Irving L. Kron

Urology – Dr. Stuart S. Howards, Dr. William D. Steers, Dr. Dan Theodorescu

Vascular Surgery – Dr. Kenneth J. Cherry Jr.

Additionally, U.Va. has 17 physicians on faculty who made the listing for a sister publication, "America's Top Doctors for Cancer" (fourth edition). They are:

Surgical Oncology — Dr. Reid B. Adams, Dr. Craig L. Slingluff

Hemotology/Oncology — Dr. Paula M. Fracasso, Dr. William W. Grosh, Dr. Geoffrey R. Weiss, Dr. Michael E. Williams

General Surgery — Dr. John B. Hanks         
                          
Thoracic Surgery — Dr. David R. Jones           
                      
Radiation Oncology — Dr. James M. Larner, Dr. Tyvin A. Rich       
                     
Otolaryngology/Head and Neck Surgery — Dr. Paul A. Levine       
         
Pathology — Dr. Stacey E. Mills     
                             
Neurology — Dr. David Schiff       
                                
Neurological Surgery — Dr. Mark E. Shaffrey          
                     
Gynecologic Oncology — Dr. Peyton T. Taylor Jr.        
                  
Urology — Dr. Dan Theodorescu    
                         
Endocrinology and Metabolism — Dr. Mary Lee Vance