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Radiation has come to play a crucial role in medicine, with X-rays and other types of scans giving insight into what's happening in people's bodies. But as doctors look for cancerous tumors and other abnormalities, they and their patients must keep in mind that radiation can be dangerous, too. 
 Here's what you need to know: 
 &nbsp; 
 &nbsp; 
<h3> 1. BE AWARE OF THE POTENTIAL HARM FROM RADIATION BUILDUP</h3> 
 &nbsp; 
 A variety of medical scans expose the body to radiation, including X-rays and CT (or CAT) scans. Patients should know how to assess the risk. 
 "Radiation damages cells and internal chemistry of cells," said Dr. Steven Weck, chairman of radiology at <a href="/topics//Glen_Cove,_NY">Glen Cove</a> Hospital. "The effect increases with increasing radiation dosage." He explained that radiation may damage "the DNA/RNA headquarters of the cell, which can predispose the cell to become cancerous. Radiation exposure can even create mutations that will then carry on to children." 
 According to Dr. Jonathan A. Haas, chief of radiation oncology at Winthrop-University Hospital in <a href="/topics//Mineola,_NY">Mineola</a>, medical personnel who administer tests that involve radiation must adhere to federal government guidelines about the proper upper levels of annual radiation exposure, which they track for patients, he said. The policy, known as ALARA (an acronym for "as low as reasonably achievable"), mandates making every reasonable effort to keep radiation exposure as far below the upper limits as practical. 
 Haas also noted that radiation does not build up in the body. Instead, the problem is that continued exposure to radiation causes more damage to cells. It's the buildup of damage that's the problem, not the buildup of radiation, he said. 
 &nbsp; 
 &nbsp; 
<h3> 2. KEEP TRACK OF THE NUMBER OF SCANS YOU GET</h3> 
 &nbsp; 
 If you're exposed to radiation in multiple ways -- dental X-rays, mammograms, CT scans, bone X-rays -- it's crucial to keep a record of all scans and share this information with your doctors. 
 "The patient should never assume that the doctors know about all the tests they've had, particularly if they've been performed by another doctor," Haas said. The combined exposure to radiation could be dangerous and unnecessary. "I'd encourage patients to be their own advocate and let their doctors know what tests they've had recently, especially if they're going to different institutes," he said. 
 &nbsp; 
 &nbsp; 
<h3> 3. EXPOSURE LEVELS VARY</h3> 
 &nbsp; 
 Some types of scans, such as chest X-rays and mammograms, expose patients to low levels of radiation. Radiation exposure is higher with CT scans, and several studies have linked their increasing use to a greater risk for cancer. The risk depends on the frequency and level of exposure. 
 "Diagnostic radiology and CT scans are extremely powerful tools in the diagnostic work-up of virtually all diseases, and the reason for their increasing use is their ability to rule in or rule out various conditions," Weck said. "Their use very often puts the patient's disease in proper perspective, allowing a tailored approach to an individual's condition." 
 The Alliance for Radiation Safety in Pediatric Imaging has put forth an Image Gently program, designed to stress the importance of low doses of radiation by physicians and dentists. Its guidelines, including information for parents, are available online at imagegently.org. Several radiology associations have created a similar program, called Image Wisely. Information for adult patients can be viewed at imagewisely.org/patients. 
 &nbsp; 
 &nbsp; 
<h3> 4. IT'S OK TO ASK FOR A DIFFERENT KIND OF SCAN</h3> 
 &nbsp; 
 Procedures that expose the body to radiation often are the most appropriate option. But other types of scans -- such as MRIs, which rely on magnetic fields -- can sometimes serve as an alternative, Haas said. If you have a severe headache, for instance, he said you might prefer an MRI instead of a CT scan. 
 However, be sure to consider the possible downsides of switching to an MRI from a CT. An MRI scan will take more time, Haas said, and it may require patients to enter small spaces with loud, pounding noises. His advice is to simply ask your physician if another type of scan would work. "The answer may be no," Haas said, "but that's a question that a patient can ask." 
 &nbsp; 
 &nbsp; 
<h3> 5. TAKE HOME COPIES OF YOUR SCANS</h3> 
 &nbsp; 
 "Almost all imaging is now digital, and virtually free copies are given to patients on request in DVD form," Weck said. "These prior imaging studies can be very valuable and can often clear up clinical questions without the need for further new imaging." 
 &nbsp; 
 &nbsp; 
<h3> Radiation oncologists and diagnostic, vascular &amp; interventional radiologists</h3> 
 &nbsp; 
 RADIATION ONCOLOGY 
 Dr. Jay L. Bosworth 
 6 <a href="/topics//Ohio">Ohio</a> Dr. 
 <a href="/topics//Lake_Success,_NY">Lake Success</a>; 516-394-8100 
 Dr. Ezriel Diamond 
 688 Old Country Rd. 
 <a href="/topics//Plainview,_NY">Plainview</a>; 516-932-6007 
 Dr. Richard M. Gewanter 
 MSKCC <a href="/topics//Long_Island,_NY">Long Island</a> 
 1000 N. Village Ave. 
 <a href="/topics//Rockville_Centre,_NY">Rockville Centre</a>; 516-256-3600 
 Dr. Maged M. Ghaly 
 300 Community Dr. 
 <a href="/topics//Manhasset,_NY">Manhasset</a>; 516-470-7190 
 Dr. Jonathan A. Haas 
 Winthrop-University Hospital 
 Radiation Oncology 
 264 Old Country Rd. 
 <a href="/topics//Mineola,_NY">Mineola</a>; 516-663-2501 
 Dr. Lucille Lee 
 LIJ Medical Center 
 Dept. Radiation Oncology 
 270-05 76th Ave. 
 <a href="/topics//New_Hyde_Park,_NY">New Hyde Park</a>; 718-470-7190 
 Dr. Evelyn Marienberg 
 101 St. Andrews Lane 
 <a href="/topics//Glen_Cove,_NY">Glen Cove</a>; 516-470-7190 
 Dr. Lorraine A. Marin 
 HealthCare Partners 
 501 Franklin Ave., Ste. 300 
 <a href="/topics//Garden_City,_NY">Garden City</a>; 516-515-8820 
 Dr. Edward E. Mullen 
 South <a href="/topics//Nassau_County,_NY">Nassau</a> Community Hospital 
 1 Healthy Way 
 <a href="/topics//Oceanside,_NY">Oceanside</a>; 516-632-3330 
 Dr. Tae L. Park 
 Stony Brook Univ. Med. Center 
 Fl. Level 2, Rm. 664 
 100 Nicolls Rd. 
 Stony Brook; 631-444-2210 
 Dr. Jed Pollack 
 <a href="/topics//Long_Island,_NY">Long Island</a> Radiation Therapy 
 6 <a href="/topics//Ohio">Ohio</a> Dr., Ste. 103 
 <a href="/topics//Lake_Success,_NY">Lake Success</a>; 516-394-8100 
 Dr. Louis Potters 
 LIJ Medical Center 
 Dept. Radiation Oncology 
 270-05 76th Ave. 
 <a href="/topics//New_Hyde_Park,_NY">New Hyde Park</a>; 718-470-7190 
 DIAGNOSTIC RADIOLOGY 
 Dr. William R. Brancaccio 
 Radiology Dept. 
 240 Meeting House Lane 
 Southampton; 631-726-8411 
 Dr. Kenneth J. Goodman 
 St. Francis Hospital- 
 The Heart Center 
 Dept. of Radiology 
 100 <a href="/topics//Port_Washington,_NY">Port Washington</a> Blvd. 
 <a href="/topics//Roslyn,_NY">Roslyn</a>; 516-562-6500 
 Dr. Jay D. Hammel 
 4277 Hempstead Tpke., Ste. 200 
 Bethpage; 516-796-4340 
 Dr. Janet C. Hoffman 
 270-05 76th Ave., Rm. C-204 
 New Hyde Park 
 718-470-7144 
 Dr. Arfa Khan 
 270-05 76th Ave., Rm. C204 
 New Hyde Park 
 718-470-7144 
 Dr. David Kirshy 
 1333 Roanoke Ave. 
 Riverhead; 631-727-2755 
 Dr. Jonathan S. Luchs 
 224 Seventh St. 
 <a href="/topics//Garden_City,_NY">Garden City</a>; 516-747-0161 
 Dr. Seth Mankes 
 Stony Brook Univ. Med. Center 
 Radiology Dept. 
 HSC/Level 4/Rm. 120 
 Stony Brook; 631-444-5400 
 Dr. Abraham Port 
 Complete Women's Imaging 
 990 Stewart Ave., Ste. 100 
 Garden City; 516-222-4840 
 Dr. Dennis R. Rossi 
 <a href="/topics//Elmont,_NY">Elmont</a> MRI 
 545 <a href="/topics//Elmont,_NY">Elmont</a> Rd. 
 Elmont 
 516-328-7200 
 Dr. Scott J. Sherman 
 100 <a href="/topics//Port_Washington,_NY">Port Washington</a> Blvd. 
 <a href="/topics//Roslyn,_NY">Roslyn</a> 
 516-562-6500 
 Dr. Steven Weck 
 North Shore/LIJ 
 at Glen Cove Hospital 
 Dept. Radiology 
 101 St Andrew's Lane, Fl. 1 
 Glen Cove 
 516-674-7540 
 Dr. Sydney S. Yoon 
 Dept. of Radiology 
 1 Healthy Way 
 <a href="/topics//Oceanside,_NY">Oceanside</a> 
 516-632-4660 
 VASCULAR &amp; INTERVENTIONAL RADIOLOGY 
 Dr. Kenneth Crystal 
 100 Port Washington Blvd. 
 Roslyn; 516-562-6509 
 &nbsp; 
 &nbsp; 
<h4> How they were picked</h4> 
 &nbsp; 
 Castle Connolly Medical Ltd. is a health-care research and information company founded in 1991 by a former medical college board chairman and president to help guide consumers to America's top doctors and top hospitals. Castle Connolly's established survey and research process, under the direction of a doctor, involves tens of thousands of top doctors and the medical leadership of leading hospitals. 
 Castle Connolly's physician-led team of researchers follows a rigorous screening process to select top doctors on both the national and regional levels. Its online nominations process -- located at castleconnolly.com/ nominations -- is open to all licensed physicians in America who are able to nominate physicians in any medical specialty and in any part of the country, as well as indicate whether the nominated physician is, in their opinion, among the best in their region in their medical specialty or among the best in the nation in their medical specialty. 
 Careful screening of doctors' educational and professional experience is essential before final selection is made among those physicians most highly regarded by their peers. The result -- Castle Connolly identifies the top doctors in America and provides the consumer with detailed information about their education, training and special expertise in their paperback guides, national and regional magazine "Top Doctors" features and online directories. Doctors do not and cannot pay to be selected and profiled as Castle Connolly Top Doctors. (Newsday is not part of the selection process.) 
 Physicians selected for inclusion in this "Top Doctors" feature may also appear as Regional Top Doctors online at castleconnolly.com, or in one of Castle Connolly's Top Doctors guides, such as America's Top Doctors® or America's Top Doctors® for Cancer. 
 &nbsp; 
 &nbsp; 
<h4> To see the whole list . . .</h4> 
 &nbsp; 
 Who else is on the list of Top Doctors? More than 6,000 listings are in the New York Metro Area edition of "Top Doctors," published by Castle Connolly Medical Ltd. The softcover list price is $34.95. For more information, go to castleconnolly.com, or call 800-399-DOCS.

HSMAIN18.WEB

Top Docs: 5 fast facts about radiation

For many people, heartburn or acid reflux is an occasional nuisance. But for some, it's a more persistent problem, becoming what's known as <a href="/topics//Gastroesophageal_Reflux_Disease">gastroesophageal reflux disease</a>, or GERD. That, in turn, can lead to a condition called Barrett's esophagus, which is a risk factor for esophageal cancer. 
 Here's what you need to know: 
 &nbsp; 
<h3> 1. DON'T DISMISS CHRONIC HEARTBURN AS NOTHING TO WORRY ABOUT</h3> 
 &nbsp; 
 Barrett's esophagus refers to a change in the cellular makeup of the lining of the esophagus. It's a problem because it's a sign that the person faces a higher risk for esophageal cancer. 
 "Although 'always' is difficult to prove, especially in medicine, Barrett's esophagus is typically the result of chronic injury to the lower esophagus by long-standing GERD," said Dr. James Grendell, chief of the division of gastroenterology, hepatology and nutrition at Winthrop-University Hospital in <a href="/topics//Mineola,_NY">Mineola</a>. "Risk factors for the development of Barrett's esophagus include being a white male over 50 years of age, GERD symptoms at least once a week for five or more years, presence of a hiatal upper stomach hernia and obesity," he said. 
 &nbsp; 
 &nbsp; 
<h3> 2. BARRETT'S ESOPHAGUS IS A STEP ON THE ROAD TO CANCER</h3> 
 &nbsp; 
 Grendell said that some people with Barrett's esophagus will develop a precancerous change in cells known as dysplasia. "Low-grade dysplasia occurs in about 5 percent of the patients," he said. "High-grade dysplasia is seen in about 2.5 percent of the patients and carries a risk of developing cancer of the esophagus of 4 to 5 percent per year." 
 Esophageal cancer is serious and one of the most rapidly increasing cancers in the Western world, said Dr. Robert Lazar, a gastroenterologist in <a href="/topics//Smithtown,_NY">Smithtown</a> who's affiliated with St. Catherine of Siena Medical Center and North Shore Surgery Center. 
 &nbsp; 
 &nbsp; 
<h3> 3. PROTON PUMP INHIBITOR MEDICATIONS ARE RECOMMENDED</h3> 
 &nbsp; 
 Treatment with a proton pump inhibitor -- such as <a href="/topics//Prilosec">Prilosec</a> and Prevacid -- may reduce symptoms of Barrett's esophagus, Grendell said, although it's rare that the condition completely goes away. 
 Lazar added that people can also try other approaches aimed at reducing acid in the stomach, such as changing their diet. 
 &nbsp; 
 &nbsp; 
<h3> 4. SURGERY MAY BE AN OPTION</h3> 
 &nbsp; 
 "In the past, if high-grade dysplasia or esophageal cancer limited to the surface of the inner lining of the esophagus was discovered during a screening endoscopy, the patient would be recommended to undergo surgical removal of the involved segment of the esophagus, a major operation that carries a significant risk of serious complications and even death," Grendell said. "Now these patients can often be treated with endoscopic techniques to either cut out or ablate the involved area, followed by lifelong treatment of GERD with a proton pump inhibitor medication." 
 However, he noted, "patients with cancer of the esophagus extending more deeply into the wall of the esophagus still require an operation to remove the involved segment of the esophagus if they are considered healthy enough to withstand the surgery." 
 Lazar said that surgery is unlikely to reverse Barrett's esophagus. In general, he said, "once you have Barrett's esophagus, you have it." 
 &nbsp; 
 &nbsp; 
<h3> 5. REGULAR SCREENING IS KEY</h3> 
 &nbsp; 
 "Patients with Barrett's esophagus and low-grade dysplasia require surveillance endoscopies with biopsies every 6 to 12 months," Grendell said. But anyone with chronic GERD symptoms should take precautions, too. "Patients with GERD symptoms occurring once a week or more should consult their doctors for advice on the treatment of GERD and for a recommendation concerning the need for endoscopic screening for Barrett's esophagus based on their specific risk factors," Grendell said. 
 &nbsp; 
 &nbsp; 
<h4> Gastroenterologists</h4> 
 &nbsp; 
 Dr. Robert S. Bartolomeo 
 1103 Stewart Ave., Ste. 300 
 <a href="/topics//Garden_City,_NY">Garden City</a> 
 516-248-3737 
 Dr. David E. Bernstein 
 North Shore Univ. Hospital 
 Div. Gastroenterology 
 300 Community Dr. 
 <a href="/topics//Manhasset,_NY">Manhasset</a> 
 516-562-4281 
 Dr. Meyer Blumstein 
 158 <a href="/topics//Hempstead,_NY">Hempstead</a> Ave. 
 <a href="/topics//Lynbrook,_NY">Lynbrook</a> 
 516-593-3541 
 Dr. William Caccese 
 700 Old Country Rd., Ste. 104 
 <a href="/topics//Plainview,_NY">Plainview</a> 
 516-681-1200 
 Dr. Maurice A. Cerulli 
 270-05 76th Ave., Rm. B202 
 <a href="/topics//New_Hyde_Park,_NY">New Hyde Park</a> 
 718-470-7281 
 Dr. William J. Cohn 
 3400 <a href="/topics//Nesconset,_NY">Nesconset</a> Hwy. 
 Ste. 101 
 <a href="/topics//East_Setauket,_NY">East Setauket</a> 
 631-751-8700 
 Dr. Bethany S. DeVito 
 North Shore Univ. Hospital 
 4 Levitt Pavilion 
 300 Community Dr. 
 <a href="/topics//Manhasset,_NY">Manhasset</a> 
 516-562-4281 
 Dr. Joseph M. Duva 
 887 Old Country Rd. 
 Ste. A 
 Riverhead 
 631-727-6122 
 Dr. David Eskreis 
 2001 Marcus Ave. 
 Ste. W85 
 <a href="/topics//Lake_Success,_NY">Lake Success</a> 
 516-326-2700 
 Dr. Charles Farber 
 146A Manetto Hill Rd. 
 Ste. 205 
 <a href="/topics//Plainview,_NY">Plainview</a> 
 516-822-4404 
 Dr. Barry Glanzman 
 152 E. Main St., Ste. C 
 Huntington 
 631-421-2185 
 Dr. Lester Goldblum 
 850 <a href="/topics//Hicksville,_NY">Hicksville</a> Rd., Ste. 100 
 Seaford 
 516-796-9000 
 Dr. Ira S. Goldman 
 310 E. Shore Rd., Ste. 206 
 <a href="/topics//Great_Neck,_NY">Great Neck</a> 
 516-487-7677 
 Dr. Perry M. Gould 
 1103 Stewart Ave., Ste. 300 
 <a href="/topics//Garden_City,_NY">Garden City</a> 
 516-248-3737 
 Dr. Ronald Greenberg 
 270-05 76th Ave., Rm. B 202 
 <a href="/topics//New_Hyde_Park,_NY">New Hyde Park</a> 
 718-470-7281 
 Dr. James H. Grendell 
 222 Station Plaza N. 
 Ste. 428 
 <a href="/topics//Mineola,_NY">Mineola</a> 
 516-663-2066 
 Dr. Aaron R. Harrison 
 375 E. Main St., Ste. 21 
 Bay Shore 
 631-968-8288 
 Dr. Seymour Katz 
 1000 Northern Blvd. 
 Ste. 140 
 <a href="/topics//Great_Neck,_NY">Great Neck</a> 
 516-466-2340 
 Dr. Robert Lazar 
 48 Route 25A, Ste. 107 
 <a href="/topics//Smithtown,_NY">Smithtown</a> 
 631-862-3680 
 Dr. Matthew McKinley 
 2800 Marcus Ave., Ste. 201 
 <a href="/topics//Lake_Success,_NY">Lake Success</a> 
 516-622-6076 
 Dr. Seth Miller 
 206 West Park Ave. 
 Long Beach; 516-432-8021 
 Dr. Perry J. Milman 
 2001 Marcus Ave., Ste. N18 
 Lake Success 
 516-775-7770 
 Dr. Gary Schwartz 
 1103 Stewart Ave., Ste. 300 
 Garden City 
 516-248-3737 
 Dr. Alan Spielberg 
 48 Route 25A, Ste. 203 
 Smithtown 
 631-724-1178 
 Dr. Arthur L. Talansky 
 233 E. Shore Rd., Ste. 101 
 Great Neck; 516-487-2444 
 Dr. Gary S. Weissman 
 2800 Marcus Ave., Ste. 201 
 Lake Success 
 516-622-6076 
 &nbsp; 
 &nbsp; 
<h4> How they were picked</h4> 
 &nbsp; 
 Castle Connolly Medical Ltd. is a health-care research and information company founded in 1991 by a former medical college board chairman and president to help guide consumers to America's top doctors and top hospitals. Castle Connolly's established survey and research process, under the direction of a doctor, involves tens of thousands of top doctors and the medical leadership of leading hospitals. 
 Castle Connolly's physician-led team of researchers follows a rigorous screening process to select top doctors on both the national and regional levels. Its online nominations process -- located at castleconnolly.com/ nominations -- is open to all licensed physicians in America who are able to nominate physicians in any medical specialty and in any part of the country, as well as indicate whether the nominated physician is, in their opinion, among the best in their region in their medical specialty or among the best in the nation in their medical specialty. 
 Careful screening of doctors' educational and professional experience is essential before final selection is made among those physicians most highly regarded by their peers. The result -- Castle Connolly identifies the top doctors in America and provides the consumer with detailed information about their education, training and special expertise in their paperback guides, national and regional magazine "Top Doctors" features and online directories. Doctors do not and cannot pay to be selected and profiled as Castle Connolly Top Doctors. (Newsday is not part of the selection process.) 
 Physicians selected for inclusion in this "Top Doctors" feature may also appear as Regional Top Doctors online at castleconnolly.com, or in one of Castle Connolly's Top Doctors guides, such as America's Top Doctors® or America's Top Doctors® for Cancer. 
 &nbsp; 
 &nbsp; 
<h4> To see the whole list . . .</h4> 
 &nbsp; 
 Who else is on the list of Top Doctors? More than 6,000 listings are in the New York Metro Area edition of "Top Doctors," published by Castle Connolly Medical Ltd. The softcover list price is $34.95. For more information, go to castleconnolly.com, or call 800-399-DOCS.

HSMAIN04.WEB

Top Docs: 5 facts about Barrett's esophagus

Many people with eye issues have thought for years that contact lenses weren't for them. But they might want to think again. 
 Here's what you need to know about today's contact lenses: 
 &nbsp; 
 1. MULTIFOCAL LENSES OFFER NEW OPTIONS FOR THOSE MIDDLE-AGED AND BEYOND 
 Once you reach age 40 or so, many contact lens wearers with nearsightedness -- meaning they have difficulty seeing things at a distance -- discover that they now have trouble reading up close, too. For some, that means having to wear reading glasses in addition to their contacts, which largely defeats the purpose. 
 "Now, there are blended contact lenses that people can wear for both distance and close-up vision," said Dr. Leslie Goldberg, director of ophthalmology at St. Francis Hospital and an eye surgeon based in <a href="/topics//Manhasset,_NY">Manhasset</a>. 
 These lenses are known as bifocal or multifocal lenses because they allow two or more levels of vision correction. 
 &nbsp; 
 2. SOFT LENSES ARE AVAILABLE TO CORRECT ASTIGMATISM 
 Astigmatism, a condition that causes blurred vision, has long been difficult to correct through contact lenses, especially the widely favored soft ones. 
 But today, more soft contact lenses -- including daily disposables -- are available to treat astigmatism, Goldberg said. However, their availability still may be limited by a particular person's prescription. 
 Daily disposable lenses, for example, aren't available for some people who need higher levels of correction, he said, because there aren't enough people with those prescription levels for contact lens manufacturers to sell the lenses at a high volume. 
 &nbsp; 
 3. CONTACT LENSES CAN COMBAT DRYNESS 
 Though some people can't wear contact lenses because their eyes are naturally too dry and become irritated by the contacts, "there are several new materials and designs which incorporate a lubricating agent within the lens or other treatments that can improve the long-term 'wetability,' " Goldberg said. "Dryness is less of a problem, and some people who couldn't have previously been able to wear contacts can wear them." 
 However, dryness still can be troublesome for some contact lens wearers, cautioned Dr. Gerard D'Aversa, an ophthalmologist in <a href="/topics//Valley_Stream,_NY">Valley Stream</a>. "The contacts need to float on the surface of the eye for them to function properly," he explained. "Patients that have a dry eye syndrome could have difficulty wearing the contacts and, in turn, could have complications from the contacts mechanically rubbing up against the surface of the cornea without proper lubrication being present." 
 &nbsp; 
 4. DON'T WEAR YOUR LENSES OVERNIGHT 
 "We see the most <a href="/topics//Common_(musician)">common</a> problems related to contacts in patients who sleep with the contacts overnight," D'Aversa said. 
 "The contact lens is placed on the cornea at the front of the eye," he said. "This structure receives its oxygen and nutrients from the tear layer covering the cornea. Contacts slow or may prevent the flow of oxygen and nutrients 
 from being absorbed by the cornea. This leads to a breakdown of the corneal surface, which, in turn, can lead to infections of the cornea and ultimately scar tissue formation and loss of vision." 
 To prevent this from happening, it's crucial to allow the cornea "to breathe," he said, by giving it a break from contacts. 
 &nbsp; 
 5. DAILY DISPOSABLES REMAIN THE SAFEST LENSES 
 To reduce the chances of developing an eye infection, ophthalmologists recommend that contact lenses be worn for the shortest time possible. The best way to do that is to put in new lenses each day, they say. 
 Dr. Pamela Weber, an ophthalmologist in <a href="/topics//Commack,_NY">Commack</a> and <a href="/topics//Shirley,_NY">Shirley</a> who specializes in retina disorders, said that daily disposable lenses don't require chemical disinfection or cleaning, nor do they need to be stored in contact lens cases that can become contaminated. 
 She suggested that people who don't have daily disposable lenses replace their lens cases every month to avoid contamination. 
 And if you feel an eye irritation, Weber said, contact your eye doctor right away because you could have an infection. "Don't hold off," she said -- and be sure to take the lens with you to your appointment so your doctor can inspect it. 
 This is the 23rd installment of a 26-week series in which Newsday presents Castle Connolly's list of top <a href="/topics//Long_Island,_NY">Long Island</a> doctors. 
 &nbsp; 
<h3> Ophthalmologists</h3> 
 &nbsp; 
 Dr. Philip Aries 
 375 E. Main St., Rm. 24 
 Bay Shore; 631-665-1330 
 Dr. Stanley J. Berke 
 901 Stewart Ave., Ste. 255 
 <a href="/topics//Garden_City,_NY">Garden City</a> 
 516-794-2020 
 Dr. Vivien Boniuk 
 600 Northern Blvd. 
 Ste. 214 
 <a href="/topics//Great_Neck,_NY">Great Neck</a> 
 516-470-2020 
 Dr. Robert Broderick 
 585 Plandome Rd., Ste. 104 
 <a href="/topics//Manhasset,_NY">Manhasset</a>; 516-627-3232 
 Dr. Alfred J. Cossari Jr. 
 311 Barnum Ave. 
 Port Jefferson 
 631-928-6400 
 Dr. Gerard D'Aversa 
 65 Roosevelt Ave. 
 Rm 204 
 <a href="/topics//Valley_Stream,_NY">Valley Stream</a> 
 516-374-4199 
 Dr. Frank Di Leo 
 365 County Rd. 39A 
 Ste. 2 
 Southampton 
 631-283-3677 
 Dr. Fadi Elbaba 
 33 Research Way 
 Ste. 13 
 <a href="/topics//East_Setauket,_NY">East Setauket</a> 
 631-444-4090 
 Dr. David M. Fastenberg 
 600 Northern Blvd. 
 Rm. 216 
 <a href="/topics//Great_Neck,_NY">Great Neck</a> 
 516-466-0390 
 Dr. Philip J. Ferrone 
 600 Northern Blvd., Ste. 216 
 <a href="/topics//Great_Neck,_NY">Great Neck</a> 
 516-466-0390 
 Dr. Perry Garber 
 800 Community Dr. 
 <a href="/topics//Manhasset,_NY">Manhasset</a> 
 516-627-6630 
 Dr. Anthony Girardi 
 8 Medical Plaza, Bldg. 8 
 Glen Cove; 516-676-4596 
 Dr. Leslie P. Goldberg 
 2110 Northern Blvd. 
 Ste. 208 
 <a href="/topics//Manhasset,_NY">Manhasset</a> 
 516-627-5113 
 Dr. Alexander Hatsis 
 2 Lincoln Ave., Ste. 401 
 <a href="/topics//Rockville_Centre,_NY">Rockville Centre</a> 
 516-763-4106 
 Dr. William S. Kasper 
 520 Franklin Ave. 
 Ste. L9 
 <a href="/topics//Garden_City,_NY">Garden City</a> 
 516-742-3937 
 Dr. Sajid Malik 
 <a href="/topics//Woodbury,_NY">Woodbury</a> Optical 
 185 <a href="/topics//Woodbury,_NY">Woodbury</a> Rd. 
 Hicksville 
 516-681-3937 
 Dr. Alan B. Marks 
 2110 Northern Blvd. 
 Ste. 208 
 Manhasset; 516-627-5113 
 Dr. Jeffrey Martin 
 260 Middle Country Rd., Ste. 201 
 <a href="/topics//Smithtown,_NY">Smithtown</a>; 631-265-8780 
 Dr. Robert P. Morris 
 222 E. Main St., Ste. 330 
 <a href="/topics//Smithtown,_NY">Smithtown</a> 
 631-724-4488 
 Dr. Richard J. Nattis 
 500 W. Main St., Ste. 210 
 Babylon; 631-957-3355 
 Dr. David B. Nelson 
 2000 N. Village Ave. 
 Ste. 402 
 <a href="/topics//Rockville_Centre,_NY">Rockville Centre</a> 
 516-766-2519 
 Dr. Grace M. O'Malley 
 186 Old Towne Rd. 
 Southampton 631-283-3533 
 Dr. Samuel Packer 
 600 Northern Blvd. 
 Ste. 214 
 <a href="/topics//Great_Neck,_NY">Great Neck</a> 
 516-465-8400 
 Dr. Henry Perry 
 2000 N. Village Ave. 
 Ste. 402 
 <a href="/topics//Rockville_Centre,_NY">Rockville Centre</a> 
 516-766-2519 
 Dr. Louis Pizzarello 
 137 Hampton Rd. 
 Southampton 
 631-283-5152 
 Dr. Arnold S. Prywes 
 4212 <a href="/topics//Hempstead,_NY">Hempstead</a> Tpke. 
 <a href="/topics//Bethpage_State_Park,_NY">Bethpage</a>; 516-731-4800 
 Dr. John Romanelli 
 222 E. Main St., Ste. 330 
 <a href="/topics//Smithtown,_NY">Smithtown</a> 
 631-724-4488 
 Dr. Kenneth J. Rosenthal 
 310 E. Shore Rd. 
 Rm. 102 
 Great Neck 
 516-466-8989 
 Dr. Charles Rothberg 
 331 E. Main St. 
 Patchogue 
 631-758-5300 
 Dr. Laurence Rubin 
 Mid-Island Eye 
 Physicians &amp; Surgeons 
 4277 <a href="/topics//Hempstead,_NY">Hempstead</a> Tpke., Ste. 109 
 <a href="/topics//Bethpage_State_Park,_NY">Bethpage</a>; 516-796-4030 
 Dr. Steven E. Rubin 
 600 Northern Blvd. 
 Ste. 220 
 Great Neck 
 516-465-8444 
 Dr. David A. Schlessinger 
 75 Froehlich Farm Blvd. 
 <a href="/topics//Woodbury,_NY">Woodbury</a> 
 516-496-2122 
 Dr. Gideon Schneck 
 2500 Nesconset Hwy. 17B 
 Stony Brook 
 631-246-9140 
 Dr. Patrick A. Sibony 
 Stony Brook Ophthalmology 
 33 Research Way, Ste. 13 
 <a href="/topics//East_Setauket,_NY">East Setauket</a>; 631-444-4090 
 Dr. Richard T. Sturm 
 360 Merrick Rd., Fl. 3 
 Lynbrook 
 516-593-7709 
 Dr. Paul Svitra 
 3003 <a href="/topics//New_Hyde_Park,_NY">New Hyde Park</a> Rd., Ste. 203 
 <a href="/topics//New_Hyde_Park,_NY">New Hyde Park</a> 
 516-327-0505 
 Dr. Ira J. Udell 
 LI Jewish Med. Center 
 Dept. Ophthalmology 
 600 Northern Blvd. 
 Ste. 218 
 Great Neck 
 516-470-2020 
 Dr. Pamela Weber 
 1500 William Floyd Pkwy., Ste. 304 
 <a href="/topics//Shirley,_NY">Shirley</a>; 631-924-4300 
 Dr. Joseph Weinstein 
 4212 <a href="/topics//Hempstead,_NY">Hempstead</a> Tpke. 
 Eye Care Assoc. 
 <a href="/topics//Bethpage_State_Park,_NY">Bethpage</a>; 516-731-4800 
 Dr. Lawrence Zweibel 
 260 Middle Country Rd. 
 Ste. 201 
 <a href="/topics//Smithtown,_NY">Smithtown</a> 
 631-265-8780

HSCOV27.WEB

Top Docs: 5 fast facts about contact lenses

This time of year, any mention of infectious disease usually brings to mind the flu. But plenty of other germs are worth worrying about, too. 
 Here's what you need to know about five infectious diseases: 
 &nbsp; 
 &nbsp; 
<h3> 1. FLU IS NOT TO BE SNEEZED AT</h3> 
 &nbsp; 
 Flu is nothing to take lightly. It can lead to serious complications and death. But it's difficult to diagnose because it can appear to be a <a href="/topics//Common_(musician)">common</a> cold. 
 "The classic symptoms are fever, chills, sore throat, headache and muscle aches and pains," said Dr. Bernard Nash, an infectious disease specialist in <a href="/topics//West_Islip,_NY">West Islip</a> and a professor of medicine at the Hofstra North Shore-LIJ School of Medicine. "In the typical <a href="/topics//Case_Western_Reserve_University">case</a> of influenza, the illness lasts several days, and the vast majority of people recover. However, as was seen with the new <a href="/topics//H1N1">H1N1</a> strain that appeared in 2009 and the possibility of a new strain developing every year, it can cause severe illness and death." 
 Seek medical assistance if you have a high fever (101 degrees or greater), shaking, chills and aches and pains along with the fever, and a decline in appetite or ability to drink, said Dr. Joseph Cervia, an infectious disease specialist and director of the Comprehensive HIV Care and Research Center at <a href="/topics//Long_Island_Jewish_Medical_Center">Long Island Jewish Medical Center</a> in <a href="/topics//New_Hyde_Park,_NY">New Hyde Park</a>. 
 To prevent flu, physicians recommend people in a long list of risk groups -- which includes those older than 65, pregnant women, people with <a href="/topics//Asthma">asthma</a> and those with diabetes -- get a flu vaccine, Nash said. But anyone who wants to keep from getting the flu should consider one too, he said. Be aware, however, that the vaccine takes 10 to 14 days to take effect, said Dr. Bruce E. Hirsch, an attending physician in infectious diseases at North Shore University Hospital, "so one can still get the flu right after the vaccine." 
 &nbsp; 
 &nbsp; 
<h3> 2. MRSA CAN LOOK LIKE A SPIDER BITE</h3> 
 &nbsp; 
 Better known as MRSA, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus is a potentially deadly kind of staph infection that used to be found mainly in hospitals. Now, however, people in the wider community often become infected with it. It's caused by bacteria that have become resistant to antibiotics. 
 "The typical presentation is an abscess that looks like a spider bite," Nash said. "The likelihood of a spider bite on <a href="/topics//Long_Island,_NY">Long Island</a> is very low. In fact, if someone says they were bitten by a spider, it is more likely that they have a MRSA infection." 
 If you develop a suspicious abscess, "it is important to seek medical care and get on appropriate antibiotics -- usually a sulfa drug or tetracycline -- and avoid squeezing the abscess," he said. The most danger comes if the bacteria spread from the skin into the bloodstream, lungs, heart, bones or joints, as this can lead to life-threatening infections. 
 Be aware that it's a skin infection that can spread through families, sports teams and children through poor hygiene, Nash said. "A good antiseptic soap and adherence to good hygiene is the best prevention." 
 &nbsp; 
 &nbsp; 
<h3> 3. SHINGLES VACCINE RECOMMENDED IF YOU'RE OVER 60</h3> 
 &nbsp; 
 If you're older than 50 and had chickenpox as a kid, shingles should be on your radar. The dormant virus can make a return appearance, causing skin rashes and plenty of pain. 
 "It's an extremely painful and debilitating condition, and it can become a source of chronic pain," Cervia said. He recommends that people 60 and older get a vaccination that prevents shingles. 
 Nash also recommends the vaccine. "It has been shown to reduce the likelihood of getting shingles by 50 percent and the severe pain after by two-thirds," he said. "It is a very beneficial vaccine that can prevent much suffering." 
 &nbsp; 
 &nbsp; 
<h3> 4. PERTUSSIS IS NOT JUST FOR KIDS</h3> 
 &nbsp; 
 Whooping cough -- also known as pertussis or the "100-days cough" -- is no longer a disease only of the very young. It now affects adults, too, Nash said. No one is sure quite why. 
 "It classically presents as a typical cold, but over a week, severe coughing spells develop with the characteristic whoop heard as you breathe in all the air that was expelled from your lung from the severe coughing," he said. "It can cause severe fatigue due to coughing and is highly contagious." 
 Newborns and unvaccinated people suffer the most harmful effects from the disease, which can be fatal, Nash noted. "The number of cases on <a href="/topics//Long_Island,_NY">Long Island</a> has increased over the last several years and has caused local outbreaks," he said. "It is now highly recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that all susceptible people get vaccinated." 
 To Nash, that means all adults. "Because most of us have lost our immunity to pertussis, it is important that everyone get a one-time booster of the adult formulation of the Tdap vaccine," he explained. "This is a dead vaccine that not only protects us against tetanus and diphtheria but also pertussis." The CDC urges that all adults, even those who were vaccinated in childhood or have had pertussis, get a Tdap booster, no matter when they got their last tetanus shot. 
 It's especially important for grandparents to get vaccinated, Nash added, because they often care for newborns when parents work. 
 &nbsp; 
 &nbsp; 
<h3> 5. C. DIFFICILE COLITIS 'ALMOST EPIDEMIC'</h3> 
 &nbsp; 
 Clostridium difficile colitis, or C. difficile, which causes diarrhea and can lead to life-threatening complications, is becoming more <a href="/topics//Common_(musician)">common</a> and "is almost at epidemic proportions," Nash said. The reason, he said, is overuse of antibiotics, which has allowed bacteria to develop resistance. 
 The condition can be tough to treat and recurs about 25 percent of the time. "I have taken care of many patients who have had multiple recurrences and require treatment with medication that can last for months to several years," he said. 
 For prevention's sake, don't push doctors to prescribe antibiotics, Nash said. "Most of the time, a good exam to rule out a bacterial infection and reassurance is all that is needed." 
 &nbsp; 
 &nbsp; 
<h4> Hematologists, pathologists, infectious disease specialists</h4> 
 &nbsp; 
 HEMATOLOGY 
 Dr. Steven Lee Allen 
 Monter <a href="/topics//Cancer">Cancer</a> Ctr. 
 450 Lakeville Rd. 
 <a href="/topics//Lake_Success,_NY">Lake Success</a> 
 516-734-8959 
 Dr. Louis Avvento 
 1333 E. Main St. 
 Riverhead 
 631-727-8500 
 Dr. Jonathan E. Kolitz 
 450 Lakeville Rd. 
 <a href="/topics//Lake_Success,_NY">Lake Success</a> 
 516-734-8970 
 Dr. Kanti R. Rai 
 LI-Jewish Medical Ctr. 
 Div. of Hematology-Oncology 
 410 Lakeville Rd. 
 Ste. 212 
 <a href="/topics//New_Hyde_Park,_NY">New Hyde Park</a> 
 718-470-4050 
 Dr. Philip Schulman 
 Memorial Sloan 
 Kettering at Suffolk 
 650 <a href="/topics//Commack,_NY">Commack</a> Rd. 
 <a href="/topics//Commack,_NY">Commack</a>; 631-623-4100 
 Dr. Michael W. Schuster 
 Stony Brook Univ. Med. Ctr. 
 HSC T-18, Room 030, Z-8183 
 Stony Brook; 631-444-3577 
 Dr. Harry Staszewski 
 200 Old Country Rd., Ste. 450 
 <a href="/topics//Mineola,_NY">Mineola</a>; 516-663-9500 
 INFECTIOUS DISEASE 
 Dr. Joseph S. Cervia 
 North Shore-LIJ Health System 
 400 Community Dr. 
 <a href="/topics//Manhasset,_NY">Manhasset</a>; 516-562-4280 
 Dr. Burke A. Cunha 
 222 Station Plz. N, Ste. 432 
 <a href="/topics//Mineola,_NY">Mineola</a>; 516-663-2507 
 Dr. Bruce Farber 
 North Shore-LIJ Health System 
 Div. Infectious Disease 
 400 Community Dr. 
 <a href="/topics//Manhasset,_NY">Manhasset</a>; 516-562-4280 
 Dr. Joel Greenspan 
 44 S. Bayles Ave., Ste. 216 
 Port Washington; 516-767-7771 
 Dr. Bruce E. Hirsch 
 North Shore-LIJ Health System 
 Div. Infectious Disease 
 400 Community Dr. 
 Manhasset; 516-562-4280 
 Dr. Diane H. Johnson 
 222 Station Plaza N., Ste. 432 
 Mineola; 516-663-2507 
 Dr. Natalie Klein 
 222 Station Plaza N., Ste. 432 
 Mineola; 516-663-2507 
 Dr. Joseph McGowan 
 North Shore-LIJ Health System 
 Div. Infectious Disease 
 400 Community Dr. 
 Manhasset; 516-562-4280 
 Dr. Bernard J. Nash 
 500 <a href="/topics//Montauk,_NY">Montauk</a> Hwy., Ste. S 
 <a href="/topics//West_Islip,_NY">West Islip</a>; 631-587-7733 
 Dr. Anne C. Sacks-Berg 
 120 New York Ave., Ste. 5W 
 Huntington; 631-423-9809 
 Dr. Steven Samuels 
 500 <a href="/topics//Montauk,_NY">Montauk</a> Hwy., Ste. S 
 West <a href="/topics//Islip,_NY">Islip</a>; 631-587-7733 
 Dr. Max Scheer 
 15 Irving Pl. 
 Woodmere; 516-374-6750 
 PATHOLOGY 
 Dr. James M. Crawford 
 North Shore-LIJ Laboratories 
 10 Nevada Dr. 
 Lake Success; 516-719-1060 
 Dr. Michael John Esposito 
 6 <a href="/topics//Ohio">Ohio</a> Dr., Ste. 202 
 Lake Success; 516-304-7271 
 Dr. Leonard B. Kahn 
 6 <a href="/topics//Ohio">Ohio</a> Dr., Ste. 202 
 Lake Success; 516-304-7264 
 Dr. Alice Laser 
 6 Ohio Dr., Ste. 202 
 Lake Success; 516-304-7284 
 Dr. Carmen Tornos 
 Stony Brook Univ. Med. Center 
 Dept. Pathology 
 Level 2, Rm. 749 
 Stony Brook; 631-444-2222 
 &nbsp; 
 &nbsp; 
<h4> How they were picked</h4> 
 &nbsp; 
 Castle Connolly Medical Ltd. is a health-care research and information company founded in 1991 by a former medical college board chairman and president to help guide consumers to America's top doctors and top hospitals. Castle Connolly's established survey and research process, under the direction of a doctor, involves tens of thousands of top doctors and the medical leadership of leading hospitals. 
 Castle Connolly's physician-led team of researchers follows a rigorous screening process to select top doctors on both the national and regional levels. Its online nominations process -- located at castleconnolly.com/ nominations -- is open to all licensed physicians in America who are able to nominate physicians in any medical specialty and in any part of the country, as well as indicate whether the nominated physician is, in their opinion, among the best in their region in their medical specialty or among the best in the nation in their medical specialty. 
 Careful screening of doctors' educational and professional experience is essential before final selection is made among those physicians most highly regarded by their peers. The result -- Castle Connolly identifies the top doctors in America and provides the consumer with detailed information about their education, training and special expertise in their paperback guides, national and regional magazine "Top Doctors" features and online directories. Doctors do not and cannot pay to be selected and profiled as Castle Connolly Top Doctors. (Newsday is not part of the selection process.) 
 Physicians selected for inclusion in this "Top Doctors" feature may also appear as Regional Top Doctors online at castleconnolly.com, or in one of Castle Connolly's Top Doctors guides, such as America's Top Doctors® or America's Top Doctors® for <a href="/topics//Cancer">Cancer</a>. 
 &nbsp; 
 &nbsp; 
<h4> To see the whole list . . .</h4> 
 &nbsp; 
 Who else is on the list of Top Doctors? More than 6,000 listings are in the New York Metro Area edition of "Top Doctors," published by Castle Connolly Medical Ltd. The softcover list price is $34.95. For more information, go to castleconnolly.com, or call 800-399-DOCS.

HSMAIN20.WEB

Top Docs: 5 facts about infectious disease

Talk about pressure. A sinus infection can make your head feel like it's going to burst open. But the wide array of possible treatments -- from neti pots and decongestants to nasal sprays and antibiotics -- can be mighty complicated. 
 Here's what you need to know: 
 &nbsp; 
 &nbsp; 
<h3> 1. SINUS INFECTIONS <a href="/topics//Australian_Capital_Territory">ACT</a> DIFFERENTLY THAN COLDS</h3> 
 &nbsp; 
 How do you know if you're suffering from a cold or a sinus infection? Pay attention to symptoms. "Colds tend to be briefer and less intense and involve the nose, not the sinuses," said Dr. Raymond Soletic, an otolaryngologist, or ear, nose and throat specialist, based in <a href="/topics//Manhasset,_NY">Manhasset</a>, and an attending physician at St. Francis Hospital Heart Center. 
 "People with sinus infections have more pain and pressure, more nasal secretions," Soletic said. "And instead of lasting for a few days, a sinus infection can last from days to weeks to months." 
 There are other signs, too. They can include swelling, a runny nose with yellow or green mucus and perhaps a fever or headache, said Dr. Louis M. Rosner, an otolaryngologist in <a href="/topics//Rockville_Centre,_NY">Rockville Centre</a> and director of the department of otolaryngology at South <a href="/topics//Nassau_County,_NY">Nassau</a> Communities Hospital in <a href="/topics//Oceanside,_NY">Oceanside</a>. 
 Anyone who has these symptoms longer than 10 days should see a doctor, he said. 
 &nbsp; 
 &nbsp; 
<h3> 2. BE CAREFUL IF YOU FLUSH YOUR SINUSES</h3> 
 &nbsp; 
 Drugstores sell "neti pots" and other inexpensive nasal-irrigation devices that are used to flush the sinuses -- not just the nose -- with salt water. Both Rosner and Soletic recommend flushing. 
 "It's a cleansing process that washes out mucus," Soletic said. "It can cleanse the nose, reduce the intensity of the infection and also hopefully shorten the duration." 
 Make sure the water is warm, around room temperature, and use the saline packets that come with the devices to avoid irritating the nose, he said. 
 Soletic advises patients to use only an eighth of an ounce, or three-quarters of a teaspoon of water. Many people prefer that because "they don't feel like they're sticking their head underwater," he said. And he suggests using a nasal aspirator, a kind of syringe designed for infants and sold over-the-counter. 
 Two <a href="/topics//Louisiana">Louisiana</a> residents died last year after developing a rare brain infection caused by an amoeba that entered the body through the nose after they used neti pots filled with tap water. Jonathan Yoder, coordinator of waterborne diseases and outbreak surveillance with the U.S. <a href="/topics//Centers_for_Disease_Control_and_Prevention">Centers for Disease Control and Prevention</a>, recommends that only boiled or filtered water be used in neti pots. 
 &nbsp; 
 &nbsp; 
<h3> 3. USE DECONGESTANTS ONLY BRIEFLY</h3> 
 &nbsp; 
 Over-the-counter decongestant sprays can clear the sinuses, but doctors advise that they be used only briefly. "They'll help you over the worst part, but over two to three days, your nose will become addicted to them," Rosner said. 
 The decongestants constrict blood vessels, which reduces fluid in the nasal passages and makes breathing easier on a temporary basis, he said. But if you use a decongestant for more than a day, the nasal tissues develop tolerance to the decongestants and need a bigger dose to get the same effect. "You're forced to keep using the spray throughout the day," he said. 
 &nbsp; 
 &nbsp; 
<h3> 4. SALINE SPRAYS AND OVER-THE-COUNTER DRUGS CAN HELP</h3> 
 &nbsp; 
 Though decongestant nasal sprays can spell trouble, saline nasal sprays are innocuous, said Rosner, who added that people can use them frequently to flush their nasal passages and keep them moist. 
 "You want to keep the mucus flowing. You don't want to shut down," he said. "Sometimes, people say you have to stop the mucus completely. But remember that the body is trying to clear itself of whatever toxins are getting into the nose. There has to be some flow." 
 Rosner also recommends the cold-and-sinus products by Tylenol and Advil because they don't cause addiction or the rebound effects that nasal decongestants can. 
 &nbsp; 
 &nbsp; 
<h3> 5. BE AWARE OF ANTIBIOTIC SIDE EFFECTS</h3> 
 &nbsp; 
 "The body has an amazing capability to fight off an infection, so you don't always need an antibiotic," Rosner said. "Most cases of acute sinus infections will resolve with simple hydration, nasal sprays or irrigation and just taking care of yourself." But he said that antibiotics are needed if the infection lasts beyond 10 days. 
 However, antibiotics can cause side effects. Soletic warns that people taking antibiotics should stop taking them and contact a doctor if they start having headaches, stomach discomfort or diarrhea, or muscle or joint pain. 
 &nbsp; 
 &nbsp; 
<h4> Otolaryngologists</h4> 
 &nbsp; 
 Dr. Anthony J. Durante 
 134 <a href="/topics//Mineola,_NY">Mineola</a> Blvd. 
 Ste. 201 
 <a href="/topics//Mineola,_NY">Mineola</a> 
 516-294-9363 
 Dr. Douglas K. Frank 
 430 Lakeville Rd. 
 <a href="/topics//New_Hyde_Park,_NY">New Hyde Park</a> 
 718-470-7552 
 Dr. Robert M. Gargano 
 375 E. Main St., Rm. 17 
 <a href="/topics//Bay_Shore,_NY">Bay Shore</a> 
 631-665-2430 
 Dr. Michael A. Gordon 
 990 Stewart Ave., Ste. 610 
 <a href="/topics//Garden_City,_NY">Garden City</a> 
 516-222-1881 
 Dr. John Grosso 
 875 Old Country Rd. 
 Ste. 200 
 <a href="/topics//Plainview,_NY">Plainview</a> 
 516-931-5552 
 Dr. Andrew A. Jacono 
 440 Northern Blvd. 
 <a href="/topics//Great_Neck,_NY">Great Neck</a> 
 516-773-4646 
 Dr. Richard Litman 
 251 E. Oakland Ave. 
 <a href="/topics//Port_Jefferson,_NY">Port Jefferson</a> 
 631-928-0188 
 Dr. Kenneth Mattucci 
 29 Barstow Rd., Ste. 203 
 <a href="/topics//Great_Neck,_NY">Great Neck</a> 
 516-482-7960 
 Dr. Idel Moisa 
 3 School St., Rm. 304 
 <a href="/topics//Glen_Cove,_NY">Glen Cove</a> 
 516-671-0085 
 Dr. Philip W. Perlman 
 Progressive Ear, Nose &amp; Throat Assocs. 
 333 E. Shore Rd., Ste. 102 
 <a href="/topics//Manhasset,_NY">Manhasset</a> 
 516-466-5100 
 Dr. Louis M. Rosner 
 176 N. Village Ave., Ste. 1A 
 <a href="/topics//Rockville_Centre,_NY">Rockville Centre</a> 
 516-678-0303 
 Dr. Michael Setzen 
 600 Northern Blvd., Ste. 312 
 Great Neck 
 516-829-0045 
 Dr. Mark J. Shikowitz 
 Hearing &amp; Speech Bldg. 
 430 Lakeville Rd. 
 <a href="/topics//New_Hyde_Park,_NY">New Hyde Park</a> 
 718-470-7550 
 Dr. Raymond Soletic 
 1615 Northern Blvd., Ste. 201 
 Manhasset 
 516-365-7952 
 Dr. Bernard Tawfik 
 3 School St., Ste. 304 
 <a href="/topics//Glen_Cove,_NY">Glen Cove</a> 
 516-671-0085 
 Dr. Andrea Vambutas 
 Hearing and Speech Ctr. 
 430 Lakeville Rd. 
 New Hyde Park 
 516-470-7955 
 Dr. Jay Youngerman 
 875 Old Country Rd. 
 Ste. 200 
 <a href="/topics//Plainview,_NY">Plainview</a> 
 516-931-5552 
 Dr. Gerald Zahtz 
 430 Lakeville Rd. 
 New Hyde Park 
 718-470-7554 
 Dr. Warren H. Zelman 
 990 Stewart Ave. 
 Ste. 610 
 <a href="/topics//Garden_City,_NY">Garden City</a> 
 516-739-3999 
 &nbsp; 
 &nbsp; 
<h4> How they were picked</h4> 
 &nbsp; 
 Castle Connolly Medical Ltd. is a health-care research and information company founded in 1991 by a former medical college board chairman and president to help guide consumers to America's top doctors and top hospitals. Castle Connolly's established survey and research process, under the direction of a doctor, involves tens of thousands of top doctors and the medical leadership of leading hospitals. 
 Castle Connolly's physician-led team of researchers follows a rigorous screening process to select top doctors on both the national and regional levels. Its online nominations process -- located at castleconnolly.com/ nominations -- is open to all licensed physicians in America who are able to nominate physicians in any medical specialty and in any part of the country, as well as indicate whether the nominated physician is, in their opinion, among the best in their region in their medical specialty or among the best in the nation in their medical specialty. 
 Careful screening of doctors' educational and professional experience is essential before final selection is made among those physicians most highly regarded by their peers. The result -- Castle Connolly identifies the top doctors in America and provides the consumer with detailed information about their education, training and special expertise in its paperback guides, national and regional magazine Top Doctors features and online directories. Doctors do not and cannot pay to be selected and profiled as Castle Connolly Top Doctors. (Newsday is not part of the selection process.) 
 Physicians selected for inclusion in this Top Doctors feature may also appear as Regional Top Doctors online at castleconnolly.com, or in one of Castle Connolly's Top Doctors guides, such as America's Top Doctors® or America's Top Doctors® for Cancer. 
 &nbsp; 
 &nbsp; 
<h4> To see the whole list . . .</h4> 
 &nbsp; 
 Who else is on the list of Top Doctors? More than 6,000 listings are in the New York Metro Area edition of "Top Doctors," published by Castle Connolly Medical Ltd. The softcover list price is $34.95. For more information, go to castleconnolly.com, or call 800-399-DOCS.

HSMAIN13.WEB

Top Docs: 5 facts about sinus infections

<a href="/topics//Asthma">Asthma</a> inhalers bring tremendous relief to wheezing patients, and advances in recent decades have made them more effective. But they're also more complicated, requiring careful use. 
 Here's what you need to know about this chronic lung disease: 
 &nbsp; 
 &nbsp; 
<h3> 1. ANY OLD WAY WON'T WORK</h3> 
 &nbsp; 
 Some people simply stick an inhaler in their mouth, trigger it and breathe. But they won't get much <a href="/topics//Benefit_(designer)">benefit</a> if the medicated spray doesn't get to their lungs, cautioned Dr. Michael Niederman, chairman of the department of medicine at Winthrop-University Hospital in <a href="/topics//Mineola,_NY">Mineola</a>. 
 "Ideally, you want them to exhale fully, start to breathe in a stream of air" and then trigger the inhaler, he said. Then, they should hold their breath as long as they can. 
 Plastic "spacer" devices, which are available by prescription, can be attached to an inhaler and allow the spray to more effectively reach the lungs, he said. If you'd like to use one, ask your doctor. 
 If you're using an inhaled steroid, such as Flovent or Pulmicort, or a combination drug like Advair that includes an inhaled steroid, it's important to rinse out your mouth and gargle after each use. That's because use of the drugs can lead to thrush, a yeast infection in the mouth. 
 &nbsp; 
 &nbsp; 
<h3> 2. ASK ABOUT MONITORING YOUR OWN LUNG FUNCTION</h3> 
 &nbsp; 
 For people with breathing issues, a visit to the doctor often includes a lung-function test to determine how much air they're taking in and exhaling. You can do this at home, too, with the help of an inexpensive device known as a peak-flow meter. 
 By breathing into the device, patients can measure their own airflow and determine if their airways are congested, said Dr. Benjamin Leeman, a pulmonologist in <a href="/topics//Valley_Stream,_NY">Valley Stream</a>. The devices help people with <a href="/topics//Asthma">asthma</a> understand their typical level of breathing power and detect if it changes, he said. If the numbers are low for that patient on a particular day, that could be a sign that the person should launch a "pre-emptive strike," Leeman said, and use an inhaler on a preventive basis. 
 &nbsp; 
 &nbsp; 
<h3> 3. CONSIDER A METERED-DOSE INHALER</h3> 
 &nbsp; 
 Some inhalers come with counters that keep track of the number of doses that have been used. These can be useful, Leeman said, because they allow the physician to track how often the patient needs to use the inhaler. 
 "If they get a prescription and come back within a week or two, I can see how much they used," he said. "If they're using them at full throttle, or close to that, they're not well controlled." That could be an indication the patient should be using a different type of inhaler, he said. 
 According to Leeman, it's fine to ask your pulmonologist if an inhaler with a counter is available. 
 &nbsp; 
 &nbsp; 
<h3> 4. NEBULIZERS PROVIDE THE LEAST EFFECT</h3> 
 &nbsp; 
 Some people feel reassured when they use a nebulizer, which creates mist as it delivers <a href="/topics//Asthma">asthma</a> medication to the lungs. But "studies have shown that most of that mist that's being propagated is just going into the room," Leeman said. That means it's not going into your lungs. 
 Nonetheless, Leeman said he does recommend nebulizers for some patients, such as the elderly and disabled, but most people "really <a href="/topics//Benefit_(designer)">benefit</a> from the inhaler" instead. 
 &nbsp; 
 &nbsp; 
<h3> 5. BE AWARE OF RISKS</h3> 
 &nbsp; 
 Inhalers can cause side effects, including some that appear in people with chronic symptoms who use them over the long term -- which Niederman described as anything more than four weeks. 
 Possible side effects of inhaled corticosteroids (like Flovent and Pulmicort), which often are used over the long term, include a cough, hoarseness and thrush in the mouth. 
 Leukotriene modifiers (like Singulair), which also are used long-term, sometimes cause flu-like symptoms. 
 Federal health officials have warned about the use of a type of bronchodilator medication known as long-acting beta-agonists (LABAs), which often are found in combination drugs that also include inhaled corticosteroids (such as Advair and Symbicort). The U.S. <a href="/topics//Food_and_Drug_Administration">Food and Drug Administration</a> requires warning labels on LABAs because they may boost the risk for a worsening of symptoms that can lead to hospitalization and even death. 
 Niederman said it's "not clear" why these drugs have this effect, adding that some people "may use them instead of seeking medical help when they get sick, masking symptoms and delaying appropriate care." He also noted that "the risk is lower if the long-acting beta-agonists are used with inhaled steroids and not alone," which is in line with the <a href="/topics//Food_and_Drug_Administration">FDA</a> warning that LABAs should never be used alone. 
 What to do? "You've got to assess the risks relative to the benefits and get on the lowest dose that's still effective," Niederman said. "For patients who really need this, the benefits have been generally tremendous." That means asthma control -- "fewer attacks, less wheezing, less shortness of breath and better quality of life," he said. "There is also better exercise tolerance." 
 &nbsp; 
 &nbsp; 
<h4> Pulmonary specialists</h4> 
 &nbsp; 
 PULMONARY DISEASE 
 Dr. Daniel Baram 
 70 North Country Rd., Ste. 101 
 <a href="/topics//Port_Jefferson,_NY">Port Jefferson</a>; 631-473-0037 
 Dr. Dennis L. Bernardini 
 175 E. Main St. 
 Huntington; 631-424-3787 
 Dr. Alan I. Blum 
 444 <a href="/topics//Merrick,_NY">Merrick</a> Rd. 
 Fl. Lower Level 1 
 <a href="/topics//Lynbrook,_NY">Lynbrook</a>; 516-593-9500 
 Dr. David M. Breidbart 
 LSQ Medical Bldg. 
 6 <a href="/topics//Ohio">Ohio</a> Dr., Ste. 201 
 <a href="/topics//Lake_Success,_NY">Lake Success</a>; 516-328-8700 
 Dr. Michael L. Cohen 
 N. Shore Internal Med. Assocs. 
 560 Northern Blvd., Ste. 203 
 <a href="/topics//Great_Neck,_NY">Great Neck</a>; 516-482-0600 
 Dr. Alan Fein 
 2800 Marcus Ave. 
 Dept. Pulmonary Med. 
 Fl. 2, Ste. 202 
 <a href="/topics//Lake_Success,_NY">Lake Success</a>; 516-608-2890 
 Dr. Morton L. Glaser 
 60 North Country Rd., Ste. 203 
 <a href="/topics//Port_Jefferson,_NY">Port Jefferson</a>; 631-509-1888 
 Dr. Richard E. Gordon 
 Island Pulmonary Associates 
 4271 <a href="/topics//Hempstead,_NY">Hempstead</a> Tpke., Ste. 1 
 <a href="/topics//Bethpage_State_Park,_NY">Bethpage</a>; 516-796-3700 
 Dr. Harly Greenberg 
 North Shore LIJ 
 Sleep Disorders Ctr. 
 410 Lakeville Rd., Ste. 107 
 <a href="/topics//New_Hyde_Park,_NY">New Hyde Park</a> 
 516-465-3899 
 Dr. Benjamin J. Leeman 
 20 W. Lincoln Ave., Ste. 306 
 <a href="/topics//Valley_Stream,_NY">Valley Stream</a>; 516-599-8787 
 Dr. Steve A. Mermelstein 
 444 <a href="/topics//Merrick,_NY">Merrick</a> Rd. 
 Lower Level 1 
 <a href="/topics//Lynbrook,_NY">Lynbrook</a>; 516-593-9500 
 Dr. Alan S. Multz 
 2201 Hemptstead Tpke. 
 <a href="/topics//East_Meadow,_NY">East Meadow</a>; 516-486-6862 
 Dr. Ian H. Newmark 
 8 Greenfield Rd. 
 Syosset; 516-496-3001 
 Dr. Michael S. Niederman 
 222 Station Plaza N. 
 Ste. 400 
 <a href="/topics//Mineola,_NY">Mineola</a>; 516-663-2834 
 Dr. Mark J. Rosen 
 410 Lakeville Rd., Ste. 107 
 <a href="/topics//New_Hyde_Park,_NY">New Hyde Park</a>; 516-465-5400 
 Dr. Rita B. Schulster 
 442 E. Waukena Ave. 
 Oceanside; 516-599-8234 
 Dr. Howard Sklarek 
 325 Meeting House Lane 
 Bldg. 1, Ste. K 
 Southampton; 631-283-8008 
 Dr. Harry Steinberg 
 410 Lakeville Rd. 
 Ste. 107 
 New Hyde Park 
 516-465-5400 
 Dr. Lawrence A. Walser 
 185 Old Country Rd. 
 Ste. 3 
 Riverhead 
 631-727-2523 
 Dr. Gary Wohlberg 
 370 E. Main St., Ste. 5 
 Bay Shore 
 631-666-5864 
 Dr. Perry A. Wyner 
 2 Lincoln Ave., Ste. 201 
 Rockville Centre 
 516-536-4960 
 Dr. Henry Zupnick 
 158 <a href="/topics//Hempstead,_NY">Hempstead</a> Ave. 
 Lynbrook 
 516-593-3541 
 &nbsp; 
 &nbsp; 
<h4> How they were picked</h4> 
 &nbsp; 
 Castle Connolly Medical Ltd. is a health-care research and information company founded in 1991 by a former medical college board chairman and president to help guide consumers to America's top doctors and top hospitals. Castle Connolly's established survey and research process, under the direction of a doctor, involves tens of thousands of top doctors and the medical leadership of leading hospitals. 
 Castle Connolly's physician-led team of researchers follows a rigorous screening process to select top doctors on both the national and regional levels. Its online nominations process -- located at castleconnolly.com/ nominations -- is open to all licensed physicians in America who are able to nominate physicians in any medical specialty and in any part of the country, as well as indicate whether the nominated physician is, in their opinion, among the best in their region in their medical specialty or among the best in the nation in their medical specialty. 
 Careful screening of doctors' educational and professional experience is essential before final selection is made among those physicians most highly regarded by their peers. The result -- Castle Connolly identifies the top doctors in America and provides the consumer with detailed information about their education, training and special expertise in their paperback guides, national and regional magazine "Top Doctors" features and online directories. Doctors do not and cannot pay to be selected and profiled as Castle Connolly Top Doctors. (Newsday is not part of the selection process.) 
 Physicians selected for inclusion in this "Top Doctors" feature may also appear as Regional Top Doctors online at castleconnolly.com, or in one of Castle Connolly's Top Doctors guides, such as America's Top Doctors® or America's Top Doctors® for Cancer. 
 &nbsp; 
 &nbsp; 
<h4> To see the whole list . . .</h4> 
 &nbsp; 
 Who else is on the list of Top Doctors? More than 6,000 listings are in the New York Metro Area edition of "Top Doctors," published by Castle Connolly Medical Ltd. The softcover list price is $34.95. For more information, go to castleconnolly.com, or call 800-399-DOCS.

HSMAIN06.WEB

Top Docs: 5 things to know about inhalers

When it comes to injected drugs for the face, there's a noticeable line between the attractive (smoothed-out wrinkles) and the not-so-attractive (a permanent surprised look or the loss of normal facial expressions). 
 How can you make sure you don't cross that line and overuse Botox and facial fillers like Restylane and Juvéderm? Here are five things you should know: 
 1. DON'T GET TREATMENTS MORE OFTEN THAN RECOMMENDED 
 Botox, a drug that reduces wrinkles by temporarily paralyzing muscles in the face, should be given only about once every four months, said Dr. Martin E. Kessler, a plastic surgeon with offices in <a href="/topics/Rockville_Centre%2C_NY">Rockville Centre</a> and <a href="/topics/Great_Neck%2C_NY">Great Neck</a>. Facial fillers like Restylane and Juvéderm should be given no more than once a year, he said. They're gel-like drugs that fill in spaces in the face, such as scars, wrinkles and the folds around the mouth. 
 2. CONSIDER MULTIPLE SMALL TREATMENTS 
 Dr. Pamela Gallagher, a plastic surgeon in <a href="/topics/West_Islip%2C_NY">West Islip</a> and <a href="/topics/Mineola%2C_NY">Mineola</a>, said she often has new patients come in several times for small Botox treatments so she can monitor their progress. "I'll use the tiniest amount that we can and have them come back several times in a row for more so we can see how they like it and what kinds of doses they need." 
 Gallagher said she also makes sure to take photos before someone undergoes injections with Botox or fillers. "Patients often forget what they looked like before they had it done, even as much as an hour later," said Gallagher, who also serves as medical director of the <a href="/topics/North_Shore-Long_Island_Jewish_Health_System">North Shore-Long Island Jewish Health System</a>'s Hagedorn Cleft Palate and Craniofacial Center. But with the help of the photos, she said, people are better able to see how much things have changed and consider the treatment finished at an appropriate time. 
 3. WATCH FOR SIGNS YOU'VE USED TOO MUCH 
 Overuse of Botox carries with it the chance of developing abnormal facial expressions, Kessler said. "The most <a href="/topics/Common_%28musician%29">common</a> effect is drooping eyelids," he said. "If you put in too much, your eyelids will look like you're asleep." 
 Botox also can freeze people's faces if they get too much of it. "I'll go to parties and see women walking around and I'll say, 'Oh, boy, this woman had way too much Botox put in; her face doesn't look normal,' " he said. "It's almost a blank stare that they get -- their eyes, foreheads and lips are not moving." 
 Too much facial filler also can cause someone's face to look "bizarre" rather than "natural and youthful," Kessler said. 
 4. HAVE PROCEDURES DONE BY A LICENSED EXPERT 
 "It seems like everybody and their uncle is injecting Botox and Restylane these days," said Dr. Elliot B. Duboys, a plastic surgeon in Huntington. "I probably see one to two patients a month who have been injected incorrectly with Botox or fillers." That can lead to drooping upper eyelids and foreheads, which, he said, are the most frequent problems he sees, but he's also seen "asymmetry of the lips when either too much, or incorrectly placed Botox has been administered." 
 In <a href="/topics/New_York_%28state%29">New York</a>, injections of Botox and facial fillers must be done only by licensed professionals: doctors and, when supervised by a doctor, a nurse, a physician's assistant or a nurse practitioner, according to the state education department. 
 As with any medical procedure, consumer advocates urge that prospective patients check not only on the license but also the experience level of practitioners they're considering. 
 5. KEEP EXPECTATIONS REALISTIC 
 Though they're effective, Restylane and Juvéderm aren't substitutes for surgical procedures like face-lifts, Duboys said, and they won't produce certain kinds of improvements, no matter how much you use. 
 For example, fillers "buff up and puff up the skin, but they won't get rid of jowls," he said. "A lot of people have that crease from the corner of the mouth to the chin, that jowl overhanging that border by the jaw. No matter how much they pump it up, it won't get rid of that jowl." 
 Kessler put it another way. "If someone's really looking to get a permanent change, then they have to consider surgical options," he said. "We still do forehead-lifts, face-lifts and laser procedures -- things that are of a more surgical nature, where wounds are being made and longer recovery is needed. But results will be longer lasting." 
 &nbsp; 
<h4> Plastic surgeons</h4> 
 &nbsp; 
 Today is the second installment of a 26-week series in which Newsday presents Castle Connolly's list of top LI doctors. 
 Dr. Kaveh Alizadeh 
 999 Franklin Ave. 
 <a href="/topics/Garden_City%2C_NY">Garden City</a> 
 516-742-3404 
 Dr. John R. Anton 
 138 Old Town Rd. 
 <a href="/topics/Southampton_FC">Southampton</a> 
 631-283-9100 
 Dr. Arnold Breitbart 
 1155 Northern Blvd., Ste. 110 
 <a href="/topics/Manhasset%2C_NY">Manhasset</a> 
 516-365-3511 
 Dr. Alexander B. Dagum 
 SUNY Health Science Ctr. 
 T19-060, Box 8191 
 Stony Brook 
 631-444-8210 
 Dr. Gregory DeVita 
 650 Northern Blvd. 
 <a href="/topics/Great_Neck%2C_NY">Great Neck</a> 
 516-466-7000 
 Dr. Vincent R. DiGregorio 
 999 Franklin Ave. 
 <a href="/topics/Garden_City%2C_NY">Garden City</a> 
 516-742-3404 
 Dr. Naishad Doctor 
 2000 N. Village Ave., Ste. 103 
 <a href="/topics/Rockville_Centre%2C_NY">Rockville Centre</a> 
 516-678-2517 
 Dr. Sanford Dubner 
 L.I. Surgical Specialists 
 410 Lakeville Rd., Ste. 310 
 <a href="/topics/Lake_Success%2C_NY">Lake Success</a> 
 516-437-1111 
 Dr. Elliot B. Duboys 
 864 W. <a href="/topics/Jericho%2C_NY">Jericho</a> Tpke. 
 <a href="/topics/West_Hills%2C_NY">West Hills</a> 
 631-423-1000 
 Dr. Marc J. Elkowitz 
 107 Northern Blvd. 
 Ste. 203 
 <a href="/topics/Great_Neck%2C_NY">Great Neck</a> 
 516-773-9200 
 Dr. Joseph Feinberg 
 1201 Northern Blvd. 
 Ste. 202 
 <a href="/topics/Manhasset%2C_NY">Manhasset</a> 
 516-869-6200 
 Dr. David Funt 
 19 Irving Pl. 
 <a href="/topics/Woodmere%2C_NY">Woodmere</a> 
 516-295-0404 
 Dr. Pamela M. Gallagher 
 190 E. <a href="/topics/Jericho%2C_NY">Jericho</a> Tpke. 
 <a href="/topics/Mineola%2C_NY">Mineola</a> 
 516-977-9922 
 Dr. Alan H. Gold 
 833 Northern Blvd. 
 Ste. 240 
 <a href="/topics/Great_Neck%2C_NY">Great Neck</a> 
 516-498-2800 
 Dr. Robert Gotkin 
 31 Northern Blvd. 
 <a href="/topics/Greenvale%2C_NY">Greenvale</a> 
 516-484-9000 
 Dr. William E. Groeger 
 1490 Broadway, 2nd floor 
 <a href="/topics/Hewlett%2C_NY">Hewlett</a> 
 516-887-5502 
 Dr. Ron Israeli 
 833 Northern Blvd. 
 Ste. 160 
 <a href="/topics//Great_Neck,_NY">Great Neck</a> 
 516-498-8400 
 Dr. Armen K. Kasabian 
 Dept. of Surgery 
 1999 Marcus Ave. 
 <a href="/topics/Lake_Success%2C_NY">Lake Success</a> 
 516-233-3659 
 Dr. Alex J. Keller 
 900 Northern Blvd. 
 Ste. 130 
 Great Neck 
 516-482-1100 
 Dr. Martin E. Kessler 
 242 <a href="/topics/Merrick%2C_NY">Merrick</a> Rd. 
 Ste. 302 
 <a href="/topics/Rockville_Centre%2C_NY">Rockville Centre</a> 
 516-536-5858 
 Dr. Lyle S. Leipziger 
 825 Northern Blvd. 
 3rd floor 
 Great Neck 
 516-465-8787 
 Dr. Frederick Lukash 
 1129 Northern Blvd. 
 Ste. 403 
 <a href="/topics/Manhasset%2C_NY">Manhasset</a> 
 516-365-1040 
 Dr. Mark Illan Silberman 
 650 Northern Blvd. 
 Great Neck 
 516-466-7000 
 Dr. Roger Simpson 
 999 Franklin Ave. 
 <a href="/topics/Garden_City%2C_NY">Garden City</a> 
 516-742-3404 
 &nbsp; 
<h4> How they were picked</h4> 
 &nbsp; 
 Castle Connolly Medical Ltd. is a health-care research and information company founded in 1991 by a former medical college, board chairman and president to help guide consumers to America's top doctors and top hospitals. Castle Connolly's established survey and research process, under the direction of a doctor, involves tens of thousands of top doctors and the medical leadership of leading hospitals. 
 Castle Connolly's physician-led team of researchers follows a rigorous screening process to select top doctors on both the national and regional levels. Its online nominations process -- located at castle connolly.com/nominations -- is open to all licensed physicians in America who are able to nominate physicians in any medical specialty and in any part of the country, as well as indicate whether the nominated physician is, in their opinion, among the best in their region in their medical specialty or among the best in the nation in their medical specialty. 
 Careful screening of doctors' educational and professional experience is essential before final selection is made among those physicians most highly regarded by their peers. The result -- Castle Connolly identifies the top doctors in America and provides the consumer with detailed information about their education, training and special expertise in their paperback guides, national and regional magazine "Top Doctors" features and online directories. Doctors do not and cannot pay to be selected and profiled as Castle Connolly Top Doctors. (Newsday is not part of the selection process.) 
 Physicians selected for inclusion in this "Top Doctors" feature may also appear as Regional Top Doctors online at castlecon nolly.com, or in one of Castle Connolly's Top Doctors guides, such as America's Top Doctors® or America's Top Doctors® for <a href="/topics/Cancer">Cancer</a>. 
 &nbsp; 
<h4> To see the whole list . . .</h4> 
 &nbsp; 
 Who else is on the list of Top Doctors? More than 6,000 listings are in the <a href="/topics/New_York_%28state%29">New York</a> Metro Area edition of "Top Doctors," published by Castle Connolly Medical Ltd. The softcover list price is $34.95. For more information, go to castleconnolly.com, or call 800-399-DOCS.

HSCOV03.WEB

Top Doctors: 5 fast facts about Botox

When your pulse quickens, it's easy to fear that something's wrong. 
 There might be nothing wrong, but a racing heart, felt in your wrist, could be a sign that you need medical care -- maybe even right away. 
 Here's what you should know: 
 1. A RACING HEARTBEAT MAY BE PERFECTLY NORMAL 
 "Not every racing heart is an abnormality," said Dr. Louise Spadaro, a cardiologist at St. Francis Hospital in <a href="/topics/Roslyn%2C_NY">Roslyn</a>. "It may simply reflect the body's normal response to a stimulus or stress. If you're excited, scared or nervous, that will naturally drive the heart rate up." 
 Still, if you feel your heart is racing, "the most important thing to do is to sit or lie down," said Dr. Rohan D. Bhansali, director of clinical cardiology at <a href="/topics/Long_Island_Jewish_Medical_Center">Long Island Jewish Medical Center</a> in <a href="/topics/New_Hyde_Park%2C_NY">New Hyde Park</a>. "Racing heartbeats can occasionally be a prelude to fainting, even if they are not due to a change in heart rhythm." 
 If you're driving, he said, pull over if you feel palpitations until the symptoms go away. 
 2. SYMPTOMS THAT SHOULD SEND YOU TO THE EMERGENCY ROOM 
 Seek emergency care immediately if your racing heartbeat comes with such symptoms as lightheadedness, fainting, chest pain, severe shortness of breath or an inability to breathe, Spadaro said. You should also go to the emergency room if you can't lie flat because you feel as if you're filling up with fluid, she said. 
 In some cases, though, it's OK to simply get in touch with your physician. 
 "If the palpitations are otherwise well tolerated and there are no other symptoms, you should notify your doctor so that an electrocardiogram can be done, especially if this is the first time it's happened," said Dr. Sei Iwai, a professor of clinical medicine and director of the Complex Arrhythmia Ablation Program at <a href="/topics/Stony_Brook_University">Stony Brook University</a> Medical Center. 
 3. MANY CONDITIONS CAN CAUSE A RAPID PULSE 
 Bhansali noted that fever, infection, dehydration and <a href="/topics/Hypoglycemia">low blood sugar</a> are among the possible causes of a racing heartbeat. "Less commonly, it can be due to something that requires urgent medical attention, such as a blood clot in the lungs or an abnormal heart rhythm," he said. 
 An abnormal heart rhythm, also known as an arrhythmia, can have a variety of causes. A <a href="/topics/Common_%28musician%29">common</a> one is an electrical glitch in the heart. This can cause <a href="/topics/Atrial_Fibrillation">atrial fibrillation</a>, a condition that older people often have and that can cause the heartbeat to spike. Electrical glitches also can lead to several types of supraventricular tachycardia, a name for rapid heartbeats that are based in the upper part of the heart. 
 4 SOMETIMES SELF-TREATMENT WORKS 
 People with certain types of rapid heartbeats that are based in the upper chambers of the heart may have options to slow down their pulse, Spadaro said. They can throw cold water on their face, massage their neck to stimulate a crucial nerve, or bear down really hard, as if they're trying to have a bowel movement. 
 However, "always ask your doctor first," she cautioned. "These maneuvers only work for very specific types of upper chamber tachycardias it could be dangerous to not seek the type of medical help you may need right away." The techniques won't relieve all kinds of rapid heartbeats, including those caused by <a href="/topics/Atrial_Fibrillation">atrial fibrillation</a>, Spadaro said. 
 5 MOST RACING <a href="/topics/Hearts_FC">HEARTS</a> CAN BE SLOWED 
 "For the majority of types of rapid heartbeats, we can abolish them and make them go away," Spadaro said. "And for a good number of them, we don't necessarily make them go away, but we make them less pronounced, less symptomatic and maybe decrease the frequency with which they occur." 
 In many cases, doctors treat racing heartbeats by dealing with the underlying issue -- dehydration or <a href="/topics/Hypoglycemia">low blood sugar</a>, for instance -- or with medication, Bhansali said. 
 In some cases, doctors can fix electrical malfunctions in the heart through a procedure called radio-frequency ablation, which uses heat to destroy malfunctioning tissue. "The procedure is safe, highly effective and generally requires no long-term medication use," he said. 
 To be effectively treated, of course, you first need to be correctly diagnosed. And Iwai said that doesn't always happen. 
 For instance, he said, people may be diagnosed as simply having anxiety when they actually suffer from irregular heartbeats. "In young patients with no heart disease, this is often a supraventricular tachycardia, which is almost always curable," he said. 
 &nbsp; 
<h4> Cardiologists</h4> 
 &nbsp; 
 This is the first installment of a 26-week series in which Newsday presents Castle Connolly's list of top LI doctors. 
 Dr. Larry Altschul 
 540 Union Blvd. 
 <a href="/topics/West_Islip%2C_NY">West Islip</a> 
 631-669-2555 
 Dr. Maliakal Joseph Anto 
 8 Greenfield Rd. 
 <a href="/topics/Syosset%2C_NY">Syosset</a> 
 516-496-7900 
 Dr. Rohan Dilip Bhansali 
 Oncology Building 
 27-05 76th Ave. 4th Fl. 
 <a href="/topics/New_Hyde_Park%2C_NY">New Hyde Park</a> 
 718-470-7330 
 Dr. Mark G. Borek 
 Stony Brook Cardiology 
 101 Nicolls Rd. 
 HSC Bldg. Fl. 16, Rm 080 
 <a href="/topics/East_Setauket%2C_NY">East Setauket</a> 
 631-444-1066 
 Dr. William J. Breen 
 43 Crossways Park Dr. 
 <a href="/topics/Woodbury%2C_NY">Woodbury</a> 
 516-938-3000 
 Dr. David L. Brown 
 Stony Brook Univ. Med. Center 
 Div. Cardiology 
 Health Sci. Ctr. T16-080 
 Stony Brook 
 631-444-9970 
 Dr. Kul Chadda 
 South <a href="/topics/Nassau_County%2C_NY">Nassau</a> Comm. Hosp. 
 Electrophysiology Svcs. 
 1 Healthy Way 
 <a href="/topics/Oceanside%2C_NY">Oceanside</a> 
 516-632-3418 
 Dr. Mathew T. Chengot 
 <a href="/topics/Amityville%2C_NY">Amityville</a> Heart Ctr. 
 129 Broadway 
 <a href="/topics/Amityville%2C_NY">Amityville</a> 
 631-598-3434 
 Dr. Michael D. Chesner 
 325 W. Park Ave. 
 <a href="/topics/Long_Beach%2C_NY">Long Beach</a> 
 516-432-2004 
 Dr. Marvin Cramer 
 225 Community Dr., Ste. 130 
 <a href="/topics/Great_Neck%2C_NY">Great Neck</a> 
 516-504-0474 
 Dr. Ronald D'Agostino 
 1129 Northern Blvd., Ste. 408 
 <a href="/topics/Manhasset%2C_NY">Manhasset</a> 
 516-627-2121 
 <a href="/topics/Dr._John_%28musician%29">Dr. John</a> Dervan 
 220 Belle Mead Rd., Ste. A 
 East <a href="/topics/Setauket%2C_NY">Setauket</a> 
 631-941-2273 
 Dr. Robert J. Dresdale 
 225 Community Dr. 
 Ste. 130 
 <a href="/topics/Great_Neck%2C_NY">Great Neck</a> 
 516-504-0474 
 Dr. Ari M. Ezratty 
 100 <a href="/topics/Port_Washington%2C_NY">Port Washington</a> Blvd. 
 <a href="/topics/Roslyn%2C_NY">Roslyn</a> 
 516-570-6907 
 Dr. Thomas Falco 
 1279 E. Main St. 
 Riverhead 
 631-727-2100 
 Dr. Frederick S. Fein 
 120 <a href="/topics/Mineola%2C_NY">Mineola</a> Blvd., Ste. 500 
 <a href="/topics/Mineola%2C_NY">Mineola</a> 
 516-663-4480 
 Dr. Aaron Gindea 
 800 Community Dr. 
 <a href="/topics/Manhasset%2C_NY">Manhasset</a> 
 516-627-6622 
 Dr. Louis W. Gleckel 
 2 <a href="/topics/Ohio">Ohio</a> Dr. 
 <a href="/topics/Lake_Success%2C_NY">Lake Success</a> 
 516-622-6060 
 Dr. Steven Mark Goldberg 
 1010 Northern Blvd., Ste. 110 
 <a href="/topics/Great_Neck%2C_NY">Great Neck</a> 
 516-390-2430 
 Dr. Henry Esteban Gomez 
 <a href="/topics/Long_Island%2C_NY">Long Island</a> Cardiovascular 
 1129 Northen Blvd., Ste. 408 
 <a href="/topics/Manhasset%2C_NY">Manhasset</a> 
 516-627-2121 
 Dr. Mark A. Goodman 
 975 Stewart Ave. 
 <a href="/topics/Garden_City%2C_NY">Garden City</a> 
 516-222-8610 
 Dr. Stephen J. Green 
 Dept. Cardiology 
 300 Community Dr. 
 <a href="/topics/Manhasset%2C_NY">Manhasset</a> 
 516-562-4100 
 Dr. Steven M. Greenberg 
 Arrhythmia Center 
 100 <a href="/topics/Port_Washington%2C_NY">Port Washington</a> Blvd. 
 <a href="/topics/Roslyn%2C_NY">Roslyn</a> 
 516-562-6672 
 Dr. Ronnie Hershman 
 1 Hollow Lane, Ste. 103 
 <a href="/topics/Lake_Success%2C_NY">Lake Success</a> 
 516-869-5400 
 Dr. Rajiv Jauhar 
 270-05 76 Ave., 4th floor 
 <a href="/topics/New_Hyde_Park%2C_NY">New Hyde Park</a> 
 718-470-7330 
 Dr. Mansoor Jelveh 
 875 Old Country Rd., Ste. 102 
 <a href="/topics/Plainview%2C_NY">Plainview</a> 
 516-935-8877 
 Dr. Allen Jeremias 
 Stony Brook Univ. Med. Ctr. 
 26 Research Way 
 <a href="/topics/East_Setauket%2C_NY">East Setauket</a> 
 631-444-1069 
 Dr. Barry M. Kaplan 
 LI Jewish Med. Ctr. 
 Div. Cardiology 
 270-05 76th Ave. 
 <a href="/topics/New_Hyde_Park%2C_NY">New Hyde Park</a> 
 718-470-7330 
 Dr. Steven M. Kobren 
 <a href="/topics/New_York_University">NYU</a> <a href="/topics/Great_Neck%2C_NY">Great Neck</a> Medical 
 488 <a href="/topics//Great_Neck,_NY">Great Neck</a> Rd. 
 Great Neck 
 516-482-6747 
 Dr. Jerome Koss 
 3003 <a href="/topics//New_Hyde_Park,_NY">New Hyde Park</a> Rd. 
 Ste. 406 
 New Hyde Park 
 516-358-5401 
 Dr. Justine S. Lachmann 
 120 <a href="/topics/Mineola%2C_NY">Mineola</a> Blvd., Ste. 500 
 <a href="/topics/Mineola%2C_NY">Mineola</a> 
 516-663-4481 
 Dr. Michael A. Masciello 
 540 Union Blvd. 
 <a href="/topics/West_Islip%2C_NY">West Islip</a> 
 631-669-2555 
 Dr. Michael A. Matilsky 
 Three Village Cardiology 
 210 Belle Mead Rd. 
 East <a href="/topics/Setauket%2C_NY">Setauket</a> 
 631-689-1400 
 Dr. Guy L. Mintz 
 287 Northern Blvd., Ste. 211 
 Great Neck 
 516-482-3401 
 Dr. Thomas A. Nicosia 
 1615 Northern Blvd., Ste. 301 
 <a href="/topics//Manhasset,_NY">Manhasset</a> 
 516-627-9355 
 Dr. Thomas W. Pappas 
 155 Northern Blvd., Ste 330 
 Manhasset 
 516-726-7575 
 Dr. Michael Poon 
 Stony Brook Health Sci. Ctr. 
 Level 4, Rm. 120 
 Stony Brook 
 631-444-5400 
 Dr. Philip D. Ragno 
 1401 Franklin Ave. 
 <a href="/topics/Garden_City%2C_NY">Garden City</a> 
 516-877-2626 
 Dr. Edward V. Rutkovsky 
 2035 Lakeville Rd., Ste. 101 
 New Hyde Park 
 516-328-9797 
 Dr. Carl Schreiber 
 70 Glen St. 
 <a href="/topics/Glen_Cove%2C_NY">Glen Cove</a> 
 516-484-7893 
 Dr. Steven Shahram Shayani 
 200 Old Country Rd., Ste. 278 
 <a href="/topics//Mineola,_NY">Mineola</a> 
 516-877-0977 
 Dr. Richard A. Shlofmitz 
 100 <a href="/topics/Port_Washington%2C_NY">Port Washington</a> Blvd. 
 Ste. 105 
 <a href="/topics/Roslyn%2C_NY">Roslyn</a> 
 516-390-9640 
 Dr. Hal A. Skopicki 
 Univ. Physicians at Stony Brook 
 3001 Expressway Dr. N., 
 Ste. 200B 
 <a href="/topics/Islandia%2C_NY">Islandia</a> 
 631-444-9600 
 Dr. Sergio Sokol 
 Five Towns Heart Imaging 
 650 Central Ave., Ste. K 
 <a href="/topics/Cedarhurst%2C_NY">Cedarhurst</a> 
 516-804-8590 
 Dr. Louise A. Spadaro 
 St. Francis Hospital 
 VIZZA Bldg., Rm. 101 
 100 <a href="/topics/Port_Washington%2C_NY">Port Washington</a> Blvd. 
 <a href="/topics//Roslyn,_NY">Roslyn</a> 
 516-562-6653 
 Dr. William Tenet 
 1155 Northern Blvd., Ste. 330 
 Manhasset 
 516-627-4330 
 Dr. Ira L. Weg 
 158 <a href="/topics/Hempstead%2C_NY">Hempstead</a> Ave. 
 <a href="/topics/Lynbrook%2C_NY">Lynbrook</a> 
 516-593-3541 
 Dr. Marc Weinberg 
 West Carver Med. Assocs. 
 200 W. Carver St., Ste. 8 
 Huntington 
 631-421-0020 
 Dr. Steven M. Zeldis 
 200 Old Country Rd., Ste. 278 
 Mineola 
 516-877-0977 
 CARDIAC ELECTROPHYSIOLOGY 
 Dr. Sei Iwai 
 285 Sills Rd., Ste. 12-C 
 <a href="/topics/East_Patchogue%2C_NY">East Patchogue</a> 
 631-444-3575 
 Dr. Ram L. Jadonath 
 300 Community Dr. 
 Manhasset 
 516-562-2300 
 Dr. Joseph H. Levine 
 100 <a href="/topics//Port_Washington,_NY">Port Washington</a> Blvd. 
 Roslyn 
 516-622-1011 
 Dr. Eric J. Rashba 
 Stony Brook Univ. Med. Ctr. 
 Cardiology 
 101 Nicolls Rd. 
 HSC Bldg. 16th Fl., Rm. 080 
 Stony Brook 
 631-444-3575 
 Interventional Cardiology 
 Dr. Meyer H. Abittan 
 St. Francis Hospital 
 The Heart Center 
 100 Port Washington Blvd. 
 Ste. G-03 
 Roslyn 
 516-627-1155 
 Dr. Andrew D. Berke 
 100 Port Washington Blvd. 
 Roslyn 
 516-365-2211 
 Dr. Andrew Lituchy 
 100 Port Washington Blvd. 
 Ste. G-05 
 Roslyn 
 516-365-4888 
 Dr. Lawrence Ong 
 North Shore Univ. Hosp. 
 Dept. Cardiology 
 300 Community Dr. 
 Manhasset 
 516-562-4100 
 Dr. George A. <a href="/topics/Petrossian">Petrossian</a> 
 1405 Old Northern Blvd. 1st fl. 
 Roslyn 
 516-484-6777 
 &nbsp; 
<h4> How they were picked</h4> 
 &nbsp; 
 Castle Connolly Medical Ltd. is a health-care research and information company founded in 1991 by a former medical college, board chairman and president to help guide consumers to America's top doctors and top hospitals. Castle Connolly's established survey and research process, under the direction of a doctor, involves tens of thousands of top doctors and the medical leadership of leading hospitals. 
 Castle Connolly's physician-led team of researchers follows a rigorous screening process to select top doctors on both the national and regional levels. Its online nominations process -- located at castleconnolly.com/ nominations -- is open to all licensed physicians in America who are able to nominate physicians in any medical specialty and in any part of the country, as well as indicate whether the nominated physician is, in their opinion, among the best in their region in their medical specialty or among the best in the nation in their medical specialty. 
 Careful screening of doctors' educational and professional experience is essential before final selection is made among those physicians most highly regarded by their peers. The result -- Castle Connolly identifies the top doctors in America and provides the consumer with detailed information about their education, training and special expertise in their paperback guides, national and regional magazine "Top Doctors" features and online directories. Doctors do not and cannot pay to be selected and profiled as Castle Connolly Top Doctors. (Newsday is not part of the selection process.) 
 Physicians selected for inclusion in this "Top Doctors" feature may also appear as Regional Top Doctors online at castleconnolly. com, or in one of Castle Connolly's Top Doctors guides, such as America's Top Doctors® or America's Top Doctors® for Cancer. 
 &nbsp; 
<h4> To see the whole list . . .</h4> 
 &nbsp; 
 Who else is on the list of Top Doctors? More than 6,000 listings are in the New York Metro Area edition of "Top Doctors," published by Castle Connolly Medical Ltd. The softcover list price is $34.95. For more information, go to castleconnolly.com, or call 800-399-DOCS.

HSCOV26.WEB

Top Doctors: 5 facts about a racing heart

Detecting breast cancer is no longer as simple -- or as imprecise -- as it used to be. Now, a suspicious mammogram may be followed by an ultrasound examination and then an MRI scan in a process designed to prevent unnecessary biopsies. 
 Here's what you should know about advances in diagnosing breast cancer: 
 1. EXAMS AND MAMMOGRAMS REMAIN CRUCIAL 
 Though doctors are trying to improve breast-cancer screening, women still play a major role by regularly checking their breasts. "Self-discovery of a breast lump likely represents the best 'save' for women diagnosed with breast cancer," said Dr. Louis Potters, chairman of radiation medicine at the North Shore-LIJ Health System in <a href="/topics/Manhasset%2C_NY">Manhasset</a>. 
 With or without breast self-exams, though, women without cancer symptoms should have a clinical breast exam every three years during their 20s and 30s and then annually, along with a mammogram, starting at age 40, according to <a href="/topics/American_Cancer_Society">American Cancer Society</a> recommendations. 
 Despite other advances, the mammogram is crucial to detecting breast cancer and is "really a step that can't be bypassed," said Dr. Kenneth Goodman, chairman of radiology at St. Francis Hospital in <a href="/topics/Roslyn%2C_NY">Roslyn</a>. 
 2. ULTRASOUND MAY BE USED TO GAUGE A SUSPICIOUS LUMP 
 A mammogram can indicate a lump in the breast, "but you may not be able to tell if it's solid and of concern or a fluid-filled mass -- cystic -- that doesn't have as much reason for concern," Goodman explained. 
 That's when an ultrasound examination becomes helpful. It can provide information that allows the doctor to decide on the next step -- a biopsy, no further action or an MRI scan. An MRI may be used if the ultrasound results are inconclusive, if the woman has very dense breasts or if there's a strong history of breast cancer in her family, Goodman said. 
 3. AN MRI SCAN IS A FAIRLY NEW ADDITION TO THE PROTOCOL 
 Goodman said that doctors have been requesting MRI scans for women with suspicious breast lumps for about five to 10 years. The scans help doctors avoid unnecessary biopsies because they can indicate whether a mass is harmless, he said, where previously "you'd go straight to biopsy" after an ultrasound that showed signs of potential cancer. Potters added that it's still not clear, however, whether MRI scans should play a role in routine screening. 
 4. ADVANCES MAY NOT LOWER THE DEATH RATE FOR BREAST CANCER 
 Questions remain about whether advances in breast cancer screening are actually leading to longer life spans for women with the disease. 
 "We know that advanced imaging is likely to discover more cancers," Potters said, "but the data strongly suggest we are over-diagnosing cancers, and that some of these cancers may not need to be treated. In time, we will learn whether such aggressive imaging approaches pay off where it counts -- in saving lives." 
 5. FURTHER IMPROVEMENT IS ON THE HORIZON 
 A new type of mammogram offers a three-dimensional look at the breast through a technology called digital tomosynthesis. "It will be a very important technology going forward, but it's still being tested," Goodman said. "Preliminary results show that it's easier to read and more sensitive than a mammogram, but the problem is that it has a higher radiation dose." 
 If researchers can reduce the radiation level, he said, it may become the standard for mammography. 
 &nbsp; 
<h3> Radiation oncologists, diagnostic radiologists, nuclear medicine, vascular &amp; interventional radiologist</h3> 
 This is the final installment of a 26-week series in which Newsday presents Castle Connolly's list of top <a href="/topics/Long_Island%2C_NY">Long Island</a> doctors. 
 RADIATION ONCOLOGISTS 
 Dr. Jay Bosworth 
 6 <a href="/topics/Ohio">Ohio</a> Dr. 
 <a href="/topics/Lake_Success%2C_NY">Lake Success</a> 
 516-365-6544 
 Dr. Ezriel Diamond 
 688 Old Country Rd. 
 <a href="/topics/Plainview%2C_NY">Plainview</a> 
 516-932-6007 
 Dr. Richard Gewanter 
 MSKCC <a href="/topics/Long_Island%2C_NY">Long Island</a> 
 1000 N. Village Ave. 
 <a href="/topics/Rockville_Centre%2C_NY">Rockville Centre</a> 
 516-256-3600 
 Dr. Jonathan Haas 
 <a href="/topics/Winthrop_University_Hospital">Winthrop University Hospital</a> 
 Radiation, Oncology and Cyberknife 
 264 Old Country Rd. 
 <a href="/topics/Mineola%2C_NY">Mineola</a> 
 516-663-2501 
 Dr. Lorraine Marin 
 HealthCare Partners 
 1225 Franklin Ave. 
 <a href="/topics/Garden_City%2C_NY">Garden City</a> 
 516-515-8820 
 Dr. Allen Meek 
 Stony Brook Univ. Med. Center 
 Dept. Rad. Onc. - L2 
 100 Nicolls Rd. 
 Stony Brook 
 631-444-2327 
 Dr. Edward Mullen 
 South <a href="/topics/Nassau_County%2C_NY">Nassau</a> Comm. Hospital 
 One Healthy Way 
 <a href="/topics/Oceanside%2C_NY">Oceanside</a> 
 516-632-3330 
 Dr. Tae Park 
 Stony Brook Univ. Med. Center 
 Fl. Level 2 - Rm. 664 
 Stony Brook 
 631-444-2210 
 Dr. Jed Pollack 
 <a href="/topics/Long_Island%2C_NY">Long Island</a> Radiation Therapy 
 6 <a href="/topics/Ohio">Ohio</a> Dr. 
 <a href="/topics/Lake_Success%2C_NY">Lake Success</a> 
 516-394-8100 
 Dr. Louis Potters 
 LIJ Medical Center 
 Dept. Radiation Oncology 
 270-05 76th Ave. 
 <a href="/topics/New_Hyde_Park%2C_NY">New Hyde Park</a> 
 718-470-7190 
 DIAGNOSTIC RADIOLOGISTS 
 Dr. William Brancaccio 
 240 Meeting House Lane 
 Radiology Dept. 
 <a href="/topics/Southampton_FC">Southampton</a> 
 631-726-8411 
 Dr. Kenneth Goodman 
 100 <a href="/topics/Port_Washington%2C_NY">Port Washington</a> Blvd. 
 <a href="/topics/Roslyn%2C_NY">Roslyn</a> 
 516-562-6500 
 Dr. Jay Hammel 
 4277 <a href="/topics/Hempstead%2C_NY">Hempstead</a> Tpke. 
 <a href="/topics/Bethpage_State_Park%2C_NY">Bethpage</a> 
 516-796-4340 
 Dr. Janet Hoffman 
 270-05 76th Ave. 
 <a href="/topics/New_Hyde_Park%2C_NY">New Hyde Park</a> 
 718-470-7144 
 Dr. Arfa Khan 
 270-05 76th Ave. 
 <a href="/topics/New_Hyde_Park%2C_NY">New Hyde Park</a> 
 718-470-3456 
 Dr. David Kirshy 
 1333 Roanoke Ave. 
 <a href="/topics/Riverhead%2C_NY">Riverhead</a> 
 631-727-2755 
 Dr. Michael Laucella 
 375 E. Main St. 
 <a href="/topics/Bay_Shore%2C_NY">Bay Shore</a> 
 631-665-2261 
 Dr. Seth Mankes 
 Stony Brook Univ. Med. Center 
 Radiology Dept. 
 HSC/Level 4/Rm. 120 
 Stony Brook 
 631-444-7224 
 Dr. Abraham Port 
 Complete Women's Imaging 
 440 <a href="/topics/Merrick%2C_NY">Merrick</a> Rd. 
 <a href="/topics/Oceanside%2C_NY">Oceanside</a> 
 516-222-4873 
 Dr. Dennis Rossi 
 <a href="/topics/Elmont%2C_NY">Elmont</a> MRI 
 545 <a href="/topics/Elmont%2C_NY">Elmont</a> Rd. 
 <a href="/topics/Elmont%2C_NY">Elmont</a> 
 516-328-7200 
 Dr. Scott Sherman 
 100 <a href="/topics/Port_Washington%2C_NY">Port Washington</a> Blvd. 
 <a href="/topics/Roslyn%2C_NY">Roslyn</a> 
 516-562-6511 
 Dr. Steven Weck 
 <a href="/topics/Glen_Cove%2C_NY">Glen Cove</a> Hospital 
 Dept. Radiology 
 101 St. Andrew's Lane 
 <a href="/topics/Glen_Cove%2C_NY">Glen Cove</a> 
 516-674-7540 
 Dr. <a href="/topics/Sydney">Sydney</a> Yoon 
 1 Healthy Way 
 <a href="/topics/Oceanside%2C_NY">Oceanside</a> 
 516-632-4660 
 NUCLEAR MEDICINE 
 Dr. Christopher Palestro 
 Nuclear Medicine 
 270-05 76th Ave. 
 New Hyde Park 
 718-470-7080 
 Dr. Elizabeth Yung 
 259 First St. 
 <a href="/topics/Mineola%2C_NY">Mineola</a> 
 516-663-2778 
 VASCULAR &amp; INTERVENTIONAL RADIOLOGIST 
 Dr. Kenneth Crystal 
 100 <a href="/topics/Port_Washington%2C_NY">Port Washington</a> Blvd. 
 Roslyn 
 516-562-6509 
 &nbsp; 
<h4> How they were picked</h4> 
 Castle Connolly Medical Ltd. is a health care research and information company founded in 1991 by a former medical college board chairman and president to help guide consumers to America's top doctors and hospitals. Castle Connolly's established survey and research process, under the direction of a doctor, involves tens of thousands of doctors and the medical leadership of leading hospitals. 
 Castle Connolly's team of researchers follows a rigorous screening process to select doctors on national and regional levels. Using mail and telephone surveys, and electronic ballots, they ask physicians and the leadership of top hospitals to identify exceptional doctors. Careful screening of doctors' educational and professional experience is essential to the committee. Not every good physician makes the list. Rather, the list is a way for patients to get started on their search for the best medical professional. Newsday is not part of the selection process. 
 Doctors do not and cannot pay to be selected and profiled as Castle Connolly Top Doctors. 
 &nbsp; 
<h4> To see the whole list . . .</h4> 
 Who else is on the list of Top Doctors? More than 6,000 listings are in the New York Metro Area edition of "Top Doctors," published by Castle Connolly Medical Ltd. The softcover list price is $34.95. For more information, go to castleconnolly.com, or call 800-399-DOCS.

HSTOP20.WEB

Top doctors: Diagnosing breast cancer

Every day, there are <a href="/topics/Long_Island%2C_NY">Long Island</a> families coping with the heartache of a child with brain cancer -- the second most common childhood cancer after leukemia and the deadliest overall. 
 However, most kids with brain tumors can be cured. Here's what you should know: 
 1. BRAIN CANCER IN CHILDREN IS UNCOMMON 
 A child is extremely unlikely to develop a brain tumor. The Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation reports that about 4,150 children in the United States are diagnosed with brain cancer each year. Several types of brain cancer in children develop in the early ages -- before age 10 and often between 5 and 8 years of age, according to the U.S. <a href="/topics/National_Institutes_of_Health">National Institutes of Health</a>. 
 Some children are susceptible to brain cancer from the moment they're born because of the presence of abnormal cells, said Dr. Mary Andriola, director of child neurology and clinical neurophysiology at <a href="/topics/Stony_Brook_University">Stony Brook University</a> Medical Center. 
 2. BRAIN TUMORS IN KIDS OFTEN ARE DIFFERENT FROM ADULT TUMORS 
 The most common type of brain tumor in kids is called medulloblastoma, which strikes in the back of the brain, said Dr. Mark A. Mittler, co-chief of pediatric neurosurgery at Steven and Alexandra <a href="/topics/Daniel_Cohen">Cohen</a> Children's Medical Center of <a href="/topics/New_York_%28state%29">New York</a> in <a href="/topics/New_Hyde_Park%2C_NY">New Hyde Park</a>. 
 "The treatment for medulloblastoma consists of complete surgical removal, when possible, followed by a course of chemotherapy and sometimes radiation therapy," Mittler said. "The treatment success of medulloblastoma has improved dramatically over the past 20 years, and the vast majority of these children are curable in centers that have the proper expertise." 
 It's rare for medulloblastomas to occur in adults, he said, whereas glioblastomas -- another kind of tumor -- appear in adults but are rare in kids. "Prognosis for glioblastoma remains very poor despite aggressive surgery, chemotherapy and radiation treatment," Mittler said. 
 3. A VARIETY OF SYMPTOMS COULD INDICATE BRAIN CANCER 
 "One of the classic symptoms of a brain tumor is a headache that is frequently present upon waking up in the morning," Mittler said. "This should always be evaluated by a pediatrician or pediatric neurologist." 
 Other symptoms include dizziness, unexplained vomiting and even coma, Mittler said. In some cases, a child will first go to a gastroenterologist to be treated for nausea and vomiting before anyone realizes he or she has a brain tumor, he said. 
 Andriola mentioned other symptoms that could be indicative of a brain tumor, such as seizures, imbalance, vision changes, unusual eye movement and changes in behavior and alertness. Symptoms often occur, she said, because "there's not enough room in the head to accommodate the brain, the mass that's growing and the swelling that often grows around the tumor." 
 4. BRAIN SCANS PROVIDE INSIGHT INTO TUMORS 
 MRI scans help doctors determine if a child has a brain tumor, Andriola said. If so, the next step is "usually some type of surgery, either to get the whole tumor out or at least to biopsy it to plan treatment if total removal would cause more harm than good," she said. In some cases, she explained, it may be unwise to remove an entire tumor because it's too close to crucial parts of the brain. 
 Radiation is sometimes used as a treatment in children, Andriola said, but with radiation comes significant potential for long-term side effects. 
 5. TREATMENT ADVANCES ARE ON THE HORIZON 
 Scientists and physicians are developing and testing several treatments, including new drugs and drug combinations that may slow tumor growth, and radiation treatment that could decrease side effects by more effectively targeting tumors. 
 Andriola said that genetic testing of children and their tumors also has the potential to help doctors better understand the structure of tumors and determine which sections to remove, and improvements in scanning technology could provide more important details about tumors. 
 &nbsp; 
<h3> Neurologists, neurological surgeons and neuroradiologists</h3> 
 &nbsp; 
 This is the 25th installment of a 26-week series in which Newsday presents Castle Connolly's list of top <a href="/topics/Long_Island%2C_NY">Long Island</a> doctors. 
 NEUROLOGISTS 
 Dr. Richard Blanck 
 1991 Marcus Ave. 
 <a href="/topics/Lake_Success%2C_NY">Lake Success</a> 
 516-466-4700 
 Dr. <a href="/topics/Daniel_Cohen">Daniel Cohen</a> 
 370 E. Main St. 
 <a href="/topics/Bay_Shore%2C_NY">Bay Shore</a> 
 631-666-4767 
 Dr. Patricia Coyle 
 <a href="/topics/Stony_Brook_University">Stony Brook University</a> 
 Medical Center 
 Dept. Neurology 
 HSC T12, Rm. 020 
 Stony Brook 
 631-444-2599 
 Dr. Alan Ettinger 
 Neurological Surgery, PC 
 1991 Marcus Ave. 
 <a href="/topics/Lake_Success%2C_NY">Lake Success</a> 
 516-442-2250 
 Dr. Oded Gerber 
 <a href="/topics/Stony_Brook_University">Stony Brook University</a> 
 Medical Center 
 Dept. Neurology 
 HSC Bldg. Fl. 12-Rm. 020 
 Stony Brook 
 631-444-2599 
 Dr. Marc Gordon 
 LI Jewish Medical Ctr. 
 Dept. Neurology 
 270-05 76th Ave. 
 <a href="/topics/New_Hyde_Park%2C_NY">New Hyde Park</a> 
 718-470-7366 
 Dr. Itzhak Haimovic 
 170 <a href="/topics/Great_Neck%2C_NY">Great Neck</a> Rd. 
 <a href="/topics/Great_Neck%2C_NY">Great Neck</a> 
 516-487-4464 
 Dr. Brian Hainline 
 3 <a href="/topics/Delaware">Delaware</a> Dr. 
 <a href="/topics/Lake_Success%2C_NY">Lake Success</a> 
 516-622-6088 
 Dr. Ronald Kanner 
 L.I. Jewish Medical Ctr. 
 Dept. Neurology 
 270-05 76th Ave. 
 <a href="/topics/New_Hyde_Park%2C_NY">New Hyde Park</a> 
 718-470-7311 
 Dr. John Kelemen 
 824 Old Country Rd. 
 <a href="/topics/Plainview%2C_NY">Plainview</a> 
 516-822-2230 
 Dr. Jeffrey Kessler 
 1991 Marcus Ave. 
 <a href="/topics/Lake_Success%2C_NY">Lake Success</a> 
 516-466-4700 
 Dr. Roger Kula 
 865 Northern Blvd. 
 <a href="/topics/Great_Neck%2C_NY">Great Neck</a> 
 516-570-4400 
 Dr. Lewis Levy 
 777 Sunrise Hwy. 
 <a href="/topics/Lynbrook%2C_NY">Lynbrook</a> 
 516-887-3516 
 Dr. Richard Libman 
 L.I. Jewish Medical Ctr. 
 Dept. Neurology 
 270-05 76th Ave. 
 <a href="/topics/New_Hyde_Park%2C_NY">New Hyde Park</a> 
 718-470-7311 
 Dr. Henry Moreta 
 877 E. Main St. 
 <a href="/topics/Riverhead%2C_NY">Riverhead</a> 
 631-727-0660 
 Dr. Stephen Newman 
 824 Old Country Rd. 
 <a href="/topics/Plainview%2C_NY">Plainview</a> 
 516-822-2230 
 Dr. Philip Ragone 
 1010 Northern Blvd. 
 <a href="/topics/Great_Neck%2C_NY">Great Neck</a> 
 516-482-4100 
 Dr. Neil Schaul 
 1575 Hillside Ave. 
 New Hyde Park 
 516-352-2441 
 Dr. Ira Turner 
 824 Old Country Rd. 
 <a href="/topics/Plainview%2C_NY">Plainview</a> 
 516-822-2230 
 CHILD NEUROLOGISTS 
 Dr. Mary Andriola 
 <a href="/topics/Stony_Brook_University">Stony Brook University</a> 
 Med. Ctr., Dept. Neurology, HSC T12-020 
 Stony Brook 
 631-444-2599 
 Dr. Marcia Bergtraum 
 3003 New Hyde 
 Park Rd. 
 New Hyde Park 
 516-488-2323 
 Dr. Lydia Eviatar 
 410 Lakeville Rd. 
 New Hyde Park 
 516-465-5255 
 Dr. Joseph Maytal 
 Dept. Ped. Neurology 
 410 Lakeville Rd. 
 New Hyde Park 
 516-465-5255 
 NEUROLOGICAL SURGEONS 
 Dr. <a href="/topics/Jeffrey_Brown_%28politician%29">Jeffrey Brown</a> 
 600 Northern Blvd. 
 Great Neck 
 516-478-0008 
 Dr. Raphael Davis 
 24 Research Way 
 <a href="/topics/East_Setauket%2C_NY">East Setauket</a> 
 631-444-1213 
 Dr. Mark Eisenberg 
 900 Northern Blvd. 
 Great Neck 
 516-773-7737 
 Dr. Nancy Epstein 
 410 Lakeville Rd. 
 New Hyde Park 
 516-354-3401 
 Dr. David <a href="/topics/Langer_Inc.">Langer</a> 
 300 Community Dr. 
 <a href="/topics/Manhasset%2C_NY">Manhasset</a> 
 516-562-3023 
 Dr. Mitchell Levine 
 900 Northern Blvd. 
 Great Neck 
 516-773-7737 
 Dr. Mark Mittler 
 L.I. Neurosurgical Associates 
 410 Lakeville Rd. 
 New Hyde Park 
 516-354-3401 
 Dr. Michael Schulder 
 North Shore 
 University Hospital 
 300 Community Dr. 
 <a href="/topics/Manhasset%2C_NY">Manhasset</a> 
 516-562-3062 
 Dr. Henry Woo 
 24 Research Way 
 East <a href="/topics/Setauket%2C_NY">Setauket</a> 
 631-444-1213 
 NEURORADIOLOGISTS 
 Dr. David Fiorella 
 Stony Brook University 
 Medical Center 
 Hospital Level 4, 
 Suite 430 
 Stony Brook 
 631-444-1213 
 Dr. Orlando Ortiz 
 120 <a href="/topics/Mineola%2C_NY">Mineola</a> Blvd. 
 <a href="/topics/Mineola%2C_NY">Mineola</a> 
 516-663-2123 
 Dr. John Pile-Spellman 
 Neurological Surgery, PC 
 1991 Marcus Ave. 
 Lake Success 
 516-442-2250 
 Dr. Avi Setton 
 North Shore 
 University Hosp. 
 300 Community Dr. 
 <a href="/topics/Manhasset%2C_NY">Manhasset</a> 
 516-562-3021 
 &nbsp; 
<h4> How they were picked</h4> 
 &nbsp; 
 Castle Connolly Medical Ltd. is a health-care research and information company founded in 1991 by a former medical college board chairman and president to help guide consumers to America's top doctors and hospitals. Castle Connolly's established survey and research process, under the direction of a doctor, involves tens of thousands of doctors and the medical leadership of leading hospitals. 
 Castle Connolly's team of researchers follows a rigorous screening process to select doctors on national and regional levels. Using mail and telephone surveys, and electronic ballots, they ask physicians and the leadership of top hospitals to identify exceptional doctors. Careful screening of doctors' educational and professional experience is essential to the committee. Not every good physician makes the list. Rather, the list is a way for patients to get started on their search for the best medical professional. Newsday is not part of the selection process. 
 Doctors do not and cannot pay to be selected and profiled as Castle Connolly Top Doctors. 
 &nbsp; 
<h4> To see the whole list . . .</h4> 
 &nbsp; 
 Who else is on the list of Top Doctors? More than 6,000 listings are in the <a href="/topics/New_York_%28state%29">New York</a> Metro Area edition of "Top Doctors," published by Castle Connolly Medical Ltd. The softcover list price is $34.95. For more information, go to castleconnolly.com, or call 800-399-DOCS.

HSTOP13.WEB

Top doctors: Childhood brain tumors

Esophageal cancer is one of the deadliest types of cancer, and the prognosis is usually grim. What's important, then, is to do what you can to prevent it, which medical experts say includes taking heartburn, sore throat and coughs seriously. 
 Here's what you should know: 
 1. ESOPHAGEAL CANCER IS COMMON 
 The U.S. <a href="/topics/National_Cancer_Institute">National Cancer Institute</a> estimates that 16,980 people in the United States will be diagnosed this year with esophageal cancer, and 14,710 will die from the disease. The diagnosis rate for men is 1 in 125 and for women, 1 in 400, said Dr. Maurice A. Cerulli, an associate professor of medicine at Hofstra North Shore-LIJ School of Medicine. 
 There are two types of esophageal cancer -- squamous, which is almost entirely linked to smoking and alcohol consumption, and adenocarcinoma, which is associated with acid reflux. "The increasing incidence of acid reflux has led to the increase in adenocarcinoma, especially in white, middle-aged men," Cerulli said. 
 2. LIFESTYLE HABITS CAN BOOST YOUR RISK 
 Smoking, drinking and overeating that leads to obesity are all risk factors, but smoking is the riskiest, said Dr. Alan Spielberg, chairman of the gastroenterology section at St. Catherine of Siena Medical Center in <a href="/topics/Smithtown%2C_NY">Smithtown</a>. 
 Another risk factor is infection with the human papillomavirus, or HPV, a sexually transmitted virus that has been linked to esophageal and head and neck cancers, Cerulli said. "Therefore, the HPV vaccine might also reduce the number of patients with esophageal cancer," he said. The federal government recommends the vaccine, marketed as Gardasil and Cervarix, for young women and young men before they become sexually active. 
 3. TAKE ACID REFLUX, SORE THROAT AND COUGHS SERIOUSLY 
 "People should pay attention to daily heartburn and not take medication to control it without being sure that they do not have damage to the esophagus, especially if they are over 50," Cerulli said. 
 Chronic heartburn, or acid reflux, can lead to a condition called Barrett's esophagus in which the esophagus becomes continually inflamed, Spielberg said. The condition greatly increases the risk for esophageal cancer, he said, apparently because of the chronic inflammation. 
 People who have acid reflux on a regular basis, such as a few times a week, should be screened for esophageal problems, Spielberg said. The same goes for those who have unexplained coughs, hoarseness and regurgitation of fluid or acid, even without burning, he said. 
 4. SEEK CARE IF YOU HAVE OTHER SYMPTOMS 
 "Any difficulty in swallowing solid food could be a warning sign of narrowing of the esophagus, which could be due to esophageal cancer," Cerulli said. "Weight loss is often associated with the difficulty swallowing." 
 5. EARLY TREATMENT CAN BE SUCCESSFUL 
 If someone is diagnosed with Barrett's esophagus and tests show precancerous cells, they can be removed through burning, cutting or freezing, Cerulli said. Early cancers can be cut out using an endoscope, he said. 
 However, the prognosis for people diagnosed with esophageal cancer is not good. Spielberg said that although chemotherapy and radiation are also used to treat the cancer, they won't cure it but can slow its progression. 
 The <a href="/topics/National_Cancer_Institute">National Cancer Institute</a> reports that the five-year survival rate for people with localized esophageal cancer is just 37 percent, falling to 18 percent if the cancer has spread nearby and 3 percent if it has spread to distant parts of the body. 
 &nbsp; 
<h4> Gastroenterologists</h4> 
 &nbsp; 
 This is the 24th installment of a 26-week series in which Newsday presents Castle Connolly's list of top <a href="/topics/Long_Island%2C_NY">Long Island</a> doctors. 
 Dr. Robert Bartolomeo 
 1103 Stewart Ave. 
 <a href="/topics/Garden_City%2C_NY">Garden City</a> 
 516-248-3737 
 Dr. David Bernstein 
 <a href="/topics/North_Shore_University_Hospital">North Shore University Hospital</a> 
 Div. Gastroenterology 
 300 Community Dr. 
 <a href="/topics/Manhasset%2C_NY">Manhasset</a> 
 516-562-4281 
 Dr. Meyer Blumstein 
 158 <a href="/topics/Hempstead%2C_NY">Hempstead</a> Ave. 
 <a href="/topics/Lynbrook%2C_NY">Lynbrook</a> 
 516-593-3541 
 Dr. William Caccese 
 700 Old Country Rd. 
 <a href="/topics/Plainview%2C_NY">Plainview</a> 
 516-681-1200 
 Dr. Maurice Cerulli 
 270-05 76th Ave. 
 <a href="/topics/New_Hyde_Park%2C_NY">New Hyde Park</a> 
 718-470-7281 
 Dr. William Cohn 
 3400 <a href="/topics/Nesconset%2C_NY">Nesconset</a> Hwy. 
 <a href="/topics/Setauket%2C_NY">Setauket</a> 
 631-751-8700 
 Dr. Bethany DeVito 
 <a href="/topics/North_Shore_University_Hospital">North Shore University Hospital</a> 
 4 Levitt Pavilion 
 300 Community Dr. 
 <a href="/topics/Manhasset%2C_NY">Manhasset</a> 
 516-562-4281 
 Dr. Joseph Duva 
 887 Old Country Rd. 
 <a href="/topics/Riverhead%2C_NY">Riverhead</a> 
 631-727-6122 
 Dr. David Eskreis 
 2001 Marcus Ave. 
 <a href="/topics/Lake_Success%2C_NY">Lake Success</a> 
 516-326-2700 
 Dr. Charles Farber 
 146A Manetto Hill Rd. 
 <a href="/topics/Plainview%2C_NY">Plainview</a> 
 516-822-4404 
 Dr. Barry Glanzman 
 152 E. Main St. 
 Huntington 
 631-421-2185 
 Dr. Lester Goldblum 
 850 <a href="/topics/Hicksville%2C_NY">Hicksville</a> Rd. 
 <a href="/topics/Seaford%2C_NY">Seaford</a> 
 516-796-9000 
 Dr. Ira Goldman 
 310 E. Shore Rd. 
 <a href="/topics/Great_Neck%2C_NY">Great Neck</a> 
 516-487-7677 
 Dr. Perry Gould 
 1103 Stewart Ave. 
 <a href="/topics/Garden_City%2C_NY">Garden City</a> 
 516-248-3737 
 Dr. Ronald Greenberg 
 270-05 76th Ave. 
 <a href="/topics/New_Hyde_Park%2C_NY">New Hyde Park</a> 
 718-470-7281 
 Dr. James Grendell 
 222 Station Plaza N. 
 <a href="/topics/Mineola%2C_NY">Mineola</a> 
 516-663-2066 
 Dr. Aaron Harrison 
 375 E. Main St. 
 <a href="/topics/Bay_Shore%2C_NY">Bay Shore</a> 
 631-968-8288 
 Dr. Seymour Katz 
 1000 Northern Blvd. 
 <a href="/topics/Great_Neck%2C_NY">Great Neck</a> 
 516-466-2340 
 Dr. Robert Lazar 
 48 Route 25A 
 <a href="/topics/Smithtown%2C_NY">Smithtown</a> 
 631-862-3680 
 Dr. Matthew McKinley 
 2800 Marcus Ave. 
 <a href="/topics/Lake_Success%2C_NY">Lake Success</a> 
 516-622-6076 
 Dr. Seth Miller 
 206 W. Park Ave. 
 <a href="/topics/Long_Beach%2C_NY">Long Beach</a> 
 516-432-8021 
 Dr. Perry Milman 
 2001 Marcus Ave. 
 <a href="/topics/Lake_Success%2C_NY">Lake Success</a> 
 516-775-7770 
 Dr. Melissa Palmer 
 Hepatology Associates 
 1097 Old Country Rd. 
 <a href="/topics/Plainview%2C_NY">Plainview</a> 
 516-939-2626 
 Dr. Gary Schwartz 
 1103 Stewart Ave. 
 <a href="/topics/Garden_City%2C_NY">Garden City</a> 
 516-248-3737 
 Dr. Alan Spielberg 
 48 Route 25A, <a href="/topics/Smithtown%2C_NY">Smithtown</a> 
 631-724-1178 
 Dr. Arthur Talansky 
 233 E. Shore Rd. 
 <a href="/topics/Great_Neck%2C_NY">Great Neck</a> 
 516-487-2444 
 Dr. Gary Weissman 
 2800 Marcus Ave. 
 <a href="/topics/Lake_Success%2C_NY">Lake Success</a> 
 516-622-6076 
 &nbsp; 
<h4> How they were picked</h4> 
 &nbsp; 
 Castle Connolly Medical Ltd. is a health care research and information company founded in 1991 by a former medical college board chairman and president to help guide consumers to America's top doctors and hospitals. Castle Connolly's established survey and research process, under the direction of a doctor, involves tens of thousands of doctors and the medical leadership of leading hospitals. 
 Castle Connolly's team of researchers follows a rigorous screening process to select doctors on national and regional levels. Using mail and telephone surveys, and electronic ballots, they ask physicians and the leadership of top hospitals to identify exceptional doctors. Careful screening of doctors' educational and professional experience is essential to the committee. Not every good physician makes the list. Rather, the list is a way for patients to get started on their search for the best medical professional. Newsday is not part of the selection process. 
 Doctors do not and cannot pay to be selected and profiled as Castle Connolly Top Doctors. 
 &nbsp; 
<h4> To see the whole list . . .</h4> 
 &nbsp; 
 Who else is on the list of Top Doctors? More than 6,000 listings are in the New York Metro Area edition of "Top Doctors," published by Castle Connolly Medical Ltd. The softcover list price is $34.95. For more information, go to castleconnolly.com, or call 800-399-DOCS.

HSTOP06.WEB

Top Doctors: Esophageal cancer

Seeing spots? Join the club: Almost all people see what are called "floaters" at some time in their lives. 
 Sometimes they're specks; other times, they look like mini threads. Usually they're harmless, but now and then they can be a sign of a serious eye problem. 
 Here's what you should know about floaters: 
 &nbsp; 
 &nbsp; 
<h4> 1 FLOATERS ARE ANYTHING BUT UNUSUAL</h4> 
 "Floaters are, unfortunately, as <a href="/topics/Common_%28musician%29">common</a> as the belly button," said Dr. Stanley J. Berke, founding partner at Ophthalmic Consultants of <a href="/topics/Long_Island%2C_NY">Long Island</a> in <a href="/topics/Lynbrook%2C_NY">Lynbrook</a>. 
 Floaters show up in your line of vision. "They may appear as spots or strands that resemble insects or hair or irregular rings that seem to 'float' around as the eye moves," said Berke, who's also associate clinical professor of ophthalmology at the Hofstra North Shore-LIJ School of Medicine. 
 You're not imagining them. The spots and strands are bits of cellular debris that float in the vitreous, a gel-like substance between the retina and the lens of the eye. Floaters appear when the vitreous changes over time from "a solid, homogeneous gelatin-like substance into a watery egg-white-like material that shifts around inside the eye with normal body movement," Berke said. 
 "Flashes," more officially known as photopsias, are a similar phenomenon to floaters. They appear when the vitreous stimulates the retina, he said. "While floaters are typically more pronounced when the background is light, such as a blue sky on a sunny day or a white wall or page, flashes are more commonly seen in a dark environment, such as in a movie theater or at bedtime," Berke said. 
 &nbsp; 
 &nbsp; 
<h4> 2 FLOATERS COULD SIGNAL A SERIOUS PROBLEM</h4> 
 New floaters or flashes could be a warning sign that the vitreous is about to pull on the retina and cause retinal detachment, Berke said. 
 Dr. Richard Nattis, chief of ophthalmology at <a href="/topics/Good_Samaritan_Hospital">Good Samaritan Hospital</a> Medical Center in <a href="/topics/West_Islip%2C_NY">West Islip</a>, explained that "this is why we always recommend that if patients notice a sudden onset of new floaters, they need to have a dilated eye exam to make sure the eye isn't damaged." And if it has been, he said, "that needs to be treated with a laser or surgery." 
 &nbsp; 
 &nbsp; 
<h4> 3 INJURY CAN CAUSE FLOATERS</h4> 
 "Floaters can happen after any kind of eye injury, any kind of trauma to the eye -- a punch or [being hit by] a baseball," Nattis said. "That can dislodge some floaters that weren't already present, and that can create new floaters." 
 People with certain eye diseases or <a href="/topics/Diabetes">diabetes</a> sometimes think they have floaters when, in fact, they're seeing evidence of bleeding, he said. 
 &nbsp; 
 &nbsp; 
<h4> 4 SURGERY IS POSSIBLE, BUT RARE</h4> 
 "We highly suggest trying to live with your floaters -- some patients actually have names for them -- but if you're at wit's end, surgery may be considered," Berke said. 
 A surgical procedure called vitrectomy clears the vitreous from the back of the eye and eliminates floaters, he said. Physicians have experimented with other procedures, such as those that use lasers, but Berke said that "they have not been fully evaluated, are not <a href="/topics/Food_and_Drug_Administration">FDA</a>-approved, require expensive out-of-pocket costs and may actually worsen floaters by increasing the total number in an attempt to 'blow them up,' or even result in retinal detachment." 
 &nbsp; 
 &nbsp; 
<h4> 5 THE BEST TREATMENT MAY BE TO COPE AND WAIT</h4> 
 Floaters can be more than a simple annoyance. "Some people are really haunted by the floaters," Nattis said. "They're right in their line of vision when they're trying to read or watch TV." 
 Still, relief may be on the horizon if you wait it out. It may take a while -- months or longer -- but "almost always, the floaters sort of settle down to the bottom of the eye, away from the pupil, and you don't notice them as much," Nattis said. "They're still there, but they're not giving you symptoms." 
 And one simple thing might help: Move your head. "Some people have a habit of moving their head rapidly, moving the floater out of their line of vision," Nattis said. It may work, he said, and it's not harmful.

HSTOP29.WEB

Five fast facts about floaters

If you're lucky, you'll never give your tonsils a thought. But if you didn't have them removed as a child, be aware that they can flare up in adults, too. Here's what you need to know: 
 &nbsp; 
 &nbsp; 
 &nbsp; 
<h5> 1. TONSILLITIS ISN'T JUST KID STUFF</h5> 
 "These days, we're seeing a lot of adults with tonsillitis," said Dr. Philip Perlman, director of otolaryngology, head and neck surgery at St. Francis Hospital in <a href="/topics/Roslyn%2C_NY">Roslyn</a>. "A lot of them should have had their tonsils out when they were younger." 
 The reason they didn't, Perlman said, is that the medical community moved away from performing lots of tonsil-removal surgeries on kids after the 1970s. "It's almost like too few tonsillectomies were done," he said. 
 Dr. Mark Shikowitz, vice chairman of otolaryngology with the <a href="/topics/North_Shore-Long_Island_Jewish_Health_System">North Shore-Long Island Jewish Health System</a> in <a href="/topics/New_Hyde_Park%2C_NY">New Hyde Park</a>, said he has been seeing a lot of college students who have developed tonsil infections, especially during their first year of living in dormitories, where they're exposed to so many other people. "We have a huge number of young adults who come home after their first semester at college and want their tonsils removed," he said. 
 &nbsp; 
 &nbsp; 
<h5> 2. WATCH FOR THE NASTY SYMPTOMS</h5> 
 Symptoms of tonsil infections include fever, pain, swelling and difficulty swallowing that can be dangerous because of the potential to obstruct the airway, said Dr. Anthony Durante, head of otolaryngology at Winthrop-University Hospital in <a href="/topics/Mineola%2C_NY">Mineola</a>. In people with tonsillitis, physicians look for a bright red throat and tonsils, and sometimes little white spots on the tonsils. The tonsils, which are two round clumps of tissue at the back of the throat, filter harmful viruses and bacteria, but this can make them prone to infection, too. 
 &nbsp; 
 &nbsp; 
<h5> 3. ANTIBIOTICS REMAIN A MAJOR TOOL</h5> 
 If a viral infection is causing the problem, do-it-yourself treatment often helps: gargling with saltwater, drinking warm liquids, taking over-the-counter medication for fever. 
 For bacterial infections, antibiotics are the mainstay treatment. Perlman said doctors typically tackle tonsillitis with penicillin, a combination of amoxicillin and clavulanate (Augmentin) or clindamycin (Cleocin). Durante said people typically get some relief within 48 hours. 
 &nbsp; 
 &nbsp; 
<h5> 4. SURGERY MAY STILL BE AN OPTION</h5> 
 Doctors generally stick with antibiotics for those adults who get a couple of tonsil infections a year. "But when you're having three or four that constantly need antibiotics, and you're missing work or missing school, there may be an indication for taking out your tonsils," Perlman said. Surgery also may be necessary for those who have large tonsils that obstruct the airway, causing loud snoring and sleep apnea, he said. 
 And, as many people discovered when they were kids, you can do just fine without your tonsils. "You don't really lose the ability to get the protection you're supposed to get from the tonsils," Durante said. In fact, the reason they exist is a bit fuzzy, although they seem to be part of the immune system. "I don't think anyone knows 100 percent why we have our tonsils," Shikowitz said. 
 &nbsp; 
 &nbsp; 
<h5> 5. UPDATE YOUR THOUGHTS ON TONSILLECTOMY</h5> 
 In adults, tonsil removal surgery is "a little less painful" than in the past, Shikowitz said. New techniques, like one that uses a tool to shave down the tonsil, have made the adult tonsillectomy "more palatable," he said, no pun intended. 
 Still, surgery carries a risk for bleeding and complications from general anesthesia, and tonsil removal "is not as simple as people think," Durante said. "We try very hard to not take them out of children and not take them out of adults."

HSTOP15.WEB

Five fast facts about tonsils and adults

If you're huffing and puffing when you walk up a single flight of stairs, don't blame the building. Your shortness of breath could have something to do with impaired lung function. 
 "Lung function measures the general ability of the lung to move air in and out of the body, and its ability to absorb oxygen and remove carbon dioxide," explained Dr. Mark J. Rosen, a lung specialist at <a href="/topics/North_Shore_University_Hospital">North Shore University Hospital</a> and <a href="/topics/Long_Island_Jewish_Medical_Center">Long Island Jewish Medical Center</a>. 
 To improve your lung function, here's what you need to know: 
 1. SEE A DOCTOR IF YOU'RE SHORT OF BREATH 
 "Patients frequently ignore shortness of breath or decreased exercise tolerance as a sign of aging or being a little overweight," said Dr. Alan S. Multz, chairman of the department of medicine at NuHealth/<a href="/topics/Nassau_University_Medical_Center">Nassau University Medical Center</a> in <a href="/topics/East_Meadow%2C_NY">East Meadow</a>. "That frequently leads to a delay in diagnosis and treatment for those with conditions or illnesses that predispose a person to the development of poor lung function." 
 Those conditions include cardiovascular diseases. 
 Rosen said that people should see a doctor when a lung problem like coughing or shortness of breath lasts longer than expected after a cold. The symptoms may seem to be lung-related, but he said they could be a sign of heart disease. 
 2. STOP SMOKING 
 "The best way to improve lung function is to avoid things that damage the lung," Rosen said, and cigarette smoking tops that list. "If you don't smoke, don't start. If you smoke, stop." 
 The effects of smoking cessation can be dramatic. A study in the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine found that asthmatic heavy smokers who quit significantly improved their lung function in just six weeks. The researchers noticed a considerable difference in only one week. 
 3. LOSE WEIGHT AND EXERCISE 
 Obesity reduces the ability of the lungs to function by essentially shrinking their overall capacity, Multz explained. And while weight loss can boost the ability of the lungs to function, Rosen said that exercise allows the body to use them more efficiently. 
 Exercise seems to help even those who refuse to quit smoking. The study in the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine also found that smokers who were moderate or heavy exercisers significantly lowered their risk for developing <a href="/topics/COPD">chronic obstructive pulmonary disease</a>. Their lung function also declined at a slower rate than smokers who didn't exercise much. 
 4. CONSIDER MEDICATIONS 
 Inhalers can improve lung function in people with <a href="/topics/Asthma">asthma</a>, a condition that reduces lung function. Multz said that some inhalers are designed to soothe immediate symptoms, and others prevent problems from occurring or control them. 
 Other drugs also can be prescribed to treat poor lung function. Medications like prednisone, for example, treat the condition by reducing inflammation, he said. 
 5. ASK YOUR DOCTOR ABOUT 'PULMONARY REHABILITATION' 
 People with impaired lung function may <a href="/topics/Benefit_%28designer%29">benefit</a> from pulmonary rehabilitation, which Multz described as an outpatient program that "consists of exercises training and therapeutic exercise, activities that teach one how to exercise properly, education on how to breathe properly, stress reduction, medication education, oxygen therapy and nutritional assessment." 
 The program, which usually lasts six weeks and requires screening and a doctor's referral, can help people "improve exercise capacity, reduce symptoms and increase the ability to perform activities of daily living, improve quality of life and hopefully reduce hospitalizations," he said. 
 &nbsp; 
<h4> PULMONOLOGISTS</h4> 
 &nbsp; 
 This is the 20th installment of a 26-week series in which Newsday presents Castle Connolly's list of top <a href="/topics/Long_Island%2C_NY">Long Island</a> doctors. 
 Dr. Daniel Baram 
 70 North Country Rd. 
 <a href="/topics/Port_Jefferson%2C_NY">Port Jefferson</a> 
 631-473-0037 
 Dr. Dennis Bernardini 
 175 E. Main St. 
 Huntington 
 631-424-3787 
 Dr. Alan Blum 
 444 <a href="/topics/Merrick%2C_NY">Merrick</a> Rd. 
 <a href="/topics/Lynbrook%2C_NY">Lynbrook</a> 
 516-593-9500 
 Dr. David Breidbart 
 6 <a href="/topics/Ohio">Ohio</a> Dr. 
 LSQ Medical Bldg. 
 <a href="/topics/Lake_Success%2C_NY">Lake Success</a> 
 516-328-8700 
 Dr. Michael Cohen 
 N. Shore Internal Medical Assoc. 
 560 Northern Blvd. 
 <a href="/topics/Great_Neck%2C_NY">Great Neck</a> 
 516-482-0600 
 Dr. Alan Fein 
 2800 Marcus Ave. 
 Dept. Pulmonary Medicine 
 <a href="/topics/Lake_Success%2C_NY">Lake Success</a> 
 516-608-2890 
 Dr. Morton Glaser 
 60 North Country Rd. 
 <a href="/topics/Port_Jefferson%2C_NY">Port Jefferson</a> 
 631-509-1888 
 Dr. Richard Eric Gordon 
 Island Pulmonary Associates 
 4271 <a href="/topics/Hempstead%2C_NY">Hempstead</a> Tpke. 
 <a href="/topics/Bethpage_State_Park%2C_NY">Bethpage</a> 
 516-796-3700 
 Dr. Harly Greenberg 
 North Shore LIJ 
 Sleep Disorders Center 
 410 Lakeville Rd. 
 <a href="/topics/New_Hyde_Park%2C_NY">New Hyde Park</a> 
 516-465-3899 
 Dr. Benjamin Leeman 
 20 W. Lincoln Ave. 
 <a href="/topics/Valley_Stream%2C_NY">Valley Stream</a> 
 516-599-8787 
 Dr. Alan Mensch 
 453 S. <a href="/topics/Oyster_Bay%2C_NY">Oyster Bay</a> Rd. 
 <a href="/topics/Plainview%2C_NY">Plainview</a> 
 516-433-2922 
 Dr. Steve Mermelstein 
 444 <a href="/topics/Merrick%2C_NY">Merrick</a> Rd. 
 <a href="/topics/Lynbrook%2C_NY">Lynbrook</a> 
 516-593-9500 
 Dr. Alan Multz 
 2201 <a href="/topics/Hempstead%2C_NY">Hempstead</a> Tpke. 
 <a href="/topics/East_Meadow%2C_NY">East Meadow</a> 
 516-572-6262 
 Dr. Ian Newmark 
 8 Greenfield Rd. 
 <a href="/topics/Syosset%2C_NY">Syosset</a> 
 516-496-3001 
 Dr. Michael Niederman 
 222 Station Plaza N. 
 <a href="/topics/Mineola%2C_NY">Mineola</a> 
 516-663-2834 
 Dr. Mark Rosen 
 410 Lakeville Rd. 
 <a href="/topics/New_Hyde_Park%2C_NY">New Hyde Park</a> 
 516-465-5400 
 Dr. Rita Schulster 
 442 E. Waukena Ave. 
 <a href="/topics/Oceanside%2C_NY">Oceanside</a> 
 516-599-8234 
 Dr. Howard Sklarek 
 325 Meeting House Lane Bldg. 1 
 <a href="/topics/Southampton_FC">Southampton</a> 
 631-283-8008 
 Dr. Harry Steinberg 
 LI Jewish Medical Center 
 Dept. Medicine 
 270-05 76th Ave. 
 <a href="/topics/New_Hyde_Park%2C_NY">New Hyde Park</a> 
 516-465-5400 
 Dr. Lawrence Walser 
 185 Old Country Rd. 
 <a href="/topics/Riverhead%2C_NY">Riverhead</a> 
 631-727-2523 
 Dr. Gary Wohlberg 
 370 E. Main St. 
 <a href="/topics/Bay_Shore%2C_NY">Bay Shore</a> 
 631-666-5864 
 Dr. Perry Wyner 
 2 Lincoln Ave. 
 <a href="/topics/Rockville_Centre%2C_NY">Rockville Centre</a> 
 516-536-4960 
 Dr. Henry Zupnick 
 158 <a href="/topics/Hempstead%2C_NY">Hempstead</a> Ave. 
 <a href="/topics/Lynbrook%2C_NY">Lynbrook</a> 
 516-593-3541 
 &nbsp; 
<h4> How they were picked</h4> 
 &nbsp; 
 Castle Connolly Medical Ltd. is a health care research and information company founded in 1991 by a former medical college board chairman and president to help guide consumers to America's top doctors and hospitals. Castle Connolly's established survey and research process, under the direction of a doctor, involves tens of thousands of doctors and the medical leadership of leading hospitals. 
 Castle Connolly's team of researchers follows a rigorous screening process to select doctors on national and regional levels. Using mail and telephone surveys, and electronic ballots, they ask physicians and the leadership of top hospitals to identify exceptional doctors. Careful screening of doctors' educational and professional experience is essential to the committee. Not every good physician makes the list. Rather, the list is a way for patients to get started on their search for the best medical professional. Newsday is not part of the selection process. 
 Doctors do not and cannot pay to be selected and profiled as Castle Connolly Top Doctors. 
 &nbsp; 
<h4> To see the whole list . . .</h4> 
 &nbsp; 
 Who else is on the list of Top Doctors? More than 6,000 listings are in the New York Metro Area edition of "Top Doctors," published by Castle Connolly Medical Ltd. The softcover list price is $34.95. For more information, go to castleconnolly.com, or call 800-399-DOCS.

HSTOP08.WEB

Top doctors: Improving lung function

Everyone gets a bit creaky with age, and most people develop some aches and pains from osteoarthritis, when the joint cushioning wears away. 
 <a href="/topics/Rheumatoid_arthritis">Rheumatoid arthritis</a>, however, is a different matter. This condition, which can occur quite early in life, develops when the immune system malfunctions. 
 Here's what you should know about treating rheumatoid <a href="/topics/Arthritis">arthritis</a>: 
 1. The goal of medications is to subdue the immune system 
 <a href="/topics/Rheumatoid_arthritis">Rheumatoid arthritis</a> begins when the immune system attacks the lining of joints in the body, said Dr. Richard Furie, chief of rheumatology at the <a href="/topics/North_Shore-Long_Island_Jewish_Health_System">North Shore-Long Island Jewish Health System</a> and a professor of medicine at <a href="/topics/Hofstra_University">Hofstra University</a>. 
 "A joint normally has a very thin lining, almost like Saran Wrap, that's very thin and produces nutrients for the joint," he said. In rheumatoid <a href="/topics/Arthritis">arthritis</a>, "the tissue starts to grow like crazy," he explained. "There's uncontrolled growth of this very thin membrane, and it begins to almost look like a sea anemone, with fronds that can invade and destroy cartilage, bone, ligaments and tendons." 
 Treatment may include anti-inflammatory drugs -- they reduce swelling -- and medications that directly modify the way the immune system works, Furie said. 
 2. Use nonprescription drugs with caution 
 Over-the-counter painkillers like ibuprofen and naproxen may help treat pain and swelling, but "they are not innocuous drugs," warned Dr. Steven E. Carsons, chief of the Division of Rheumatology, <a href="/topics/Allergy_and_Immunology">Allergy and Immunology</a> at <a href="/topics/Winthrop_University_Hospital">Winthrop University Hospital</a>. "They may interact with other medications prescribed for rheumatoid arthritis, and carry a risk of gastrointestinal ulceration and bleeding as well as altering kidney function. Recent data urge caution in patients having risk factors for heart disease." 
 3. Drug combos have made a big difference 
 Over the past decade, combo therapies have helped improve symptoms for many people with rheumatoid arthritis, Carsons said. Sixty-five to 70 percent get at least some relief when they take a combination of medications, he said. 
 In particular, Carsons said, doctors have been prescribing combinations of methotrexate (an immune-system dampener known by the brand names Rheumatrex and Trexall) and drugs known as biologic agents. Furie explained that biologic drugs target a specific molecule in the immune system, and it may take time to find the right combination of medications for a patient. 
 "That's something we couldn't do 12 years ago because there weren't all these drugs out there," Furie said. "Now there are all these choices. It's great for the patients." 
 4. Treatment may be costly and not always totally covered by insurance 
 "The impact of cost is felt most acutely regarding the biologic therapies, which may reach $10,000 to $20,000 yearly," Carsons said. "Plans often do not cover the entire expense." But, he said, "rheumatologists and their staffs are knowledgeable in working with payers, manufacturers and private foundations in order to obtain these medications for their patients at a reasonable out-of-pocket expense whenever possible." 
 5. Side effects are possible but may be worth it 
 The immune-dampening medications can boost the risk of infections like respiratory diseases, and there's debate over whether they may make cancer more likely, Furie said. "You can't subdue the immune system without affecting the immune system's ability to protect you from invaders," he explained. 
 Still, he said, the drugs can have major benefits in the long run because they preserve the integrity and function of joints. Methotrexate, for example, slows down the damage from rheumatoid arthritis, he said. 
 "A lot of patients are afraid to go on medications because they're afraid of side effects, and they say they're doing OK now," Furie said. "I'll counter with, 'You're doing OK now, but we want to make sure you're doing OK 30 years from now.' There's a balance to be struck between feeling better now and the long-term outlook." 
 &nbsp; 
<h3> RHEUMATOLOGISTS</h3> 
 This is the 18th installment of a 26-week series in which Newsday presents Castle Connolly's list of top <a href="/topics/Long_Island%2C_NY">Long Island</a> doctors. 
 Dr. Elise Belilos, 
 Winthrop Univ. Hosp., 
 Div. Rheumatology, 
 120 <a href="/topics/Mineola%2C_NY">Mineola</a> Blvd., 
 <a href="/topics/Mineola%2C_NY">Mineola</a>; 516-663-2097 
 Dr. Sheldon Blau, 
 566 Broadway, 
 <a href="/topics/Massapequa%2C_NY">Massapequa</a>; 516-541-6262 
 Dr. Steven Carsons, 
 Div. Rheumatology &amp; Allergy, 
 120 <a href="/topics/Mineola%2C_NY">Mineola</a> Blvd., 
 Mineola; 516-663-2097 
 Dr. <a href="/topics/Daniel_Cohen">Daniel Cohen</a>, 
 1157 Broadway, 
 <a href="/topics/Hewlett%2C_NY">Hewlett</a>; 516-295-4481 
 Dr. Richard Furie, 
 North Shore <a href="/topics/Long_Island%2C_NY">Long Island</a> 
 Jewish Health System, 
 2800 Marcus Ave., 
 <a href="/topics/Lake_Success%2C_NY">Lake Success</a>; 516-708-2550 
 Dr. <a href="/topics/Robert_Greenwald">Robert Greenwald</a>, 
 2 ProHealth Plaza, 
 <a href="/topics/Lake_Success%2C_NY">Lake Success</a>; 516-622-6090 
 Dr. Max Hamburger, 
 1895 <a href="/topics/Walt_Whitman">Walt Whitman</a> Rd., 
 <a href="/topics/Melville%2C_NY">Melville</a>; 631-249-9525 
 Dr. Michael Hoffman, 
 277 Northern Blvd., 
 <a href="/topics/Great_Neck%2C_NY">Great Neck</a>; 516-498-3500 
 Dr. Alan Kaell, 
 315 Middle Country Rd., 
 <a href="/topics/Smithtown%2C_NY">Smithtown</a>; 631-360-7778 
 Dr. Esther Lipstein-Kresch, 
 2 Pro Health Plaza, 
 <a href="/topics/Lake_Success%2C_NY">Lake Success</a>; 516-622-6090 
 Dr. Gary Meredith, 
 242 <a href="/topics/Merrick%2C_NY">Merrick</a> Rd., 
 <a href="/topics/Rockville_Centre%2C_NY">Rockville Centre</a>; 516-536-9424 
 Dr. Andrew Porges, 
 1044 Northern Blvd., 
 <a href="/topics/Roslyn%2C_NY">Roslyn</a>; 516-484-6880 
 Dr. Michael Repice, 
 5 E. Main St., 
 Huntington; 631-271-1640 
 Dr. <a href="/topics/James_Sullivan">James Sullivan</a>, 
 975 Stewart Ave., 
 <a href="/topics/Garden_City%2C_NY">Garden City</a>; 516-222-8654 
 Dr. Mark Tan, 
 222 Middle Country Rd., 
 <a href="/topics/Smithtown%2C_NY">Smithtown</a>; 631-724-8900 
 Dr. Louis Tiger, 
 566 Broadway, 
 <a href="/topics/Massapequa%2C_NY">Massapequa</a>; 516-541-6262 
 &nbsp; 
<h4> How they were picked</h4> 
 Castle Connolly Medical Ltd. is a health care research and information company founded in 1991 by a former medical college board chairman and president to help guide consumers to America's top doctors and hospitals. Castle Connolly's established survey and research process, under the direction of a doctor, involves tens of thousands of doctors and the medical leadership of leading hospitals. 
 Castle Connolly's team of researchers follows a rigorous screening process to select doctors on national and regional levels. Using mail and telephone surveys, and electronic ballots, they ask physicians and the leadership of top hospitals to identify exceptional doctors. Careful screening of doctors' educational and professional experience is essential to the committee. Not every good physician makes the list. Rather, the list is a way for patients to get started on their search for the best medical professional. Newsday is not part of the selection process. 
 Doctors do not and cannot pay to be selected and profiled as Castle Connolly Top Doctors. 
 &nbsp; 
<h4> To see the whole list . . .</h4> 
 Who else is on the list of Top Doctors? More than 6,000 listings are in the New York Metro Area edition of "Top Doctors," published by Castle Connolly Medical Ltd. The softcover list price is $34.95. For more information, go to castleconnolly.com, or call 800-399-DOCS.

HSTOP01.WEB

Top doctors: Treating rheumatoid arthritis

A "virtual colonoscopy" certainly sounds tolerable, compared with the traditional kind. "People think it's magic," said <a href="/topics/Great_Neck%2C_NY">Great Neck</a> surgical oncologist Dr. James <a href="/topics/James_Sullivan">Sullivan</a> III. 
 Truth be told, however, virtual colonoscopies are quite similar to the traditional procedure, even down to the preparation that so many dread. Here's what you should know: 
 1. THEY'RE UNPLEASANT 
 Virtual colonoscopies detect polyps in the colon with the help of three-dimensional CT scans instead of scopes that are inserted into the rectum. But the preparation is the same. Prospective patients must clear their bowels before the procedure, typically by drinking a laxative solution and staying near the toilet. 
 "That's the worst part of the exam, and you have to do it for both types of colonoscopy," said <a href="/topics//James_Sullivan">Sullivan</a>, who's board-certified in colorectal surgery. 
 In addition, a virtual colonoscopy includes having air pumped into your intestines -- a procedure Sullivan likened to an "air enema." 
 2. YOU STILL MIGHT NEED A TRADITIONAL COLONOSCOPY 
 The purpose of a colonoscopy is to detect signs of abnormal growths and other problems in the colon. But virtual colonoscopies only allow physicians to see polyps and other problems. The doctors can't actually do anything about them unless the person comes back for a traditional colonoscopy, Sullivan said. Only then can suspicious polyps be removed. 
 It would be extremely unusual to immediately perform a traditional colonoscopy -- complete with polyp removal -- after a virtual one, he said. 
 3. VIRTUAL COLONOSCOPIES MAY MISS PROBLEMS 
 The procedure may not detect the tiniest polyps, unlike traditional colonoscopies that are more sensitive, explained Dr. John Procaccino Jr., chief of colon and rectal surgery at <a href="/topics/North_Shore_University_Hospital">North Shore University Hospital</a> in <a href="/topics/Manhasset%2C_NY">Manhasset</a>. 
 It's possible that a virtual colonoscopy may miss a polyp that would then have a chance to grow for another 10 years until it's noticed when the person has his or her next regularly scheduled colonoscopy, Procaccino said. 
 4. VIRTUAL COLONOSCOPIES DO HAVE POINTS IN THEIR FAVOR 
 For one thing, they have a lower risk for complications. Few people who have traditional colonoscopies -- one in several hundred -- suffer from perforations, but even that risk drops sharply for those who have the virtual procedure. "There's a smaller chance of a problem," Sullivan said. "It's not zero, but it's smaller." 
 And despite the cons of undergoing a virtual colonoscopy, Procaccino said that the procedure is appropriate for some people -- such as those who are on blood thinners and face an increased risk for bleeding during traditional colonoscopies. The virtual type also can be appropriate if a problem or condition prevents a person from having the traditional procedure, he said. 
 However, he noted that insurance companies might not pay for a virtual colonoscopy unless there's a good reason for it. "It's not an accepted standard as a screening tool," he said. 
 5. ANY KIND OF COLONOSCOPY IS BETTER THAN NONE 
 A colonoscopy is "not horrific," Procaccino said. The preparation is uncomfortable, he said, but "three hours of diarrhea can save your life." 
 &nbsp; 
<h4> Colon &amp; rectal, thoracic and vascular surgeons</h4> 
 &nbsp; 
 This is the 17th installment of a 26-week series in which Newsday presents Castle Connolly's list of top <a href="/topics/Long_Island%2C_NY">Long Island</a> doctors. 
 COLON &amp; RECTAL SURGERY 
 Dr. Marc Greenwald 
 310 E. Shore Rd. 
 <a href="/topics//Great_Neck,_NY">Great Neck</a> 
 516-482-8657 
 Dr. <a href="/topics/Thomas_Arnold">Arnold</a> Leiboff 
 3400 <a href="/topics/Nesconset%2C_NY">Nesconset</a> Hwy. 
 <a href="/topics/East_Setauket%2C_NY">East Setauket</a> 
 631-689-2600 
 Dr. Michael Moseson 
 60 Cuttermill Rd. 
 Great Neck 
 516-487-8738 
 Dr. John Procaccino Jr. 
 Div. of Colon &amp; Rectal Surgery 
 900 Northern Blvd. 
 Great Neck 
 516-730-2100 
 Dr. William Smithy 
 222 Middle Country Rd. 
 <a href="/topics/Smithtown%2C_NY">Smithtown</a> 
 631-638-2800 
 Dr. <a href="/topics/James_Sullivan">James Sullivan</a> III 
 North Shore Oncology Assoc. 
 600 Northern Blvd. 
 Great Neck 
 516-487-9454 
 THORACIC SURGEONS 
 Dr. Shahriyour Andaz 
 444 <a href="/topics/Merrick%2C_NY">Merrick</a> Rd. 
 <a href="/topics/Lynbrook%2C_NY">Lynbrook</a> 
 516-255-5010 
 Dr. Thomas Bilfinger 
 Stony Brook Univ. Med. Ctr. 
 Dept. Surgery, HSC Bldg. 
 Stony Brook 
 631-444-1820 
 Dr. Rick Esposito 
 North Shore Univ. Hospital 
 Dept. Cardiothoracic Surgery 
 300 Community Drive 
 <a href="/topics//Manhasset,_NY">Manhasset</a> 
 516-562-4970 
 Dr. Harold Fernandez 
 Stony Brook University Medical Center, Cardiothoracic Surgery Division 
<div>
 &nbsp;
</div> 
<div>
 HSC Bldg, Ste T19-080
</div> 
<div>
 &nbsp;
</div> 
<div>
 Nichols Road,&nbsp;Stony Brook
</div> 
<div>
 &nbsp;
</div> 
<div>
 631-444-1820
</div> 
 Dr. Stewart Fox 
 444 <a href="/topics//Merrick,_NY">Merrick</a> Rd. 
 <a href="/topics//Lynbrook,_NY">Lynbrook</a> 
 516-255-5010 
 Dr. Lawrence Glassman 
 225 Community Dr. 
 Great Neck 
 516-918-4388 
 Dr. Alan Hartman 
 North Shore Univ. Hosp. 
 Div. Cardiothoracic Surgery 
 300 Community Dr. 
 Manhasset 
 516-562-4970 
 Dr. <a href="/topics/Gary%2C_IN">Gary</a> Kline 
 Summit Thoracic Institute 
 410 Lakeville Rd. 
 <a href="/topics/New_Hyde_Park%2C_NY">New Hyde Park</a> 
 516-233-1952 
 Dr. Terry Palatt 
 15 Park Ave., <a href="/topics/Bay_Shore%2C_NY">Bay Shore</a> 
 631-581-4400 
 Dr. Newell Robinson 
 100 <a href="/topics//Port_Washington,_NY">Port Washington</a> Blvd. 
 Vizza Bldg. 
 <a href="/topics//Roslyn,_NY">Roslyn</a> 
 516-627-2173 
 Dr. Todd Rosengart 
 Stony Brook Univ. Med. Ctr. 
 Health Science Center 
 Cardiothoracic Surg., HSC-T19 
 Stony Brook 
 631-444-7875 
 Dr. Chanchal Saha 
 754 Old Country Rd. 
 <a href="/topics/Plainview%2C_NY">Plainview</a> 
 516-931-0182 
 Dr. Scott Schubach 
 120 <a href="/topics/Mineola%2C_NY">Mineola</a> Blvd. 
 <a href="/topics//Mineola,_NY">Mineola</a> 
 516-663-4400 
 Dr. <a href="/topics/James_Taylor">James Taylor</a> Jr. 
 &nbsp; 
<div>
 Stony Brook University Medical Center, Cardiothoracic Surgery Division
</div> 
<div>
 &nbsp;
</div> 
<div>
 HSC Bldg, Ste T19-080
</div> 
<div>
 &nbsp;
</div> 
<div>
 Nichols Road,&nbsp;Stony Brook
</div> 
<div>
 &nbsp;
</div> 
<div>
 631-444-1820
</div> 
 Dr. Vadim Zeltsman 
 225 Community Dr. 
 Great Neck 
 516-918-4388 
 VASCULAR SURGEONS 
 Dr. <a href="/topics/Thomas_Arnold">Thomas Arnold</a> 
 1110 Hallock Ave. 
 <a href="/topics/Port_Jefferson_Station%2C_NY">Port Jefferson Station</a> 
 631-476-9100 
 Dr. Saqib Chaudhry 
 2001 Marcus Ave. 
 <a href="/topics/Lake_Success%2C_NY">Lake Success</a> 
 516-328-9800 
 Dr. Glenn Faust 
 2201 <a href="/topics/Hempstead%2C_NY">Hempstead</a> Tpke. 
 <a href="/topics/East_Meadow%2C_NY">East Meadow</a> 
 516-572-4848 
 Dr. Robert Pollina 
 1110 Hallock Ave. 
 <a href="/topics//Port_Jefferson_Station,_NY">Port Jefferson Station</a> 
 631-476-9100 
 Dr. William A Purtill 
 560 Northern Blvd. 
 Great Neck 
 516-466-0485 
 Dr. Apostolos Tassiopoulos 
 Stony Brook Univ. Med. Ctr. 
 HSC Bldg. 
 Stony Brook 
 631-444-4545 
 &nbsp; 
<h4> How they were picked</h4> 
 &nbsp; 
 Castle Connolly Medical Ltd. is a health care research and information company founded in 1991 by a former medical college board chairman and president to help guide consumers to America's top doctors and hospitals. Castle Connolly's established survey and research process, under the direction of a doctor, involves tens of thousands of doctors and the medical leadership of leading hospitals. 
 Castle Connolly's team of researchers follows a rigorous screening process to select doctors on national and regional levels. Using mail and telephone surveys, and electronic ballots, they ask physicians and the leadership of top hospitals to identify exceptional doctors. Careful screening of doctors' educational and professional experience is essential to the committee. Not every good physician makes the list. Rather, the list is a way for patients to get started on their search for the best medical professional. Newsday is not part of the selection process. 
 Doctors do not and cannot pay to be selected and profiled as Castle Connolly Top Doctors. 
 &nbsp; 
<h4> To see the whole list . . .</h4> 
 &nbsp; 
 Who else is on the list of Top Doctors? More than 6,000 listings are in the New York Metro Area edition of "Top Doctors," published by Castle Connolly Medical Ltd. The softcover list price is $34.95. For more information, go to castleconnolly.com, or call 800-399-DOCS.

HSTOP18.WEB

Top doctors: The virtual colonoscopy

Everywhere you turn, it seems, a medical clinic is advertising its laser technology. Doctors tout its benefits for eye surgery, tumor treatment, removal of varicose veins and more. 
But an old-fashioned treatment -- surgery with a scalpel -- may, in fact, be a better idea in some cases, especially when lasers <a href="/topics/Haven_%28show%29">haven</a>'t been proven to provide an extra <a href="/topics/Benefit_%28designer%29">benefit</a>. 
Here's what you should know if you're considering surgery: 
1. LASERS AREN'T ALWAYS APPROPRIATE 
Laser surgery, which uses an energy beam to cut or seal tissue, is commonly used in vein surgery -- such as to treat varicose veins -- and in surgery for the eyes, said Dr. John Francfort, chairman of the surgery department at <a href="/topics/Good_Samaritan_Hospital">Good Samaritan Hospital</a> Medical Center in <a href="/topics/West_Islip%2C_NY">West Islip</a>. 
Less commonly, physicians use it to treat tumors, such as those of the head and neck region, he said. In dermatology, lasers are used to remove wrinkles, tattoos and birthmarks. Gynecological surgeons sometimes use laser surgery for uterine fibroids or <a href="/topics/Endometriosis">endometriosis</a>. 
But lasers have failed to show success in other kinds of surgery, such as operations on the breast and on hemorrhoids, Francfort said. "Laser sounds sexy and space-age, and in a sense it is," he said, "but it's not suitable for all patients." One problem, he explained, is that the heat from lasers can burn the body's tissue, making their use inappropriate for some types of surgery. 
Instead, surgeons use knives and electrocautery -- which seals wounds with heat -- in most conventional surgeries, said Dr. Louis J. Auguste, a surgeon with North Shore-LIJ Health System in <a href="/topics/New_Hyde_Park%2C_NY">New Hyde Park</a>. 
2. YOU STILL MAY FEEL PAIN AFTER LASER SURGERY 
Whether a laser or a scalpel is used to make incisions, Francfort said, the patient probably will experience pain during recovery. A cut by a laser is still a cut. But, patients often misunderstand how lasers work and expect they'll result in much less pain, he noted. 
Still, laser surgery can provide major benefits when compared with conventional surgery with a scalpel, Francfort said. In vein surgery, for example, patients may have less discomfort and be able to return to normal activities more quickly, and they may not need to be anesthetized, he said. 
3. INSURANCE TYPICALLY COVERS LASER SURGERY 
Laser procedures cost more than those that use knives because the equipment required is expensive, Francfort explained. However, insurance companies will pay for laser operations as long as there's medical evidence supporting a procedure, he said. 
4. DON'T CONFUSE LASER WITH MINIMALLY INVASIVE SURGERY 
"Patients very often ask to have 'laser surgery,' " Auguste said, "but, in fact, they want to have a minimally invasive procedure, such as a laparoscopic or arthroscopic procedure." Those types of surgery are both performed through small incisions. Laser surgery refers to the type of tool that's used in a procedure. And it's the physician, not the patient, who generally decides what type of surgical tool to use, Francfort said. 
5. LASER IS NO LONGER THE LATEST OPTION 
Auguste said he doubts that lasers will be adapted to be used in more types of procedures in the future. Instead, he said, other types of devices that use energy are being created for use in surgery. 
Some of the devices use sound waves to cut and seal small blood vessels, he said, and another approach is cryoablation, in which some cancerous tumors can be frozen into an ice ball that eventually disintegrates. 
&nbsp; 
<h4>Surgeons</h4> 
&nbsp; 
This is the 16th installment of a 26-week series in which Newsday presents Castle Connolly's list of top <a href="/topics/Long_Island%2C_NY">Long Island</a> doctors. 
Dr. Louis J. Auguste 
2035 Lakeville Rd. 
<a href="/topics/New_Hyde_Park%2C_NY">New Hyde Park</a> 
516-775-2070 
Dr. Erna Busch-Devereaux 
270 Pulaski Rd. 
<a href="/topics/Greenlawn%2C_NY">Greenlawn</a> 
631-423-1414 
Dr. Bradley Cohen 
15 Park Ave. 
<a href="/topics/Bay_Shore%2C_NY">Bay Shore</a> 
631-581-4400 
Dr. Charles Conte 
600 Northern Blvd. 
<a href="/topics/Great_Neck%2C_NY">Great Neck</a> 
516-487-9454 
Dr. Gene Coppa 
1999 Marcus Ave. 
<a href="/topics/Lake_Success%2C_NY">Lake Success</a> 
516-562-2870 
Dr. Rajiv Datta 
South <a href="/topics/Nassau_County%2C_NY">Nassau</a> <a href="/topics/Cancer">Cancer</a> Center 
Surgery Oncology 
1 Healthy Way 
<a href="/topics/Oceanside%2C_NY">Oceanside</a> 
516-632-3350 
Dr. George Denoto 
139 <a href="/topics/Plandome%2C_NY">Plandome</a> Rd. 
<a href="/topics/Manhasset%2C_NY">Manhasset</a> 
516-627-5262 
Dr. John Francfort 
580 Union Blvd. 
<a href="/topics/West_Islip%2C_NY">West Islip</a> 
631-321-6801 
Dr. Gary Gecelter 
139 <a href="/topics/Plandome%2C_NY">Plandome</a> Rd. 
<a href="/topics/Manhasset%2C_NY">Manhasset</a> 
516-627-5262 
Dr. Michael Grieco 
10 Medical Plaza 
<a href="/topics/Glen_Cove%2C_NY">Glen Cove</a> 
516-676-1060 
Dr. Michael Khalife 
300 Old Country Rd. 
<a href="/topics/Mineola%2C_NY">Mineola</a> 
516-741-4138 
Dr. Stanley Klausner 
100 Hospital Rd. 
<a href="/topics/Patchogue%2C_NY">Patchogue</a> 
631-475-8846 
Dr. Lewis Kurtz 
310 E. Shore Rd. 
<a href="/topics/Great_Neck%2C_NY">Great Neck</a> 
516-482-8657 
Dr. Hormoz Mansouri 
175 <a href="/topics/Jericho%2C_NY">Jericho</a> Tpke. 
<a href="/topics/Syosset%2C_NY">Syosset</a> 
516-682-4800 
Dr. Brian O'Hea 
<a href="/topics/Stony_Brook_University">Stony Brook University</a> 
Dept. Surgery 
3 Edmund D Pelligrino Rd. 
Stony Brook 
631-444-1795 
Dr. William Reed Jr. 
Winthrop Surgical Assoc. 
120 <a href="/topics/Mineola%2C_NY">Mineola</a> Blvd. 
<a href="/topics/Mineola%2C_NY">Mineola</a> 
516-663-3300 
Dr. Dan Reiner 
2800 Marcus Ave. 
<a href="/topics/Lake_Success%2C_NY">Lake Success</a> 
516-622-6120 
Dr. Carlos Romero 
173 <a href="/topics/Mineola%2C_NY">Mineola</a> Blvd. 
<a href="/topics/Mineola%2C_NY">Mineola</a> 
516-741-6464 
Dr. Lisa Sclafani 
650 <a href="/topics/Commack%2C_NY">Commack</a> Rd. 
<a href="/topics/Commack%2C_NY">Commack</a> 
631-623-4000 
Dr. Marc Shapiro 
<a href="/topics/Stony_Brook_University">Stony Brook University</a> 
Medical Center 
Nicolls Rd. HSC T-18 Bldg. 
Stony Brook 
631-444-1045 
Dr. Gerard Vitale 
10 Medical Plaza 
<a href="/topics/Glen_Cove%2C_NY">Glen Cove</a> 
516-759-5559 
Dr. Robert Zingale 
158 E. Main St. 
Huntington 
631-271-1822 
&nbsp; 
<h4>How they were picked</h4> 
&nbsp; 
Castle Connolly Medical Ltd. is a health care research and information company founded in 1991 by a former medical college board chairman and president to help guide consumers to America's top doctors and hospitals. Castle Connolly's established survey and research process, under the direction of a doctor, involves tens of thousands of doctors and the medical leadership of leading hospitals. 
Castle Connolly's team of researchers follows a rigorous screening process to select doctors on national and regional levels. Using mail and telephone surveys, and electronic ballots, they ask physicians and the leadership of top hospitals to identify exceptional doctors. Careful screening of doctors' educational and professional experience is essential to the committee. Not every good physician makes the list. Rather, the list is a way for patients to get started on their search for the best medical professional. Newsday is not part of the selection process. 
Doctors do not and cannot pay to be selected and profiled as Castle Connolly Top Doctors. 
&nbsp; 
<h4>To see the whole list . . .</h4> 
&nbsp; 
Who else is on the list of Top Doctors? More than 6,000 listings are in the New York Metro Area edition of "Top Doctors," published by Castle Connolly Medical Ltd. The softcover list price is $34.95. For more information, go to castleconnolly.com, or call 800-399-DOCS.

HSTOP11.WEB

Top Doctors: Is laser better than scapel?

Some people will reach their final days without the ability to communicate. That's where advance health care directives come in: They allow people to maintain control over decisions when they can't speak for themselves. 
Here's what you should know: 
1. YOU'RE IN CHARGE OF DECIDING WHO SPEAKS FOR YOU 
Everyone should consider choosing a person to be what's known as a health care proxy, but this is especially important if you're older, said Dr. Lucy Macina, an attending physician in geriatric medicine at <a href="/topics/Winthrop_University_Hospital">Winthrop University Hospital</a> in <a href="/topics/Mineola%2C_NY">Mineola</a>. This person -- perhaps a family member or friend -- would have the power to make medical decisions if you're unable to do so. 
You should talk to the person about your beliefs regarding the type of medical treatment you'd be willing to undergo. "If you reach a point where you're suffering or your quality of life is very poor," Macina said, "how do you want that to be handled? Are you someone who wants to be kept comfortable? Or are you someone who wants everything done?" 
2. A HEALTH CARE PROXY FORM MAKES YOUR CHOICE OFFICIAL 
The document, which should be available at your doctor's office or a hospital, designates the person who will speak for you. 
Dr. Geraldine Lanman, an internist and geriatrician in <a href="/topics/New_Hyde_Park%2C_NY">New Hyde Park</a>, suggests that you give one copy of the form to your doctor, keep one with your will and carry a laminated copy (in miniaturized print) in your wallet. "If disaster strikes, I can explain the situation and the various options to the agent, and then ask the agent what the patient would say if they could speak," Lanman said. 
Or, you could designate your doctor to make decisions for you. "Many patients will say, 'I want you to do what you think is best,' and we make the decisions," Macina said. "You could make the doctor your proxy, or you could just let your doctor know what your wishes are, and the doctor would follow those wishes." 
3. DON'T WORRY ABOUT CONSIDERING ALL POSSIBLE SCENARIOS 
It's not necessary to talk to your designated proxy about everything that could happen on the medical front, Lanman advised. "As long as you trust that person to try their best to think like you, there is no need to try to ferret out all potential medical ends," she said. "Just trust that your doctor and your agent will do the very best they can to provide you with the care you would wish for yourself." 
4. A LIVING WILL IS ANOTHER OPTION 
A living will allows you to declare your wishes about medical treatment, particularly issues like cardiac resuscitation, tube feeding and artificial respiration, or use of a ventilator. You would make the call ahead of time, rather than leaving it to a proxy. The <a href="/topics/New_York_%28state%29">New York</a> State Bar Association (nysba.org) offers living will and health care proxy forms designed for <a href="/topics/New_York_%28state%29">New York</a> residents. 
5. TALK TO YOUR PARENTS ABOUT THEIR WISHES BEFORE THERE'S A CRISIS 
Macina suggests you adopt an upfront approach and try something like this: "There may be a time when I will have to make a decision based on your wishes. If you get very ill and there is a good chance that you're going to die, how do you want me to approach that? I want to do what you want me to do. I want to carry out your wishes." 
The conversation may not be as tough as you might imagine. "Honestly," she said, "many older patients have thought about this already. They've made up their minds and have an idea what they'd want." 
&nbsp; 
<h5>Geriatric medicine</h5> 
&nbsp; 
This is the 15th installment of a 26-week series in which Newsday presents Castle Connolly's list of top <a href="/topics/Long_Island%2C_NY">Long Island</a> doctors. 
Dr. Irving Gomolin 
222 Station Plaza N. 
<a href="/topics/Mineola%2C_NY">Mineola</a> 
516-663-2588 
Dr. Geraldine Lanman 
1 <a href="/topics/Delaware">Delaware</a> Dr. 
<a href="/topics/New_Hyde_Park%2C_NY">New Hyde Park</a> 
516-326-5320 
Dr. Lucy Macina 
222 Station Plaza N. 
<a href="/topics/Mineola%2C_NY">Mineola</a> 
516-663-2588 
Dr. Gisele Wolf-Klein 
2800 Marcus Ave. 
<a href="/topics/Lake_Success%2C_NY">Lake Success</a> 
516-708-2520 
 FAMILY MEDICINE 
Dr. Alex Aponte 
<a href="/topics/Westhampton%2C_NY">Westhampton</a> Primary Care 
80 Old <a href="/topics/Riverhead%2C_NY">Riverhead</a> Rd. 
<a href="/topics/Westhampton_Beach%2C_NY">Westhampton Beach</a> 
631-288-7746 
Dr. Robert Arcati 
530 <a href="/topics/Hicksville%2C_NY">Hicksville</a> Rd. 
<a href="/topics/Bethpage_State_Park%2C_NY">Bethpage</a> 
516-931-4285 
Dr. Anthony Arcati 
530 <a href="/topics/Hicksville%2C_NY">Hicksville</a> Rd. 
<a href="/topics/Bethpage_State_Park%2C_NY">Bethpage</a> 
516-937-5000 
Dr. Stanley Blyskal 
126 E. Main St. 
<a href="/topics/East_Islip%2C_NY">East Islip</a> 
631-581-0090 
Dr. Luigi Capobianco 
One School St. 
<a href="/topics/Glen_Cove%2C_NY">Glen Cove</a> 
516-671-9800 
Dr. Martin Edelstein 
11 Beverly Rd. 
<a href="/topics/Great_Neck%2C_NY">Great Neck</a> 
516-487-1614 
Dr. Michael Fishkin 
2500 <a href="/topics/Nesconset%2C_NY">Nesconset</a> Hwy. 
Bldg. 7D 
Stony Brook 
631-751-3322 
Dr. James Giugliano 
290 N. Sea Rd. 
<a href="/topics/Southampton_FC">Southampton</a> 
631-283-5900 
Dr. Louis Greenblatt 
533 Rte. 111 
<a href="/topics/Hauppauge%2C_NY">Hauppauge</a> 
631-366-1788 
Dr. Kenneth Levites 
213 <a href="/topics/Montauk%2C_NY">Montauk</a> Hwy. 
<a href="/topics/West_Sayville%2C_NY">West Sayville</a> 
631-563-6205 
Dr. <a href="/topics/Brian_Moynihan">Brian Moynihan</a> 
2840 Jerusalem Ave. 
<a href="/topics/Wantagh%2C_NY">Wantagh</a> 
516-781-1141 
Dr. Lesley Rechter 
54 Birchwood Park Dr. 
<a href="/topics/Jericho%2C_NY">Jericho</a> 
516-933-6850 
Dr. Hans Dieter Schwinn 
80 Old <a href="/topics/Riverhead%2C_NY">Riverhead</a> Rd. 
<a href="/topics/Westhampton_Beach%2C_NY">Westhampton Beach</a> 
631-288-7746 
Dr. Neil Soskel 
185 <a href="/topics/Merrick%2C_NY">Merrick</a> Rd. 
<a href="/topics/Lynbrook%2C_NY">Lynbrook</a> 
516-887-0077 
&nbsp; 
<h5>How they were picked</h5> 
&nbsp; 
Castle Connolly Medical Ltd. is a health care research and information company founded in 1991 by a former medical college board chairman and president to help guide consumers to America's top doctors and hospitals. Castle Connolly's established survey and research process, under the direction of a doctor, involves tens of thousands of doctors and the medical leadership of leading hospitals. 
Castle Connolly's team of researchers follows a rigorous screening process to select doctors on national and regional levels. Using mail and telephone surveys, and electronic ballots, they ask physicians and the leadership of top hospitals to identify exceptional doctors. Careful screening of doctors' educational and professional experience is essential to the committee. Not every good physician makes the list. Rather, the list is a way for patients to get started on their search for the best medical professional. Newsday is not part of the selection process. 
Doctors do not and cannot pay to be selected and profiled as Castle Connolly Top Doctors. 
&nbsp; 
<h5>To see the whole list . . .</h5> 
&nbsp; 
Who else is on the list of Top Doctors? More than 6,000 listings are in the <a href="/topics/New_York_%28state%29">New York</a> Metro Area edition of "Top Doctors," published by Castle Connolly Medical Ltd. The softcover list price is $34.95. For more information, go to castleconnolly.com, or call 800-399-DOCS.

HSTOP04.WEB

Top Doctors: Planning for end of life

Kids and emergency rooms are one of those basic combinations, like peanut butter and jelly. A child breaks a bone, has a high fever or develops scary symptoms, and it's off to the ER. Here are five tips about making the trip. 
&nbsp; 
&nbsp; 
<h3>1. HAVE YOUR CHILD'S MEDICAL HISTORY AND MEDICATION LIST READY</h3> 
&nbsp; 
With no time to waste and nerves on edge, it helps to have a sheet already prepared with information about your child's health: illnesses, operations, medications and allergies. 
"A parent who provides a great history can often get their problem solved quite quickly because you can start to formulate a picture of how this kid's life has been," said Dr. Sean Levchuck, chief of pediatrics and pediatric cardiology at St. Francis Hospital Heart Center in <a href="/topics/Roslyn%2C_NY">Roslyn</a>. "I love it when a parent can hand me a sheet about their child that says something like 'He was born in 2002, he had emergency intestinal surgery, he spent three years on bronchodilators and <a href="/topics/Asthma">asthma</a> medications.' " 
Dr. Rubin Cooper, chief of pediatric cardiology at Steven and Alexandra Cohen Children's Medical Center of New York in <a href="/topics/New_Hyde_Park%2C_NY">New Hyde Park</a>, suggests listing the name and phone number of your child's doctor. And for young children, he said, it's wise to take things to comfort the child, like a blanket or toys, plus formula-filled baby bottles for infants, if appropriate. 
&nbsp; 
&nbsp; 
<h3>2. KNOW THE CONDITIONS TO WORRY ABOUT</h3> 
&nbsp; 
A fever that's not responding. Breathing difficulties. Incessant vomiting. These are the kinds of problems that should set off alarm bells and send you and your child to the emergency room quickly, Levchuck said. Other red flags include acute injuries from things such as falling off a bicycle or losing consciousness. A lethargic child who isn't acting normally should also go to the ER, Cooper adds. 
&nbsp; 
&nbsp; 
<h3>3. CONTACT YOUR CHILD'S SPECIALIST FIRST, IF POSSIBLE</h3> 
&nbsp; 
If your child sees a specialist, such as a pediatric cardiologist or oncologist, "parents should notify the specialist prior to going to the ER," Cooper said. "The specialist will instruct you as to which ER to go to." The specialist would then let the ER know what's going on and indicate any tests that should be done, he said. 
&nbsp; 
&nbsp; 
<h3>4. DON'T BE WORRIED IF THE ER DOCTOR ASKS FOR HELP</h3> 
&nbsp; 
General emergency physicians may feel nervous about treating a child, Levchuck explained. "They don't want to miss anything," he said, so they might call for assistance from a pediatric specialist. If that's the case, "things move a little slower," he added. 
&nbsp; 
&nbsp; 
<h3>5. FOCUS ON PROMOTING TRUST AND SECURITY</h3> 
&nbsp; 
It's best to not let your child know that you're upset or scared, said Cooper, who added that, nonetheless, it's a good idea to be truthful about what the child can expect. "Some parents lie to the child as far as what the treatment will be, i.e., in terms of needles," Cooper said. 
He recommends speaking to your child in a soft voice. "Try to make the child feel secure by explaining to them that you and the doctor will take care of them." And Levchuck said it's a good idea to say something to the effect of "No matter what happens, I won't leave your side."

HSTOP27.WEB

5 fast facts about kids and the ER

It's rare for a child to develop cancer. Only one or two of every 10,000 U.S. kids younger than 15 is diagnosed with cancer each year, according to the U.S. <a href="/topics/National_Cancer_Institute">National Cancer Institute</a>. But if one of those children is yours, that's little comfort. 
However, new generations of medications and treatment methods have not only improved the survival rate for children with cancer but have allowed far greater numbers to thrive and live long lives. 
Here's what you should know if you have a child with cancer: 
 1. THE PROGNOSIS HAS GREATLY IMPROVED 
"When I started in the field about 43 years ago, the survival rate was dismal: About 2 to 5 percent would survive for one year," said Dr. Dominick Sabatino, director of pediatric hematology and oncology at <a href="/topics/Nassau_University_Medical_Center">Nassau University Medical Center</a> in <a href="/topics/East_Meadow%2C_NY">East Meadow</a>. "Now, about 71 percent survive for five years." 
In fact, he said, many children with cancer will recover and go on to have normal lives. "There are newer drugs and treatments, better ways of handling complications and innovative ways of giving drugs," Sabatino said. "Years ago, I didn't have half the drugs I have today. All I had were a few chemotherapy drugs. Now, there's a whole armamentarium." 
 2. CLINICAL TRIALS ARE THE NORM 
In some fields of medicine, it's unusual for a patient to take part in a clinical trial, or research study, instead of simply getting the standard treatment for a disease. But for kids with cancer, participation in clinical trials is accepted and routine. 
About 60 percent of children and adolescents with cancer are enrolled in clinical trials, said Dr. Arlene Redner, associate chief of oncology at the Steven and Alexandra Cohen Children's Medical Center of New York in <a href="/topics/New_Hyde_Park%2C_NY">New Hyde Park</a>. That's in comparison to fewer than 5 percent of adults with cancer who participate in clinical trials. 
Typically, a clinical trial assigns some children to undergo standard treatment while others get the standard treatment plus another medication. "No one gets a placebo," Sabatino said. 
 3. CLINICAL TRIALS HAVE PROS AND CONS 
On the one hand, Redner said, "it has been shown that children with cancer who are enrolled in clinical trials have a superior outcome to children who are not." And, she added, knowledge about the specific cancer that's gleaned from the trial could help other kids in the future. 
But there's a risk that a child could develop side effects from a medication that's being tested without actually getting any benefits, she said. However, Redner added, "a family who enters a clinical trial can decide at any time to take their child off the trial." 
 4. THE CHILD'S DOCTORS WILL HANDLE THE DETAILS 
Parents or guardians rarely need to bring up the idea of enrolling a child in a clinical trial. "Pediatric oncologists routinely mention clinical trials and if one is open for the (particular) disease," Redner said. 
For those seeking more information, the U.S. <a href="/topics/National_Cancer_Institute">National Cancer Institute</a> has details about clinical trials for pediatric cancer at bethesdatrials .cancer.gov/pediatric/index.aspx and cancer.gov/clinicaltrials/search, and information on clinical trials generally at bethesdatrials.cancer .gov. 
 5. NEW TREATMENTS ARE ON THE HORIZON 
Currently, research in leukemia allows physicians to adjust treatment based on the types of cancer cells that are present, Redner said. About a third of childhood cancers are leukemias, according to the U.S. National <a href="/topics/Cancer">Cancer</a> Institute. 
Future treatments will go down to the molecular level and target genes and proteins linked to cancer, she said. The most <a href="/topics/Common_%28musician%29">common</a> medications, she said, will be able to interfere with the growth of tumor cells and battle proteins on the surface of those cells.

Dealing with childhood cancer

Teenagers can be ornery in the best of times, making it tough to get them to go to the doctor. 
But medical checkups are crucial for adolescents. Here's what you should know to make sure they happen -- and are productive: 
 1. AIM FOR ANNUAL CHECKUPS 
The <a href="/topics/American_Academy_of_Pediatrics">American Academy of Pediatrics</a> suggests a checkup each year for teens. Why so often? Dr. Martin Fisher, who helped draft the academy's recommendation, says the guideline makes sense because young people's health can evolve quickly in terms of issues like substance abuse, sexual activity, mental health and nutrition. 
"The chance that things change is gigantically high," said Fisher, chief of the division of adolescent medicine at the Steven and Alexandra Cohen Children's Medical Center of <a href="/topics/New_York_%28state%29">New York</a>, in <a href="/topics/New_Hyde_Park%2C_NY">New Hyde Park</a>. 
 2. PEDIATRICIANS TREAT MORE THAN SNIFFLES 
Pediatricians treat the usual colds and flu cases in adolescents along with problems such as acne and sports injuries, Fisher said. They also see teens with <a href="/topics/High_Blood_Pressure">high blood pressure</a>, chest pain, headaches and abdominal pain, although these conditions are rarer. 
Weight is another common topic in pediatric offices. The number of overweight and obese children has increased locally, he said, though not as much as in some other areas of the country. 
 3. TEEN MENTAL HEALTH ALSO MONITORED 
Three decades ago, pediatricians tended to focus purely on physical health, Fisher said. Now, they explore such issues as depression and anxiety, substance abuse and sexual health. 
Many medical issues cross the line between physical and mental health, he said. On <a href="/topics/Long_Island%2C_NY">Long Island</a> specifically, eating disorders are a major problem, he said, and not just girls are affected. According to Fisher, about 10 percent of children affected by eating disorders are boys. 
To Fisher, the most challenging part of his job is unraveling the connection between the physical and the mental. "When you talk about abdominal pain or chest pain, for example, there's the combination of making sure that you're considering all the medical possibilities while at the same time evaluating what may be playing a role from a psychological viewpoint and considering how they interact with each other," he said. 
 4. A TEEN SHOULD FEEL COMFORTABLE WITH HIS OR HER DOCTOR 
"Some teens can be put off by the general emphasis on very young kids in a pediatric practice, like circus-themed wallpaper, child-friendly exam tables and Band-Aids with cartoon characters on them, not to mention the waiting room typically filled with very young children," said Dr. Andrew Adesman, chief of developmental and behavioral pediatrics at the children's medical center. 
It's important to talk to both your teen and to the pediatrician about how they're getting along, Adesman said. "If there seems to be a gap in communication or trust between a pediatrician and a particular teen, then this can be discussed openly with the goal of remedying it. Or the family -- at the teen's request -- might seek out another pediatrician, possibly one who specializes in adolescent medicine." 
 5. RESPECT DOCTOR/TEEN CONFIDENTIALITY 
Parents should encourage private, one-on-one discussions between a pediatrician and their adolescent, Adesman said. After all, it's the pediatrician's job to ask "personal and potentially awkward questions," he said. "This will hopefully facilitate a discussion about peer pressures, sexual activity and sexually transmitted diseases, drug and alcohol use, responsible driving, and goals and responsibilities immediately and beyond high school." 
In fact, he said, it's perfectly OK for parents to request privacy for their teen during an exam. "They can make an explicit statement that they want their teen to be comfortable speaking with their pediatrician and that they plan to leave the room for a few minutes so that any private concerns can be discussed," he said. "Even if teens do not open up to the pediatrician the very first time that the parents leave the exam room, it sets the precedent and the expectation for the next visit that indeed the patient-physician relationship has been forever redefined."

5 things to know about doctors for teens

The allergy shot used to be a weekly ritual for countless kids and plenty of adults, too. 
These days, though, weekly shots have become less common as medications have become more effective. But allergy shots continue to be appropriate for some people. 
Here's what you should know about them. 
1. ALLERGY SHOTS TREAT SOME ALLERGIES, BUT NOT ALL 
Allergy shots are designed to treat <a href="/topics/Asthma">asthma</a> and nasal allergies, and can be used to treat people who are allergic to bee and wasp stings, said Dr. Daniel Mayer, an allergist and clinical immunologist in <a href="/topics/Smithtown%2C_NY">Smithtown</a>. 
On the other hand, said Dr. Paul Lusman, an allergy specialist in <a href="/topics/Port_Jefferson%2C_NY">Port Jefferson</a> and an attending physician at St. Charles Hospital, "We don't usually give shots for skin problems, and nobody should be taking injections for food allergy." If you're allergic to a food, like peanuts, he said, the best way to prevent problems is to avoid the food. 
2. ALLERGY SHOTS ARE DESIGNED TO TREAT MODERATE TO SEVERE SYMPTOMS 
The shots work by helping the body's immune system develop tolerance to irritants so it won't overreact when it encounters, say, pet dander or dust mites. 
"They're appropriate if your lifestyle is altered enough -- you aren't happy, and you're suffering, even with medication and trying to avoid things like dust mites and pets," Mayer said. With allergy shots, he said, people are "usually able to come off of most, if not all, of their medicines." 
3. BE PATIENT 
Allergy shots may get rid of your symptoms for good, but they take time. 
Typically, people begin with weekly shots, and then the injections progressively become less frequent, Lusman said. The process takes quite a long time, however. Mayer said that many people don't begin feeling better until six to 12 months after they begin getting the shots. 
"It's a big commitment," he said, "but most people get better, and they seem very satisfied." In fact, if you stick with the allergy shots for three to five years, he said, there's a good chance that your symptoms will disappear and not return. 
4. ALWAYS GET INJECTIONS AT A DOCTOR'S OFFICE 
Allergists typically require that people get their shots at a medical office instead of at home, and "nobody should offer you the possibility of self-injecting," Lusman said. 
"You should always have a professional give your injection," he said. "Somebody should be available to manage a reaction. It doesn't matter how long you've been on injections; the possibility of reactions is always there. You could have anything from localized swelling to generalized hives to breathing problems, shock and death." 
Lusman said it's extremely rare for someone to die from allergy shots. But people sometimes have reactions like redness, swelling and itching, he said. 
5. IF YOU HAVE SEVERE ASTHMA, AN EXPENSIVE SHOT IS AVAILABLE 
An injected medication known as omalizumab (Xolair) is available for <a href="/topics/Asthma">asthma</a> patients, Lusman said. "When it works, it is beyond wonderful," he said, but the process of giving injections is complicated. And the drug is extremely expensive, at about $1,800 or more for each of the one or two doses required each month, he said. Insurers may pay for it, he said, but only in cases of severe <a href="/topics/Asthma">asthma</a>. 
&nbsp; 
<h4>Allergists and immunologists</h4> 
&nbsp; 
This is the 11th installment of a 26-week series in which Newsday presents Castle Connolly's list of top <a href="/topics/Long_Island%2C_NY">Long Island</a> doctors. 
Dr. Mitchell Boxer 
2001 Marcus Ave. 
<a href="/topics/Lake_Success%2C_NY">Lake Success</a> 
516-482-0910 
Dr. Russell Cancellieri 
596 Hampton Rd. 
<a href="/topics/Southampton_FC">Southampton</a> 
631-283-3300 
Dr. Robert Corriel 
1129 Northern Blvd. 
<a href="/topics/Manhasset%2C_NY">Manhasset</a> 
516-365-6077 
Dr. <a href="/topics/Bruce_Edwards">Bruce Edwards</a> 
700 Old Country Rd. 
<a href="/topics/Plainview%2C_NY">Plainview</a> 
516-933-1125 
Dr. Luz Fonacier 
120 <a href="/topics/Mineola%2C_NY">Mineola</a> Blvd. 
<a href="/topics/Mineola%2C_NY">Mineola</a> 
516-663-2097 
Dr. Marianne Frieri 
566 Broadway 
<a href="/topics/Massapequa%2C_NY">Massapequa</a> 
516-541-6262 
Dr. Stanley Goldstein 
242 <a href="/topics/Merrick%2C_NY">Merrick</a> Rd. 
<a href="/topics/Rockville_Centre%2C_NY">Rockville Centre</a> 
516-536-7336 
Dr. Louis Guida Jr. 
<a href="/topics/Bay_Shore%2C_NY">Bay Shore</a> Allergy &amp; 
<a href="/topics/Asthma">Asthma</a> Specialty Practice 
649 <a href="/topics/Montauk%2C_NY">Montauk</a> Hwy. 
West <a href="/topics/Bay_Shore%2C_NY">Bay Shore</a> 
631-665-2700 
Dr. Paul Lang 
One Hollow Lane 
<a href="/topics/New_Hyde_Park%2C_NY">New Hyde Park</a> 
516-365-6666 
Dr. Paul Lusman 
120 North Country Rd. 
<a href="/topics/Port_Jefferson%2C_NY">Port Jefferson</a> 
631-928-4990 
Dr. Sharon Markovics 
1129 Northern Blvd. 
<a href="/topics/Manhasset%2C_NY">Manhasset</a> 
516-365-6077 
Dr. Daniel Mayer 
263 E. Main St. 
<a href="/topics/Smithtown%2C_NY">Smithtown</a> 
631-366-5252 
Dr. Brian Novick 
30 Newbridge Rd. 
<a href="/topics/East_Meadow%2C_NY">East Meadow</a> 
516-731-5740 
Dr. Michael Steven Richheimer 
1855 Union Blvd. 
<a href="/topics/Bay_Shore%2C_NY">Bay Shore</a> 
631-665-6363 
724 Park Ave. E. 
<a href="/topics/Long_Beach%2C_NY">Long Beach</a> 
516-889-1110 
Dr. Steven Satnick 
900 Main St. 
<a href="/topics/Holbrook%2C_NY">Holbrook</a> 
631-588-4486 
Dr. Marc Sicklick 
123 Grove Ave. 
<a href="/topics/Cedarhurst%2C_NY">Cedarhurst</a> 
516-569-5550 
Dr. Gary Weinstock 
310 E. Shore Rd. 
<a href="/topics/Great_Neck%2C_NY">Great Neck</a> 
516-487-1073 
&nbsp; 
<h4>How they were picked</h4> 
&nbsp; 
Castle Connolly Medical Ltd. is a health care research and information company founded in 1991 by a former medical college board chairman and president to help guide consumers to America's top doctors and hospitals. Castle Connolly's established survey and research process, under the direction of a doctor, involves tens of thousands of doctors and the medical leadership of leading hospitals. 
Castle Connolly's team of researchers follows a rigorous screening process to select doctors on national and regional levels. Using mail and telephone surveys, and electronic ballots, they ask physicians and the leadership of top hospitals to identify exceptional doctors. Careful screening of doctors' educational and professional experience is essential to the committee. Not every good physician makes the list. Rather, the list is a way for patients to get started on their search for the best medical professional. Newsday is not part of the selection process. 
Doctors do not and cannot pay to be selected and profiled as Castle Connolly Top Doctors. 
&nbsp; 
<h4>To see the whole list . . .</h4> 
&nbsp; 
Who else is on the list of Top Doctors? More than 6,000 listings are in the <a href="/topics/New_York_%28state%29">New York</a> Metro Area edition of "Top Doctors," published by Castle Connolly Medical Ltd. The softcover list price is $34.95. For more information, go to castleconnolly.com, or call 800-399-DOCS.

Top Doctors: Update on allergy shots

Allergy Season - cropped

<a href="/topics/Physical_Therapy">Physical therapy</a> can do wonders for all sorts of patients, from those recovering from strokes or car accidents to people who simply strained their backs and need pain relief. "It's a way to reverse decreased function as a result of injury or surgery and try to get people back to where they were as much as possible," said pain specialist Dr. Steven Litman, director of pain management at St. Charles Hospital in <a href="/topics/Port_Jefferson%2C_NY">Port Jefferson</a>. 
Here's a look at five things you should know about <a href="/topics/Physical_Therapy">physical therapy</a>. 
1. INSURERS DON'T ALWAYS COVER PHYSICAL THERAPY 
<a href="/topics/Physical_Therapy">Physical therapy</a> typically requires 2-4 sessions a week over 4-6 weeks, although it may last longer, Litman said. 
The cost varies widely, depending on whether a patient has insurance, said Dr. Adam B. Stein, chairman of the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at Hofstra North Shore-<a href="/topics/Long_Island%2C_NY">Long Island</a> Jewish School of Medicine. "A ballpark estimate is $80-$100 for 60 minutes of treatment when Medicare is the payer," he said. 
"Generally, if a person's insurance policy allows for <a href="/topics/Physical_Therapy">physical therapy</a>, and the individual being treated is making progress toward the goals of treatment, it will be covered," Stein said. 
Still, Litman said, insured people may pay more in out-of-pocket co-pays than in the past. And, he said, insurers are restricting inpatient <a href="/topics/Physical_Therapy">physical therapy</a> -- in which patients live in a facility -- in severe cases. "It's hard to get access to high-quality <a href="/topics/Physical_Therapy">physical therapy</a> for really sick patients," he said. 
2. CERTAIN PATIENTS MAY AVOID CO-PAY HASSLES 
Even if you have insurance, you may have to pay more in out-of-pocket costs than some other patients. That's because the cause of your injury may make a big difference, Litman said. "I've seen patients that have relatively minor motor-vehicle accidents who get thousands of dollars of physical therapy with no co-pays or deductibles, and then I've seen HMOs that make patients pay $50 for every session they have, so the patient doesn't get treatment." 
3. YOU MIGHT NEED INJECTIONS TO HELP YOU DO PHYSICAL THERAPY 
<a href="/topics/Physical_Therapy">Physical therapy</a> doesn't do any good if you're in too much pain to tolerate it. If pain is limiting your improvement, pain specialists can try to block the pain through injections so you can accomplish more, Litman said. Injections can also quicken recovery by reducing inflammation, he said. 
4. YOU MAY FIND PHYSICAL THERAPY QUITE STIMULATING 
Within the last few years, physicians and physical therapists have embraced the use of technology to electrically stimulate the muscles of patients as they engage in an activity like walking. The electricity works the muscles, allowing them to grow stronger. 
For example, "several devices stimulate a nerve in the leg at precisely the right time during walking to allow a person with ankle weakness to no longer require a cumbersome ankle brace," Stein said. 
5. TAKE ACTION IF YOUR SYMPTOMS GET WORSE 
"If you're getting worse numbness or weakness with the therapy, back off and speak with your therapist," Litman said. "Sometimes you may need to have further diagnostic studies such as an MRI or need to be evaluated by a pain medicine specialist to figure out what's happening." 
In general, you should feel relief. While physical therapy may not lead to complete recovery, Stein said, "people do feel better." 
&nbsp; 
<h4>Occupational medicine</h4> 
&nbsp; 
This is the 10th installment of a 26-week series in which Newsday presents Castle Connolly's list of top <a href="/topics/Long_Island%2C_NY">Long Island</a> doctors. 
Dr. Sara Mendelsohn 
800 <a href="/topics/Woodbury%2C_NY">Woodbury</a> Rd. 
Suite K 
<a href="/topics/Woodbury%2C_NY">Woodbury</a> 
516-682-9142 
PHYSICAL MEDICINE &amp; REHABILITATION 
Dr. Jason Lipetz 
LI Spine Rehab. Medicine 
801 <a href="/topics/Merrick%2C_NY">Merrick</a> Ave. 
<a href="/topics/East_Meadow%2C_NY">East Meadow</a> 
516-393-8941 
Dr. Barry Root 
North Shore Univ. Hospital at <a href="/topics/Glen_Cove%2C_NY">Glen Cove</a> 
Dept. Physical Med. &amp; Rehab. 
101 St. Andrews Lane 
516-674-7501 
Dr. Craig Rosenberg 
Southside Hosp. -- Health Inst. 
301 E. Main St. 
<a href="/topics/Bay_Shore%2C_NY">Bay Shore</a> 
631-675-4550 
Dr. Adam Stein 
825 Northern Blvd. 
<a href="/topics/Great_Neck%2C_NY">Great Neck</a> 
516-465-8609 
SPORTS MEDICINE 
Dr. Stephen Kottmeier 
14 Technology Dr. 
<a href="/topics/East_Setauket%2C_NY">East Setauket</a> 
631-444-4233 
Dr. Eric Putterman 
1800 <a href="/topics/Walt_Whitman">Walt Whitman</a> Rd. 
<a href="/topics/Melville%2C_NY">Melville</a> 
631-293-9540 
HAND SURGERY 
Dr. Lawrence Hurst 
14 Technology Dr. 
East <a href="/topics/Setauket%2C_NY">Setauket</a> 
631-444-3145 
Dr. Kenneth Kamler 
410 Lakeville Rd. 
<a href="/topics/New_Hyde_Park%2C_NY">New Hyde Park</a> 
516-326-2266 
Dr. Lewis Lane 
600 Northern Blvd. 
<a href="/topics/Great_Neck%2C_NY">Great Neck</a> 
516-627-8717 
Dr. Thomas Palmieri 
1901 <a href="/topics/New_Hyde_Park%2C_NY">New Hyde Park</a> Rd. 
<a href="/topics/New_Hyde_Park%2C_NY">New Hyde Park</a> 
516-822-4843 
Dr. Glenn Teplitz 
Winthrop Orthopaedic Assoc. 
1300 Franklin Ave. 
<a href="/topics/Garden_City%2C_NY">Garden City</a> 
516-747-8900 
PAIN MEDICINE 
Dr. Carole Agin 
Pain Management Center 
Stony Brook Univ. Med. Center 
3 Edmund D. Pellegrino Rd. 
Stony Brook 
631-638-0800 
Dr. Juan Gargiulo 
365 County Rd. 39A 
<a href="/topics/Southampton_FC">Southampton</a> 
631-702-2300 
Dr. Steven Litman 
All Island Pain Consultants 
387 E. Main St. 
<a href="/topics/Bay_Shore%2C_NY">Bay Shore</a> 
631-665-0075 
Dr. Steven Pinsky 
176 N. Village Ave. 
<a href="/topics/Rockville_Centre%2C_NY">Rockville Centre</a> 
516-764-4875 
Dr. Philippe Vaillancourt 
877 E. Main St. 
<a href="/topics/Riverhead%2C_NY">Riverhead</a> 
631-727-0660 
&nbsp; 
<h4>How they were picked</h4> 
&nbsp; 
Castle Connolly Medical Ltd. is a health care research and information company founded in 1991 by a former medical college board chairman and president to help guide consumers to America's top doctors and hospitals. Castle Connolly's established survey and research process, under the direction of a doctor, involves tens of thousands of doctors and the medical leadership of leading hospitals. 
Castle Connolly's team of researchers follows a rigorous screening process to select doctors on national and regional levels. Using mail and telephone surveys, and electronic ballots, they ask physicians and the leadership of top hospitals to identify exceptional doctors. Careful screening of doctors' educational and professional experience is essential to the committee. Not every good physician makes the list. Rather, the list is a way for patients to get started on their search for the best medical professional. Newsday is not part of the selection process. 
Doctors do not and cannot pay to be selected and profiled as Castle Connolly Top Doctors. 
&nbsp; 
<h4>To see the whole list . . .</h4> 
&nbsp; 
Who else is on the list of Top Doctors? More than 6,000 listings are in the New York Metro Area edition of "Top Doctors," published by Castle Connolly Medical Ltd. The softcover list price is $34.95. For more information, go to castleconnolly.com, or call 800-399-DOCS.

HSTOP30.WEB

Top Docs: Let's get physical (therapy)

Knees and hips take a lot of abuse, especially if someone is overweight or overactive. The time may come when aspirin and some downtime aren't enough to keep you going. 
That's where hip and knee replacements come in. Damaged parts of the joint are replaced with plastic or metal substitutes. According to the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, about 581,000 knee replacements and 193,000 hip replacements are performed each year in the United States. Ankle, shoulder, elbow and finger joints can be replaced, too, but hips and knees are the most common. 
Here's what you should know if you're thinking about a joint replacement -- or already have one: 
1. THE BENEFITS CAN BE MAJOR 
"People worry about how painful it will be afterward," said Dr. Richard J. D'Agostino, chief of orthopedic surgery at St. Francis Hospital in <a href="/topics/Roslyn%2C_NY">Roslyn</a>. "But 90 percent of people who have a joint replacement say, 'This feels so great, I don't know why I waited so long to get this done.' " 
The biggest <a href="/topics/Benefit_%28designer%29">benefit</a> is pain relief, allowing people to return to an active lifestyle, said Dr. James Capozzi, chairman of orthopedics at Winthrop-University Hospital in <a href="/topics/Mineola%2C_NY">Mineola</a>. But side effects such as infections and joint dislocations can occur, and people are urged not to overextend themselves physically with high-impact sports. "Patients have to respect their joint replacement," he said. 
2. KNEE AND HIP REPLACEMENTS SHOULD LAST LONGER THAN IN THE PAST 
Materials used for the replacement joints -- metal, plastic and ceramic -- have gotten better and more durable so "we're hoping to get five to 20 years more than we got before -- maybe up to 30 or 40 years of wear," Capozzi said. The new generation of replacement joints hasn't been around long enough to know whether that's realistic, he said, but 20 to 30 years is a reasonable estimate. 
3. SHOP AROUND 
<a href="/topics/Orthopedics">Orthopedic</a> surgeons use a variety of approaches in joint replacement procedures, D'Agostino said. "The thing about orthopedics is that there's more than one way to do these things," he said. "We do procedures differently because we're trained differently." 
That means you have options. For instance, minimally invasive surgery is sometimes used instead of traditional surgery. The replacement joint can be cemented to the bone or designed so the natural and artificial parts fit together without cement. Ask how many surgeries are done at the hospital you're considering. A study in June in <a href="/topics/Arthritis">Arthritis</a> &amp; Rheumatism reported that serious complications occurred more often after hip and knee replacement surgery at hospitals that do relatively few surgeries. 
"If the patient has any questions, they should always get a second or even a third opinion," D'Agostino said. 
4. DON'T JUDGE YOUR RECOVERY BY OTHER PEOPLE'S 
It may take you months to get back to normal after a joint replacement surgery, while your neighbor may be out speed-walking in a couple of weeks. "Don't panic as long as things are moving in the right direction," Capozzi said. "Recovery is highly variable." 
Exercise helps the body adjust to the implants, he said, so "if patients are motivated and do the exercises with the therapist or at home, they'll do much better than those who don't do therapy." 
In general, most people can return to work in four to six weeks and play sports by six weeks, he said, although recovery may take longer for those with other medical problems. 
5. GET CHECKED IF YOU'RE WORRIED ABOUT SAFETY 
Medical problems such as tissue and bone damage have been reported in some people with metal-on-metal hip replacements. According to published studies, microscopic metal particles migrate into the body as the joint wears. In some instances, this has led to the all-metal joint being replaced with a metal-and-plastic model. 
D'Agostino said that people with metal hips who have concerns can be tested to determine metal levels in their body. High levels and symptoms could lead to removal of an implant. But if you have high metal levels and no symptoms, it may be difficult to figure out what to do, he said. "The jury is still out on that." 
&nbsp; 
<h4>Orthopedists</h4> 
&nbsp; 
This is the ninth installment of a 26-week series in which Newsday presents Castle Connolly's list of top L.I. doctors. Today: orthopedists 
Dr. Scott Alpert 
379 Oakwood Rd. 
<a href="/topics/Huntington_Station%2C_NY">Huntington Station</a> 
631-423-4090 
Dr. Stanley Asnis 
600 Northern Blvd. 
<a href="/topics/Great_Neck%2C_NY">Great Neck</a> 
516-627-8717 
Dr. James Capozzi 
1300 Franklin Ave. 
<a href="/topics/Garden_City%2C_NY">Garden City</a> 
516-747-8900 
Dr. Richard J. D'Agostino 
600 Northern Blvd. 
<a href="/topics/Great_Neck%2C_NY">Great Neck</a> 
516-627-8717 
Dr. David Dines 
935 Northern Blvd. 
<a href="/topics/Great_Neck%2C_NY">Great Neck</a> 
516-482-1037 
Dr. Thomas Dowling 
763 Larkfield Rd. 
<a href="/topics/Commack%2C_NY">Commack</a> 
631-462-2225 
Dr. Samuel Kenan 
300 Old Country Rd. 
<a href="/topics/Mineola%2C_NY">Mineola</a> 
516-280-3733 
Dr. Craig Levitz 
36 Lincoln Ave. 
<a href="/topics/Rockville_Centre%2C_NY">Rockville Centre</a> 
516-536-2800 
Dr. Ronald Lewis 
Pediatric <a href="/topics/Orthopedics">Orthopedics</a> of LI 
205 E. Main St. 
Huntington 
631-923-2370 
Dr. Thomas Mauri 
865 Northern Blvd. 
<a href="/topics/Great_Neck%2C_NY">Great Neck</a> 
516-918-6300 
Dr. Carlos Montero 
2920 <a href="/topics/Hempstead%2C_NY">Hempstead</a> Tpke. 
<a href="/topics/Levittown%2C_NY">Levittown</a> 
516-735-4048 
Dr. Daniel Rich 
585 <a href="/topics/Plandome%2C_NY">Plandome</a> Rd. 
<a href="/topics/Manhasset%2C_NY">Manhasset</a> 
516-627-1525 
Dr. Nicholas Sgaglione 
600 Northern Blvd. 
<a href="/topics/Great_Neck%2C_NY">Great Neck</a> 
516-627-8717 
Dr. Raymond Shebairo 
1575 Hillside Ave. 
<a href="/topics/New_Hyde_Park%2C_NY">New Hyde Park</a> 
516-437-5500 
Dr. Barry Simonson 
825 Northern Blvd. 
<a href="/topics/Great_Neck%2C_NY">Great Neck</a> 
516-773-7500 
Dr. Jonathan Ticker 
Island <a href="/topics/Orthopedics">Orthopedics</a> &amp; Sports Medicine 
660 Broadway 
<a href="/topics/Massapequa%2C_NY">Massapequa</a> 
516-798-0111 
Dr. Richard Tabershaw 
375 E. Main St., Suite 1 
<a href="/topics/Bay_Shore%2C_NY">Bay Shore</a> 
631-665-8790 
&nbsp; 
<h4>How they were picked</h4> 
&nbsp; 
Castle Connolly Medical Ltd. is a health care research and information company founded in 1991 by a former medical college board chairman and president to help guide consumers to America's top doctors and hospitals. Castle Connolly's established survey and research process, under the direction of a doctor, involves tens of thousands of doctors and the medical leadership of leading hospitals. 
Castle Connolly's team of researchers follows a rigorous screening process to select doctors on national and regional levels. Using mail and telephone surveys, and electronic ballots, they ask physicians and the leadership of top hospitals to identify exceptional doctors. Careful screening of doctors' educational and professional experience is essential to the committee. Not every good physician makes the list. Rather, the list is a way for patients to get started on their search for the best medical professional. Newsday is not part of the selection process. 
Doctors do not and cannot pay to be selected and profiled as Castle Connolly Top Doctors. 
&nbsp; 
<h4>To see the whole list . . .</h4> 
&nbsp; 
Who else is on the list of Top Doctors? More than 6,000 listings are in the New York Metro Area edition of "Top Doctors," published by Castle Connolly Medical Ltd. The softcover list price is $34.95. For more information, go to castleconnolly.com, or call 800-399-DOCS.

HSTOP23.WEB

Top Doctors: Hip and knee replacement

For pregnant women, ultrasound examinations are about more than producing a nifty sonogram photo to show family and friends. They serve as important tools for physicians to monitor the growth of a fetus. 
No matter how many sonograms are needed, they're considered safe for women and their unborn children, said Dr. Michael Gentilesco, an obstetrician-gynecologist in <a href="/topics/Smithtown%2C_NY">Smithtown</a>. "That's important to women who need multiple sonograms," he said. "There doesn't seem to be any risk or cumulative risk." 
Here's what you should know about prenatal sonograms, or pregnancy ultrasounds: 
1. AN ULTRASOUND CAN INDICATE WHEN YOUR BABY WILL BE BORN. 
"The most common use of ultrasound is to accurately date the pregnancy and determine the woman's due date," said Dr. Natalie Meirowitz, chief of maternal-fetal medicine at <a href="/topics/Long_Island_Jewish_Medical_Center">Long Island Jewish Medical Center</a>. "Before ultrasound was widely available, we dated a pregnancy using a woman's last menstrual period." 
The problem with that approach, Meirowitz said, is that women sometimes don't remember when they had their last period, or their periods may be irregular. 
2. ULTRASOUNDS DETECT SIGNS OF PROBLEMS. 
The first ultrasound in a pregnancy, typically within the first three months, confirms whether a woman is having a potentially dangerous ectopic pregnancy, Meirowitz said. At about 20 weeks, ultrasounds are used to detect a variety of birth defects and other abnormalities, although "most ultrasound exams are reassuring and show that the fetus is healthy and growing normally," she said. 
In other cases, however, an ultrasound detects problems with the structures of the body, such as organs and bones that are too small or too big, said Dr. Burton Rochelson, chief of maternal-fetal medicine for North Shore-LIJ Health System. That may alert doctors to have specialists on hand to operate on a baby right after birth, he said. The information also can help mothers decide whether to terminate a pregnancy because of a defect, he said. 
Ultrasounds cannot detect whether organs such as the brain or lungs are malfunctioning internally, Rochelson said. 
3. INSURANCE COVERS SOME ULTRASOUNDS, BUT NOT ALL. 
Insurers cover standard ultrasounds that provide information about the length of pregnancy and allow an inspection of the fetus for birth defects, Meirowitz said. They generally cost a few hundred dollars, but the cost can vary, Rochelson said. 
However, insurers balk at paying for computer-simulated ultrasound images that provide what appears to be a 3-D view of the fetus, Gentilesco said. 
4. YOU HAVE OPTIONS ON DISCLOSURE OF GENDER. 
Ultrasound examinations can reveal the gender of a child, and Meirowitz said that in her practice, more than 80 percent of mothers want to know what it is. 
There are different ways to get the news. "Some ask us to write down the gender and put it in a sealed envelope so they can open it during a private moment with their partner," she said. "Others ask to have the information disclosed to only their partner or to another family member." 
5. VERY LITTLE PREPARATION, IF ANY, IS NEEDED. 
"In some ultrasound units, the woman is asked to come with a full bladder -- to drink liquids before the exam and not to use the bathroom," Meirowitz said. "We do not instruct our patients to come with a full bladder." 
A woman should be prepared to answer questions about her health history, including such things as prior pregnancies, abortions and miscarriages, she said. "She should be aware that the exam may include both a transvaginal and transabdominal ultrasound. She should ask beforehand how many people she can bring into the exam room, since most units will limit the number of people in the room during the ultrasound exam. She may also decide not to have visitors in the room while her history is being taken." 
&nbsp; 
<h4>Maternal and fetal medicine</h4> 
&nbsp; 
This is the eighth installment of a 26-week series in which Newsday presents Castle Connolly's list of top L.I. doctors. Today: maternal and fetal medicine 
Dr. Adiel Fleischer 
LIJ Medical Center 
Dept. ObGyn 
270-05 76th Ave. 
<a href="/topics/New_Hyde_Park%2C_NY">New Hyde Park</a> 
718-470-7636 
Dr. Victor Klein 
825 Northern Blvd. 
<a href="/topics/Great_Neck%2C_NY">Great Neck</a> 
516-472-5700 
Dr. Natalie Meirowitz 
LIJ Medical Center 
Dept. Ob/Gyn 
270-05 76th Ave. 
<a href="/topics/New_Hyde_Park%2C_NY">New Hyde Park</a> 
516-470-7636 
Dr. Alan Monheit 
6 Technology Dr. 
<a href="/topics/East_Setauket%2C_NY">East Setauket</a> 
631-444-4686 
Dr. Burton Rochelson 
North Shore Univ. Hospital 
300 Community Dr. 
<a href="/topics/Manhasset%2C_NY">Manhasset</a> 
516-562-4458 
Dr. Anthony Vintzileos 
Winthrop Univ. Hospital 
Dept. Ob/Gyn 
259 First St. 
<a href="/topics/Mineola%2C_NY">Mineola</a> 
516-663-8657 
&nbsp; 
<h5>Obstetrics &amp; gynecology</h5> 
&nbsp; 
Dr. <a href="/topics/David_Baker">David Baker</a> 
Stony Brook Univ. Med. Center, 
Dept. Ob/Gyn HSCT9030 
Nicolls Road 
Stony Brook 
631-444-4686 
Dr. Ann Barbaccia 
2000 N. Village Ave. 
<a href="/topics/Rockville_Centre%2C_NY">Rockville Centre</a> 
516-678-4222 
Dr. Leonard Benedict 
433 <a href="/topics/Uniondale%2C_NY">Uniondale</a> Ave. 
<a href="/topics/Uniondale%2C_NY">Uniondale</a> 
516-483-8798 
Dr. Deborah Davenport 
100-16 S. Jersey Ave. 
East <a href="/topics/Setauket%2C_NY">Setauket</a> 
631-689-6400 
Dr. Michael Gentilesco 
48 Route 25A 
<a href="/topics/Smithtown%2C_NY">Smithtown</a> 
631-862-3800 
Dr. Joan Haselkorn 
556 <a href="/topics/Merrick%2C_NY">Merrick</a> Rd. 
<a href="/topics/Rockville_Centre%2C_NY">Rockville Centre</a> 
516-255-2044 
Dr. Paula Hirt 
83 W. Main St. 
<a href="/topics/East_Islip%2C_NY">East Islip</a> 
631-277-5800 
Dr. Jessica Jacob 
3003 <a href="/topics/New_Hyde_Park%2C_NY">New Hyde Park</a> Rd. 
New Hyde Park 
516-488-8145 
Dr. Mitchell Kramer 
180 E. Pulaski Rd. 
<a href="/topics/Huntington_Station%2C_NY">Huntington Station</a> 
631-425-2218 
Dr. Eileen Krim 
3111 New Hyde Park Rd. 
<a href="/topics/North_Hills%2C_NY">North Hills</a> 
516-365-6100 
Dr. Douglas Lee 
<a href="/topics/Suffolk_County%2C_NY">Suffolk</a> Ob/Gyn 
118 North Country Rd. 
<a href="/topics/Port_Jefferson%2C_NY">Port Jefferson</a> 
631-475-4404 
Dr. Laurence Mack 
1130 N. Broadway 
P.O. Box 1550 
N. <a href="/topics/Massapequa%2C_NY">Massapequa</a> 
516-799-3462 
Dr. Charles Mann 
48 Rte. 25A 
<a href="/topics/Smithtown%2C_NY">Smithtown</a> 
631-862-3800 
Dr. Martin Matalon 
375 E. Main St. 
<a href="/topics/Bay_Shore%2C_NY">Bay Shore</a> 
631-665-8226 
Dr. Michael Nimaroff 
825 Northern Blvd. 
<a href="/topics/Great_Neck%2C_NY">Great Neck</a> 
516-472-5700 
Dr. Allen Ott 
595 Hampton Rd. 
<a href="/topics/Southampton_FC">Southampton</a> 
631-283-0918 
Dr. David Rothbaum 
233 E. Shore Rd. 
<a href="/topics/Great_Neck%2C_NY">Great Neck</a> 
516-487-3498 
Dr. Gerardo San Roman 
118 North Country Rd. 
<a href="/topics/Port_Jefferson%2C_NY">Port Jefferson</a> 
631-473-7171 
Dr. Allen Toles 
1554 Northern Blvd. 
<a href="/topics/Manhasset%2C_NY">Manhasset</a> 
516-390-9242 
Dr. Kusum Vasudeva 
2 Pro Health Plaza 
<a href="/topics/Lake_Success%2C_NY">Lake Success</a> 
516-608-6800 
Dr. Manuel Veloso Jr. 
303 E. Park Ave. 
<a href="/topics/Long_Beach%2C_NY">Long Beach</a> 
516-431-2828 
&nbsp; 
<h5>Neonatal-perinatal medicine</h5> 
&nbsp; 
Dr. Harriet Boxer 
<a href="/topics/Nassau_County%2C_NY">Nassau</a> Univ. 
Medical Center 
Div. Neonatology 
2201 <a href="/topics/Hempstead%2C_NY">Hempstead</a> Tpke., Box 30 
<a href="/topics/East_Meadow%2C_NY">East Meadow</a> 
516-572-3319 
Dr. Dennis Davidson 
Steven &amp; Alexander Cohen Children's Medical Center 
Div. Neonatology 
269-01 76th Ave. 
New Hyde Park 
718-470-3440 
Dr. Arena Parekh 
Stony Brook Univ. Medical Center 
Dept. of Pediatrics 
Stony Brook 
631-444-5437 
Dr. Richard Schanler 
Chief, North Shore 
Univ. Hospital 
Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine 
300 Community Dr. 
<a href="/topics/Manhasset%2C_NY">Manhasset</a> 
516-562-4665 
Dr. Andrew Steele 
Steven &amp; Alexandra Cohen Children's Medical Center 
269-01 76th Ave. 
New Hyde Park 
718-470-3440 
&nbsp; 
<h4>How they were picked</h4> 
&nbsp; 
Castle Connolly Medical Ltd. is a health care research and information company founded in 1991 by a former medical college board chairman and president to help guide consumers to America's top doctors and hospitals. Castle Connolly's established survey and research process, under the direction of a doctor, involves tens of thousands of doctors and the medical leadership of leading hospitals. 
Castle Connolly's team of researchers follows a rigorous screening process to select doctors on national and regional levels. Using mail and telephone surveys, and electronic ballots, they ask physicians and the leadership of top hospitals to identify exceptional doctors. Careful screening of doctors' educational and professional experience is essential to the committee. Not every good physician makes the list. Rather, the list is a way for patients to get started on their search for the best medical professional. Newsday is not part of the selection process. 
Doctors do not and cannot pay to be selected and profiled as Castle Connolly Top Doctors. 
&nbsp; 
<h4>To see the whole list . . .</h4> 
&nbsp; 
Who else is on the list of Top Doctors? More than 6,000 listings are in the New York Metro Area edition of "Top Doctors," published by Castle Connolly Medical Ltd. The softcover list price is $34.95. For more information, go to castleconnolly.com, or call 800-399-DOCS.

HSTOP16.WEB

Top Doctors: Pregnancy and ultrasound

Nearly 80 million people in the United States are at high risk for developing type 2 diabetes, according to the American <a href="/topics/Diabetes">Diabetes</a> Association. But it's possible for many people in that group to lower the chance they will become one of the 26 million U.S. residents who have the disease. 
With type 2 diabetes, the most common form, the body either does not produce enough insulin or does not use it properly. Insulin is needed for glucose, or sugar, to be converted to energy. 
Here's what you should know about keeping diabetes at bay: 
1. LOSE WEIGHT 
"Some people are going to get diabetes, and there's not much they can do, even if they do everything right," said Dr. Lawrence E. Shapiro, chief of the Division of Endocrinology, <a href="/topics/Diabetes">Diabetes</a> and Metabolism at Winthrop-University Hospital in <a href="/topics/Mineola%2C_NY">Mineola</a> and a professor of medicine at Stony Brook School of Medicine. "But there are more people who can prevent or reverse it with lifestyle changes." 
Losing weight should be a top priority for anyone who's overweight, Shapiro said. Diabetes has become much more common over the past 40 years, he said, and excess weight is the culprit. 
2. FIND OUT IF YOU HAVE METABOLIC SYNDROME 
The term describes a group of medical problems: <a href="/topics/High_Blood_Pressure">high blood pressure</a>, high triglycerides, low levels of "good" cholesterol, extra weight around the waist and insulin resistance, or trouble controlling blood sugar. Having three or more of these conditions greatly boosts the risk for heart disease and type 2 diabetes. 
"It gives a heads-up to the internist and to the patient that something should be done now while this syndrome is evolving," Shapiro said. 
3. GET MONITORED MORE OFTEN IF YOU'RE AT RISK 
Regular testing -- perhaps during twice-yearly rather than annual checkups -- can detect diabetes, said Dr. Leonard Gioia, chief of endocrinology at <a href="/topics/Good_Samaritan_Hospital">Good Samaritan Hospital</a> Medical Center in <a href="/topics/West_Islip%2C_NY">West Islip</a>. 
4. TAKE MEDICATION, IF NECESSARY 
<a href="/topics/Metformin">Metformin</a>, a drug known by a variety of brand names, is available for people who are at high risk for developing diabetes, but it's not for everyone, Gioia said. "It should probably be restricted to people who have a very high risk of diabetes, maybe because of a strong family history involving both parents or because they've had blood tests that show they're on the verge of becoming <a href="/topics/Diabetes">diabetic</a>." 
<a href="/topics/Metformin">Metformin</a> is inexpensive and easy to take, he said, but it can cause side effects such as diarrhea, bloating and nausea in some people. "Otherwise," he said, "it's a great drug." 
5. REVERSE <a href="/topics/Diabetes">DIABETES</a> IF YOU ALREADY HAVE IT 
It's difficult to reverse diabetes, Gioia said, but some people have done it. Bariatric surgery, which can lead to tremendous weight loss, has eliminated diabetes in some patients, he said. 
"And I can think of at least one person in my practice who basically reversed diabetes on his own," Gioia said. "He lost enough weight and came off of everything -- all the pills -- and had a resolution of diabetes." 
"Does it happen often? No," he said. "Can it happen? Yes." 
&nbsp; 
<h4>Endocrinologists</h4> 
&nbsp; 
This is the seventh installment of a 26-week series in which Newsday presents Castle Connolly's list of top L.I. doctors. Today: endocrinology, diabetes and metabolism 
Dr. John Aloia 
222 Station Plaza N. 
<a href="/topics/Mineola%2C_NY">Mineola</a> 
516-663-3511 
Dr. Michael Balkin 
191 E. Main St. 
Huntington 
631-549-2525 
Dr. Anjani Bhatt 
871 E. Park Ave. 
<a href="/topics/Long_Beach%2C_NY">Long Beach</a> 
516-889-8853 
Dr. Rachelle Bitton 
2 Pro Health Plaza 
<a href="/topics/Lake_Success%2C_NY">Lake Success</a> 
516-390-5760 
Dr. Howard Brand 
2500 <a href="/topics/Nesconset%2C_NY">Nesconset</a> Hwy. 
Stony Brook 
631-751-2400 
Dr. Harold Carlson 
Stony Brook Univ. Med. Center 
Dept. Medicine 
26 Research Way 
<a href="/topics/East_Setauket%2C_NY">East Setauket</a> 
631-444-0580 
Dr. Seth Friedman 
560 Northern Blvd. 
<a href="/topics/Great_Neck%2C_NY">Great Neck</a> 
516-466-6165 
Dr. Marie Gelato 
26 Research Way 
<a href="/topics/East_%28designer%29">East</a> <a href="/topics/Setauket%2C_NY">Setauket</a> 
631-444-0580 
Dr. Leonard Gioia 
53 <a href="/topics/Brentwood%2C_NY">Brentwood</a> Rd. 
<a href="/topics/Bay_Shore%2C_NY">Bay Shore</a> 
631-666-6275 
Dr. Alan Goldenberg 
<a href="/topics/East_%28designer%29">East</a> End Endocrine Associates 
189 Main Rd. 
<a href="/topics/Riverhead%2C_NY">Riverhead</a> 
631-288-7120 
Dr. Jeffrey Gordon 
3 School St. 
<a href="/topics/Glen_Cove%2C_NY">Glen Cove</a> 
516-759-2420 
Dr. Martin Greenfield 
2 ProHealth Plaza 
<a href="/topics/Lake_Success%2C_NY">Lake Success</a> 
516-608-6823 
Dr. Kenneth Hupart 
NU Health 
<a href="/topics/Nassau_County%2C_NY">Nassau</a> Univ. 
Medical Center 
2201 <a href="/topics/Hempstead%2C_NY">Hempstead</a> Tpke. 
<a href="/topics/East_Meadow%2C_NY">East Meadow</a> 
516-572-4848 
Dr. Irwin Klein 
2800 Marcus Ave. 
Lake Success 
516-708-2540 
Dr. Steven Lomasky 
242 <a href="/topics/Merrick%2C_NY">Merrick</a> Rd. 
<a href="/topics/Rockville_Centre%2C_NY">Rockville Centre</a> 
516-536-3700 
Dr. Paul Margulies 
444 Community Dr. 
<a href="/topics/Manhasset%2C_NY">Manhasset</a> 
516-627-1366 
Dr. David Rosenthal 
<a href="/topics/Nassau_University_Medical_Center">Nassau University Medical Center</a> 
Div. Endocrinology 
2201 <a href="/topics/Hempstead%2C_NY">Hempstead</a> Tpke. 
<a href="/topics/East_Meadow%2C_NY">East Meadow</a> 
516-572-4848 
Dr. Lawrence Shapiro 
222 Station Plaza N. 
Mineola 
516-663-3511 
Dr. Ashok Vaswani 
901 Stewart Ave. 
<a href="/topics/Garden_City%2C_NY">Garden City</a> 
516-739-0414 
Dr. Stuart Weinerman 
2800 Marcus Ave. 
Lake Success 
516-708-2540 
Dr. Craig Wexler 
285 Sills Rd., Bldg. 15 
<a href="/topics/East_Patchogue%2C_NY">East Patchogue</a> 
631-758-5858 
 CLINICAL GENETICS 
Dr. Martin Bialer 
1554 Northern Blvd. 
<a href="/topics/Manhasset%2C_NY">Manhasset</a> 
516-365-3996 
Dr. Joyce Fox 
1554 Northern Blvd. 
Manhasset 
516-365-3996 
Dr. David Hyman 
48 Route 25A 
<a href="/topics/Smithtown%2C_NY">Smithtown</a> 
631-862-3620 
Dr. Margaret McGovern 
Stony Brook Univ. Med. Center 
Pediatrics 
Nicolls Road 
Stony Brook 
631-444-5437 
 REPRODUCTIVE ENDOCRINOLOGY 
Dr. Steven Brenner 
2001 Marcus Ave. 
Lake Success 
516-358-6363 
Dr. Richard Bronson 
State Univ. of NY 
at Stony Brook 
Health Science Center, T9-080 
Stony Brook 
631-246-9100 
Dr. Daniel Kenigsberg 
8 Corporate Center Dr. 
<a href="/topics/Melville%2C_NY">Melville</a> 
631-752-0606 
Dr. Michael Lydic 
Reproductive 
Specialists of NY 
2500 <a href="/topics/Nesconset%2C_NY">Nesconset</a> Hwy. 
Bldg 23 
Stony Brook 
631-246-9100 
Dr. David Rosenfeld 
Div. Human Reproduction 
300 Community Dr. 
Ambulatory Bldg. 
Manhasset 
516-562-2229 
&nbsp; 
<h4>How they were picked</h4> 
&nbsp; 
Castle Connolly Medical Ltd. is a health care research and information company founded in 1991 by a former medical college board chairman and president to help guide consumers to America's top doctors and hospitals. Castle Connolly's established survey and research process, under the direction of a doctor, involves tens of thousands of doctors and the medical leadership of leading hospitals. 
Castle Connolly's team of researchers follows a rigorous screening process to select doctors on national and regional levels. Using mail and telephone surveys, and electronic ballots, they ask physicians and the leadership of top hospitals to identify exceptional doctors. Careful screening of doctors' educational and professional experience is essential to the committee. Not every good physician makes the list. Rather, the list is a way for patients to get started on their search for the best medical professional. Newsday is not part of the selection process. 
Doctors do not and cannot pay to be selected and profiled as Castle Connolly Top Doctors. 
&nbsp; 
<h4>To see the whole list . . .</h4> 
&nbsp; 
Who else is on the list of Top Doctors? More than 6,000 listings are in the New York Metro Area edition of "Top Doctors," published by Castle Connolly Medical Ltd. The softcover list price is $34.95. For more information, go to castleconnolly.com, or call 800-399-DOCS.

HSTOP09.WEB

Top Doctors: 5 fast facts on diabetes

Gone are the days when many kids were only familiar with medications like aspirin and cough syrup. Now, many children take psychiatric medications to fend off conditions such as hyperactivity, anxiety and depression. 
Here's a look at what you should know before your child is placed on these drugs: 
1. MEDICATION MAY NOT BE NECESSARY 
In some cases, therapy alone can successfully treat conditions like anxiety, depression and <a href="/topics/Attention_Deficit_Disorder">attention deficit hyperactivity disorder</a>, said Dr. Gabrielle A. Carlson, director of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry at <a href="/topics/Stony_Brook_University">Stony Brook University</a> School of Medicine. 
But the treatments -- which aim to change behavior -- are challenging and take a lot of time, she said. "There are alternatives to medication, but there's no simple fix." 
In terms of ADHD, for example, "you're talking about a lot of work on the parents' and the teachers' part," she said. Treatment for depression and anxiety, meanwhile, requires extensive homework assignments, and not just for a while. "It's not like you do it for six weeks, and you can stop it," she said. 
2. VERY YOUNG KIDS USUALLY DON'T NEED MEDICATION 
"In general, most children are at least school-age when they are considered for psychiatric medications," said Dr. Judith Greenberg, staff psychiatrist with the Departments of Substance Abuse and Child and Adolescent Psychiatry at Zucker Hillside Hospital. 
In rare cases, preschool-age children may be prescribed psychiatric medications. Typically, they have severe symptoms that don't respond to therapy, she said. 
3. PARENTS SHOULD ASK QUESTIONS 
Introducing these drugs without educating yourself on all aspects of it would be a mistake. "Parents should have a clear understanding of why a particular medication is recommended for their child, the nature and severity of the child's underlying condition, what other methods of treatment may or may not work, and what happens if medication is not used in a particular situation," Greenberg said. 
4. KEEP AN EYE ON YOUR CHILD 
"Parents should monitor their children for changes in habits (sleep/appetite), energy, mood, movements, rashes, or medication-specific concerns," Greenberg said. "Notify the prescribing physician immediately with any concerns. Anyone can have an odd or unusual reaction to any medication." 
Greenberg adds that parents shouldn't stop, start or adjust a child's medication without first talking to a doctor. 
5. DON'T LOOK FOR PERFECTION 
ADHD medications may have a quick effect if they're given at the correct dose, but others take a while to kick in, Carlson said. And even if they do have an effect, it may not be perfect. 
"People expect everything to clean up nice," she said. In fact, many children will get better but not recover completely, she said. 
The severity of the condition matters. "I use this metaphor: If your temperature is 101 and you take some aspirin, your temperature might go down to 98.5. But if it's 104, it might go down to 101.5. You're better, but you may not feel great." 
&nbsp; 
<h4>This is the sixth installment of a 26-week series in which Newsday presents Castle Connolly's list of top L.I. doctors.</h4> 
<h4>This week, we are featuring psychiatrists.</h4> 
Dr. Thomas Aronson 
2 Brooksite Dr. 
<a href="/topics/Smithtown%2C_NY">Smithtown</a> 
631-265-0909 
Dr. Samuel Bailine 
5 Ridgeway Rd. 
<a href="/topics/Port_Washington%2C_NY">Port Washington</a> 
516-883-3304 
Dr. Raymond Behr 
81-A Arleigh Rd. 
<a href="/topics/Great_Neck%2C_NY">Great Neck</a> 
516-482-1980 
Dr. John Benjamin 
1983 Marcus Ave. 
<a href="/topics/Lake_Success%2C_NY">Lake Success</a> 
516-216-1780 
Dr. Sheldon Berman 
8 Payne Circle 
<a href="/topics/Hewlett_Harbor%2C_NY">Hewlett Harbor</a> 
516-374-4417 
Dr. Ashok Bhatt 
871 E. Park Ave. 
<a href="/topics/Long_Beach%2C_NY">Long Beach</a> 
516-889-8844 
Dr. Cathy Budman 
North Shore-LIJ Health System 
Dept. Psychiatry &amp; Neurology 
400 Community Dr. 
<a href="/topics/Manhasset%2C_NY">Manhasset</a> 
516-562-3223 
Dr. Jovita Crasta 
2277 Grand Ave. 
<a href="/topics/Baldwin%2C_NY">Baldwin</a> 
516-377-5400 
Dr. Marvin Frogel 
78 Oxford Blvd. 
<a href="/topics/Great_Neck%2C_NY">Great Neck</a>, 516-482-5377 
Dr. Michael Gurevich 
997 <a href="/topics/Glen_Cove%2C_NY">Glen Cove</a> Ave. 
<a href="/topics/Glen_Head%2C_NY">Glen Head</a> 
516-674-9489 
Dr. Eli Margrethe Katus 
1035 Rte. 106 
<a href="/topics/East_Norwich%2C_NY">East Norwich</a> 
516-922-5607 
Dr. Jack Katz 
1010 Northern Blvd. 
<a href="/topics/Great_Neck%2C_NY">Great Neck</a> 
516-336-2565 
Dr. Amy Koreen 
28 Elm St. 
Huntington 
631-423-8368 
Dr. Kwang Soo Lee 
221 Broadway 
<a href="/topics/Amityville%2C_NY">Amityville</a> 
631-789-7448 
Dr. Vera Liang 
221 Broadway 
<a href="/topics/Amityville%2C_NY">Amityville</a> 
631-598-7396 
Dr. Jack Nass 
580 Sunrise Hwy. 
<a href="/topics/West_Babylon%2C_NY">West Babylon</a> 
631-321-7697 
Dr. Bruce Rosen 
222 E. Middle Country Rd. 
<a href="/topics/Smithtown%2C_NY">Smithtown</a> 
631-265-6868 
Dr. Sherif Sami 
7 Bond St. 
<a href="/topics/Great_Neck%2C_NY">Great Neck</a> 
516-487-9191 
Dr. Michael Schwartz 
150 Broadhollow Rd. 
<a href="/topics/Melville%2C_NY">Melville</a> 
631-385-3313 
Dr. Yogendra Upadhyay 
400 Sunrise Hwy. 
<a href="/topics/Amityville%2C_NY">Amityville</a> 
631-608-5212 
 CHILD &amp; ADOLESCENT PSYCHIATRISTS 
Dr. Gabrielle Carlson 
<a href="/topics/Stony_Brook_University">SUNY Stony Brook</a> 
Child &amp; Adolescent Psychiatry 
Putnam Hall, South Campus 
Stony Brook 
631-632-8840 
Dr. Carmel Foley 
420 Lakeville Rd. 
<a href="/topics/New_Hyde_Park%2C_NY">New Hyde Park</a> 
718-470-3550 
Dr. Lajpat Gandhi 
110 E. Main St. 
Huntington 
631-427-6411 
Dr. Judith Greenberg 
775 Park Ave. 
Huntington 
631-629-4790 
Dr. John Pomeroy 
The Cody Center for <a href="/topics/Autism">Autism</a> 
5 Medical Dr. 
<a href="/topics/Port_Jefferson_Station%2C_NY">Port Jefferson Station</a> 
631-632-3070 
Dr. Deborah Weisbrot 
<a href="/topics/Stony_Brook_University">SUNY Stony Brook</a> 
Child &amp; Adolescent Psychiatry 
Putnam Hall, South Campus 
Stony Brook 
631-632-8840 
Dr. <a href="/topics/Daniel_Williams">Daniel Williams</a> 
3003 <a href="/topics/New_Hyde_Park%2C_NY">New Hyde Park</a> Rd. 
<a href="/topics/New_Hyde_Park%2C_NY">New Hyde Park</a> 
516-488-3636 
&nbsp; 
<h4>How they were picked</h4> 
&nbsp; 
Castle Connolly Medical Ltd. is a health care research and information company founded in 1991 by a former medical college board chairman and president to help guide consumers to America's top doctors and hospitals. Castle Connolly's established survey and research process, under the direction of a doctor, involves tens of thousands of doctors and the medical leadership of leading hospitals. 
Castle Connolly's team of researchers follows a rigorous screening process to select doctors on national and regional levels. Using mail and telephone surveys, and electronic ballots, they ask physicians and the leadership of top hospitals to identify exceptional doctors. Careful screening of doctors' educational and professional experience is essential to the committee. Not every good physician makes the list. Rather, the list is a way for patients to get started on their search for the best medical professional. Newsday is not part of the selection process. 
Doctors do not and cannot pay to be selected and profiled as Castle Connolly Top Doctors. 
&nbsp; 
<h4>To see the whole list . . .</h4> 
&nbsp; 
Who else is on the list of Top Doctors? More than 6,000 listings are in the New York Metro Area edition of "Top Doctors," published by Castle Connolly Medical Ltd. The softcover list price is $34.95. For more information, go to castleconnolly.com, or call 800-399-DOCS.

HSTOP02.WEB

Top Doctors: Psychiatric meds for kids

Whether you have an annoying ache, a sniffle that won't go away or a funny-looking growth, there's a good chance that an internist will be the doctor you'll see for your medical problem. 
An internist is a doctor of internal medicine -- not to be confused with an intern, who's a doctor in training. 
Here's what you should know: 
1. AN INTERNIST CAN TREAT YOU FOR LIFE 
While family medicine physicians specialize in treating both kids and adults, their counterparts in internal medicine focus on patients from the late teen years through the end of life. "An internist is a doctor for adults," said Dr. Michael Ammazzalorso, chief medical officer at Winthrop-University Hospital in Mineola. 
2. INTERNISTS KNOW ABOUT A HUGE VARIETY OF MEDICAL ISSUES 
"There is very little that a well-trained, experienced internist cannot handle," said Dr. Bernard Nash, associate chief of medicine at <a href="/topics/Good_Samaritan_Hospital">Good Samaritan Hospital</a> Medical Center in West Islip. However, internists will refer patients to specialists when necessary. 
3. INTERNISTS OVERSEE ALL YOUR MEDICAL CARE 
As Nash explains it: "We spend a tremendous amount of time on patient care after the patient leaves, arriving at a diagnosis, coordinating care with other specialties, ordering and getting authorization for specific tests, reviewing lab tests and fighting with insurance companies to get approval for medicines and tests." 
4. INTERNISTS MIGHT DETECT PROBLEMS WHEN SPECIALISTS ARE INVOLVED 
"When Dr. X says one thing, and Dr. Y says another, we're there to put the pieces together, since they may not both have a full picture," Ammazzalorso said. 
5. IT MAY BE TOUGH TO FIND AN INTERNIST WHO TAKES NEW PATIENTS 
A severe shortage of internal medicine physicians has developed, at least in part because many medical students prefer to go into higher-paying specialty fields and thus are not replacing internists who are retiring. The shortage is expected to get worse. 
"One of my colleagues has an eight-month waiting list for new patients," Ammazzalorso said. "When one of her patients passed on, one of the women in the town said, 'I know so-and-so died, can I take her place?' It reminds me of someone looking for an apartment in Manhattan." 
So, be prepared for a possible delay when you look for an internist, he said. Your insurance company can help identify internists in your area, as can your county's medical society. 
The <a href="/topics/Nassau_County%2C_NY">Nassau</a> County Medical Society is at nacmed.org or 516-832-2300. 
You can reach the <a href="/topics/Suffolk_County%2C_NY">Suffolk</a> County Medical Society at scms-sam.org or 631-851-1400. 
&nbsp; 
This is the fifth installment of a 26-week series in which Newsday presents Castle Connolly's list of top L.I. doctors. 
<h4>This week, we're featuring internists.</h4> 
Dr. Barry Balot 
150 E. Sunrise Hwy. 
<a href="/topics/Lindenhurst%2C_NY">Lindenhurst</a> 
631-225-6200 
Dr. Nicholas Berbari 
222 Station Plaza North 
Mineola 
516-663-2051 
Dr. Jeffrey Berger 
222 Station Plaza North 
Mineola 
516-663-2588 
Dr. Robert Bernard 
6144 Rte. 25-A, C Bldg. 
Wading River 
631-929-5900 
Dr. Mark Corapi 
222 Station Plaza North 
Mineola 
516-663-2051 
Dr. Alexander Covey 
445 Main St. 
<a href="/topics/Center_Moriches%2C_NY">Center Moriches</a> 
631-878-9200 
Dr. Stephen Cusumano 
850 <a href="/topics/Hicksville%2C_NY">Hicksville</a> Rd. 
<a href="/topics/Seaford%2C_NY">Seaford</a> 
516-735-5454 
Dr. Michael Delman 
301 E. Main St. 
<a href="/topics/Bay_Shore%2C_NY">Bay Shore</a> 
631-968-3322 
Dr. Richard Federbush 
175 <a href="/topics/Jericho%2C_NY">Jericho</a> Tpke. 
<a href="/topics/Syosset%2C_NY">Syosset</a> 
516-364-9800 
Dr. Steven Friedling 
267 E. Main St., A Bldg. 
<a href="/topics/Smithtown%2C_NY">Smithtown</a> 
631-724-8348 
Dr. Burt Gelberg 
401 Franklin Ave. 
<a href="/topics/Franklin_Square%2C_NY">Franklin Square</a> 
516-326-2255 
Dr. Harold German 
150 Main St. 
<a href="/topics/Huntington%2C_NY">Huntington</a> 
631-271-8700 
Dr. Steven Goldfarb 
365 County Rd. 39-A 
<a href="/topics/Southampton%2C_NY">Southampton</a> 
631-283-5542 
Dr. Michael Goodman 
2495 Newbridge Rd. 
<a href="/topics/Bellmore%2C_NY">Bellmore</a> 
516-826-1200 
Dr. Lydia Gorski 
820 <a href="/topics/Jericho%2C_NY">Jericho</a> Tpke. 
<a href="/topics/New_Hyde_Park%2C_NY">New Hyde Park</a> 
516-352-0430 
Dr. Joanne Gottridge 
865 Northern Blvd. 
<a href="/topics/Great_Neck%2C_NY">Great Neck</a> 
516-622-5001 
Dr. Edward Hallal 
180 E. Main St. 
<a href="/topics/Bay_Shore%2C_NY">Bay Shore</a> 
631-665-0027 
Dr. Edward Hotchkiss 
158 <a href="/topics/Hempstead%2C_NY">Hempstead</a> Ave. 
<a href="/topics/Lynbrook%2C_NY">Lynbrook</a> 
516-593-3541 
Dr. Corradino Lalli 
59 Southern Blvd. 
Nesconset 
631-366-0404 
Dr. Pauline Leong 
865 Northern Blvd. 
<a href="/topics/Great_Neck%2C_NY">Great Neck</a> 
516-622-5000 
Dr. John Oppenheimer 
P.O. Box 3137 
Sag Harbor 
631-725-4600 
Dr. Harvey Pollak 
2 Prohealth Plaza 
<a href="/topics/Lake_Success%2C_NY">Lake Success</a> 
516-622-6020 
Dr. Frederic Rakowitz 
295 Northern Blvd. 
<a href="/topics/Great_Neck%2C_NY">Great Neck</a> 
516-482-4940 
Dr. Rosario Romano 
5225-15 Rte. 347 
<a href="/topics/Port_Jefferson_Station%2C_NY">Port Jefferson Station</a> 
631-331-1000 
Dr. Jack Rubenstein 
70 <a href="/topics/Glen_Cove%2C_NY">Glen Cove</a> Rd. 
Roslyn Heights 
516-621-1502 
Dr. Steve Rucker 
1999 Marcus Ave. 
<a href="/topics/Lake_Success%2C_NY">Lake Success</a> 
516-775-4545 
Dr. Lloyd Simon 
44210C County Rd. 48, 
Box 1341 
<a href="/topics/Southold%2C_NY">Southold</a> 
631-765-4150 
Dr. Lowell Taubman 
206 Riverside Blvd. 
<a href="/topics/Long_Beach%2C_NY">Long Beach</a> 
516-432-5670 
Dr. Leonard Timpone 
1051 Adams Ave. 
<a href="/topics/Franklin_Square%2C_NY">Franklin Square</a> 
516-354-4858 
Dr. <a href="/topics/Mark_Weinstein">Mark Weinstein</a> 
4045 <a href="/topics/Hempstead%2C_NY">Hempstead</a> Tpke. 
<a href="/topics/Bethpage_State_Park%2C_NY">Bethpage</a> 
516-731-7770 
&nbsp; 
<h4>How they were picked</h4> 
&nbsp; 
Castle Connolly Medical Ltd. is a health care research and information company founded in 1991 by a former medical college board chairman and president to help guide consumers to America's top doctors and hospitals. Castle Connolly's established survey and research process, under the direction of a doctor, involves tens of thousands of doctors and the medical leadership of leading hospitals. 
Castle Connolly's team of researchers follows a rigorous screening process to select doctors on national and regional levels. Using mail and telephone surveys, and electronic ballots, they ask physicians and the leadership of top hospitals to identify exceptional doctors. Careful screening of doctors' educational and professional experience is essential to the committee. Not every good physician makes the list. Rather, the list is a way for patients to get started on their search for the best medical professional. Newsday is not part of the selection process. 
Doctors do not and cannot pay to be selected and profiled as Castle Connolly Top Doctors. 
&nbsp; 
<h4>To see the whole list . . .</h4> 
&nbsp; 
Who else is on the list of Top Doctors? More than 6,000 listings are in the <a href="/topics/New_York%2C_NY">New York</a> Metro Area edition of "Top Doctors," published by Castle Connolly Medical Ltd. The softcover list price is $34.95. For more information, go to castleconnolly.com, or call 800-399-DOCS.

HSTOP26.WEB

Top Doctors: Inside story on internists

Among all the various types of cancer that can strike the female reproductive system, ovarian cancer kills the most women in the United States. It often isn't detected until it's too late. 
But in many cases, treatment can allow women to live for several years or even longer. 
&nbsp; 
&nbsp; 
Here's what you should know: 
1. OVARIAN CANCER IS DIFFICULT TO DETECT EARLY ON 
"Early detection usually means a better chance to eradicate the problem and minimize its reoccurrence," said Dr. Andrew Menzin, associate chief of gynecologic oncology at <a href="/topics/North_Shore_University_Hospital">North Shore University Hospital</a> in <a href="/topics/Manhasset%2C_NY">Manhasset</a> and <a href="/topics/Long_Island_Jewish_Medical_Center">Long Island Jewish Medical Center</a> in <a href="/topics/New_Hyde_Park%2C_NY">New Hyde Park</a>. But women with ovarian cancer rarely have noticeable symptoms early on, he said, and physicians typically don't detect it if there aren't symptoms. 
"The ovaries are deep inside the female body, and they're difficult to feel," Menzin said. Also, he said, changes in the body that can lead to cancer may be hard to detect because they're microscopic. 
2. KEEP AN EYE ON SUBTLE SYMPTOMS 
"<a href="/topics/Ovarian_Cancer">Ovarian cancer</a> doesn't scream at you. It whispers," said Dr. John Lovecchio, chief of gynecologic oncology at <a href="/topics/North_Shore_University_Hospital">North Shore University Hospital</a> and <a href="/topics/Long_Island%2C_NY">Long Island</a> Jewish Medical Center. "Some whispers are very subtle, like abdominal pain, urinary frequency, changes in dietary habits, change in bowel habits, increasing abdominal girth." 
Some of these symptoms can be normal parts of aging, but women should get examined if they appear quickly and persist over three or four weeks. 
3. YOUR GENES MATTER 
"When it comes to prevention, the best thing to do is to identify whether you have a hereditary predisposition," Menzin said. 
A family history of certain kinds of cancer -- including ovarian, breast and colon -- can boost your risk for ovarian cancer, as can having certain genetic traits. If you're concerned, "you should discuss it with both your gynecologist and primary care physician and seek a genetic evaluation," Menzin said. 
Also make sure to let your doctors know about your own history of cancer, if you have one. The doctor might be able to prescribe birth control pills to reduce the risk of ovarian cancer, Lovecchio said. 
4. BE CAUTIOUS OF SCREENING TESTS 
A blood test known as CA-125 is best used to track the progress of women with ovarian cancer, Menzin said. Some doctors recommend it to women as a screening tool to detect ovarian cancer, but he said it can miss signs of disease. 
Lovecchio said the test is "useless" as a screening device because it can be misleading. "It should never be used for screening -- looking for disease." 
5. TREATMENTS ARE AVAILABLE 
Chemotherapy and surgery are the most common treatments for ovarian cancer, which frequently spreads. "Despite the fact that two-thirds to three-quarters of women with ovarian cancer are found with advanced disease, the overwhelming majority of women achieve a response to surgery and chemotherapy," Menzin said. "On some level it's remarkable, because we're talking about disseminated cancer having pretty good response rates. Yet the overall survival rate is not nearly what we would hope for." 
This is the fourth installment of a 26-week series in which Newsday presents Castle Connolly's list of top L.I. doctors. Today: medical oncologists and gynecological oncologists 
&nbsp; 
<h4>Gynecologic oncologists</h4> 
&nbsp; 
Dr. John Lovecchio 
<a href="/topics/North_Shore_University_Hospital">North Shore University Hospital</a> 
300 Community Dr. 
10 Monti 
<a href="/topics/Manhasset%2C_NY">Manhasset</a> 
516-562-4438 
Dr. Andrew Menzin 
<a href="/topics/North_Shore_University_Hospital">North Shore University Hospital</a> 
300 Community Dr. 
10 Monti 
<a href="/topics/Manhasset%2C_NY">Manhasset</a> 
516-562-4438 
Dr. Michael Pearl 
3 Edmund D. Pellegrino Rd. 
<a href="/topics/Stony_Brook%2C_NY">Stony Brook</a> 
631-444-2989 
&nbsp; 
<h4>Medical oncologists</h4> 
&nbsp; 
Dr. Birjis Akhund 
<a href="/topics/Huntington%2C_NY">Huntington</a> Medical Group 
180 E. Pulaski Rd. 
<a href="/topics/Huntington%2C_NY">Huntington</a> Sta. 
631-425-2280 
Dr. Francis Arena 
1999 Marcus Ave. 
<a href="/topics/Lake_Success%2C_NY">Lake Success</a> 
516-466-6611 
Dr. Thomas Bradley 
Monter <a href="/topics/Cancer">Cancer</a> Center 
450 Lakeville Rd. 
<a href="/topics/Lake_Success%2C_NY">Lake Success</a> 
516-734-8900 
Dr. Daniel Budman 
Monter <a href="/topics/Cancer">Cancer</a> Center 
450 Lakeville Rd. 
<a href="/topics/Lake_Success%2C_NY">Lake Success</a> 
516-734-8900 
Dr. Rocco Caruso 
2500 <a href="/topics/Nesconset%2C_NY">Nesconset</a> Hwy. 
<a href="/topics/Stony_Brook%2C_NY">Stony Brook</a> 
631-751-8305 
Dr. Marc Citron 
Pro Healthcare Assoc. 
Division Oncology 
2800 Marcus Ave. 
<a href="/topics/Lake_Success%2C_NY">Lake Success</a> 
516-622-6150 
Dr. John Fiore 
Memorial Sloan Kettering at <a href="/topics/Suffolk_County%2C_NY">Suffolk</a> 
650 <a href="/topics/Commack%2C_NY">Commack</a> Rd. 
<a href="/topics/Commack%2C_NY">Commack</a> 
631-623-4100 
Dr. Richard Gralla 
Monter <a href="/topics/Cancer">Cancer</a> Center 
450 Lakeville Rd. 
<a href="/topics/Lake_Success%2C_NY">Lake Success</a> 
516-734-8966 
Dr. Alexander Hindenburg 
Winthrop Oncology/ 
Hematology Associates 
200 Old Country Rd. 
<a href="/topics/Mineola%2C_NY">Mineola</a> 
516-663-9500 
Dr. Bruce Kappel 
40 Crossways Park Dr. 
<a href="/topics/Woodbury%2C_NY">Woodbury</a> 
516-921-5533 
Dr. Leonard Kessler 
242 <a href="/topics/Merrick%2C_NY">Merrick</a> Rd. 
<a href="/topics/Rockville_Centre%2C_NY">Rockville Centre</a> 
516-536-1455 
Dr. John Marino 
2001 Marcus Ave. 
<a href="/topics/Lake_Success%2C_NY">Lake Success</a> 
516-883-0122 
Dr. Bhoomi Mehrotra 
<a href="/topics/Long_Island%2C_NY">Long Island</a> Jewish Medical 
270-05 76th Ave. 
<a href="/topics/New_Hyde_Park%2C_NY">New Hyde Park</a> 
718-470-8934 
Dr. Stanley Ostrow 
235 N. Belle Mead Rd. 
<a href="/topics/East_Setauket%2C_NY">East Setauket</a> 
631-751-5151 
Dr. Hasan Rizvi 
180 E. Main St. 
<a href="/topics/Bay_Shore%2C_NY">Bay Shore</a> 
631-666-0262 
Dr. Paula Schwartz 
3003 <a href="/topics/New_Hyde_Park%2C_NY">New Hyde Park</a> Rd. 
<a href="/topics/New_Hyde_Park%2C_NY">New Hyde Park</a> 
516-354-5700 
Dr. Barry Strauss 
353 Meeting House Lane 
<a href="/topics/Southampton%2C_NY">Southampton</a> 
631-283-6611 
Dr. Frank Tomao 
2001 Marcus Ave. 
<a href="/topics/Lake_Success%2C_NY">Lake Success</a> 
516-883-0122 
Dr. Vincent Vinciguerra 
450 Lakeville Rd. 
Monter <a href="/topics/Cancer">Cancer</a> Center 
Lake Success 
516-734-8954 
Dr. Jen Chin Wang 
5 E. Walnut St. 
<a href="/topics/Long_Beach%2C_NY">Long Beach</a> 
516-889-7447 
Dr. Rita Weiss 
107 Northern Blvd. 
<a href="/topics/Great_Neck%2C_NY">Great Neck</a> 
516-482-0080 
Dr. Lora Yung 
Monter <a href="/topics/Cancer">Cancer</a> Center 
450 Lakeville Rd. 
Lake Success 
516-734-8963 
&nbsp; 
<h4>How they were picked</h4> 
<h4>&nbsp;</h4> 
&nbsp; 
Castle Connolly Medical Ltd. is a health care research and information company founded in 1991 by a former medical college board chairman and president to help guide consumers to America's top doctors and hospitals. Castle Connolly's established survey and research process, under the direction of a doctor, involves tens of thousands of doctors and the medical leadership of leading hospitals. 
Castle Connolly's team of researchers follows a rigorous screening process to select doctors on national and regional levels. Using mail and telephone surveys, and electronic ballots, they ask physicians and the leadership of top hospitals to identify exceptional doctors. Careful screening of doctors' educational and professional experience is essential to the committee. Not every good physician makes the list. Rather, the list is a way for patients to get started on their search for the best medical professional. Newsday is not part of the selection process. 
Doctors do not and cannot pay to be selected and profiled as Castle Connolly Top Doctors. 
&nbsp; 
<h4>To see the whole list . . .</h4> 
<h4>&nbsp;</h4> 
&nbsp; 
Who else is on the list of Top Doctors? More than 6,000 listings are in the New York Metro Area edition of "Top Doctors," published by Castle Connolly Medical Ltd. The softcover list price is $34.95. For more information, go to castleconnolly.com, or call 800-399-DOCS.

HSTOP19.WEB

Top Doctors: 5 fast facts on ovarian cancer

Summer can really bug your skin. Mosquitoes, poison ivy and sun exposure all pose threats and can cause a rash. Here's what you should know about body rashes, regardless of the season: 
1. IF YOU DEVELOP A RASH AND A FEVER, SEE A DOCTOR 
Many rashes are just nuisances, but a rash and a fever combination could be a sign of a bad reaction to medication or a serious disease, such as <a href="/topics/Meningitis">meningitis</a> or Rocky Mountain spotted fever, said Dr. Daniel Mark <a href="/topics/Mark_Siegel">Siegel</a>, a Smithtown dermatologist who is president-elect of the American Academy of Dermatology. "Get yourself to the doctor quite quickly," Siegel said. 
2. BE CAREFUL WITH OVER-THE- COUNTER MEDICATIONS 
"Self-treatments should be aimed at symptomatic relief since presumably you're not really sure what you're treating if you haven't seen the dermatologist yet," said Dr. Jeffrey A. Sklar, a Woodbury dermatologist. 
He advises caution regarding the use of cortisone creams, which affect the immune system. "If your rash is due to an infection, cortisones will actually worsen the condition and make the infection spread." 
Siegel advises that people watch out for topical benzocaine and Benadryl products, too. "They can actually cause rashes in many people," Siegel said. "Often that's what brings people to a dermatologist. They treated a rash, but they're in that small percentage of people who are allergic, and that rash gets worse instead of getting better." 
3. DON'T ASSUME YOU KNOW EVERYTHING, OR EVEN THAT YOUR MOTHER DOES 
"Don't self-diagnose, listen to your friends or try to figure it out from the Internet," Sklar said. "Don't go through your medicine cabinet or use old tubes of cream that may have been prescribed for something else." 
4. POISON IVY MIGHT NEED A DOCTOR'S HELP 
Calamine lotion helps soothe rashes from poison ivy. But it usually doesn't control the itch, Siegel said. Over-the-counter cortisone cream or gel is helpful, he noted, and you can get stronger doses by prescription. For poison ivy rashes over a large part of your body, doctors often prescribe steroid pills to speed recovery. 
5. KEEP A SUN RASH COOL 
If you think you've been out in the sun too long, quickly take a <a href="/topics/Hydrocodone">painkiller</a>, like aspirin, acetaminophen or ibuprofen, Siegel said. It may help reduce damage. Once the burn sets in, a <a href="/topics/Hydrocodone">painkiller</a> can help suppress discomfort. Oatmeal-based skin products can be helpful with a sun rash, or "simply put a handful of oatmeal in the bathtub and get it as cool as possible," he said. Cold compresses can help, too. 
Cooling can soothe other kinds of rashes and bug bites, too. Put an ice cube on the area, Siegel said. And don't worry about freezing your skin. You'll pull the ice away before damage is done, he said. 
&nbsp; 
This is the third installment of a 26-week series in which Newsday presents Castle Connolly's list of top LI doctors. <a href="http://www.newsday.com/news/health/doctors">Click here to see the full list.&nbsp;</a> 
<h4>&nbsp;</h4> 
<h4>This week we're featuring dermatolotists.</h4> 
&nbsp; 
Dr. Georgette Aprile 
8 Med Plaza 
<a href="/topics/Glen_Cove%2C_NY">Glen Cove</a> 
516-759-9200 
Dr. Pamela Basuk 
2011 Union Blvd. 
Bay Shore 
631-666-2900 
Dr. Bernard Berger 
319 Hampton Rd. 
<a href="/topics/Southampton%2C_NY">Southampton</a> 
631-283-7722 
Dr. Robert Bruckstein 
290 Central Ave. 
<a href="/topics/Lawrence%2C_NY">Lawrence</a> 
516-239-2332 
Dr. Richard Clark 
181 N. Belle Meade Rd. 
<a href="/topics/East_Setauket%2C_NY">East Setauket</a> 
631-444-4270 
Dr. William De Pietro 
10 Medical Plaza 
<a href="/topics/Glen_Cove%2C_NY">Glen Cove</a> 
516-671-1780 
Dr. Frank Demento 
520 Franklin Ave. 
<a href="/topics/Garden_City%2C_NY">Garden City</a> 
516-746-1227 
Dr. Charisse Dolitsky 
604 E. Park Ave. 
<a href="/topics/Long_Beach%2C_NY">Long Beach</a> 
516-432-0011 
Dr. Ronald Falcon 
604 E. Park Ave. 
<a href="/topics/Long_Beach%2C_NY">Long Beach</a> 
516-432-0011 
Dr. Jeanne Franck 
520 Franklin Ave. 
<a href="/topics/Garden_City%2C_NY">Garden City</a> 
516-741-1055 
Dr. Harold Hefter 
135 Rockaway Tpke. 
<a href="/topics/Lawrence%2C_NY">Lawrence</a> 
516-371-1600 
Dr. Barbara Hisler 
1300 Union Tpke. 
<a href="/topics/New_Hyde_Park%2C_NY">New Hyde Park</a> 
516-326-0333 
Dr. Julie Huh 
332 E. Main St. 
Bay Shore 
631-666-0500 
Dr. Leonard Kristal 
2001 Marcus Ave. 
<a href="/topics/Lake_Success%2C_NY">Lake Success</a> 
516-352-6151 
Dr. Laurie Levine 
200 Old Country Rd. 
<a href="/topics/Mineola%2C_NY">Mineola</a> 
516-742-6136 
Dr. Ashfaq Marghoob 
Memorial Sloan Kettering 
<a href="/topics/Cancer">Cancer</a> Center 
800 Veterans Memorial Hwy. 
<a href="/topics/Hauppauge%2C_NY">Hauppauge</a> 
631-863-5150 
Dr. Gavan Moynihan 
332 E. Main St. 
Bay Shore 
631-666-0500 
Dr. Antoinette Notaro 
13405 Main Rd. 
<a href="/topics/Mattituck%2C_NY">Mattituck</a> 
631-298-1122 
Dr. Robert Paltzik 
2 Hillside Ave. 
<a href="/topics/Williston_Park%2C_NY">Williston Park</a> 
516-747-2230 
Dr. Deborah Sarnoff 
31 Northern Blvd. 
<a href="/topics/Greenvale%2C_NY">Greenvale</a> 
516-484-9000 
Dr. Daniel Siegel 
994 W. <a href="/topics/Jericho%2C_NY">Jericho</a> Tpke. 
Smithtown 
631-864-6647 
Dr. Jeffrey Sklar 
800 Woodbury Rd. 
Woodbury 
516-496-9400 
Dr. Robert Skrokov 
332 E. Main St. 
Bay Shore 
631-666-0500 
Dr. Alan Spinowitz 
877 Stewart Ave. 
<a href="/topics/Garden_City%2C_NY">Garden City</a> 
516-745-0606 
Dr. Jack Tom 
207 Hallock Rd. 
<a href="/topics/Stony_Brook%2C_NY">Stony Brook</a> 
631-444-0004 
Dr. John Walczyk 
1165 Northern Blvd. 
<a href="/topics/Manhasset%2C_NY">Manhasset</a> 
516-365-8030 
&nbsp; 
<h4>How they were picked</h4> 
&nbsp; 
Castle Connolly Medical Ltd. is a health care research and information company founded in 1991 by a former medical college board chairman and president to help guide consumers to America's top doctors and hospitals. Castle Connolly's established survey and research process, under the direction of a doctor, involves tens of thousands of doctors and the medical leadership of leading hospitals. 
Castle Connolly's team of researchers follows a rigorous screening process to select doctors on national and regional levels. Using mail and telephone surveys, and electronic ballots, they ask physicians and the leadership of top hospitals to identify exceptional doctors. Careful screening of doctors' educational and professional experience is essential to the committee. Not every good physician makes the list. Rather, the list is a way for patients to get started on their search for the best medical professional. Newsday is not part of the selection process. 
Doctors do not and cannot pay to be selected and profiled as Castle Connolly Top Doctors. 
&nbsp; 
<h4>To see the whole list . . .</h4> 
&nbsp; 
Who else is on the list of Top Doctors? More than 6,000 listings are in the <a href="/topics/New_York%2C_NY">New York</a> Metro Area edition of "Top Doctors," published by Castle Connolly Medical Ltd. The softcover list price is $34.95. For more information, go to castleconnolly.com, or call 800-399-DOCS.

HSTOP12.WEB

Top Doctors: Rash? Don't do anything rash

Even if you just say no to every sweet that comes your way, your body may stubbornly keep storing a few pounds in the wrong places. That's where liposuction comes in. 
One of the most popular cosmetic procedures in the United States today, liposuction involves surgically vacuuming body fat from under the skin. The goal is to change your body's contour. 
Here's what you should know: 
1. LIPOSUCTION ISN'T DESIGNED TO HELP YOU LOSE WEIGHT 
So if you're looking for a quick and easy shortcut to losing 15 or 20 pounds, liposuction is not it. 
"Liposuction is a safe and effective means of removing unwanted fat in selected areas," said Dr. Lyle Leipziger, chief of plastic surgery at <a href="/topics/North_Shore_University_Hospital">North Shore University Hospital</a> in Manhasset. "The important point is that it's a means of body contouring. It's not a means of weight loss." 
The procedure is ideal for those who are within 10 to 20 percent of their ideal body weight, Leipziger said. "Many people are out at the gym, dieting and exercising, but they have these diet-resistant problem areas," he said. "In women, these are the lower abdomen, the hip area and the outer and inner thighs. For men, it's mostly the love handles and lower abdomen." 
2. LIPOSUCTION IS EXPENSIVE 
Insurance doesn't cover liposuction because it's a cosmetic procedure. The cost is typically thousands of dollars. 
"People usually bill it by site," said Dr. Frederick Lukash, a Manhasset plastic surgeon. "If someone's getting their belly done, it's a fee. If they're getting their thighs done, it's a fee." And if you have liposuction on more than one area of your body, the cost goes up, he said. 
3. YOU MAY WANT TO TIME YOUR PROCEDURE 
If you'd like to be ready for swimsuit season, for instance, consider having your surgery at least a couple of months before summer arrives because recovery from liposuction takes a while, Leipziger said. 
"Bruising can last a week or two, and it can take up to six to eight weeks to see a generalized result because you can be swollen for a while," he said. "You'll also want to wear supportive surgical garments to help the skin remain elastic." 
4. YOUR SKIN MATTERS 
A plastic surgeon will examine your skin to see if it has enough elasticity to bounce back into place after the procedure, Leipziger said. If there's not enough elasticity, he explained, your skin may hang loose after the surgery. 
5. THE TYPE OF LIPOSUCTION TECHNOLOGY MAY NOT MATTER MUCH 
Plastic surgeons now perform liposuction with a variety of tools, including lasers and ultrasound. But both Lukash and Leipziger say there's not much difference between the various approaches. 
"At the end of the day, liposuction is liposuction is liposuction," Lukash said. 
This is the first installment of a 26-week series in which Newsday presents Castle Connolly's list of top LI doctors. <a href="http://www.newsday.com/news/health/doctors">Click here to see the full list.&nbsp;</a> 
<h4>This week, we're featuring plastic surgeons.</h4> 
This is the second installment of a 26-week series in which Newsday presents Castle Connolly's list of top L.I. doctors. Today: Plastic surgeons 
Dr. Kaveh Alizadeh 
999 Franklin Ave. 
Garden City 
516-742-3404 
Dr. John Anton 
138 Old Town Rd. 
Southampton 
631-283-9100 
Dr. Arnold Breitbart 
1155 Northern Blvd. 
Manhasset 
516-365-3511 
Dr. Alexander Dagum 
SUNY Health Science Center 
Stony Brook 
631-444-8210 
Dr. Gregory DeVita 
650 Northern Blvd. 
Great Neck 
516-466-7000 
Dr. Vincent DiGregorio 
999 Franklin Ave. 
Garden City 
516-742-3404 
Dr. Naishad Doctor 
2000 N. Village Ave. 
Rockville Centre 
516-678-2517 
Dr. Sanford Dubner 
Long Island Surgical Specialists 
410 Lakeville Rd. 
Lake Success 
516-437-1111 
Dr. Elliot Duboys 
864 W. Jericho Tpke. 
West Hills 
631-423-1000 
Dr. Marc Elkowitz 
107 Northern Blvd. 
Great Neck 
516-773-9200 
Dr. Joseph Feinberg 
1201 Northern Blvd. 
Manhasset 
516-869-6200 
Dr. David Funt 
19 Irving Pl. 
Woodmere 
516-295-0404 
Dr. Pamela Gallagher 
190 E. Jericho Tpke. 
Mineola 
516-977-9922 
Dr. Alan Gold 
833 Northern Blvd. 
Great Neck 
516-498-2800 
Dr. Robert Gotkin 
31 Northern Blvd. 
Greenvale 
516-484-9000 
Dr. William Groeger 
1490 Broadway 
Hewlett 
516-887-5502 
Dr. Ron Israeli 
833 Northern Blvd. 
Great Neck 
516-498-8400 
Dr. Armen Kasabian 
Dept. of Surgery 
1999 Marcus Ave. 
Lake Success 
516-233-3659 
Dr. Alex Keller 
900 Northern Blvd. 
Great Neck 
516-482-1100 
Dr. Martin Kessler 
242 Merrick Rd. 
Rockville Centre 
516-536-5858 
Dr. Lyle Leipziger 
825 Northern Blvd. 
Great Neck 
516-465-8787 
Dr. Frederick Lukash 
1129 Northern Blvd. 
Manhasset 
516-365-1040 
Dr. Mark Illan Silberman 
650 Northern Blvd. 
Great Neck 
516-466-7000 
Dr. Roger Simpson 
999 Franklin Ave. 
Garden City 
516-742-3404 
Dr. B. Donald Sklansky 
833 Northern Blvd. 
Great Neck 
516-504-1800 
&nbsp; 
<h4>How they were picked</h4> 
Castle Connolly Medical Ltd. is a health care research and information company founded in 1991 by a former medical college board chairman and president to help guide consumers to America's top doctors and hospitals. Castle Connolly's established survey and research process, under the direction of a doctor, involves tens of thousands of doctors and the medical leadership of leading hospitals. 
Castle Connolly's team of researchers follows a rigorous screening process to select doctors on national and regional levels. Using mail and telephone surveys, and electronic ballots, they ask physicians and the leadership of top hospitals to identify exceptional doctors. Careful screening of doctors' educational and professional experience is essential to the committee. Not every good physician makes the list. Rather, the list is a way for patients to get started on their search for the best medical professional. Newsday is not part of the selection process. 
Doctors do not and cannot pay to be selected and profiled as Castle Connolly Top Doctors. 
&nbsp; 
<h4>To see the whole list . . .</h4> 
Who else is on the list of Top Doctors? More than 6,000 listings are in the New York Metro Area edition of "Top Doctors," published by Castle Connolly Medical Ltd. The softcover list price is $34.95. For more information, go to castleconnolly.com, or call 800-399-DOCS.

HSTOP05.WEB

Top Doctors: Liposuction fast facts

Ultracheap and easy to take, aspirin may play a bigger role in your life than soothing the occasional headache. Doctors say it can boost your body's ability to fend off heart attacks. 
But a daily dose of aspirin isn't for everyone. For many people, it could be unnecessary or even harmful. Here's what you should know: 
1. YOU MIGHT NOT NEED A DAILY ASPIRIN 
"Those who are at risk should consider it, and those who aren't shouldn't," said Dr. <a href="/topics/Stephen_Green">Stephen Green</a>, associate chairman of cardiology at <a href="/topics/North_Shore_University_Hospital">North Shore University Hospital</a>. 
Daily aspirin may be appropriate for people with heart disease, he said. The same goes for smokers, diabetics, people with <a href="/topics/High_Blood_Pressure">high blood pressure</a> and those whose mothers had a heart attack before the age of 65 or fathers had one before 55, <a href="/topics/Stephen_Green">Green</a> said. 
But in other people, the risk for gastric bleeding may outweigh the lowered risk for a heart attack. "If you have very low risk and you're 30, 35 or 40, the risk is worse than the benefit," he said, adding that elderly people who aren't in a risk group may not need to take aspirin either. 
2. ASPIRIN CAN BE DANGEROUS 
"Aspirin should not be used if someone has an allergy to aspirin, has active bleeding or stomach ulcers," said Dr. Lloyd Lense, associate clinical professor of medicine at <a href="/topics/Stony_Brook_University">Stony Brook University</a> School of Medicine. "Complications from aspirin may be influenced by kidney disease, liver disease or taking other medications." 
Aspirin is a blood thinner that reduces the ability of blood to form the blockages known as clots. If you're already taking another blood thinner, aspirin could spell trouble by making it too easy for your body to bleed without stopping. 
3. ASPIRIN WON'T PREVENT ALL HEART ATTACKS 
In fact, aspirin typically reduces your chances of having an attack by just 10 to 20 percent, <a href="/topics/Stephen_Green">Green</a> noted. The difference is more significant, he said, for people who are at greater risk for a heart attack. 
4. SIZE MATTERS 
Make sure to ask your doctor about just how much aspirin you should take. "The dose should be 75 to 325 milligrams a day, but it depends on the medical circumstances and the other forms of medications that patients are taking," Lense said. 
A typical low-dose aspirin (sometimes called a baby aspirin) contains 81 milligrams, and a regular-strength aspirin has 325 milligrams. 
5. DURING A HEART ATTACK 
If you feel like you're having a heart attack, an aspirin might help reduce the damage. "We know it saves lives," <a href="/topics/Stephen_Green">Green</a> said. 
Just make sure to chew the aspirin, <a href="/topics/Stephen_Green">Green</a> added. That helps it get to work faster, he explained, and may make a big difference compared with swallowing a coated aspirin that takes longer -- hours, even -- to take effect. 
Lense offers similar advice. He also recommends chewing an aspirin if you think you're having a heart attack and says that a 325 milligram pill, preferably not coated, would be ideal. 
This is the first installment of a 26-week series in which Newsday presents Castle Connolly's list of top LI doctors. <a href="http://www.newsday.com/news/health/doctors">Click here to see the full list.</a> 
<h4>&nbsp;</h4> 
<h4>This week, we're featuring LI's top cardiologists.</h4> 
Dr. Larry Altschul, 540 Union Blvd., West Islip; 631-669-2555 
Dr. Maliakal Joseph Anto,8 Greenfield Rd., Syosset; 516-496-7900 
Dr. Mark Borek, Stony Brook Cardiology, 26 Research Way, East Setauket; 631-444-1066 
Dr. William Breen,&nbsp;43 Crossways Park Dr., Woodbury; 516-938-3000 
Dr. David Brown,&nbsp;Stony Brook University Med. Center, Division of Cardiology, Health Science Center, Stony Brook; 631-444-3699 
Dr. Kul Chadda,&nbsp;South Nassau Community Hospital, Electrophysiology Services, 1 Healthy Way, Oceanside; 516-632-3418 
Dr. Mathew Chengot,&nbsp;Amityville Heart Center, 129 Broadway, Amityville; 631-598-3434 
Dr. Michael Chesner,&nbsp;325 W. Park Ave., Long Beach; 516-432-2004 
Dr. Marvin Cramer,&nbsp;225 Community Dr., Great Neck; 516-504-0474 
Dr. Ronald D'Agostino,&nbsp;1129 Northern Blvd., Manhasset; 516-627-2121 
Dr. Edward Davison,&nbsp;300 Franklin Ave., Valley Stream; 516-599-8280 
Dr. John Dervan,&nbsp;220 Belle Mead Rd., East Setauket; 631-941-2273 
Dr. Robert Dresdale,&nbsp;225 Community Dr., Great Neck; 516-504-0474 
Dr. Ari Ezratty,&nbsp;100 Port Washington Blvd., Roslyn; 516-365-6444 or 516-570-6907 
Dr. Thomas Falco,&nbsp;1279 E. Main St., Riverhead; 631-727-2100 
Dr. Frederick Fein,&nbsp;120 Mineola Blvd., Mineola; 516-663-4480 
Dr. Aaron Gindea,&nbsp;800 Community Dr., Manhasset; 516-627-6622 
Dr. Louis Gleckel,&nbsp;2 <a href="/topics/Ohio">Ohio</a> Dr., Lake Success; 516-622-6060 
Dr. Steven M. Goldberg,&nbsp;1010 Northern Blvd., Great Neck; 516-390-2430 
Dr. Mark Goodman,&nbsp;975 Stewart Ave., Garden City; 516-222-8610 
Dr. <a href="/topics/Stephen_Green">Stephen Green</a>,&nbsp;Dept. Cardiology, 300 Community Dr., Manhasset; 516-562-4100 
Dr. Steven Greenberg,&nbsp;100 Port Washington Blvd., Arrhythmia Center, Roslyn; 516-562-6672 
Dr. Ronnie Hershman,&nbsp;1 Hollow Lane, Lake Success; 516-869-5400 
Dr. Mansoor Jelveh,&nbsp;875 Old Country Rd., Plainview; 516-935-8877 
Dr. Allen Jeremias,&nbsp;Stony Brook University Medical Center, Health Science Center, Stony Brook; 631-444-1069 
Dr. Steven Kobren,&nbsp;Great Neck Med. Group, 488 Great Neck Rd., Great Neck; 516-482-6747 
Dr. Jerome Koss,&nbsp;3003 New Hyde Park Rd., New Hyde Park; 516-358-5401 
Dr. Justine Lachmann,&nbsp;120 Mineola Blvd., Mineola; 516-663-4481 
Dr. Lloyd Lense,&nbsp;Stony Brook Cardiology, 26 Research Way, East Setauket; 631-444-1066 
Dr. Michael Masciello,&nbsp;540 Union Blvd., West Islip; 631-669-2555 
Dr. Michael Matilsky,&nbsp;Three Village Cardiology, 210 Belle Mead Rd., East Setauket; 631-689-1400 
Dr. Guy Mintz,&nbsp;287 Northern Blvd., Great Neck; 516-482-3401 
Dr. Thomas Nicosia,&nbsp;1615 Northern Blvd., Manhasset; 516-627-9355 
Dr. Thomas Pappas,&nbsp;100 Port Washington Blvd., Roslyn; 516-390-9640 
Dr. Michael Poon,&nbsp;Stony Brook Health Science Center, Stony Brook; 631-444-5400 
Dr. Philip Ragno,&nbsp;1401 Franklin Ave., Garden City; 516-877-2626 
Dr. Edward Rutkovsky,&nbsp;2035 Lakeville Rd., New Hyde Park; 516-328-9797 
Dr. Carl Schreiber,&nbsp;70 Glen St., Glen Cove; 516-484-7893 
Dr. Richard Shlofmitz,&nbsp;100 Port Washington Blvd., Roslyn; 516-390-9640 
Dr. Hal Skopicki,&nbsp;University Physicians at Stony Brook, 3001 Expressway Dr. N., Islandia; 631-444-9600 
Dr. Sergio Sokol,&nbsp;Five Towns Heart Imaging, 650 Central Ave., Cedarhurst; 516-804-8590 
Dr. Louise Spadaro,&nbsp;St. Francis Hospital, 100 Port Washington Blvd., Roslyn; 516-562-6653 
Dr. William Tenet,&nbsp;1155 Northern Blvd., Manhasset; 516-627-4330 
Dr. Ira Weg,&nbsp;158 Hempstead Ave., Lynbrook; 516-593-3541 
Dr. Marc Weinberg,&nbsp;West Carver Medical Associates, 200 W. Carver St., Huntington; 631-421-0020 
Dr. Steven Zeldis,&nbsp;200 Old Country Rd., Mineola; 516-877-0977 
CARDIAC ELECTROPHYSIOLOGY 
Dr. Ram Jadonath,&nbsp;300 Community Dr., Manhasset; 516-562-2300 
Dr. Joseph Levine,&nbsp;100 Port Washington Blvd., Roslyn; 516-622-1011 
Dr. Eric Rashba,&nbsp;Stony Brook University Medical Center, Cardiology HSC Bldg. Stony Brook; 631-444-3575 
INTERVENTIONAL CARDIOLOGY 
Dr. Meyer Abittan,&nbsp;St. Francis Hospital, The Heart Center, 100 Port Washington Blvd., Roslyn; 516-627-1155 
Dr. Andrew Berke,&nbsp;100 Port Washington Blvd., Roslyn; 516-365-2211 
Dr. Andrew Lituchy,&nbsp;100 Port Washington Blvd., Roslyn; 516-365-4888 
Dr. Lawrence Ong,&nbsp;<a href="/topics/North_Shore_University_Hospital">North Shore University Hospital</a>, Dept. Cardiology, 300 Community Dr., Manhasset; 516-562-4100 
Dr. George <a href="/topics/Petrossian">Petrossian</a>,&nbsp;New York Cardiology Group, 1405 Old Northern Blvd., Roslyn; 516-484-6777 
&nbsp; 
<h4>How they were picked</h4> 
Castle Connolly Medical Ltd. is a health care research and information company founded in 1991 by a former medical college board chairman and president to help guide consumers to America's top doctors and hospitals. Castle Connolly's established survey and research process, under the direction of a doctor, involves tens of thousands of doctors and the medical leadership of leading hospitals. 
Castle Connolly's team of researchers follows a rigorous screening process to select doctors on national and regional levels. Using mail and telephone surveys, and electronic ballots, they ask physicians and the leadership of top hospitals to identify exceptional doctors. Careful screening of doctors' educational and professional experience is essential to the committee. Not every good physician makes the list. Rather, the list is a way for patients to get started on their search for the best medical professional. Newsday is not part of the selection process. 
Doctors do not and cannot pay to be selected and profiled as Castle Connolly Top Doctors. 
&nbsp; 
<h4>To see the whole list . . .</h4> 
Who else is on the list of Top Doctors? More than 6,000 listings are in the New York Metro Area edition of "Top Doctors," published by Castle Connolly Medical Ltd. The softcover list price is $34.95. 
For more information, go to castleconnolly.com, or call 800-399-DOCS.

HSTOP28.WEB

Top Doctors: Aspirin and your heart

topDOC

After several days of nasal congestion and discharge, many people run to the doctor for antibiotics when all they really have is a nasty cold. 
It's not unusual, though, for the common cold to morph into a sinus infection. Most cases of acute sinusitis start with a cold that inflames the sinuses, and that leads to a bacterial infection that may last up to four weeks, according to the U.S. <a href="/topics/National_Institute_of_Allergy_and_Infectious_Diseases">National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases</a>. 
"In fact, all a sinus infection is is a cold that's really gotten out of hand," explained Dr. Richard Litman, chief of otolaryngology at John T. Mather Memorial Hospital in Port Jefferson. 
The sinuses are air-filled pockets behind the forehead, under the eyes and beneath the cheekbones. It's where you hurt when you have a sinus infection. 
When someone has a cold, tissue in the nose swells, and mucus, which can't drain out as it normally would, backs up into the sinuses, said Litman, who sees patients in the Port Jefferson office of Otolaryngology Associates of <a href="/topics/Long_Island%2C_NY">Long Island</a>. Air can't circulate in the sinuses because of the swelling and mucus. And, Litman said, the warm mucus makes for a perfect culture for bacterial growth. 
Sinus inflammation that lasts three months or longer is considered chronic sinusitis. Left untreated, a chronic sinus infection can damage the sinuses and cheekbones, according to the American Academy of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, the professional society for ear, nose and throat specialists. 
&nbsp; 
&nbsp; 
<h4>SYMPTOMS</h4> 
&nbsp; 
Whether acute or chronic, the most important symptom of sinusitis is facial pain or pressure. The exact location of the discomfort depends on which sinus is affected. Other common symptoms include: 
Nasal congestion or obstruction 
Thick discharge from the nose 
Postnasal drip 
Children with a sinus infection often have a cough in the middle of the night, said Dr. Warren Zelman of ENT and Allergy Associates in <a href="/topics/Garden_City%2C_NY">Garden City</a>. An adult may have a headache, especially in the morning. 
"So if you have body aches and things that you get with a viral infection, if you have joint aches, that's not sinus," he said. 
If a cold has run its course but your symptoms are worse, you probably have a bacterial infection, the otolaryngology academy noted. 
&nbsp; 
&nbsp; 
<h4>RISK FACTORS</h4> 
&nbsp; 
The American Rhinologic Society cites numerous factors that might make someone more vulnerable to having a sinus infection. These include having <a href="/topics/Asthma">asthma</a>, nasal allergies, a congenital disease such as <a href="/topics/Cystic_Fibrosis">cystic fibrosis</a> or an anatomical obstruction that blocks sinus passages. 
Smoking cigarettes and being exposed to secondary smoke are also predisposing factors, Zelman noted. In young children, it's "day care nose" - being around other kids with runny noses. 
&nbsp; 
&nbsp; 
<h4>CURRENT THINKING</h4> 
&nbsp; 
If you truly have a sinus infection, antibiotics are usually the best bet to zap the infection. For people who cannot tolerate antibiotics because of gastrointestinal upset, steroid medicines administered through a nasal wash or a nebulizer may be an option. 
"We're able to deliver the medications directly to the nasal mucus membrane without the body side effects," Zelman said. 
Nasal sprays containing the active ingredient oxymetazoline (sold under such brand names as Afrin, Dristan and Vicks Sinus) can be helpful for the short-term relief of sinus congestion, Litman said. But using them for more than two or three days in a row can lead to what's called rebound congestion, he cautioned. You'll need higher doses of the medicine, and it'll last for shorter periods of time. 
"Plain saline is great for longer term, and that we put a lot of people on," he said. 
Sometimes sinus surgery is needed to clear sinus pathways and remove obstructions, especially for patients with chronic sinusitis who don't respond to medications. 
The latest surgical technique, called Balloon SinuplastyTM, was approved by the U.S. <a href="/topics/Food_and_Drug_Administration">Food and Drug Administration</a> in 2005. A soft, flexible instrument containing a tiny balloon is guided into the nasal cavity. The balloon is inflated to open the sinus passage, and then it is deflated and removed. Because the procedure does not involve removing bone or tissue, it's less invasive. 
"It's really cool because we can do limited surgery, especially on little kids," Zelman said. 
&nbsp; 
&nbsp; 
<h4>THE <a href="/topics/Long_Island%2C_NY">LONG ISLAND</a> SCENE</h4> 
&nbsp; 
Many physicians and hospitals in <a href="/topics/Nassau_County%2C_NY">Nassau</a> and <a href="/topics/Suffolk_County%2C_NY">Suffolk</a> counties now offer the Balloon Sinuplasty technique. Before making any treatment decision, be sure to research your options. 
To learn more about sinusitis and sinus surgery, check out information on the websites of the American Academy of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery (entnet.org) and the American Rhinologic Society (American-rhinologic.org).

Top Docs: Sinus infections are colds gone wild

There's no one-size-fits-all in laser eye surgery. 
"Ophthalmologists use different lasers of different wavelengths to treat different problems," explained Dr. Philip Ferrone, attending physician and a retinal specialist in the Great Neck office of Long Island Vitreoretinal Consultants. 
A laser is a concentrated beam of light that can be used to treat eye diseases and improve vision problems. Some lasers cut or sculpt tissue like a knife, and others produce heat to seal blood vessels, destroy abnormal tissue, repair torn tissue or create an opening in the eye, according to EyeCare America, a public service foundation of the American Academy of Ophthalmology. 
 TYPES OF LASERS AND SURGERY 
Lasers have significantly advanced many eye surgeries, but most people know very little about the various lasers that ophthalmologists use or the procedures they perform, Ferrone said. 
Red, yellow and blue-green lasers are thermal lasers that convert light into heat. An argon laser, which emits a blue-green light, is one type of laser used to treat open-angle glaucoma, a potentially blinding condition. The laser creates an opening to drain excess fluid from the eye, relieving eye pressure. 
Either a blue-green (argon) or yellow (krypton) laser may be used to repair a torn or detached retina, Ferrone said. 
After <a href="/topics/Cataract">cataract</a> surgery, some people develop cloudiness in the eye tissue behind the lens. When that occurs, a YAG, or yttrium aluminum garnet, laser may be used to make a tiny hole in the tissue to allow light to pass into the eye, according to the U.S. National Eye Institute. 
An excimer laser emits pulses of ultraviolet light, allowing the surgeon to reshape the cornea. Two popular vision-correction procedures - photorefractive keratectomy, known as PRK, and laser-assisted in-situ keratomileusis, or LASIK - use excimer lasers to correct nearsightedness, farsightedness and astigmatism. 
 BENEFITS AND RISKS 
Laser eye surgery has several advantages. For one, laser light does not cause infection, according to EyeCare America. Laser surgery can be done in an outpatient setting, speeding the return home. And lasers give the surgeon great precision and control, it says. 
The two-step LASIK procedure traditionally involves making a flap in the cornea with a blade device and then using a laser to vaporize tiny amounts of corneal tissue. At North Shore Eye Care in <a href="/topics/Smithtown%2C_NY">Smithtown</a>, both steps are performed using lasers, and that has resulted in improved precision and fewer complications, said Dr. Jeffrey Martin, managing partner of the practice. 
Not that there aren't risks. Martin, an assistant clinical professor of ophthalmology at <a href="/topics/Stony_Brook_University">Stony Brook University</a> School of Medicine, cautions patients that they might have dry eyes for a short time after LASIK surgery. There's also a small possibility that the procedure will not produce the desired results, requiring retreatment at some future date, he said. 
In addition, some people are not good candidates for certain types of laser procedures. People with eye diseases or thin corneas, for example, should not have LASIK, Martin noted. 
 CURRENT THINKING 
"The hottest thing now is called a femtosecond laser, which gives a very controlled cut for corneal surgery and for some <a href="/topics/Cataract">cataract</a> surgery," Ferrone said. 
This type of laser generates light pulses at the speed of one-quadrillionth of a second, allowing for greater accuracy. 
The first such laser, for use in LASIK, cleared the U.S. <a href="/topics/Food_and_Drug_Administration">Food and Drug Administration</a> in 2001. In August 2009, another manufacturer received clearance for the first femtosecond laser for use in <a href="/topics/Cataract">cataract</a> surgery. 
Ophthalmologists at North Shore Eye Care use a procedure that combines two laser treatments: a femtosecond laser to create a thin flap in the cornea and an excimer laser to perform LASIK vision correction. 
 THE LONG ISLAND SCENE 
The American Academy of Ophthalmology has an online tool to help you find a local doctor who specializes in eye and vision care. Go to aao.org and click on "Find an Eye M.D." 
For more detail on eye conditions and treatments, check the website of the National Eye Institute (www.nei.nih.gov). 
&nbsp; 
<h4>Who's who</h4> 
&nbsp; 
This is the 23rd installment of a 26-week series in which Newsday presents Castle Connolly's list of top L.I. doctors. Today: ophthalmologists 
Dr. Philip Aries 
375 E. Main St. 
<a href="/topics/Bay_Shore%2C_NY">Bay Shore</a> 
631-665-1330 
Dr. Stanley Berke 
360 <a href="/topics/Merrick%2C_NY">Merrick</a> Rd. 
<a href="/topics/Lynbrook%2C_NY">Lynbrook</a> 
516-593-7709 
Dr. Stanley Bogaty 
251 E. Oakland Ave. 
<a href="/topics/Port_Jefferson%2C_NY">Port Jefferson</a> 
631-473-5329 
Dr. Vivien Boniuk 
600 Northern Blvd. 
Great Neck 
516-470-2020 
Dr. Robert Broderick 
585 Plandome Rd. 
<a href="/topics/Manhasset%2C_NY">Manhasset</a> 
516-627-3232 
Dr. Jack Cook 
305 Hillside Ave. 
<a href="/topics/Williston_Park%2C_NY">Williston Park</a> 
516-747-4011 
Dr. Alfred Cossari 
311 Barnum Ave. 
<a href="/topics/Port_Jefferson%2C_NY">Port Jefferson</a> 
631-928-6400 
Dr. Gerard D'Aversa 
65 <a href="/topics/Roosevelt%2C_NY">Roosevelt</a> Ave. 
<a href="/topics/Valley_Stream%2C_NY">Valley Stream</a> 
516-374-4199 
Dr. Frank Di Leo 
365 County Rd. 39A 
<a href="/topics/Southampton%2C_NY">Southampton</a> 
631-283-3677 
Dr. Fadi Elbaba 
33 Research Way 
<a href="/topics/East_Setauket%2C_NY">East Setauket</a> 
631-444-4090 
Dr. David Fastenberg 
600 Northern Blvd. 
Great Neck 
516-466-0390 
Dr. Philip Ferrone 
600 Northern Blvd. 
Great Neck 
516-466-0390 
Dr. Perry Garber 
800 Community Dr. 
<a href="/topics/Manhasset%2C_NY">Manhasset</a> 
516-627-6630 
Dr. Anthony Girardi 
8 Medical Plaza, Bldg. 8 
<a href="/topics/Glen_Cove%2C_NY">Glen Cove</a> 
516-676-4596 
Dr. Leslie Goldberg 
2110 Northern Blvd. 
<a href="/topics/Manhasset%2C_NY">Manhasset</a> 
516-627-5113 
Dr. Alexander Hatsis 
2 Lincoln Ave. 
<a href="/topics/Rockville_Centre%2C_NY">Rockville Centre</a> 
516-763-4106 
Dr. William Kasper 
520 Franklin Ave. 
<a href="/topics/Garden_City%2C_NY">Garden City</a> 
516-742-3937 
Dr. Alan Marks 
2110 Northern Blvd. 
<a href="/topics/Manhasset%2C_NY">Manhasset</a> 
516-627-5113 
Dr. Jeffrey Martin 
260 Middle Country Rd. 
<a href="/topics/Smithtown%2C_NY">Smithtown</a> 
631-265-8780 
Dr. Peter Michalos 
365 County Road 39-A, Ste. 14 
<a href="/topics/Southampton%2C_NY">Southampton</a> 
631-283-8604 
Dr. <a href="/topics/Robert_Morris">Robert Morris</a> 
222 E. Main St. 
<a href="/topics/Smithtown%2C_NY">Smithtown</a> 
631-724-4488 
Dr. Richard Nattis 
150 East Sunrise Hwy. 
<a href="/topics/Lindenhurst%2C_NY">Lindenhurst</a> 
631-957-3355 
Dr. <a href="/topics/David_Nelson">David Nelson</a> 
2000 N. Village Ave. 
<a href="/topics/Rockville_Centre%2C_NY">Rockville Centre</a> 
516-766-2519 
Dr. <a href="/topics/Grace_O%27Malley">Grace O'Malley</a> 
186 Old Towne Rd. 
<a href="/topics/Southampton%2C_NY">Southampton</a> 
631-283-3533 
Dr. Samuel Packer 
600 Northern Blvd. 
Great Neck 
516-465-8400 
Dr. Henry Perry 
2000 N. Village Ave. 
<a href="/topics/Rockville_Centre%2C_NY">Rockville Centre</a> 
516-766-2519 
Dr. Louis Pizzarello 
137 Hampton Rd. 
<a href="/topics/Southampton%2C_NY">Southampton</a> 
631-283-5152 
Dr. Arnold Prywes 
4212 <a href="/topics/Hempstead%2C_NY">Hempstead</a> Tpke. 
<a href="/topics/Bethpage_State_Park%2C_NY">Bethpage</a>, 516-731-4800 
Dr. John Romanelli 
222 E. Main St. 
<a href="/topics/Smithtown%2C_NY">Smithtown</a> 
631-724-4488 
Dr. Kenneth Rosenthal 
310 E. Shore Rd. 
Great Neck 
516-466-8989 
Dr. Charles Rothberg 
331 East Main St. 
<a href="/topics/Patchogue%2C_NY">Patchogue</a> 
631-758-5300 
Dr. Laurence Rubin 
4277 <a href="/topics/Hempstead%2C_NY">Hempstead</a> Tpke. 
<a href="/topics/Bethpage_State_Park%2C_NY">Bethpage</a> 
516-796-4030 
Dr. Steven Rubin 
600 Northern Blvd. 
Great Neck 
516-465-8444 
Dr. Gideon Schneck 
2500 Rt. 347 17B 
<a href="/topics/Stony_Brook%2C_NY">Stony Brook</a> 
631-246-9140 
Dr. Patrick Sibony 
<a href="/topics/Stony_Brook%2C_NY">Stony Brook</a> Ophthalmology 
33 Research Way 
<a href="/topics/East_Setauket%2C_NY">East Setauket</a> 
631-444-4090 
Dr. Gerald Stoller 
251 E. Oakland Ave. 
<a href="/topics/Port_Jefferson%2C_NY">Port Jefferson</a> 
631-473-5329 
Dr. Richard Sturm 
360 <a href="/topics/Merrick%2C_NY">Merrick</a> Rd., Fl. 3 
<a href="/topics/Lynbrook%2C_NY">Lynbrook</a> 
516-593-7709 
Dr. Paul Svitra 
3003 <a href="/topics/New_Hyde_Park%2C_NY">New Hyde Park</a> Rd. 
<a href="/topics/New_Hyde_Park%2C_NY">New Hyde Park</a> 
516-327-0505 
Dr. Ira Udell 
LI Jewish Med. Ctr. 
Dept. Ophthalmology 
600 Northern Blvd. 
Great Neck 
516-470-2020 
Dr. Pamela Weber 
1500 <a href="/topics/William_Floyd">William Floyd</a> Pkwy. 
<a href="/topics/Shirley%2C_NY">Shirley</a> 
631-924-4300 
Dr. Joseph Weinstein 
Eye Care Assoc. 
4212 <a href="/topics/Hempstead%2C_NY">Hempstead</a> Tpke. 
<a href="/topics/Bethpage_State_Park%2C_NY">Bethpage</a> 
516-731-4800 
Dr. <a href="/topics/Lawrence%2C_NY">Lawrence</a> Zweibel 
260 Middle Country Rd. 
Smithtown 
631-265-8780 
&nbsp; 
<h4>How they were picked</h4> 
&nbsp; 
Castle Connolly Medical Ltd. is a health care research and information company founded in 1991 by a former medical college board chairman and president to help guide consumers to America's top doctors and hospitals. Castle Connolly's established survey and research process, under the direction of a doctor, involves tens of thousands of doctors and the medical leadership of leading hospitals. 
Castle Connolly's team of researchers follows a rigorous screening process to select doctors on national and regional levels. Using mail and telephone surveys, and electronic ballots, they ask physicians and the leadership of top hospitals to identify exceptional doctors. <a href="/topics/Careful">Careful</a> screening of doctors' educational and professional experience is essential to the committee. Newsday is not part of the selection process. 
Doctors do not and cannot pay to be selected and profiled as Castle Connolly Top Doctors. 
&nbsp; 
<h4>To see the whole list . . .</h4> 
&nbsp; 
Who else is on the list of Top Doctors? More than 6,000 listings are in the New York Metro Area edition of "Top Doctors," published by Castle Connolly Medical Ltd. The soft-cover list price is $34.95. For more information, go to castleconnolly.com, or call 800-399-DOCS.

Top Doctors: Laser surgery - the eyes have it

Routine colonoscopy, which provides an internal image of the rectum and colon, is widely considered the best way to prevent <a href="/topics/Colon_Cancer">colon cancer</a>. Yet health experts say that too few middle-age Americans get screened because they don't know they need to be tested or they find it inconvenient, embarrassing or unnecessary. 
Prepping for a colonoscopy - more than the procedure itself - is what many people dread. The day before a colonoscopy, the person must go on a clear-liquid diet. Also, the bowels must be cleared. This means drinking special solutions, taking laxative-type pills or some combination. 
"A lot of people want to bury their heads in the sand," noted Dr. Alfredo Kalafatic, a colon and rectal surgeon in Bethpage. "They don't want to hear bad news, and they don't want to put up with the prep, especially male patients."
Most colonoscopies are performed under sedation, to keep the person relaxed. The physician uses a colonoscope, which is a lighted, flexible tube equipped with a tiny video camera. It is inserted into the anus and guided though the rectum and into the colon to look for abnormal growths, called polyps. If anything looks suspicious, a biopsy can be done, removing a small piece of tissue for testing, or whole polyps can be removed. Instruments needed for this can be passed through the colonoscope.
 REASONS 
Colorectal cancers often begin as polyps. Removing them can prevent this typically slow-growing cancer from ever developing.
"In 30 years of doing colorectal cancer surgery, it was the exception to the rule that I operated on any patient who had colon or rectal cancer who had had a colonoscopy," said Dr. Michael D. Moseson, a Great Neck colon and rectal surgeon who serves as chief of the division of colon and rectal surgery at ProHEALTH Care Associates in Lake Success.
Though the death rate has declined over the past two decades, colorectal cancer remains the third most common cancer in men and women. The American <a href="/topics/Cancer">Cancer</a> Society estimates that 142,570 new cases of colon and rectal cancer will develop this year, and 51,370 people will die.
 RISKS 
Colonoscopy is generally considered a safe procedure, but there is a small risk of complications, according to the American Gastroenterological Association. The scope can puncture the wall of the colon or rectum, for instance, sometimes requiring surgical repair. Removing polyps also can cause bleeding, and controlling the bleeding sometimes requires blood transfusion or reinsertion of the scope.
 CURRENT THINKING 
Colonoscopy is considered the gold standard for colorectal cancer detection, but it is not the only method around.
So-called virtual colonoscopy, a popular alternative used to detect polyps, captures images using computed tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).
The problem with virtual colonoscopy, Kalafatic and Moseson agreed, is that, if a polyp is discovered or something questionable turns up on the scan, the person will end up having a colonoscopy anyway.
The <a href="/topics/Cancer">Cancer</a> Society's recommendations for colorectal cancer screening vary, depending on how at risk people are for the disease. Risk factors for colorectal cancer include:
<ul></ul>


<li>Being older than 50. </li>


<li>Having had precancerous polyps or colorectal cancer. </li>


<li>Having inflammatory bowel disease, including Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis. </li>


<li>Having a strong family history of colorectal cancer or polyps. </li>


<li>Having a family history of an inherited type of <a href="/topics/Colon_Cancer">colon cancer</a>.</li>

People with no identified risk factors, other than age, should begin regular screening at age 50 and have the testing repeated every 10 years, the Cancer Society recommends. 
 THE LONG ISLAND SCENE 
From 2005 to 2009, <a href="/topics/Stony_Brook_University">Stony Brook University</a> Medical Center and the Suffolk County <a href="/topics/Department_of_Health">Department of Health</a> Services participated in a federally funded demonstration project designed to boost colon cancer screening rates among the region's uninsured and underinsured.
To increase people's compliance with the colonoscopy protocol, a lead clinician conducted the initial visit by phone, taking a detailed medical history, scheduling the colonoscopy and providing detailed instructions. That phone call eliminated the need for the person to make two visits to obtain a colonoscopy.
Based on the success of "Project SCOPE" (the Suffolk County Preventive Endoscopy Project), Stony Brook's gastroenterology service now routinely places precolonoscopy telephone calls to people before their procedures. 
This is the 17th installment of a 26-week series in which Newsday presents Castle Connolly's list of top L.I. doctors. Today: colon and rectal surgery, thoracic surgery and vascular surgery
 
<h3>Who's who</h3>

COLON &amp; RECTAL SURGERY
Dr. Marc Greenwald
310 E. Shore Rd., Great Neck, 516-482-8657
Dr. Alfredo Kalafatic
4277 Hempstead Tpke., Bethpage, 516-735-3001
Dr. Arnold Leiboff
3400 Nesconset Hwy., East Setauket, 631-689-2600
Dr. Michael Moseson
60 Cuttermill Rd., Great Neck, 516-487-8738
Dr. John Procaccino Jr.
Chief, Division of Colon &amp; Rectal Surgery, <a href="/topics/North_Shore_University_Hospital">North Shore University Hospital</a>, 900 Northern Blvd., Suite 100, Great Neck, 516-730-2100
Dr. William Smithy
222 Middle Country Rd., Smithtown, 631-638-2800
Dr. <a href="/topics/James_Sullivan">James Sullivan</a> III
North Shore Oncology Assoc., 600 Northern Blvd., Great Neck
516-487-9454
 THORACIC SURGERY
Dr. Leonard Barrett
Nassau Univ. Medical Center, 2201 Hempstead Tpke., East Meadow
516-572-6705
Dr. Thomas Bilfinger
Stony Brook Univ. Medical Ctr., Dept. Surgery, T19-080 Health Sciences Ctr., Stony Brook
631-444-1820
Dr. Harold Fernandez
100 Port Washington Blvd., Roslyn, 516-627-2173
Dr. Stewart Fox
444 Merrick Rd., Lynbrook, 516-255-5010
Dr. Lawrence Glassman
225 Community Dr., Great Neck, 516-918-4388
Dr. Alan Hartman
North Shore Univ. Hospital, Div. Cardiothoracic Surgery, 300 Community Dr., Manhasset, 516-562-4970
Dr. Gary Kline
Summit Thoracic Institute, 410 Lakeville Rd., New Hyde Park, 516-233-1952
Dr. Terry Palatt
15 Park Ave., Bay Shore, 631-581-4400
Dr. Newell Robinson
Vizza Bldg., 100 Port Washington Blvd., Roslyn, 516-627-2173
Dr. Todd Rosengart
Stony Brook Health Science Ctr., Cardiothoracic Surgery, Stony Brook, 631-444-7875
Dr. Chanchal Saha
754 Old Country Rd., Plainview, 516-931-0182
Dr. Scott Schubach
120 Mineola Blvd., Mineola, 516-663-4400
Dr. <a href="/topics/James_Taylor">James Taylor</a> Jr.
St. Francis Hospital, The Heart Center, 100 Port Washington Blvd., Roslyn, 516-627-2173
Dr. Vadim Zeltsman
225 Community Dr., Great Neck, 516-918-4388
 VASCULAR SURGERY
Dr. <a href="/topics/Thomas_Arnold">Thomas Arnold</a>
1110 Hallock Ave., Port Jefferson, 631-476-9100
Dr. Saqib Chaudhry
2001 Marcus Ave., Lake Success, 516-328-9800
Dr. Glenn Faust
2201 Hempstead Tpke., East Meadow, 516-572-4848
Dr. Robert Pollina
1110 Hallock Ave., Port Jefferson Sta., 631-476-9100
Dr. William Purtill
900 Northern Blvd., Great Neck, 516-466-0485
Dr. Apostolos Tassiopoulos
Stony Brook Univ. Medical Ctr., Dept. Surgery, Nicolls Rd., Stony Brook
631-444-4545
 
<h3>How they were picked</h3>

Castle Connolly Medical Ltd. is a health care research and information company founded in 1991 by a former medical college board chairman and president to help guide consumers to America's top doctors and hospitals. Castle Connolly's established survey and research process, under the direction of a doctor, involves tens of thousands of doctors and the medical leadership of leading hospitals. 
Castle Connolly's team of researchers follows a rigorous screening process to select doctors on national and regional levels. Using mail and telephone surveys, and electronic ballots, they ask physicians and the leadership of top hospitals to identify exceptional doctors. <a href="/topics/Careful">Careful</a> screening of doctors' educational and professional experience is essential to the committee. Newsday is not part of the selection process. 
Doctors do not and cannot pay to be selected and profiled as Castle Connolly Top Doctors.
 
<h3>To see the whole list . . .</h3>

Who else is on the list of Top Doctors? More than 6,000 listings are in the New York Metro Area edition of "Top Doctors," published by Castle Connolly Medical Ltd. The softcover list price is $34.95. For more information, go to castleconnolly.com, or call 800-399-DOCS.

Top Doctors: Understanding colonoscopy

Older adults coping with multiple medical conditions often need help coordinating their care and medications. That's where geriatric specialists enter the picture. 
Geriatrics, a subspecialty of internal medicine, requires advanced training in conditions specific to aging and issues that affect an older population. Geriatric specialists, or geriatricians, focus on the health and well-being of older adults and the changes that sometimes occur with aging, such as falls, incontinence and dementia, according to the <a href="/topics/American_College_of_Physicians">American College of Physicians</a>. 
Consider, say, a 66-year-old widow with <a href="/topics/Diabetes">diabetes</a> and dementia who's never driven a car and has two adult children - a daughter who's busy with her own family and a son who's estranged from his mother. The woman might require a breadth of services: physical, cognitive and psychosocial, explained Dr. Irving Gomolin, chief of geriatric medicine at Winthrop-University Hospital in Mineola. But, he says, "If you're 85 years old and running a marathon and you have <a href="/topics/High_Blood_Pressure">hypertension</a>, you don't need to see a geriatrician." 
SCOPE OF CARE 
Geriatricians are often affiliated with multi-specialty groups or large health systems. They provide a range of services in a multitude of settings. 
Winthrop geriatricians, for example, have an active outpatient practice providing primary care to older adults, Gomolin said. The division also consults on cases involving older hospitalized patients and makes visits to people in nursing homes and subacute-care rehabilitation facilities and, occasionally, at home, he said. 
"The focus is often not the cure of a problem but the care of the problem, ensuring maintenance of functionality and mobility," said Dr. Gisele Wolf-Klein, director of geriatric education at <a href="/topics/North_Shore-Long_Island_Jewish_Health_System">North Shore-Long Island Jewish Health System</a> in New Hyde Park and a professor of clinical medicine at <a href="/topics/Hofstra_University">Hofstra University</a> School of Medicine, set to open in August 2011. 
A geriatrician's expertise may be brought to bear, for instance, in dealing with a heart attack patient who has been hospitalized and has become extremely agitated, she said. Often, geriatricians make recommendations to reduce an older person's risk for adverse side effects and unwanted drug interactions caused by the use of multiple medications. 
"That is something that we geriatricians are very, very attuned to," Wolf-Klein said. 
SUPPLY AND DEMAND 
With the aging of the baby boom generation, the demand for geriatric specialists continues to escalate. But the nation's supply of geriatric specialists remains woefully inadequate. 
As of March, there were slightly more than 7,000 board-certified geriatricians in the United States. That's one geriatrician for every 5,000 people age 65 and older, according to the American Geriatrics Society, based in Manhattan. By 2030, the ratio will drop to one geriatrician for every 7,665 older adults, it says. 
"The challenging reimbursement environment does not incentivize as many physicians as society needs to enter geriatrics," Gomolin said. 
Federal health-care reform might bolster geriatricians' ranks. The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, enacted in March, establishes a national commission to study health-care workforce needs. The law also provides training opportunities and fellowships for health-care providers in short supply, including geriatricians. 
THE LONG ISLAND SCENE 
More than 370,000 seniors live in Nassau and Suffolk counties, including increasing numbers with multiple chronic conditions or diseases that impair their ability to perform activities of daily living, reports the Long Island Geriatric Education Center, a consortium of health-care institutions led by <a href="/topics/Stony_Brook_University">Stony Brook University</a> Medical Center. 
Since its inception in 2001, the consortium has trained more than 5,700 health-care professionals in the proper care of geriatric patients.

HSTOP05

Geriatricians provide primary care for older folks

More children than ever are being diagnosed with food allergies, and&nbsp;scientists have various theories about why. 
"The question is, 'Is that just more recognition based on the fact that we are more aware of these things now, or is there something new in the environment?' " said Dr. Vincent Bonagura, chief of allergy and immunology and associate chairman for academic development in the pediatric department at the Steven and Alexandra Cohen Children's Medical Center in New Hyde Park. 
Food allergy occurs when a child's immune system treats proteins in certain foods as if they were germs. The body produces antibodies against the threat of attack. The antibodies trigger the release of chemicals in the bloodstream that induce allergic symptoms. 
The most common food allergens are milk, eggs, peanuts, tree nuts, fish, shellfish, wheat and soy, according to the Food Allergy &amp; Anaphylaxis Network, a research and advocacy organization in Fairfax, Va. 
 SYMPTOMS 
Allergic reactions may be mild to deadly and can occur within minutes or hours of consuming a food, according to the federal <a href="/topics/National_Institute_of_Allergy_and_Infectious_Diseases">National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases</a>. 
Symptoms include itching in the mouth, swelling of the tongue and throat, hives, vomiting and diarrhea. 
At its worst, food allergy can cause a whole-body reaction called anaphylaxis, resulting in low blood pressure and breathing difficulties. A child in <a href="/topics/Anaphylactic_Shock">anaphylactic shock</a> could lose consciousness or die without immediate treatment with epinephrine, an injectable hormone that counteracts the body's allergic response. 
 RISK FACTORS 
Bonagura said that food allergies tend to run in families. 
Overall, about 4 percent of children younger than 18 years have a food allergy, versus just 2 percent of adults, reports the U.S. <a href="/topics/Centers_for_Disease_Control_and_Prevention">Centers for Disease Control and Prevention</a>. Infants and toddlers are particularly at risk. As many as 8 percent of children younger than 3 have food allergies, according to the allergy institute. 
Most children outgrow allergies to milk, egg, soy and wheat. But just 20 percent outgrow peanut allergy, and only 10 percent overcome tree nut allergies, the food allergy network reports. 
 CURRENT THINKING 
Food allergies in U.S. children increased 18 percent from 1997 to 2006, according to the Centers for Disease Control. A separate study by New York City researchers found that the rate of peanut allergy in kids tripled from 1997 to 2008. 
However, a recent review of scientific literature published in the Journal of the <a href="/topics/American_Medical_Association">American Medical Association</a> casts doubt on the prevalence of food allergies. The researchers concluded that a lack of uniform criteria for defining and diagnosing food allergy has created the potential for overdiagnosis. 
The standard treatment for a food allergy is to avoid the offending food, but in an experimental approach called oral immunotherapy, researchers are giving study participants tiny amounts of an offending food in increasing doses to desensitize them to the allergen. 
 THE LONG ISLAND SCENE 
Protect Allergic Kids, a Holtsville-based education and support group, holds an annual <a href="/topics/Halloween">Halloween</a> party and other events for children with food allergies or other allergic diseases. The group also convenes monthly support group meetings at Nokomis Elementary School in Holbrook. 
Cristina Stainkamp, the group's president, said the meetings let parents and caregivers share concerns and pick up new information. 
For more on the group, call 631-207-1681 or go online to protectallergickids.org. 
&nbsp; 
<h4>Who's who</h4> 
&nbsp; 
This is the 14th installment of a 26-week series in which Newsday presents Castle Connolly's list of top L.I. doctors. Today: pediatric allergy &amp; immunology, pediatric cardiology, pediatric critical care medicine, pediatric endocrinology, and pediatric gastroenterology specialists. 
 PEDIATRIC ALLERGY &amp; IMMUNOLOGY 
Dr. Vincent Bonagura, 
865 Northern Blvd., Great Neck; 516-622-5070 
Dr. James Fagin, 
Steven &amp; Alexandra Cohen Children's Med. Ctr., Div. of Allergy/Immunology, 865 Northern Blvd., Great Neck; 516-622-5070 
 PEDIATRIC CARDIOLOGY 
Dr. Donna Better 
120 Mineola Blvd., Mineola; 516-663-4600 
Dr. Thomas Biancaniello 
Stony Brook Univ. Med. Ctr., Dept. Pediatrics, Stony Brook; 631-444-5437 
Dr. Fredrick Bierman 
Steven and Alexandra Cohen Children's Heart Center, 269-01 76th Ave., New Hyde Park; 718-470-7350 
Dr. Sean Levchuck 
100 Port Washington Blvd., Roslyn; 516-365-3340 
Dr. Milton Reitman 
100 Port Washington Blvd., Roslyn; 516-365-3340 
Dr. Angela Romano 
Dept. Pediatric Cardiology, 269-01 76th Ave., New Hyde Park; 718-470-7350 
Dr. Russell Schiff 
120 Mineola Blvd., Mineola; 516-663-4600 
Dr. Yehuda Shapir 
Steven and Alexandra Cohen Children's Medical Center, 269-01 76th Ave., New Hyde Park; 718-470-7350 
Dr. Ambrose Vallone 
100 Port Washington Blvd., Roslyn; 516-365-3340 
 PEDIATRIC CRITICAL CARE MEDICINE 
Dr. Mayer Sagy 
Steven and Alexandra Cohen Children's Medical Center, 269-01 76th Ave., New Hyde Park; 718-470-3330 
 PEDIATRIC ENDOCRINOLOGY 
Dr. Dennis Carey 
Pediatric Endocrinology, 400 Lakeville Rd., New Hyde Park; 718-470-3290 
Dr. Mariano Castro-Magana 
Winthrop Univ. Hospital, Div. Pediatric Endocrinology., 120 Mineola Blvd., Mineola; 516-663-3069 
Dr. Pavel Fort 
Steven and Alexandra Cohen Children's Medical Center, Pediatric Endocrinology, 400 Lakeville Rd., New Hyde Park; 718-470-3290 
Dr. Graeme Frank 
Steven and Alexandra Cohen Children's Medical Center, Pediatric Endocrinology, 400 Lakeville Rd., New Hyde Park; 718-470-3290 
Dr. Paula Kreitzer 
Steven and Alexandra Cohen Children's Medical Center, Dept. Pediatric Endocrinology, 400 Lakeville Rd., New Hyde Park; 718-470-3292 
Dr. <a href="/topics/Thomas_Wilson">Thomas Wilson</a> 
Stony Brook Univ., Dept. Pediatric Endocrinology, Stony Brook; 631-444-5437 
 PEDIATRIC GASTROENTEROLOGY 
Dr. Anupama Chawla 
Stony Brook Univ. Medical Ctr., Nicolls Road, Stony Brook; 631-444-5437 
Dr. Fredric Daum 
120 Mineola Blvd., Mineola; 516-663-8534 
Dr. David Gold 
655 Deer Park Ave., Babylon; 631-321-2190 
Dr. Bradley Kessler 
655 Deer Park Ave., Babylon; 631-321-2190 
Dr. Jeremiah Levine 
Dept. GI &amp; Nutrition, 269-01 76th Ave., New Hyde Park; 718-470-3430 
Dr. Mark Lowenheim 
Long Island Pediatric Gastroenterology 1174 Route 112 <a href="/topics/Port_Jefferson_Station%2C_NY">Port Jefferson Station, NY</a> 11776 631- 403-4507 
Dr. James Markowitz 
269-01 76th Ave., New Hyde Park; 718-470-3430 
Dr. Michael Pettei 
Steven and Alexandra Cohen Children's Medical Center, 269-01 76th Ave., New Hyde Park; 718-470-3430 
Dr. Toba Weinstein 
Steven and Alexandra Cohen Children's Medical Center, 269-01 76th Ave., New Hyde Park; 718-470-3430 
&nbsp; 
<h4>How they were picked</h4> 
&nbsp; 
Castle Connolly Medical Ltd. is a health care research and information company founded in 1991 by a former medical college board chairman and president to help guide consumers to America's top doctors and hospitals. Castle Connolly's established survey and research process, under the direction of a doctor, involves tens of thousands of doctors and the medical leadership of leading hospitals. 
Castle Connolly's team of researchers follows a rigorous screening process to select doctors on national and regional levels. Using mail and telephone surveys, and electronic ballots, they ask physicians and the leadership of top hospitals to identify exceptional doctors. <a href="/topics/Careful">Careful</a> screening of doctors' educational and professional experience is essential to the committee. Newsday is not part of the selection process. 
Doctors do not and cannot pay to be selected and profiled as Castle Connolly Top Doctors. 
&nbsp; 
<h4>To see the whole list . . .</h4> 
&nbsp; 
Who else is on the list of Top Doctors? More than 6,000 listings are in the New York Metro Area edition of "Top Doctors," published by Castle Connolly Medical Ltd. The soft-cover list price is $34.95. For more information, go to castleconnolly.com, or call 800-399-DOCS.

Top Doctors: Are kids' allergies on the rise?

You don't have to be an athlete to hurt like one. Weekend warriors, older adults and kids who overdo it in their favorite sports are prone to knee injuries, including torn cartilage, pain under and around the kneecap and ligament damage. 
Often, though, the problems can be successfully resolved without going under the knife. 
"There are some things that absolutely do require surgery, but most orthopedic problems are elective, and they don't require, for the most part, immediate surgery unless it's like a fracture," said Dr. Eric A. Putterman, a Melville-based orthopedic surgeon who specializes in arthroscopic surgery, rehabilitation and sports medicine. 
 CAUSES 
Knee injuries can occur as a result of a direct blow or swift movement that strains the knee, according to the U.S. National Institute of <a href="/topics/Arthritis">Arthritis</a> and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases. A sudden twisting motion - common in basketball, football, soccer and skiing - can stretch or tear the anterior cruciate ligament, or ACL, for example. 
Other times, knee problems can be caused by osteoarthritis, which results from wear and tear, or diseases that cause inflammation of the knee. 
"I always tell people you should listen to your body," Putterman said. "If it hurts while you're doing it or it hurts shortly thereafter, you shouldn't be doing it. Your body is telling you it's not good." 
 TREATMENT 
The first course of treatment for a wounded knee is to stop the activity that caused or aggravated the injury, according to the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. 
People with mild injuries, such as runner's knee - a dull, aching pain around or under the kneecap - often find relief by using the "RICE" method, which stands for rest, ice, compression and elevation. 
"If it's a problem persisting more than three or four weeks and seems not to be getting better, then they should probably have it looked at," noted Putterman, a runner himself. 
 CURRENT THINKING 
A more serious injury, such as an ACL tear, might require surgical repair, but people shouldn't rush into the operating room, Putterman said, because studies show an increased risk of scarring and stiffness after surgery if it's performed too close to the time of injury. It may be better to wait for the pain and swelling to subside. 
"It's like throwing gasoline on a fire," he said. "The joint is already damaged and inflamed, and the surgery just compounds that." 
Danish researchers recently reported results of a randomized trial that involved 121 active young adults who had injured their ACL. About half of them had rehabilitation and early surgery - within 10 weeks after sustaining the injury. The others had rehabilitation with the option of having surgery later, if needed. Ultimately, 23 people in that group had delayed ACL reconstruction surgery. 
After two years, there was virtually no difference in outcomes among people who had early surgery, those who required surgery later on and those who recovered with rehabilitation alone. Plus, more than half of those who waited to decide whether they needed surgery avoided it altogether, without ill effect. The finding, reported July 22 in the <a href="/topics/New_England_Journal_of_Medicine">New England Journal of Medicine</a>, underscored the importance of rehabilitation first. 
For those who do have surgery, physical therapy is recommended afterward to help regain motion and strength in the joint. But recovery times vary. 
"The 18-year-old kid may be back in six weeks playing sports," Putterman said. "The 50-year-old may be back in six months playing sports." 
 THE LONG ISLAND SCENE 
To find a local physician who specializes in helping people recover from injuries that affect movement, visit the website of the American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (aapmr.org, click on "Find a PM&amp;R Physician"). 
And if you've been told you need surgery, Putterman suggests getting a second opinion. 
This is the 10th installment of a 26-week series in which Newsday presents Castle Connolly's list of top L.I. doctors. Today: orthopedic specialties: occupational medicine, physical medicine and rehabilitation, sports medicine, hand surgery, pain medicine 
&nbsp; 
<h4>Who's who</h4> 
&nbsp; 
OCCUPATIONAL MEDICINE 
Dr. Sara Mendelsohn 
800 Woodbury Rd., Woodbury, 516-682-9142 
 PHYSICAL MEDICINE &amp; REHABILITATION 
Dr. Jason Lipetz 
LI Spine Rehab. Medicine, 801 Merrick Ave., East Meadow, 516-393-8941 
Dr. Barry Root 
Dept. Physical Med. &amp; Rehab., 101 St. Andrews Lane, Glen Cove, 516-674-7501 
Dr. Craig Rosenberg 
Southside Hospital-Health Inst., 301 E. Main St., Bay Shore, 631-675-4550 
 PHYSICAL MEDICINE &amp; REHABILITATION 
Dr. Adam Stein 
825 Northern Blvd., Great Neck, 516-465-8609 
 SPORTS MEDICINE 
Dr. Stephen Kottmeier 
14 Technology Dr., East Setauket, 631-444-4233 
Dr. Harvey Orlin 
36 Lincoln Ave., Rockville Centre, 516-536-2800 
Dr. Eric Putterman 
1800 <a href="/topics/Walt_Whitman">Walt Whitman</a> Rd., Melville, 631-293-9540 
 HAND SURGERY 
Dr. Lawrence Hurst 
SUNY Stony Brook Med. Ctr., Dept. Ortho, 100 Nicolls Rd., E. Setauket, 631-444-3145 
Dr. Kenneth Kamler 
410 Lakeville Rd., New Hyde Park, 516-326-2266 
Dr. Lewis Lane 
600 Northern Blvd., Great Neck, 516-627-8717 
Dr. Thomas Palmieri 
1901 New Hyde Park Rd., New Hyde Park, 516-822-4843 
Dr. Glenn Teplitz 
Winthrop Orthopaedic Assocs., 1300 Franklin Ave., Garden City, 516-747-8900 
 PAIN MEDICINE 
Dr. Carole Agin 
Pain Management Ctr., Stony Brook Univ. Hosp., 3 Edmund D Pellearino Rd., Stony Brook, 631-638-0800 
Dr. Juan Gargiulo 
365 County Rd. 39A, Southampton, 631-702-2300 
Dr. Steven Litman 
All Island Pain Consultants, 387 E. Main St., Bay Shore, 631-665-0075 
Dr. Steven Pinsky 
176 N. Village Ave., Rockville Centre, 516-764-4875 
Dr. Philippe Vaillancourt 
877 E. Main St., Riverhead, 631-727-0660 
&nbsp; 
<h4>How they were picked</h4> 
&nbsp; 
Castle Connolly Medical Ltd. is a health care research and information company founded in 1991 by a former medical college board chairman and president to help guide consumers to America's top doctors and hospitals. Castle Connolly's established survey and research process, under the direction of a doctor, involves tens of thousands of doctors and the medical leadership of leading hospitals. 
Castle Connolly's team of researchers follows a rigorous screening process to select doctors on national and regional levels. Using mail and telephone surveys, and electronic ballots, they ask physicians and the leadership of top hospitals to identify exceptional doctors. <a href="/topics/Careful">Careful</a> screening of doctors' educational and professional experience is essential to the committee. Newsday is not part of the selection process. 
Doctors do not and cannot pay to be selected and profiled as Castle Connolly Top Doctors. 
&nbsp; 
<h4>To see the whole list . . .</h4> 
&nbsp; 
Who else is on the list of Top Doctors? More than 6,000 listings are in the New York Metro Area edition of "Top Doctors," published by Castle Connolly Medical Ltd. The soft-cover list price is $34.95. For more information, go to castlecon nolly.com or call 800-399-DOCS.

HSTOP31.WEB

Top Docs: Understanding knee injuries

Many people with limited hip function or chronic hip pain are able to resume reasonably active lives after having their hobbled hips replaced with man-made parts. 
Roughly 230,000 total hip replacements are done each year in the United States, according to the U.S. <a href="/topics/National_Center_for_Health_Statistics">National Center for Health Statistics</a>. 
The procedure involves removing damaged bone and cartilage and inserting an artificial joint. 
 REASONS 
Hip replacement is major surgery and is not recommended for people whose arthritic pain can be managed with medication. 
"If they have an abnormality of their hip and/or <a href="/topics/Arthritis">arthritis</a>, and it's causing enough functional limitations and pain, those are the people who are the candidates for it," said Dr. Stanley Asnis, chairman emeritus of orthopedic surgery at <a href="/topics/North_Shore_University_Hospital">North Shore University Hospital</a> in <a href="/topics/Manhasset%2C_NY">Manhasset</a> and <a href="/topics/Long_Island_Jewish_Medical_Center">Long Island Jewish Medical Center</a> in <a href="/topics/New_Hyde_Park%2C_NY">New Hyde Park</a>, who will be a clinical professor of orthopedics at <a href="/topics/Hofstra_University">Hofstra University</a> School of Medicine in <a href="/topics/Hempstead%2C_NY">Hempstead</a> when it opens in 2011. 
The typical candidate is someone with a condition such as: 
&nbsp; 
&nbsp; 
&nbsp; 
<ul> 
 <li><a href="/topics/Osteoarthritis">Osteoarthritis</a>, caused by wear and tear of the cartilage that cushions the hip joint.</li> 
</ul> 
&nbsp; 
&nbsp; 
<ul> 
 <li><a href="/topics/Rheumatoid_arthritis">Rheumatoid arthritis</a>, a chronic condition that causes joint pain, swelling and stiffness.</li> 
</ul> 
&nbsp; 
&nbsp; 
<ul> 
 <li>Hip fracture, the result of a fall or other traumatic injury.</li> 
</ul> 
&nbsp; 
&nbsp; 
<ul> 
 <li>Avascular necrosis (also called osteonecrosis), a condition in which a reduced flow of blood to the top of the thigh bone eventually causes the hip joint to collapse.</li> 
</ul> 
&nbsp; 
&nbsp; 
Studies have shown that hip replacement is one of the most successful orthopedic surgeries and that people's quality of life is improved by the procedure. 
"Simple things, like putting on shoes and socks, are very difficult with <a href="/topics/Arthritis">arthritis</a> - and this improves that," Asnis said. 
 RISKS 
Hip replacement has been associated with a small risk for serious complications, the most worrisome being infection. Minor infections in the incision area can usually be treated with antibiotics, but major or deep infections may require surgery to remove infected tissue and the artificial joint, according to the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. 
Blood clots also are a threat. People who have hip-replacement surgery usually are given blood thinners, such as aspirin or Coumadin, to prevent clots from forming. 
There's also a longer-term risk that the implant will loosen or wear out, said Dr. Daniel Rich, a <a href="/topics/Manhasset%2C_NY">Manhasset</a> orthopedic surgeon who's an assistant clinical professor of orthopedics at Weill Cornell Medical College in <a href="/topics/New_York%2C_NY">New York</a> City. 
"I tell patients we're unhappy if they don't last 10 years, and we're not surprised when they last beyond 20 years, and that depends a little bit on how careful the patient is in taking care of their new hip," he said. 
But with more people having hip replacement surgery at a younger age, replacement of the original prosthesis with a new joint - called "revision surgery" - is becoming more common, reports the U.S. National Institute of <a href="/topics/Arthritis">Arthritis</a> and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases. 
 REHABILITATION 
People are released from the hospital within days after hip-replacement surgery, although it may take three to six months to fully recover, the institute notes. 
Rich said he advises his patients to begin a progressive walking program after surgery, with the goal of walking a mile by six weeks. 
 CURRENT THINKING 
New minimally invasive procedures, involving fewer and smaller incisions than traditional surgery, may speed recovery, early research suggests. But long-term outcomes have yet to be established. 
Likewise, a technique called hip resurfacing has emerged as an alternative to the total hip replacement, particularly for younger people. With this surgery, the hip socket is replaced but the "ball," or head of the thigh bone, is left in place. Surgeons trim the bone to size and cover it with a metal cap. It's too soon to tell, though, whether this option will prove beneficial in the long run. 
 THE <a href="/topics/Long_Island%2C_NY">LONG ISLAND</a> SCENE 
<a href="/topics/Long_Island%2C_NY">Long Island</a>'s risk-adjusted infection rate for hip replacements - at 1.2 percent - is on par with national and <a href="/topics/New_York%2C_NY">New York</a> State averages of 1.5 and 1.3 percent, respectively, according to a report on hospital-acquired infections by the <a href="/topics/New_York%2C_NY">New York</a> State <a href="/topics/Department_of_Health">Department of Health</a>. 
Though regional differences across the state are negligible, hospitals that perform the fewest hip procedures are significantly more likely to have higher infection rates, the report noted. 
For the best results, experts recommend looking for a surgeon and hospital that do a lot of hip replacements. 
&nbsp; 
<h4>Who's who</h4> 
&nbsp; 
This is the ninth installment of a 26-week series in which Newsday presents Castle Connolly's list of top L.I. doctors. Today: orthopedic surgeons 
Dr. Scott Alpert 
379 Oakwood Rd., <a href="/topics/Huntington_Station%2C_NY">Huntington Station</a>, 631-423-4090 
Dr. Stanley Asnis 
600 Northern Blvd., <a href="/topics/Great_Neck%2C_NY">Great Neck</a>, 516-627-8717 
Dr. James Capozzi 
1300 Franklin Ave., <a href="/topics/Garden_City%2C_NY">Garden City</a>, 516-747-8900 
Dr. Richard D'Agostino 
600 Northern Blvd., <a href="/topics/Great_Neck%2C_NY">Great Neck</a>, 516-627-8717 
Dr. David Dines 
935 Northern Blvd., <a href="/topics/Great_Neck%2C_NY">Great Neck</a>, 516-482-1037 
Dr. Thomas Dowling 
763 Larkfield Rd., <a href="/topics/Commack%2C_NY">Commack</a>, 631-462-2225 
Dr. Craig Levitz 
36 Lincoln Ave., <a href="/topics/Rockville_Centre%2C_NY">Rockville Centre</a>, 516-536-2800 
Dr. Ronald Lewis 
Pediatric Orthopedics of LI, 598 <a href="/topics/Jericho%2C_NY">Jericho</a> Tpke., <a href="/topics/Syosset%2C_NY">Syosset</a>, 516-873-8341 
Dr. Thomas Mauri 
865 Northern Blvd., <a href="/topics/Great_Neck%2C_NY">Great Neck</a>, 516-918-6300 
Dr. Carlos Montero 
2920 <a href="/topics/Hempstead%2C_NY">Hempstead</a> Tpke., <a href="/topics/Levittown%2C_NY">Levittown</a>, 516-735-4048 
Dr. Daniel Rich 
585 <a href="/topics/Plandome%2C_NY">Plandome</a> Rd., <a href="/topics/Manhasset%2C_NY">Manhasset</a>, 516-627-1525 
Dr. Nicholas Sgaglione 
600 Northern Blvd., Great Neck, 516-627-8717 
Dr. Raymond Shebairo 
1575 Hillside Ave., <a href="/topics/New_Hyde_Park%2C_NY">New Hyde Park</a>, 516-437-5500 
Dr. Barry Simonson 
825 Northern Blvd., Great Neck, 516-773-7500 
Dr. Richard Tabershaw 
375 E. Main St., <a href="/topics/Bay_Shore%2C_NY">Bay Shore</a>, 631-665-8790 
Dr. Jonathan Ticker 
Island Orthopaedics &amp; Sports Medicine, 660 <a href="/topics/Broadway%2C_NY">Broadway</a>, <a href="/topics/Massapequa%2C_NY">Massapequa</a>, 516-798-0111 
&nbsp; 
<h4>How they were picked</h4> 
&nbsp; 
Castle Connolly Medical Ltd. is a health care research and information company founded in 1991 by a former medical college board chairman and president to help guide consumers to America's top doctors and hospitals. Castle Connolly's established survey and research process, under the direction of a doctor, involves tens of thousands of doctors and the medical leadership of leading hospitals. 
Castle Connolly's team of researchers follows a rigorous screening process to select doctors on national and regional levels. Using mail and telephone surveys, and electronic ballots, they ask physicians and the leadership of top hospitals to identify exceptional doctors. <a href="/topics/Careful">Careful</a> screening of doctors' educational and professional experience is essential to the committee. Newsday is not part of the selection process. 
Doctors do not and cannot pay to be selected and profiled as Castle Connolly Top Doctors. 
&nbsp; 
<h4>To see the whole list . . .</h4> 
&nbsp; 
Who else is on the list of Top Doctors? More than 6,000 listings are in the <a href="/topics/New_York%2C_NY">New York</a> Metro Area edition of "Top Doctors," published by Castle Connolly Medical Ltd. The soft-cover list price is $34.95. For more information, go to castleconnolly.com, or call 800-399-DOCS.

HSTOP24.WEB

Top Docs: Understanding hip replacements

Allergy shots may not be for everyone, but they can lead to a lifetime of relief for people with moderate to severe symptoms. 
Each allergy shot contains tiny amounts of whatever foreign substances are triggering symptoms. Possible culprits include pollen, pet dander, dust mites, mold and insect venom. 
During the buildup phase, the dose is increased little by little over a three- to seven-month period, explained Dr. Louis E. Guida Jr., a board-certified allergist in library says his office is in Bay Shore. When the most effective dose, called a maintenance dose, is reached, the person requires less frequent injections over a period of three to five years. 
Eventually, the allergy sufferer’s immune system becomes desensitized to the invader. “You build up a tolerance to the allergens, and hence your allergy symptoms will lower and diminish over time,” he said. 
REASONS 
According to the American Academy of Allergy, <a href="/topics/Asthma">Asthma</a> &amp; Immunology, allergy shots — also known as subcutaneous immunotherapy — are recommended for people with: <a href="/topics/Hay_Fever">Allergic</a> <a href="/topics/Asthma">asthma</a>, the most common type of <a href="/topics/Asthma">asthma</a>. It’s triggered by inhaling allergens. <a href="/topics/Hay_Fever">Allergic rhinitis</a> or conunctivitis, which produces cold-like symptoms, such as sneezing, runny nose and itchy, watery eyes, and may be caused by indoor or outdoor allergies. Stinging insect allergy, which can lead to life-threatening symptoms in some people. 
Other factors come into play, too, including the severity of symptoms, the length of the allergy season and the person’s desire to avoid long-term medication use. 
After confirming that someone’s symptoms are due to allergy and determining through blood or skin tests what substances are causing the misery, an allergist can recommend the right treatment. Pills, sprays, inhalers and allergen-avoidance strategies are often the first course of action. 
Going to an allergist doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll get allergy shots, noted Dr. Brian Novick, a board-certified allergist in East Meadow. “If you’ve had allergy symptoms for several years and the medications are just not giving you enough relief, then that’s the time to take shots,” he said. 
RISKS 
If someone is going to have a reaction to an allergy shot, it would typically occur within the first 30 minutes after the injection. People should remain in the allergist’s office during that time so that they can be watched closely and be given medical treatment, if needed. 
In rare cases, someone might experience anaphylaxis, a life-threatening allergic reaction that can cause low blood pressure and breathing difficulties. But even mild reactions, such as redness and swelling at the site of the injection, should be noted so that the allergist can properly adjust the dose. 
CURRENT THINKING 
An alternative to shots for allergies triggered by airborne particles does exist. Widely used in <a href="/topics/Europe">Europe</a> but not yet approved by the U.S. <a href="/topics/Food_and_Drug_Administration">Food and Drug Administration</a>, sublingual immunotherapy (or, SLIT) involves drops or tablets given under the tongue. The academy reports that the treatment could prove useful for allergic rhinitis. 
However, more research is needed to determine the appropriate starting dose, the frequency of maintenance doses and its cost-effectiveness, it says. SLIT uses the same allergen extracts found in allergy shots, but doctors prescribe those substances off label, meaning they’re not approved by the <a href="/topics/Food_and_Drug_Administration">FDA</a> for under-the-tongue administration. “It will probably be the wave of the future, but we’re not there yet,” Guida said. “Once it becomes approved by the <a href="/topics/Food_and_Drug_Administration">Food and Drug Administration</a>, then I think a lot of health-care professionals will start using it more and more.” 
THE LONG ISLAND SCENE 
The Long Island Allergy and <a href="/topics/Asthma">Asthma</a> Society (liaas.org) can help people in search of a local allergist.

hsaller07

Top Docs: How to alleviate allergy misery

Peggy O'Donnell, a <a href="/topics/Lynbrook%2C_NY">Lynbrook</a> nurse practitioner, knows a thing or two about picking a good primary care physician. 
O'Donnell works for a doctor affiliated with South <a href="/topics/Nassau_County%2C_NY">Nassau</a> Communities Hospital in <a href="/topics/Oceanside%2C_NY">Oceanside</a>. She cares for more than 100 patients a week, doing work once reserved for doctors - prescribing medicine, diagnosing illnesses and administering physicals. 
And O'Donnell insists that patients should make sure that their primary care doctors listen - really listen - to them. "Certainly you want somebody who's not going to only speak in lay language but do reflective listening," O'Donnell says. "You really have to have someone who hears what you're saying to them." 
Must communicate well 
A good primary care physician - who could be a family practitioner, an internist, a specialist in adolescent or geriatric medicine or an obstetrician-gynecologist - communicates well with patients, says O'Donnell, who is also president of the <a href="/topics/Long_Island%2C_NY">Long Island</a> chapter of the Nurse Practitioners Association of <a href="/topics/New_York%2C_NY">New York</a> State. 
O'Donnell and several <a href="/topics/Long_Island%2C_NY">Long Island</a> physicians interviewed by Newsday identified a set of attributes and qualifications patients should look for in their doctors. They include board certification, a degree from a good medical school, an interest in providing preventive health care, availability when a patient is ill and a willingness to answer questions. 
Dr. Joshua Kugler, the chief medical officer at South <a href="/topics/Nassau_County%2C_NY">Nassau</a>, urges patients to take a practical approach. "How do you find a place to buy a gallon of milk?" Kugler asks. "Keep it simple, be practical." 
Convenience, good prices, a well-organized business and an ability to make people feel comfortable are all important, Kugler said. 
Kugler suggests that patients with particular health problems look for a primary care doctor with a subspecialty. For example, people with heart conditions might want a primary care physician with a specialty in cardiology. 
"What I don't like to see is a doctor who's had to move many times in a short span of time," Kugler says, noting that might indicate a problem practice. 
And Kugler says patients shouldn't avoid doctors just out of medical school; they often know the newest techniques and research. 
Dr. Joanne Gottridge, chief of the division of general internal medicine at <a href="/topics/North_Shore_University_Hospital">North Shore University Hospital</a> in <a href="/topics/Manhasset%2C_NY">Manhasset</a>, says a good primary care doctor has a smoothly run practice. 
"I think the practice should be efficient," Gottridge says. "If you're routinely waiting hours for an appointment, there's something wrong with the practice." 
Gottridge says doctors should have someone available to help patients who don't speak English. And, she says, doctors should be willing to help with small problems, like colds and sore throats, as well as more complex ailments, such as <a href="/topics/Diabetes">diabetes</a>, and should stress preventive health practices. 
Besides checking on a doctor's medical degree, Gottridge urges patients to find out whether he or she is board-certified. Board certification means a doctor has undergone additional training after medical school and has passed an examination in a medical specialty. 
Dr. George Dunn, who has a family practice in <a href="/topics/Glen_Cove%2C_NY">Glen Cove</a> and <a href="/topics/Oyster_Bay%2C_NY">Oyster Bay</a> and is president of the <a href="/topics/New_York%2C_NY">New York</a> State Academy of Family Physicians, says doctors need to pass the communications test, too. 
Doctors who insist on speaking in scientific terms rather than explaining things in plain English can make understanding an illness difficult for a patient, Dunn says. 
"If they speak in gobbledygook, it's not acceptable," Dunn says. "You have to tailor your message to the recipients." 
But where can patients find information on medical credentials? 
Research on the Web 
Dunn says many patients now use Web sites of various medical societies and government offices that offer information on medical degrees, board certification and specialties. 
Arthur Levin, director of the <a href="/topics/Manhattan">Manhattan</a> nonprofit <a href="/topics/Center_for_Medical_Consumers">Center for Medical Consumers</a>, a watchdog organization, urges patients to use the New York State Department of health Web site, www.health.state.ny.us. Clicking on the site's Doctor Profiles and Physician Discipline will bring up information about credentials, specialties and legal actions against physicians. 
Levin says getting referrals from friends is one way to find a doctor, but, he cautions: "The movie your friends love, you may hate. There's no perfect way here. You have to cobble everything you have together." 
And what if it turns out you don't like a doctor who seemed perfect? It might be time to switch, Dunn says. 
"Remember, it's not a marriage," Dunn says. "You don't need a divorce." 
To see the whole list... 
Who else is on the list of Top Doctors? There are more than 6,000 listings in the New York Metro Area edition of "Top Doctors," published by Castle Connolly Medical Ltd. The softcover list price is $24.95. For more information, go to castleconnolly.com or call 800-399-DOCS.

ny-health295666126apr29

Top Docs: Choosing a primary care physician

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Health experts say starting the year with a month without drinking alcohol leads to a range of health benefits.

How to meet the challenge of 'Dry January'

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Anthem will no longer cover patients' visits to Mount Sinai Health System medical offices.

Insurer's coverage for Mount Sinai medical office visits ending

The deadline looms, but a walkout wouldn't come immediately. Here's why.

Wednesday midnight deadline nears in Northwell nurses contract talks

Newsday spoke with health experts about the difference between influenza and norovirus, both at high levels in the United States.

What to know about this year's severe flu season

The Deer Park doctor is accused of copying and pasting 43 virtually identical surgical reports over a four-year period.

Records: Surgeon blames NUMC procedures for alleged copied-and-pasted surgical reports

A person with measles passed through terminals B and C earlier this month, health officials said.

Measles case at Newark Airport spurs warning

The labels will appear when a young person initially uses the platform and periodically thereafter, based on continued use.

Hochul signs off on warning labels for social media

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Some local medical experts say new federal guidelines for when newborns get the hepatitis B vaccine will lead to more cases of the disease.

People should 'discuss possible risks with the pediatrician'

NewsdayTV's Jasmine Anderson is joined by education experts to discuss the rising concerns of marijuana vaping in Long Island schools.

'Young people are turning to vaping ... to cope'

Abigail Lopez, an 8-year-old from Island Park, has earned her adult CPR certification. She says she was inspired by her mother, a rescue company volunteer.

'I can save their lives'

Owner Douglas Corwin, of Crescent Duck Farm in Aquebogue, is slowly rebuilding after a devastating bird flu outbreak. NewsdayTV's Virginia Huie reports

'It's a good feeling to go back and see healthy animals growing'

The EPA will propose a new, looser health standard for fine particulate matter, which experts say could impair air quality on Long Island. NewsdayTV's Virginia Huie reports.

The battle over fine particulate matter

In July, 4-year-old Jack Carlin stopped breathing, and a pivotal decision by his mother helped save his life. NewsdayTV's Virginia Huie has more.

How a 4-year-old survived cardiac arrest

A new report shows eleven Long Island hospitals received "A" grades for patient safety in a national ranking of thousands of health care providers.

Northwell tops list of 11 LI hospitals to receive 'A' grades

The Sid Jacobson JCC gathered food donations to help Long Island SNAP recipients who fear losing their benefits amid the government shutdown. NewsdayTV's Andrew Ehinger reports.

'It's important to be helping out even more'

Thirteen Long Island hospitals were recognized for their specialty care treatments in new rankings from Healthgrades.

Coronary intervention, critical care made the grade

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Paws of War rescued dogs from an illegal puppy mill in Tennessee. The animals are now going to forever homes of veterans. NewsdayTV's Virginia Huie reports.

A heartwarming story that will give paws

John Sterbens is a volunteer with Splashes of Hope, in Huntington. He says the organization's mission is to brighten the world through art.

Volunteers of Long Island: Splashes of Hope

Travel reporter Carissa Kellman experiences the luxurious perks at local hotels with no check-in required.

Daycation: You don't have to spend the night to enjoy these amenities at nearby hotels

Hundreds of people attended the candlelight vigil in Lindenhurst Monday evening for Edeedson Cine Jr., who was fatally stabbed while working at CVS on Christmas.

Vigil held for slain CVS worker

Dozens gathered in cold and rainy weather in Central Islip to protest alleged ICE detention conditions at the federal courthouse. NewsdayTV's Virginia Huie reports.

Protesters rally against ICE detention conditions in Central Islip 

NewsdayTV's Doug Geed speaks to local wineries on the best sparkling wines for your midnight champagne toast.

Out East: Local champagnes for the new year

Beginning next month, MetroCards will be a thing of the past and the cost of LIRR tickets will rise. Newsday transportation reporter Alfonso Castillo has more.

MTA fare and toll hikes coming in 2026

After Carey High School senior James McGrath Jr. lost both of his parents by age 11, he relied on his older brother and two sisters to help guide him through life.

Carey High's James McGrath has siblings' support after losing parents

The federal "no tax on tips" policy allows workers who typically receive tips to receive up to a $25,000 tax deduction for certain gratuities until 2028.

No tax on tips: What it means for LIers

<a href="https://www.newsday.com/video/newsdaytv-top-stories">Get more on these and other NewsdayTV stories</a>

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