For Our Good Health

Seattle was recently designated the number one city for hipsters in the country, according to Travel + Leisure. Why? Because we’re independent and tech savvy; we’re wired and wireless. We like neighborhood coffee shops, interesting food, intimate boutiques and the unconventional. And, although it wasn’t included in the survey, we like to take charge of our health care. Gone are the days when doctors gave orders, we complied and were hesitant to ask questions or research options. Today we want to be partners with our doctors. We research what’s going on in the medical community, and we participate in decisions about health care for ourselves and our loved ones.

To aid in that research, and to help you navigate the rich landscape of medical resources available in your own backyard, the publishers of Seattle magazine, who have for 12 years published the authoritative Top Doctors feature, have created Seattle Health to provide relevant, easy-to-digest information on medical developments, service providers, clinics and more in the Puget Sound area—all intended to assist you in making important health care decisions.

Gone are the days when doctors gave orders, we complied and were hesitant to ask questions or research options. Today we want to be partners with our doctors.

You’re probably reading this because, like many Puget Sound residents, you’re looking for the very best local health care and specialists, and you’ve gotten more proactive about your medical care these days. A resource like this, in the complicated age of health care, is an important piece in your toolkit when you are researching health care options.

Each issue will feature interviews with local health care experts, who provide in-depth information about health trends, treatment options and the latest techniques, like our story in this issue on joint replacement—and it’s not just your grandmother’s surgery any longer (“Joint Effort”). We’ll get up close and a little personal with medical icons like Seattle Children’s legendary craniofacial surgeon Joseph Gruss, M.D. (“Face Time”). We’ll explore specialties that can help you deal with challenging situations (our story on adolescent medicine) and tackle some tough questions about drug safety and other hot topics (“Propofol Primer”).

Though we’re proud to offer the community this resource—made excellent because of the experts among us—when dealing with health care, your most trusted and best resource is your doctor, and Seattle Health will never be a substitute for that relationship. The magazine will, however, give you the information you need to make the most of the relationship.

To your good health,

Sheila Mickool
Founding editor, Seattle Health
sheila.mickool@tigeroak.com