Doctor's Education...
 

Does anyone know of a physicians in or near The Villages who was educated at a top notch medical school? I realize there are many factors which make a physician effective and in addition to those, I'm interested in the educational aspect. I also realize one can check online for any physician's education, but it would take forever to check every single doctor's education by this method. I'm hoping some of you already know of a physician with this type of education.
We would like to find a Primary Care Physician who is not in TV Healthcare System. We love our current doctor in TV Healthcare system, but Shands doesn't participate in the Medicare Advantage plan. We would like the option of going to Shands and if we can find a top notch Primary Care Physician, we will leave TV Healthcare system.
I would love to hear from any of you who have the same approach and how you solved it.
Thanks in advance.

Felix Agbo-did his residency on Mt. Sinai--NYC--can't get much better

Get references. All don't pass at the top of the class but are still called Dr.

What do you call the person who graduated last in his/her class from medical school? Doctor! I wonder if this is a great way to find a good doctor. It seems your idea of getting good references is better.

Would you rather have a doctor that graduated from a top notch school 30 or 40 years ago or a doctor that graduated 10 years ago (from a second notch school), is right on top of continuing education, studies all the new methods for practicing medicine, has a well equipped office utilizing the most current technology, knowledgeable staff, and no complaints or lawsuits?

My point, there are many variables. Maybe you find a doctor that went to the top notch school but was at the bottom of his class. Or has personal problems.

Good luck in your search. I don't like to even think of switching doctors, and hope mine doesn't decide to retire or move.

Dr. Vivian Woodard -- Harvard

If you have confidence in your current doctor to manage what ills may befall you why would you want to change? Shands is not the only place that can cure what ails people.

A bird in the hand is worth 100 in the bush when it comes to finding PCP's

The University of South Florida in Tampa does accept UHC Medicare Advantage Plans. It is a good medical school as well and about the same distance away.

I wasn't going to respond to this, because I think the question misses the mark in the real world, but....

Let's answer with a story:
I went to medical school at the State University of New York, Downstate Medical Center---a middle of the pack school, certainly not in the top 10 or 20. (Yes, I declined my acceptance at Johns Hopkins for a variety of reasons). They had their "superstars"--Carroll, Waterhouse, Krasnow, Griep--but nowhere near as many as Harvard. There was plenty of research, but again nowhere near Harvard. It was a solid school academically, but again not on the level of Harvard. But for practical experience, it was hard to beat. Kings County Hospital was more like a MASH unit in a war zone, vastly different from Massachusetts General. Medical students got to manage patients and perform procedures that only the post residency fellows at Harvard could do.

On my first day of internship at a University Hospital, I was assigned to the ICU with Teddy from Harvard and Mary from Cornell. Mike, the pulmonary and ICU director had a patient that needed thoracentesis (removal of fluid from around the lungs). He asked each of us how many we had done before:

Mary: None, but I saw one once
Teddy: None, but I read about it
Me: Several hundred, but you already know that Mike, we've done a bunch together on some rotations here in my 3rd and 4th year of school.
Mike: Yes, please teach these 2 how to do it.

I tried to get them to actually perform the procedure under my supervision, but neither of the were willing to stick a needle in the patient's chest. Not good since the patient was suffocating from having 6 liters of fluid on his lungs

So, bottom line: If it were you lying there suffocating, would you want the doctor from Cornell, the doctor from Harvard, or the doctor from Downstate?

My opinion---if you are happy with your PCP, that's worth a hundred "what ifs" somewhere else. You mention Shands, but that is just a building. Last I checked, no one has ever been cured by a building. So unless you have a list of all possible diseases you might contract in the future, and have researched a specific specialist at Shands that treats each of those conditions, I believe a bird in the hand is worth 2 in the bush. There are plenty of good hospitals in this area other than Shands.

End of novella.

Again...a great response!!! In my "researching" docs i do go online but also word of mouth. I'm from "Mayo Country" but you hear horror stories there too.

There are "horror stories" at every hospital, but also miracles at every hospital. Best strategy is to stay as healthy as you can.

I once took a Novell network class with a professor from Yugoslavia and he told me that they needed to become very adept a finding a solution with unsophisticated equipment, so they needed a very in depth knowledge about how things worked. One of my best professors ever.

I dated a Pediatric Cardiac Surgeon who graduated from Columbia, 2nd in his class, brilliant in the field. Had all of the bells and whistles. He regularly had smartattacks.

OOPS. Lost his license after 4 kids expired on his OR table and Cath Lab at his hand in 8 months. He was smart and a real dope all at the same time. 4 families destroyed. Top Notch.
Nomesayin?

LOVE THIS. A bite from a reality sandwich. Thank you. Top Notch.

I insist my doctor is board certified. I think Dr. Eagles explained that part very well a while back. If you need expert care instead of just aches and pains and colds, you stake your life on their accreditation and educational background. Financial instability would also be something to make me veer away from an M.D.

There was a neurologist here in TV arrested for driving erratically and having drugs in her car. I don't want to worry about whether my doctor is the best. I want the best. For not just me, but for my family. Not all that much time left in our lives, I want us to be as healthy as we can as long as we can and I want that for everyone I know.

Does it matter if your doctor is board certified or board eligible?

Experience
 

My wife was diagnosed with Stage 3 Uterus Cancer with 8 Lymph Nodes involved. This was after she had exams at MD Anderson in, Houston, Texas and Moffit in Tampa who missed the cancer. We ended up at Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville. Three things I have found in selecting a medical solution. 1. Should be a teaching hospital, 2. Understand their procedures and practices and 3. Understand the physician(s) that are on their listings. Mayo met all of the requirements and found the cancer. After a 5 hour operation, one brief Chemo treatment and 6 weeks of radiation (all at Mayo), 3 months wait and then a complete follow up she is totally cancer free. All at Mayo were fantastic and did not miss anything. Just a brief statement on one persons experience.:bigbow:

Experience
 

There are times when experience is more important than training. At the sheriff's office where I worked in Tampa, every deputy filled out a form directing where he or she wanted to be taken in the case of a gunshot wound or other life threatening injury. The answer could be, 1. The nearest hospital to the scene, or 2. A specifically named hospital. The overwhelming response was Tampa General Hospital, even though it was deep in the city and there were many closer hospitals in the county.

This was because almost all gunshot wounds that occurred in the City of Tampa were taken to Tampa General, so their ER staff was the most experienced in treating heavy trauma.

The situation was similar in New Orleans when I was there. Virtually everyone selected Charity Hospital for the same reason. I received some training there as an Emergency Medical Technical (EMT) and transported many severely injured people to Charity, including a police officer who had been shot six times.

Training is important. But experience is vital.

All good posts but doubtful you will change the OP's mind.....they have an ingrained belief on what is a top notch education and a preference for where they believe they can get the best care. Those that responded with Dr's and their education are what the OP is looking for. GE speaks to real world, but not everyone accepts real world if it isn't their real world.

Dr. James Mersey, Endocrinology at The Villages Care Specialty Center, did his studies at John Hopkins and Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston. Dr. Mersey spent 32 years in private practice and as chief of endocrinology at Greater Baltimore Medical Center, as well as director of the Diabetes Center before moving to The Villages. He has been actively involved in clinical research throughout his career in the areas of diabetes management, thyroid disease, hypertension, lipid disorders, osteoporosis and other endocrine disorders. In addition, he retains faculty appointments at University of South Florida, University of Maryland and Johns Hopkins.

His video on The Villages Specialty Care webpage can be accessed at:

The Villages Health Specialty Care | Endocrinology - James Mersey
==========================================

Dr. John Bittl is a cardiologist in Ocala, Florida and is affiliated with multiple hospitals in the area, including Munroe Regional Medical Center and Villages Regional Hospital. He received his medical degree from Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and has been in practice for more than 20 years. Dr. Bittl accepts several types of health insurance, listed below. He is one of 41 doctors at Munroe Regional Medical Center and one of 34 at Villages Regional Hospital who specialize in Cardiovascular Disease.

Education & Medical Training
• UCLA Medical Center
Residency , Internal Medicine
• Brigham and Women's Hospital
Fellowship , Cardiovascular Disease
• Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine
Medical School
• University of California
Other Training , Chemistry

Here is a link that shows Dr. Bittl's lecture and publication topics --- far too many to count.

Dr. John Bittl, MD – Ocala, FL | Cardiology

Remember
 

I remember what a Surgeon told me at the Westchester Medical Center. He said he is not important, what is important is the "Team" that has been established for the patient's care. A team is needed to treat the total patient.
Pretty sound advise.:wave:

Excellent post. :ho:

The man knows his medicine. AND is diplomatic. I looked for but was unable to find the excellent post where Golfing Eagles discussed accreditation. I believe it was removed along with some interchanges that were inflammatory from another poster. I distinctly remember Dr. Eagles telling how accreditation works and why it is important. His posts were backed up by DBussone who was for a long time in Hospital Administration.

This is a separate and a completely different issue from posh schools and not posh schools.

I say "UNCLE"..

Wow
 

Choosing a doctor. What could be a more PERSONAL CHOICE. In most cases, you choose a doctor based on compatible personality particularly primary care.

You say you,"love your current doctor at Shands but they NO LONGER take your insurance.

This unfortunately comes up. Assuming you had a long relationship with your LOVED DOCTOR, they would be the perfect one to ask for a suggestion. Hopefully they not only know doctors they will suggest but know you as well FOR COMPATIBILITY.

SADLY, today, medical care has become an assembly line.
The doctor, what he can charge is controlled by insurance companies-the people who pay the bill. The doctor has to see four patients per hour. Oh and pay for an office staff to know how to deal with all the different insurance options out there. OH, and beware of attorneys a major reason for the high medical costs in the United States.

Not Rep.
 

I am not a salesman for Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville but just had a few months of treatment at the Clinic. A few observations: 1. If your appointment is for 2PM you can set your watch that you will see the Dr. at 2PM. 2. You will have a "Portal" and receive real time results from any Lab Tests, appointments, Dr. consultations with full coverage of any discussions, plus a lot more, 3. Your will spend as much time as you need with the Dr. they do not rush!,4. All your exams are on time and sent to Dr immediately. The Dr's were all great both from a treatment and bedside manner. Will not go further as it will sound like I am a salesperson for them. :popcorn: