2010's Best Doctors

Pediatric Specialties

Whom would you send your family members to, or whom would you go to, if faced with a medical problem? These were the questions posed to physicians by Best Doctors, Inc., to determine who stands out in our community. Founded over 20 years ago by two physicians, Best Doctors, Inc. surveys doctors for their top recommendations; the answers account for approximately 5 percent of the specialists in the country. Physicians cannot pay to be on the list or to be surveyed. The results for Marin and San Francisco pediatric specialties are printed on the following pages. Whether you are looking for a new doctor for your child or know someone who has a specific need, this list can prove helpful.

These lists are excerpted from The Best Doctors in America® 2009-2010 database, which includes over 45,000 doctors in more than 40 medical specialties. The Best Doctors in America® database is compiled and maintained by Best Doctors, Inc. For more information, visit bestdoctors.com, or contact Best Doctors by telephone at 800.675.1199 or by e-mail at research@bestdoctors.com. Please note that lists of doctors are not available on the Best Doctors website.

 The Whole Child

In one respect, a growing child is like a German sports car—a complex mechanism requiring skilled technical assistance to maintain peak condition. Regular checkups with a pediatrician are just one component of a wellness plan; even healthy kids can benefit from an array of professional care, from mental health counseling to speech, physical and occupational therapy. Fortunately, Marin is brimming with specialists.

“We are lucky to live in an area where our children have access to such a wide range of services, many of which are free, available for a nominal fee or covered by a child’s health insurance policy,” says Albert Goldberg, a San Rafael pediatrician. Goldberg says his practice, which includes three other pediatricians, regularly recommends additional help to get some kids past various developmental hurdles: “I’d say we write at least one referral a day. Every child has strengths and weaknesses. Our goal is to recognize those weaknesses early, so they’re less likely to have an impact on education, not to mention interpersonal relationships.” 

The usefulness of these referrals underscores the importance of regular visits to a pediatrician. In addition to keeping kids up-to-date with vaccinations, checkups help professionals spot problems a parent isn’t trained to recognize. “I’ve heard parents say, ‘Oh, my child is a late talker because his older brother does all the talking for him,’” says Goldberg. “This may be true, but the child may still need a hearing test as well as a speech evaluation.” Likewise, parents, who are with their kids every day, may not recognize when a child’s weight gain begins to outpace his growth in height. “If I have concerns about a child’s weight, I first try to counsel the parent on my own, but if that’s not enough, I’ll send them to a dietitian to see what they can do,” says Novato pediatrician and internist Tareq Elquosy.

And of course, sometimes an expert simply provides needed guidance on how to handle an impulsive child, soothe an angst-ridden teen or restore harmony among bickering siblings. “Often my role is just to help parents through the challenges of raising children,” says San Rafael clinical psychologist Robin O’Heeron. “We come up with parenting strategies to get families through rough patches when they feel like they’re at the end of their rope.”

No matter the issue, spotting potential stumbling blocks is essential if you hope to prevent them from growing in scope. “In my experience, when developmental problems are identified and treated promptly, kids do extremely well,” Goldberg says.

“Early intervention is a gift you give to your child.”

Resilient Kids

For most of us, the word “childhood” conjures images of slumber parties, swim lessons and soccer tournaments. For some less lucky ones, however, those recollections are entwined with memories of hospital stays, surgeries and endless doctor visits. Fortunately, kids are resilient. Their ability to not only persevere but remain upbeat is enough to make adults rethink those moments when they see the glass as half empty. Consider these comments from three brave kids who are thriving despite
imperfect health.

Jasmine Gerraty
16 | Mill Valley | Aortic Stenosis
"I have this condition that makes it really dangerous for me to get my heart rate up for an extended period of time. When I found out this meant I’d have to give up playing competitive soccer, I was really bummed. So my mom started researching activities I could (participate in) at school that wouldn’t affect my health. She signed me up for sailing. I went a couple of times, but wasn’t that into it. But she encouraged me to keep going and, well, now I absolutely love it. I’m one of only a few sophomores who have made the varsity sailing team. I realize now the importance of being open to trying new things. It really hit me one day while I was out sailing near Angel Island. The sun was setting over the Golden Gate Bridge. It was beautiful, and I was hanging out with all these new sailing friends and I thought, ‘Wow, I’m really lucky to have found this sport.’"

Paddy O’Brien
12 | Mill Valley | Bone Cancer
"Concentrate on the positive stuff and don’t think about the bad things that could happen. That’s how I got through it. The upside of chemo is you get to eat as much junk food as you want. I ate a lot of gummy bears and gummy worms. Just don’t eat anything an hour before or an hour after because it all just comes up. That part was pretty bad. But after what I went through, nothing in my life seems hard. I feel like I’m living the life of Riley. And if I get it again, I’ll just go at it with the same positive attitude."

Morgan Lorenz
12 | Corte Madera | Liver Cancer
"Believe in your parents. You have to trust that they are always trying to help you and whatever they are asking you to do is going to help you get better. Also, whenever you have to get your blood drawn or get a shot, don’t look at what the nurse is doing. I always focus on a dot on the wall. I have to get blood drawn every month. I used to be really scared of this, but I learned this trick when I was eight and now it doesn’t really bother me at all. I’m just proud that I’m alive."