13th Annual Top Doctors: Find a Doctor You Love
We are in the midst of the biggest change to health care since the creation of Medicare in 1965. Millions of Americans will have access to coverage and free preventive care for the first time.
Issue
July 2013
From this Issue
For teens and young adults facing long, difficult battles with cancer, and their families, little things such as a private room, fridge, bathroom, shower, large flat-screen television, mood lighting and expansive views make a big difference.
Seattle magazine thanks the members of its Top Doctors advisory panel, who agreed to share their insights and advice on medical trends and issues as we compiled this year’s Top Doctors issue.
The body’s blood-brain barrier is a wonderful thing, allowing essential nutrients into the brain, but keeping dangerous bacteria out. Unfortunately, it also blocks some of the drugs that have the potential to treat or cure central nervous system disorders, such as Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, multiple sclerosis and epilepsy.
If you’ve ever fractured a rib, you know one thing: It hurts. A lot. And with every single breath. That’s because you can’t immobilize your ribs, like you would a wrist, arm, ankle or leg, while the bones knit back together. Which also means, insult to injury, that recovery can take longer—sometimes six months. And that’s not all.
1. The Too-Busy-to-Talk Doc There are lots of reasons it may seem like your doctor wants to bolt: shortage of time, poor bedside manner, or the real desire to be elsewhere. But wanting a doctor to demonstrate he or she has time and interest in your well-being isn’t about your self-esteem, it’s actually a matter of good health.
When orthopedic surgeon Sean Adelman, M.D., served as a member of an Air Force surgical team in the Middle East following 9/11, he didn’t have access to high-end imaging options, such as MRIs. So he and his fellow surgeons used handheld ultrasound devices instead. Years later, this experience would be called on in a different sort of battle—the one against runaway health care costs.
Kathryn is in her early 50s and lives on the shore of Lake Washington with her husband, Bill, in an elegant contemporary home filled with sunlight and exquisite art. Bill, a successful entrepreneur, retired in his mid-50s. Bill and Kathryn* are too young for Medicare, but felt well protected since they had purchased one of the best health insurance plans on the market.
Specialty: Urogynecology
Hospital affiliation: Virginia Mason Medical Center
Why did you choose to specialize in urogynecology?
I’ve always had a big interest in women’s health issues and learned in medical school that I loved surgery—urogynecology is the perfect blend of those two interests.
Specialty: Medical oncology, head, neck and lung cancer
Hospital affiliation: Seattle Cancer Care Alliance, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, UW Medicine
As a native of Brazil, what drew you to pursue your career here in Seattle?
Specialty: Thoracic Surgery
Hospital affiliation: Swedish Medical Center
Why did you choose to specialize in thoracic surgery?
Specialty: Cardiology
Practice: EvergreenHealth Cardiology
Hospital affiliation: EvergreenHealth
What attracted you to your specialty?
Specialty: Orthopedic surgeon
Hospital affiliation: Group Health Cooperative
How has your early dance experience, including a stint in New York with the Martha Graham Dance Company, influenced your approach to your job?
Specialty: Pediatric autism
Hospital affiliation: Seattle Children’s Hospital, University of Washington
How did you come to choose autism as your medical specialty?
Paul Herstein, M.D., Group Health, Capitol Hill campus, 201 16th Ave. E, Seattle, 206.326.3000; Group Health Cooperative; Stanford University School of Medicine, 1974; stereotactic linac-based irradiation and prostate implantation
Douglas Hawkins, M.D., Seattle Children’s Cancer and Blood Disorders Center, 4800 Sand Point Way NE, Seattle, 206.987.2106; Seattle Children’s Hospital, University of Washington Medical Center, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center; Harvard Medical School, 1990; sarcomas, pediatric cancer
Renato Martins, M.D., M.P.H., Seattle Cancer Care Alliance, 825 Eastlake Ave., Seattle, 206.288.1135; University of Washington Medical Center, Seattle Cancer Care Alliance, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center; Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, 1992; lung cancer, head and ne
Charles W. Drescher, M.D., Pacific Gynecology Specialists, Swedish, First Hill campus, 1101 Madison St., Suite 1500, Seattle, 206.965.1700; Swedish Medical Center, Providence Everett Medical Center; University of Michigan Medical School, 1984; gynecologic cancer and surgery, ovarian cancer, robotic surgery 12 YEARS
Tim Carlos, M.D., Seattle Cancer Care Alliance at Evergreen in the Halvorson Cancer Center, 12040 NE 128th St., Suite 1600, Kirkland, 425.899.3181; EvergreenHealth Medical Center, Seattle Cancer Care Alliance, University of Washington; Georgetown University, 1978; GI, lung and hematologic malignancies
Oncology
Eric Chen, M.D., Group Health, Capitol Hill campus, 201 16th Ave. E, Seattle, 206.326.3111, Group Health Bellevue Medical Center, 11511 NE 10th St., Bellevue, 425.502.3690; Group Health Cooperative; University of Wisconsin, Madison, 1999
Leah Paz, N.D., Vida Integrated Health, 2014 E Madison St., Suite 100, Seattle, 206.726.9595; Bastyr University
Astrid Pujari, M.D., Pujari Center, 3601 Fremont Ave. N, Seattle, 206.344.8053; Tufts University School of Medicine, 1998, holistic and natural medicine, integrative medicine
James Blair, L.Ac., Seattle Acupuncture Associates, 515 Minor Ave., Suite 16, Seattle, 206.622.0246; Northwest Institute of Acupuncture & Oriental Medicine, 1984
Amy Chen, L.Ac., O.M.D., Acupuncture & Chinese Herb Clinic, 15710 NE 24th St., Suite E, Bellevue, 425.456.8880; Shanghai Chinese Medical University, 1968
Emily B. Bradley, M.D., The Polyclinic Northgate, 11011 Meridian Ave. N, Suite 200, The Polyclinic Madison Center, 904 Seventh Ave., Seattle, 206.528.4944; Northwest Hospital & Medical Center, Swedish Medical Center; University of Michigan Medical School, 1999; incontinence, voiding dysfunction, general urology
Ralph W. Aye, M.D., Swedish Cancer Institute, 1101 Madison St., Suite 850, Seattle, 206.215.6800; Swedish Medical Center; University of Pittsburgh, 1977; lung cancer, esophageal disorders, minimally invasive surgery
Darlene Barr, M.D., Swedish Surgical Specialists, 801 Broadway, Suite 300, Seattle, 206.215.3500; Swedish Medical Center; University of Alabama, 1985; hepatobiliary, breast
Rosemary Agostini, M.D., Activity, Sports and Exercise Medicine, 11511 NE 10th St., Bellevue, 425.502.3600, 855.442.7778; Group Health Cooperative; New York Medical College, 1981; primary care sports medicine, sports concussion, exercise as medicine
O’Neil S. Bains, M.D., Virginia Mason, main campus, Sleep Medicine, 1100 Ninth Ave., Seattle, 206.625.7180, 33501 First Way S, Federal Way, 253.838.2400; Virginia Mason Medical Center; State University of New York at Buffalo, 1996; insomnia, pediatric sleep disorders, narcolepsy
Julie L. Carkin, M.D., The Seattle Arthritis Clinic, 10330 Meridian Ave. N, Suite 250, Seattle, 206.368.6123; Northwest Hospital & Medical Center; Boston University, 1987; osteoporosis
Mehran Fotoohi, M.D., Virginia Mason, Interventional Radiology, main campus, 1100 Ninth Ave., Seattle, 206.583.6591; Virginia Mason Medical Center; The Chicago Medical School, 1995; interventional oncology, pancreatic and biliary disease, peripheral vascular disease
Maria Chong, M.D., Radia, 12040 NE 128th St., Kirkland, 425.899.1800; EvergreenHealth Medical Center; University of Washington, 1992; abdominal imaging
David Lewis, M.D., Group Health, Capitol Hill campus, 125 16th Ave. E, Seattle, 206.326.3000; Group Health Cooperative, Virginia Mason Medical Center; University of California, Davis, 1986; critical care medicine, sleep medicine, pulmonary disease; critical care medicine, sleep medicine, pulmonary disease
Raman Arora, M.D., Pacific Medical Centers, 1200 12th Ave. S, Seattle, 206.621.4045; Pacific Medical Centers; University of Sydney, Australia, 2001; all aspects of psychiatry and mental health
Kevin M. Beshlian, M.D., Virginia Mason, main campus, Lindeman Pavilion, 1201 Terry Ave., Seattle, 206.223.6831; Virginia Mason Medical Center; University of Virginia School of Medicine, 1982; microvascular reconstruction (including DIEP flap breast reconstruction), melanoma
Daniel L. Downey, M.D., Downey Plastic Surgery, 1536 N 115th St., Suite 105, Seattle, 206.368.1160; Northwest Hospital & Medical Center, Seattle Children’s Hospital, Swedish Medical Center (Ballard and Edmonds); University of Washington, 1983; cosmetic surgery of the face, breasts and body, melanoma and skin cancer surgery, breast reconstruction
James R. Babington, M.D., Virginia Mason, main campus, Buck Pavilion, 1100 Ninth Ave., Seattle, Virginia Mason Lynnwood Clinic 19116 33rd Ave. W, Lynnwood, 206.223.6746; Virginia Mason Medical Center; University of Washington, 2006; spine rehabilitation, interventional pain management, cancer pain
Jill Allen, M.D., Group Health Bellevue Medical Center, 11511 NE 10th St., Bellevue, 425.502.3000; Group Health Cooperative, Seattle Children’s Hospital; University of Washington School of Medicine, 1979
David Corwin, M.D., CellNetix Pathology & Laboratories, 1124 Columbia St., Suite 200, Seattle, 206.576.6050, 866.236.8296; Swedish Medical Center; University of Michigan Medical School, 1978; anatomic and clinical pathology, hematopathology
Hugh Allen, M.D., Group Health, Department of Anesthesiology, Pain Management Clinic, Capitol Hill campus, 201 16th Ave. E, Seattle, 206.326.3856; Group Health Cooperative; University of Southern California, 1988; spinal pain, cancer pain, regional anesthesia
Andrew F. Inglis Jr., M.D., Seattle Children’s, Otolaryngology, 4800 Sand Point Way NE, Seattle, 206.987.3468; Seattle Children’s Hospital; Medical College of Pennsylvania Hospital, 1981; airway management
Sean Adelman, M.D., Group Health, Capitol Hill campus, Orthopedics, Shoulder and Elbow Service, 201 16th Ave. E, Seattle, 206.326.3150; Group Health Cooperative, Virginia Mason Medical Center; University of Texas, Galveston, 1993; shoulder and elbow reconstruction, trauma and sports
Charles Birnbach, M.D., Vitreoretinal Associates of Washington, 1750 112th Ave. NE, Suite D050, Bellevue, 206.215.3850, additional offices in Burlington and Seattle; Overlake Hospital Medical Center; New York University School of Medicine; vitreoretinal surgery, macular degeneration, diabetic retinography
Timothy Gilmore, M.D., Group Health, Occupational Medicine, Capitol Hill campus, 201 16th Ave. E, Seattle, 206.326.3661; Group Health Cooperative; University of Washington, 1981; occupational injury care, environmental exposure evaluation, employee fitness determination
Karen Bohmke, M.D., Northwest Women’s Healthcare, 1101 Madison St., Suite 1150, Seattle, 206.386.3400; Swedish Medical Center; University of California, Davis, 1980; general obstetrics and gynecology
Ryan Caldeiro, M.D., Group Health, Northgate Clinic, 9800 Fourth Ave. NE, Seattle, 888.287.2680; Group Health Cooperative; Case Western Reserve University, 2004; addiction psychiatry, consultation psychiatry
Picked at their peak, these tiny taste explosions bring a ruby blush to the plates of Seattle’s sweet-seekers. Tuck into our favorite dishes made with these summertime jewels.
Nothing says summer like a spontaneous jaunt to a park, whether for a quick picnic, an inspiring view or a strenuous hike. But if you find yourself always landing at the same old locations, you might need to call in the Pocket Ranger.
From left: “Blossom” from Bellevue-based Adicora ($125, available at adicoraswimwear.com). “Kure” from Ballard’s Drifting Arrows, in lapis ($212, available at driftingarrows.com).
The best summer evenings are the most spontaneous ones, when the sunshine inspires us to drop everything and lie on a patch of grass. Since there’s no picnic delivery hotline that I’m aware of, this summer I’ll be picking up some buttermilk-brined, applewood-smoked and cast-iron-skillet-fried chicken quarters from Harry’s Chicken Joint (West Seattle, 6032 California Ave.
Tucked above the Pike Place corner market clamor and across the hall from Matt’s in the Market, Radiator Whiskey (94 Pike St., No. 30; 206.467.4268; radiatorwhiskey.com) is a destination for whiskey lovers and a welcome respite from the bustle below.
Seattle does not suffer from a lack of really good ice cream, but one lick (sorry!) of Lick and it’s clear that Michael Avery does things a little differently. At his small counter inside Zaw Pizza on Capitol Hill, Avery scoops decadent frozen cream so dense, so heavy on the tongue, the ice cream tastes as if it’s made entirely of whipping cream.
It’s a marriage made in noodle heaven: Japanese-born Mutsuko Soma, who attended the Art Institute of Seattle’s culinary program before returning to Japan to learn the art of making soba, and her adopted home of Washington state, which (who knew?) grows more buckwheat than anywhere else in the United States.
It’s confounding, really, the revolving door that has plagued the sweet, bright storefront in Madrona, where Cremant, then June, and now Restaurant Bea lives.
We may use e-mail and texts for day-to-day communiqués, but somehow a virtual thank-you note still falls flat, which is why it’s essential to have a stash of notecards at your disposal—like these from Green Lake’s Balue/Co.
“One size fits all” is a tricky phrase, especially for those who don’t fit into that one size. But when it’s generous and versatile, a one-size garment is a miracle, which is what interior designer April Pride has created with her miracle dress, actually called The Dress, which serves as a first foray into fashion for this Madison Park mom.
!--paging_filter--pFinally! One of our favorite trendsetters, strongJonathan Adler/strong, has just opened up a shop in our ’hood./p
If you want to see what summer salmon season once looked like in Seattle, walk our local beaches this July and August. You’ll find anglers crowding every point, tossing their lures and flies into the surf with hopes of hooking a pink salmon. In an age of decline, pinks are one species defying the downward trend.
Whether we stream, rent, TiVo or watch on the air, Seattle is crazy about cleverly crafted television series. (We're among the country's top markets for Downton Abbey and Game of Thrones.) So we imagined the mayor's race as pitch sessions for several series we'll be watching (or trying to tune out) for the next four years. Come August 6, primary day, we are all producers.
WHERE: Stevenson, Washington, on the banks of the Columbia River
From knife skills and sauce-making to party food and basic meal prep, Seattle has long had a passionate interest in cooking classes, whether at Kirkland’s Sur la Table, PCC stores or dedicated cooking schools such as Blue Ribbon Cooking and Diane’s Market Kitchen.
Sub Pop’s Silver Jubilee: A 25th Anniversary Public Display of Affection. The grand dame of Seattle’s indie music scene, Sub Pop Records isn’t too old to throw a rager. This celebration takes place on the streets of Georgetown, an appropriately grungy ’hood for the label that launched Soundgarden and Nirvana.
I don’t know a lot of people who look forward to going to the doctor, but it’s a necessity made less daunting when you’re going to see someone you trust, feel comfortable with and even gush about to your friends—the same way you do when you have a supportive boss or an amazing babysitter. I just love my doctor.
Warren Dykeman is looking for “the right kind of wrong.” A graphic designer by day, the Tri-Cities native and Seattle artist prizes an awkwardness in his mixed-media collages and paintings, which bring to mind graffiti, folk art, the oddly shaped humans of New Yorker cartoonist Saul Steinberg and blobby landscapes by 1960s poster artist Peter Max.
COFFEE DATE: Singer/songwriter Shelby Earl, whose debut album, Burn the Boats, Amazon.com named “#1 Outstanding 2011 Album You Might Have Missed.” Her new record, Swift Arrows, comes out on July 23 (with a release party at Columbia City Theater, 7/13).
If you thought Tom Douglas’ recent restaurant domination of South Lake Union meant the big guy was done with downtown, think again.
This year’s mayor’s race has attracted a large group of challengers; at least eight candidates want to replace Mayor Mike McGinn, who is running for reelection. That number reflects a sense that McGinn is vulnerable, and that should come as no surprise. He began the campaign with low approval ratings.
Washington state Senator Sharon Nelson loved the comfy brown loveseat she bought for her office in Olympia. The couch gave her Statehouse digs a cozy feel. And curling up on it with her laptop for a precious half-hour now and then provided respite from the long hours at her desk and in her chair on the Senate floor.
Or it did until Laurie Valeriano came to town.
Sitting in a Ravenna coffee shop, novelist Julia Sidorova is making sweeping gestures across a table, like a seamstress extending a measuring tape across a long swath of fabric.
Getting down to the studs: preserving the bones of a thing, maintaining a foundation and building something beautiful on top of it.
The act of parenting doesn’t allow parents an abundance of time for artistic endeavors. How could it, when you’ve got the life of (at least) one other human to organize in addition to your own?
Longtime Seattle shoppers will remember Julie Merriman Wray as the proprietress of the now-mythic Olivine boutique that once graced Ballard Avenue NW. Perfume lovers will know her for Lulu Beauty—recently renamed Olivine Atelier—which includes a lush collection of fragrances whose heady scents are redolent of sweet pikake, sandalwood and Merriman Wray’s favorite sultry gardenia.
